March 23, 2026 5:51 pm
Spring has begun, and prices at the pump have continued to climb. Today’s national average ($3.95) is 24 cents higher than last week and $1.02 higher than last month. The impact from the Iran situation combined with seasonal increases are main contributors of the price increases. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.24 million b/d to 8.72 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day. At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate rose 11 cents to settle at $96.32 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 6.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 449.3 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 1% below the five-year average for this time of year. The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained the same this past week at 41 cents. (Photo: AP)
March 23, 2026 4:42 pm
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to Pittsburgh International Airport on Monday. Airport spokesperson Bob Kerlik said agents trained at the airport terminal on Monday morning and are expected to assist the Transportation Security Administration starting Tuesday. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump said Federal immigration officers could start helping with airport security if a bill is not agreed on to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Hundreds of thousands of homeland security workers, including from the TSA, U.S. Secret Service and Coast Guard, have worked without pay since Congress failed to renew DHS funding last month, the Associated Press reported. “I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!” Trump wrote on social media.
March 23, 2026 4:38 pm
Wheeling Attorney Paul Harris has been sentenced to ninety-seven months in federal prison for defrauding clients and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Citizens should trust lawyers to protect their rights and interests, not to have their money stolen,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Harris broke that trust, and the law, and now he will pay with time in prison.” Further, “this office will leave no stone un-turned in pursuing full restitution to make the victims whole,” said Harvey. A federal jury found Paul J. Harris, 62, of Wheeling, guilty in November 2025 of 29 counts. Harris used client funds for personal expenses, such as the purchase of his home and paying off the loan for his law office, without the clients’ permission. Harris received and moved funds from his client trust account to his law firm operating account, at times using one client’s money to pay funds he had misappropriated from other clients. The total loss for the victims in this case is $701,623.86. Harris will self-report to prison on May 6, 2026. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey handed down the sentence and ordered the forfeiture of the property of Harris Law Offices in Wheeling, as well as $701,623.86 in restitution to the victims.
March 23, 2026 5:01 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Two people were killed and several others injured when an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on the runway while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The collision late Sunday killed the pilot and copilot, who were both based out of Canada. Authorities say around 40 passengers and crew members aboard the flight were hospitalized, some with serious injuries. Two Port Authority employees who were traveling in the fire truck also were injured. The flight originated at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. A statement by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the accident happened around 11:40 p.m. Jazz Aviation operated the flight on behalf of Air Canada.
March 23, 2026 1:20 pm
(AP) – President Donald Trump has paused military pressure on Iran by extending his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and delaying strikes on Iranian power plants for another five days. Trump said the US has been negotiating with a “respected” Iranian leader but Iran denies any talks and said Trump is backing down after their warnings and hoping to reassure financial markets with “fake news.” Oil prices did decrease and stocks jumped, but markets remain uneasy. Meanwhile Trump said any deal must involve ending Iran’s nuclear capacity by allowing the U.S. to take its its enriched uranium.
March 23, 2026 4:47 am
The body of a missing Monongahela man has been found. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office states that the body of Shelby Rhodes, 26, was found in a riverbed off Benola River Road in Forward Township on Friday. Rhodes was reported missing in early February, and searchers spent days combing the river in the Donora area with sonar, drones, divers and a search-and-rescue dog. His cause and manner of death remain under investigation.
March 23, 2026 4:57 am
SOUTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — State Police continue the search for a teenage girl missing from Fayette County. Emily Grace Salonick, 17, was last seen at the McDonald’s at 1 Work Parkway, South Union Township. She is described as about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds and having hazel eyes and black hair. She’s believed to be wearing a black jacket, black McDonald’s hoodie and jeans. Anyone with information about her location is asked to call PSP Uniontown Barracks at (724) 439-7111.
March 22, 2026 4:51 am
SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Four high school students were killed in a fiery crash in Westmoreland County on Saturday. State Police say troopers responded to the crash on Derr Road in Sewickley Township at 3:31 a.m. The vehicle reportedly hit a tree and caught fire. All four were found dead on scene. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the victims on Sunday: Brady D. Hunker, 15, of Herminie; Rocco A. Zugai, 18, of West Newton; Felicity M. Martini, 15, of Yukon; and Kylee Nicole Korber, 16, of Smithton. The cause and manner of death are pending autopsy and toxicology results, the coroner’s office says. The investigation is ongoing, and updates are expected to come next week, PSP says. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call (724) 832-3288. Yough School District Superintendent Anthony DeMaro said those killed in the crash were students at the high school. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and all those impacted by this heartbreaking loss,” DeMaro said. “As a school community, we mourn together and extend our deepest condolences.” Demaro said the administration believes it is best to have school in session on Monday so the school can “provide care, connection, and support during this difficult time.” Counselors will be available at the middle and high schools.
March 22, 2026 5:02 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying the U.S. will hold off on power plant strikes for five days. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social site Monday, just hours ahead of a deadline later in the day. Trump said the U.S. and Iran have had “very good and productive conversations” that could yield “a complete and total resolution” in the war. He did not elaborate on the diplomatic negotiations that had taken place. Iran did not immediately acknowledge any talks between the countries, but Iran’s foreign minister did say he spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart. Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
March 23, 2026 5:03 am
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The head of the International Energy Agency says the global economy faces a “major, major threat” because of the Iran war. Fatih Birol told Australia’s National Press Club in Canberra on Monday that the crisis in the Middle East has had a worse impact on oil than the two oil shocks of the 1970s combined, and a worse effect on gas markets than the Russia-Ukraine war. Israel launched a new wave of attacks early Monday against Tehran. Iran renewed strikes on its Gulf neighbors and threatened to start hitting their power plants.
