July 5, 2025 3:41 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed his tax and spending bill into law after Republicans muscled it through Congress. At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. The House approved the bill Thursday and Trump signed it on his own self-imposed Fourth of July deadline. The bill would make permanent many of the tax breaks passed in Trump’s first term while also adding new ones, such as new tax deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and interest payments on auto loan
July 5, 2025 3:47 am
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Heavy rains have caused devastating flash floods in Texas Hill Country, killing at least 24 people and leaving many others missing. At a news conference late Friday Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said two dozen people were dead after least 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain poured down overnight, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Authorities said 237 people had been recued so far, including 167 by helicopter. Among the missing are more than 20 girls from a summer camp. Officials say the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.
July 5, 2025 3:45 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine overnight in the largest aerial assault since the war began. The capital Kyiv was the primary target. Authorities said one person was killed and at least 26 people, including a child, were injured. Hours after the barrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “very important and productive” phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters it was “a very good call.” When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: “I don’t know. I can’t tell you whether or not that’s going to happen.” The Kyiv attack came hours after Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. president said was disappointing.
July 5, 2025 3:31 am
A child was injured and taken to a hospital and several others suffered injuries after a motorcycle mishap at the Canonsburg Fourth of July Celebration parade. A Facebook post from a woman representing herself as the child’s mother said that a cyclist swerved and lost control of his vehicle and struck her child. She said that the child was taken to the hospital by ambulance with a head injury. The mother indicated that the child was then taken from AHN/Canonsburg Hospital to UPMC/Children’s Hospital for precautionary testing. According to Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome, early information that he received was that a rider in the Shriner’s motorcycle unit lost control of his motorcycle during one of their drills and ran over the child. He also struck a pregnant woman and another child. The woman and other child refused treatment at the scene. We have reached out to the Syria Shriners of Pittsburgh Motor Corps for comment. No other details are available at this time.
July 5, 2025 3:35 am
A Friday afternoon accident on Interstate 79 sent six people to hospitals. At approximately 2:20 pm first responders were sent to Interstate 79 North near Manifold Road for a multi-vehicle accident. When crews arrived they found one car with heavy damage in the median and a second car rolled on its roof on the side of the road. According to South Strabane Township fire fighters, five people were transported to UPMC/Washington Hospital and one was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital trauma center. The accident shut down all lanes of Interstate 79 North while crews worked to clear the accident. The road was reopened an hour later. The accident remains under investigation.(Photo: South Strabane Township Fire Department Facebook)
July 5, 2025 3:33 am
A land use appeal filed in June of 2024 by several residents of North Spring Valley Road has been denied. On Thursday Judge Brandon Neuman said that North Strabane Township did not commit an error of law or abuse of discretion when they granted conditional use application approval to Laurel Communities, LLC for a proposed 41 home development called the Collective at Peters Lake. Current residents are concerned that development of the land will harm the well water that they use for consumption. North Spring Valley Road resident Matt Maniet says that he felt that in addition to water concerns, traffic safety is an issue as well. He says that North Spring Valley Road is not built to handle the extra traffic. Area residents are concerned about possible harm to Peters Lake Park, with a lake that is rated “High Quality” by the Pennnsylvania DEP. The order states that appellants will have numerous opportunities to contest the development as the approval process proceeds.(Photo: Friends of Peters Lake Facebook)
July 4, 2025 4:28 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have propelled President Donald Trump’s multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final congressional passage. Republicans overcame multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package Thursday before a Fourth of July deadline. GOP leaders worked overnight, and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to his desk to become law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting for more than eight hours with a record-breaking speech against the bill. It’s $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, with $1.2 trillion in cuts to government programs. The president is expected to sign it into law Friday.
July 4, 2025 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Congress have muscled President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill to passage. At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. The House approved the bill on Thursday, the final step necessary to get the bill to Trump’s desk by the GOP’s self-imposed deadline of July 4th. The bill would make permanent many of the tax breaks passed in Trump’s first term while also adding new ones, such as new tax deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and interest payments on auto loans.
July 4, 2025 4:30 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is clearing the way for the deportation of several immigrants who were put on a flight in May bound for South Sudan, a war-ravaged country where they have no ties. The Thursday decision comes after the justices found that immigration officials can quickly deport people to third countries. The majority previously halted an order that had allowed immigrants to challenge any removals to third countries where they could be in danger. The court’s latest order makes clear that the South Sudan flight detoured in May can now complete the trip.
July 4, 2025 2:20 am
One person was severely burned and a firefighter was injured in a house fire in Charleroi Thursday morning. According to Charleroi Fire Chief Robert Whiten, Jr., the fire broke out in a home at 1004 McKean Avenue just before eleven o’clock. Multiple fire departments were called in to help put the fire out. A man, woman and child were inside when the blaze started. Officials say the woman and child were able to escape on their own, but Charleroi firefighters, along with assistance from a Charleroi Public Works employee had to rescue the man who was trapped inside. That individual suffered serious injuries and was flown by medical helicopter to West Penn hospital. There’s been no word on his identity or his condition. A firefighter was also hurt. Officials tell us he suffered burns to his hands but was treated at the scene and returned to duty. The State Police Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the cause.
