August 22, 2026 4:19 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is imposing 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in already tense relations between the historic allies. Canada says it will retaliate. President Donald Trump’s import taxes taking effect Saturday will hit about 5% of what Canada ships to the United States every year, including products ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says, “Canada will match those tariffs dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses.” He is blaming Washington for the breakdown, saying “last-minute changes in the U.S. proposed terms were unfair.”
August 22, 2026 4:24 am
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump says the first step toward keeping Darline Graham as a U.S. senator from South Carolina involves helping her win a Republican runoff next week. The Republican president also begged supporters to pretend he’s on the ballot Tuesday. Trump was nodding to the reality that Republican base voters lose interest in elections when he isn’t on the ballot. Trump went to Myrtle Beach on Friday to support Sen. Darline Graham, his chosen candidate to succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. She is serving out the remainder of her brother’s term. She faces Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s runoff.
August 22, 2026 4:29 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for allowing the White House to continue construction for now on his $400 million White House ballroom project. Chief Justice John Roberts signed a temporary order Friday letting work continue as the court considers an emergency appeal from Trump’s Republican administration. Speaking later Friday in South Carolina, Trump thanked the court and Roberts and called the court’s action a “good thing.” The temporary order came hours before lower-court rulings would have forced a halt to aboveground construction of the project because Trump didn’t get congressional approval.
August 22, 2026 4:26 am
TikTok has reached a $400 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, ending a 2024 lawsuit alleging the company violated federal children’s privacy laws. The DOJ said Friday that TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and another $100 million after an order vacates an earlier consent decree against its predecessor company, Musical.ly. Since the DOJ’s lawsuit in 2024, TikTok has undergone major changes, most notably in the ownership structure of its U.S. arm. In January, the social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture.
August 22, 2026 4:17 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least two people overnight in Ukraine. A railway worker died Saturday in a ballistic missile strike on Kyiv that Russia’s Defense Ministry say hit a locomotive depot, while another person was killed in the Zaporizhzhia region. The attacks come a day after a drone attack on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih killed 16 and wounded 130, with nine still missing. Russia has intensified ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, exploiting Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot interceptors, the only weapon in its arsenal able to down them.
August 22, 2026 4:21 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas court has slashed a $50 million judgment against Infowars founder Alex Jones to about $6 million over falsely calling the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, school shootings a hoax. The ruling does not affect a $1.25 billion judgment against Jones in Connecticut, but is a significant legal victory for him after being found liable for damages for claiming the mass shooting didn’t happen. Despite the multiple financial judgments against him in Connecticut and Texas, Jones has yet to make any payments to victims’ families. He is fighting the judgments through lengthy appeals in both states.
August 22, 2026 4:15 am
ELSENBORN, Belgium (AP) — The wildfires burning across Europe this summer have exposed a potentially deadly threat lurking beneath the blackened landscape: rusty bombs and mines from World War I and II. The explosives now threaten crews fighting the fires. Some of the weapons have exploded in the intense heat. Blasts have been reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Fires can ignite old munitions but can also burn away the scrub and brush that hides them. This wildfire season was supercharged by heavy rains in January, which spurred vegetation growth that became kindling when the summer heat arrived.
August 22, 2026 1:49 am
The parents of Karoline Heintz have released a statement through the Pennsylvania State Police following their daughter’s death: “This is a parent’s worst nightmare. It has been devastating for family, friends and the whole community. Karoline was loved by all. She was a kind, smart, beautiful girl. We want justice for our “sweet” Karoline. Please respect our privacy as we grieve.”
Meanwhile, PennWest University and the California (PA) athletic department released this statement: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Karoline Heintz, a first-year student and member of the California women’s soccer team. California Athletics is devastated by the tragic loss of our student-athlete Karoline Heintz. Karoline was a bright and kind young woman with so much ahead of her. She will always remain in our hearts. Our deepest condolences are with her family, friends, teammates, coaches and all who knew and loved her.” Members of the Counseling Center are available to support students and members of the University community. The California Campus Counseling Center is located in Carter Hall (Room G-65) and is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heintz, a defender for the Vulcans, graduated from Peters Township High School this spring and was beginning her first year at PennWest. With the support of PennWest California and Karoline’s family, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) will observe a moment of silence at all conference athletic events held from Thursday, August 27, through Thursday, September 3rd. The tribute will provide an opportunity for the PSAC community to remember Karoline and stand in support of her family, friends, teammates, coaches and the PennWest California community.
August 22, 2026 2:38 am
The body of 18-year-old Karoline Heintz, a first year student at PennWest California University, was found In the early morning hours of August 20. Heintz’s family contacted California Borough Police after they were unable to contact her as earlier planned. Her body was found stabbed and stuffed into an SUV in front of the California Public Library. Pennsylvania State Police were able to add more detail to her killing. Heintz’s boyfriend Royce Moser and his mother Rachel Moser are facing multiple felony charges for Heintz’s killing. State Police Spokesperson Rocco Gagliardi provided the order of events that led up to the killing. According to Gagliardi, a party was held at Heintz’s Peters Township home. Heintz and Moser then went to Moser’s father’s home in North Strabane Township where an argument ensued. Royce went into his father’s home, retrieved a knife and stabbed Heintz. Moser took Heintz in her car to his mother’s home in Beallsville where they attempted to clean up blood evidence. They then took the vehicle to California Borough and dumped it in front of the library. Police apprehended the pair at Rachel Moser’s Beallsville home. Interviews with the pair took up most of the day before they were taken to the Washington County Jail at roughly 7:30 pm. Royce Moser is being charged with homicide abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence and other related charges. Rachel Moser is facing hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering and other charges. Both are awaiting preliminary arraignment either late Thursday or first thing in the morning on Friday. The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy. Police state that this is an isolated incident and there is no reason for further concern.
August 22, 2026 1:50 am
The cases of two men accused of killing a Langeloth woman and injuring her son during a botched robbery attempt in June of 2025 continue to make their way through court. During a status conference hearing, Michael Pyles 39, of New Martinsville, West Virginia requested a December jury trial. His accomplice, Walter Winland, 39 of Canonsburg asked for a continuance in order to have his case severed from Pyles’ case. Police records state that the two devised a plan to rob 37 year old Renee Gill of drugs. During the robbery attempt, Gill’s son Ronald Brown got into a fight with Pyles causing a gun to fire and strike Brown. The fight continued and the gun went off a second time striking Gill and the shot eventually killed her. Both men face homicide, robbery and aggravated assault charges along with other related charges. They continue to be held in the Washington County Jail without bond.
