March 3, 2026 5:03 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A top Sri Lankan official says 32 people have been rescued from a sinking Iranian naval ship off Sri Lanka’s southern coast and have been admitted to a hospital. Dr. Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, said on Wednesday that one of them is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment and others are treated for minor injuries. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Sri Lanka’s navy received information that the ship Iris Dena with 180 onboard was under distress, and that the island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission. There were no immediate details as to how the sailors were wounded and how the ship was damaged.
March 4, 2026 5:05 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 11 cents overnight in the U.S. And drivers in Europe waited in line to fill their tanks with fuel. This happened as war engulfed the Middle East and shipments of oil and gas were stranded in the Persian Gulf. Gasoline prices are rising as oil prices soar to levels not seen in more than a year. The spikes are happening after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran and Iran launched a series of retaliatory attacks, including a drone strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
March 4, 2026 5:38 pm
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas judge is hearing evidence on whether Camp Mystic, where 25 girls and two counselors were killed in catastrophic floods last year, should remain closed. One victim’s family also is asking a Travis County judge to halt any construction at the camp while their lawsuit is pending. Eight-year-old Cile Steward was swept away during the flooding and her body still has not been recovered. She’s one of two victims never accounted for after last July 4’s flood. Cile’s parents have sued the owners of Camp Mystic, the all-girls camp along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country that flooded last summer.
March 3, 2026 5:06 am
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s prime minister says Spain rejects the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran, even after Washington threatened trade punishment in response. Pedro Sánchez has replied to a warning that President Donald Trump made Tuesday. Sánchez’s government has said Spain will not allow the U.S. to use joint bases in the European Union country in attacks on Iran. He says the war risks “playing Russian roulette” with millions of lives. Sánchez has called the U.S and Israel’s actions in Iran unjustifiable.
March 4, 2026 5:07 am
DALLAS (AP) — State Rep. James Talarico topped Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in Texas’ closely watched Democratic Senate primary. He’ll face the winner of a May runoff for the Republican nomination between Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Cornyn and Paxton were the top finishers in a three-way contest Tuesday with Rep. Wesley Hunt. No GOP candidate hit the 50% vote threshold needed to win outright. Texas, along with North Carolina and Arkansas, on Tuesday kicked off midterm elections with control of Congress at stake and against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
March 4, 2026 5:47 pm
(AP) – A new study in the journal Nature says most sea level rise research may have underestimated coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot or about 30 centimeters. The discrepancy stems from widespread reliance on gravitational models that account for Earth’s gravity and rotation but overlook local drivers of sea level including tides, currents and wind. Correcting this suggests a 1-meter or 3-foot rise could inundate up to 37% more land and threaten as many as 132 million more people. And that has major implications for climate adaption planning and finance. The findings come as a new report warns that major gaps in understanding how much carbon the ocean absorbs are also skewing global climate projections.
March 3, 2026 5:08 am
A rule change for primary voting in two Texas counties led to mass voter confusion that eventually led to a state supreme court ruling, threats of more legal action and the potential that an untold number of voters could find themselves disenfranchised. An unknown number of voters in the counties were turned away Tuesday and directed to different precincts after the recent change in how the primary is conducted. Voters had been allowed to cast their ballot anywhere in their county since 2019. But for Tuesday’s primary, the Republican parties in Dallas and Williamson counties opted against countywide voting. That meant voters could cast ballots only at their assigned precinct, but many weren’t aware of the change.
March 3, 2026 3:55 am
City Mission says it is planning to close its Monongahela Thrift Store, located at thrift store at 211 West Main Street. The store will officially conclude operations on Saturday, March 14th. Officials say their decision is part of a strategic initiative to optimize the Mission’s resources and prioritize the life-changing ministry that the stores exist to support. By consolidating retail efforts into its five other regional locations, they say City Mission is ensuring that every resource is used as effectively as possible to provide food, medical care, and safe housing for neighbors in crisis. Remaining the best possible stewards of community support is City Mission’s first priority. This transition ensures the organization remains financially strong and fully focused on its core programs. While City Mission has valued its time in Monongahela, this shift is essential for the long-term health and sustainability of the ministry. City Mission officials say they are incredibly grateful for the support shown by the Monongahela community over the years and looks forward to continuing those relationships at its five nearby locations: North Strabane, Canonsburg, Washington, Waynesburg, and Uniontown.
March 4, 2026 5:01 am
PITTSBURGH — Kennywood and Sandcastle Water Park are hiring more than 2,000 employees ahead of the 2026 season. The parks will host a dual job fair on March 7 at Kennywood to recruit for various positions across both properties. Kennywood is seeking more than 1,500 hosts to join its staff for the upcoming year. Sandcastle Water Park is currently hiring more than 500 team members for its summer operations. The hiring event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet current staff, learn about open roles and participate in on-the-spot interviews. Starting pay for park employees is up to $15 per hour. Job opportunities are available across all park departments, including ride operations, security and lifeguards. Other open positions include roles in food and beverage, park services and admissions.
March 3, 2026 3:21 pm
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel stepped up airstrikes on Iranian missile launchers and factories, and Iran retaliated against Israel and across the Gulf region, disrupting energy supplies and travel. As explosions rang out in Tehran and in Lebanon — where Israel said it struck Hezbollah militants — the American embassy in Saudi Arabia came under drone attack. Four days into a war that President Donald Trump suggested would last several weeks but perhaps longer, hundreds of people have been killed in Iran, including people Trump said he had considered as possible future leaders of the country. As the conflict expanded across the region, the State Department said Tuesday it’s preparing military and charter flights for Americans who want to leave the Middle East.
