February 24, 2026 4:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will use his State of the Union address to argue that his whirlwind first year back has made America stronger and that Republicans deserve to keep control of Congress after the midterms. The president is expected in Tuesday’s speech to proclaim the economy booming while endorsing increased military funding and tighter voter ID rules. Authors of past State of the Union speeches say Trump sometimes sounds more restrained when giving the address, though exaggerations and forays into old grievances are also likely. Trump points to rising stock prices and job growth, but many Americans are worried about the economy and tariffs may yet slow growth.
February 24, 2026 4:48 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Neighbors, government workers and a powerful railroad snow-clearing machine nicknamed “Darth Vader” are scrambling to dig out the northeastern United States from a brutal snow storm. But as the snow moves northward and tapers off in other areas Tuesday, forecasters warn that another storm could be right around the corner. Meteorologists are calling Monday’s storm the strongest in a decade. It dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the Northeast. Thousands of flights have been canceled. By Tuesday, roads were beginning to reopen, mass transportation was coming back online and power had returned for some of the hundreds of thousands who had lost electricity.
February 24, 2026 3:39 pm
(AP) – “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie says her family is now offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of her mother. It has been three weeks since Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Arizona home. Savannah Guthrie said Tuesday that her family is still holding out for a miracle and hopes her mother will be found alive. But she also acknowledged that they realize it might be too late. She said in the video that her mom may be dancing in heaven. Savannah Guthrie said while announcing the $1 million reward that her family needs to know where Nancy Guthrie is no matter what happened.
February 24, 2026 3:37 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court has ruled that Americans can’t sue the U.S. Postal Service, even when employees deliberately refuse to deliver mail. By a 5-4 vote Tuesday, the justices ruled against Texas landlord Lebene Konan, who alleges her mail was intentionally withheld for two years. Konan is Black and claims racial prejudice played a role in postal employees’ actions. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his majority opinions the federal law that generally shields the Postal Service from lawsuits over missing, lost and undelivered mail includes “the intentional nondelivery of mail.” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent the immunity doesn’t apply to situations when the decision not to deliver mail “was driven by malicious reasons.” (Photo: AP)
February 24, 2026 3:35 pm
State, County and Local officials gathered at the Crossroads Building to begin the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The America 250 PA organization celebrated with a remembrance of the great role Washington County played in the Revolutionary War and after when events like the Whiskey Rebellion tested the Constitution of the United States was tested only three years after it was officially ratified. Washington City Councilman Joe DeThomas welcomed visitors to the city. Commissioner Nick Sherman commented on how Revolutionary War history runs through Washington County. Commissioner Larry Maggi backed that up by telling how, conceivably, the last battle of the Revolutionary War was fought near Dutch Fork Lake. State Senator Camera Bartolotta described her Choctaw and Cherokee Indian heritage along with three relatives that fought for the young nation in the Revolutionary War. State Representative Tim O’Neal reflected on how divisive feelings of the early colonists may be similar to today’s citizens. He expressed faith in the Constitution and its strength to survive any attack. The America 250 PA celebration takes place across the commonwealth. Events are planned throughout the year. A schedule of events may be found at www.america250pa.org.
February 24, 2026 4:41 am
Prior to Peters Township Council conducting their regular meeting, Peters Township Police Chief Joseph Glover read a prepared statement about the arrest of a Peters Township High School student. The statement described how police became aware of a large scale criminal enterprise involving “catfishing” and “sextortion” in December of 2025. It detailed how 30 juvenile males between 14-17 were interviewed and how they were victimized on media platforms Tik Tok and Telegram. A search warrant was executed at the residence of 18 year old Zachariah Myers on February 20. The investigation resulted in 304 felony charges to Meyers who was sent to the county jail without bond. The statement reminded parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children’s online activity. It also stated that no further statements are forthcoming as the investigation is ongoing and involves numerous juvenile victims.
February 24, 2026 4:40 am
Peters Township Council approved two measures that will bring upgrades to a traffic signal and add a scoreboard to Peterswood Park. The township will make use of a $219,996 grant from the PennDot Automated Red Light Enforcement Transportation Enhancements Grant Program. The township is required to provide a dollar for dollar match. The township will shoulder a $22,589 shortfall due to bids exceeding the grant request. The total for the new traffic signal is $462,582 and will be installed at the intersection of Rt. 19 and Gallery Drive. That signal was installed in 1988. Council also approved the purchase of a scoreboard to replace a scoreboard at Joe Maize Field in Peterswood Park. The Daktronics scoreboard will cost $36,365 and replace the current non-functioning scoreboard.
February 23, 2026 1:58 am
The State Police Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the cause of a fatal house fire Monday morning on Smith Street in Fallowfield Township. Authorities say 66-year-old George Steven Milliken had to be rescued from the home and was taken to Penn Highlands Monongahela Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Multiple fire departments were called in to assist.
February 24, 2026 4:45 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — More than a dozen senior European officials are visiting arrived Kyiv in a show of support on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and put European leaders on edge about the scale of Moscow’s ambitions on the continent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country has withstood the onslaught by Russia’s bigger and better equipped army, which over the past year of fighting captured just 0.79% of Ukraine’s territory. That’s according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank.
February 23, 2026 4:44 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The conservative-majority court took up the case Monday. The companies went to the Supreme Court after Colorado’s highest court allowed a lawsuit from Boulder to proceed. The companies say the lawsuits present a serious threat to the industry. President Donald Trump’s Republican administration also urged the high court to block the case. The industry is facing dozens of lawsuits from state and local governments that argue the companies deceived the public about fossil fuels’ contribution to climate change.
