August 7, 2026 8:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month, and Labor Department revisions shaved 103,000 jobs off payrolls in May and June. But the unemployment rate dipped to 4.1% as Americans left the job market. The June jobs numbers from the Labor Department Friday marked a sharp reversal for the U.S. labor market. Hiring had been rebounding this year from a lackluster 2025 in the face of the conflict in the Persian Gulf that has sent energy prices surging and put a strain on family budgets. Job growth had been solid, if unspectacular.U
August 7, 2026 4:46 am
A new building is being planned for the Tylerdale section of Washington. City Council approved the subdivision and preliminary and final land development applications for a project at the corner of Wylie Avenue and Sammy Angott Way. The Redwood Construction Services company has plans to build an office and storage building. According to Councilman Ken Westcott, the plans have been in motion for about two years. Redwood Construction will have their main offices and storage areas for trucks and related equipment. The land has been used most recently by PennDot to park their equipment during road construction in the area. No date has been set for groundbreaking.
August 7, 2026 4:45 am
The Washington County Hazmat team looked into a report of radiation on a portion of the Montour Trail in Cecil Township. During the quarterly meeting of the Washington County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Joseph Pordash, Hazmat Coordinator and Radiological Officer for Washington County delivered his findings when the hazmat crew visited the area. He said that his crew visited the area of the trail that is bordered by 5D Field Services. They are a company that stores and disposes of pipes used in the gas and oil industry. The county first became aware of the situation when local news reports spoke of an article published by Rolling Stone Magazine that said their measurements found radiation levels of 3500 picocuries per liter of air on the Westland branch of the trail. Normal radiation levels are 5 picocuries per liter of air. Pordash said that county hazmat crews measured radiation levels and found them to be in normal range along the trail. They walked the trail in two directions along the border of the company’s property and took contamination and exposure samples every 15 feet and found no radiation threat. No tests were performed on the company’s property. Pordash said there is no immediate threat of contamination. Any further investigations would be in concert with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The PA DEP did test for radiation and found no radiation threat and declined to perform soil sample tests.
August 7, 2026 2:13 am
The Center for Coalfield Justice in Washington hosted a meeting Thursday afternoon to celebrate the launch of a steering committee. This committee is dedicated to raising awareness about orphaned and abandoned wells in Pennsylvania. During the meeting, Angela Ferritto, the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the secretary-treasurer of Union Energy, spoke about the work that goes into capping these wells, and the funding and advocacy that is required. The room was packed with community members who wanted to learn more about the initiative. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions for the new committee. Sarah Martik, the executive director at the Center for Coalfield Justice, says that she is happy to participate on the committee and to partner with Union Energy. The steering committee is currently recruiting members and planning upcoming meetings. They hope to host events like town-hall meetings and round-table discussions to educate the community and build support.
August 7, 2026 4:55 am
An international ceremony took place in Canonsburg when a World War II pilot that was shot down over Japan just before the bombing of Hiroshima had a piece of his B-24 bomber returned to his family. For decades, First Lt. Joseph E. Dubinsky was thought to have been killed when his plane, The Taloa, was shot down on July 28, 1945. According to Japanese Historian, Shigeaki Mori, he in fact survived the crash and was taken to Hiroshima as a prisoner of war. Nine days later, on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima and Dubinsky was killed. Through Mori’s efforts, Dubinsky’s nephew Bob Tatalovich was contacted and a family that held on to a piece of Dubinsky’s plane presented him with the memento. On August 6, 2026, on the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, the family placed the airplane piece in a time capsule and buried it next to Dubinsky. Tatalovich, along with his many family members honored Dubinsky with a new religious burial ceremony, a military flyover, a 21 gun salute and the playing of Taps at his final resting place, St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Canonsburg. Family members swelled with emotion and pride as they honored their late cousin and uncle. Tatalovich and the rest of Dubinsky’s family were proud to be a part of the transformation of one time war enemies into friends. The event was important in Japan also. Japanese media representatives were on hand to cover the event.
August 7, 2026 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — To reach a deal with Iran that reopens the economically vital Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump may need to do something out of character — compromise. Any concession would be tough for the Republican president. He’s insisted there’s no truth to his sagging poll numbers, the sluggish economy and the U.S. military’s dwindling stockpiles of key weapons. The sticking point between Trump and Iran is over control of the waterway that’s crucial for oil shipments. The Trump administration has ruled out Iran charging fees to ships. But Iran has insisted on some measure of control, saying the strait will not go back to being an international waterway.
August 7, 2026 5:04 am
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says trade negotiations with the United States had turned “nasty” after President Donald Trump derided America’s neighbor and its leadership while threatening to expand tariffs. Carney said Canada remained engaged in the negotiations despite Trump’s comments, describing the talks as a fight to protect Canadian workers and businesses. Trump criticized Canada during a speech Wednesday in Las Vegas. Carney laughed when asked about Trump’s description. He said Canadian negotiators were in Washington this week and that he expected further conversations with Trump after speaking with him last week.
August 7, 2026 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration plans to overhaul Head Start, a key early education program for the nation’s neediest children. Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services say the changes posted online Thursday would encourage more local decision-making by eliminating many federal regulations. Critics argue this could undermine Head Start’s effectiveness. The program currently serves around 700,000 vulnerable children, including those who are homeless or in foster care. The proposed changes would replace extensive federal regulations with state and local requirements. Officials claim this could save more than $2 billion and expand the program’s reach, but experts warn it may lower standards. The public has 60 days to weigh in.
August 7, 2026 5:03 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher has defeated Congressman Andy Ogles in a Republican primary. Ogles’ defeat marks a rare rejection of a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump. Voters also chose two Memphis area lawmakers — Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor and Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson — to face off in a reconfigured district. The primaries test a new U.S. House map redrawn by Republican state lawmakers. Republicans are aiming for a clean sweep of Tennessee’s congressional seats in November. The redistricting has sparked controversy, with some voters expressing concerns about diluted representation.
August 7, 2026 5:01 am
A New Mexico court has ordered Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta to pay $567 million to address harms to young people from its platforms. The order came late Thursday in the second phase of a landmark trial that the social media giant lost in March. Judge Bryan Biedscheid said $420 million of the money will be used for treatment services for young people. The rest will go toward awareness and prevention, screening services and other costs over the next five years. Meta said in a statement that it disagreed with the ruling and will appeal it. Meta added that it remains confident in its record of protecting teens online.
