May 7, 2025 1:18 pm
Community action agency Blueprints is celebrating 60 years of service, and community impact and empowerment. Over six decades they have enriched lives and strengthened communities by supporting families at every stage of their lives with childhood education, financial and career guidance, housing stability and services for older adults. To recognize Blueprints’ 60th anniversary and May being recognized as Community Action Month, Blueprints will be sponsoring open houses to allow the public to tour their headquarters and regional offices. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet staff and engage in hands on activities that showcase programs offered by Blueprints. The open houses will be on May 16 from 9 a.m. until noon. They will be held at their headquarters at 150 W. Beau St. Suite 304 in Washington. They will also be held in their field offices at 58 E. Greene St. in Waynesburg, 1000 Technology Drive, Suite 2150 in Fairmont, WV, and 103 Euclid Drive in Parkersburg, WV. Select Early Learning locations will also sponsor tours. Contact the location to learn if they are holding an open house.
May 7, 2025 2:16 am
PennDot has announced several bridge preservation projects in Washington County and virtual displays of the projects are available. PennDot is also requesting feedback on the projects. A link to view the virtual presentation of the projects and offer feedback is contained here in this link. Bridge rehabilitation will be divided into three categories. Three bridges will receive a latex overlay with expansion dam repairs. Those are the Barrett Hill Road Bridge over I-79 in Amwell Township, the Paris Colliers Road Bridge over Route 22 and the Laurel Road Bridge over Route 22, both in Hanover Township. A new asphalt overlay with joint repair will be done on the Old Brick Road Bridge over I-70 in Donegal Township. Epoxy overlays and joint repairs will be done on the Piersol Avenue Bridge crossing over Pigeon Creek in Bentleyville, the Main Street Bridge over I-70 in Donegal Township and on the Route 19 Bridge over Route 519 in North Strabane Township. Exact details of the work, timelines of the projects and any traffic disruptions or detours are detailed in the virtual display. Work is anticipated to begin in late August and continue through early November. Public feedback is invited through May 15.
May 7, 2025 4:44 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state Senate is backing a bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports at the collegiate and K-12 levels. However, the Republican-penned bill that passed Tuesday is unlikely to get a vote in the state’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. The bill passed, 32-18, marking the second time the GOP-controlled Senate has passed it. An earlier attempt, with a Republican-controlled House, met then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto in 2022. The bill applies to participation in girls’ and women’s sports that are sponsored by public schools, public universities and publicly chartered community colleges. This bill comes after President Donald Trump declared his intent to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
May 7, 2025 4:46 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A barrier described as an “anti-climb fence” to bolster security is in the works for the Pennsylvania governor’s official residence. The leader of the Pennsylvania State Police mentioned the new fence in a letter to state legislative leaders on Tuesday. It’s been less than a month since a late-night intruder jumped the existing fence, broke into the home and started a damaging fire inside the Harrisburg home of Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family. The man who allegedly broke into the home faces charges that include attempted homicide and arson for the fire on April 13.
May 7, 2025 4:43 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — REAL ID requirements for those flying within the United States begin after more than 20 years of delays. Starting Wednesday, travelers taking a domestic flight and using a state-issued ID to get through security must have one that meets federal REAL ID requirements. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured people Tuesday they will be able to fly after clearing additional identity checks. The Transportation Security Administration warned people who don’t have identification that complies with REAL ID requirements to show up early and be prepared for advanced screening to avoid causing delays.
May 7, 2025 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top U.S. officials are set to meet with a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland. The administration on Tuesday announced the first major talks between the two nations since President Donald Trump sparked a trade war with stiff tariffs on imports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with their counterparts in Geneva in the most-senior known conversations between the two countries in months. The Chinese Commerce Ministry confirmed the meeting, saying they agreed to have contact “after fully considering global expectations, Chinese interests and calls from U.S. businesses and consumers.” It comes amid growing U.S. market worry over the impact of the tariffs.
May 7, 2025 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to announce next week that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia. That’s according to two U.S. officials who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Trump is traveling to Saudi Arabia next week. Arab nations have pushed for a change to the geographic name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historic ties to the gulf. The White House and National Security Council didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
May 7, 2025 5:03 am
ISLAMABAD (AP) — India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations early Wednesday, killing at least 26 people including a child, in what Pakistan’s leader called an act of war. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants linked to last month’s massacre of tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. Pakistan claimed it shot down several Indian fighter jets in retaliation as two planes fell onto villages in India-controlled Kashmir. At least seven civilians were also killed in the region by Pakistani shelling, the Indian army said in a statement. Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbors since the attack, which India has blamed Pakistan for backing. Islamabad has denied the accusation.
May 7, 2025 5:02 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four former housekeepers of Smokey Robinson allege in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the Motown music luminary repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them while they worked for him. The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court seeks at least $50 million in damages over the alleged assaults, which the women say took place between 2007 and 2024, A message seeking comment from a representative for the 85-year-old Robinson was not immediately returned. The four women each say that Robinson would wait until he was alone with them in his Los Angeles house then sexually assault and rape them over their objections and protests.
May 6, 2025 3:28 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of Homeland Security says travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny. Kristi Noem told a congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She says security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday. She says those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step.” But they will still be allowed to fly. (Photo: AP)
