October 16, 2025 5:00 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the human cost “cannot be tolerated.” U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order halting the job cuts, saying she believes evidence would show the cuts were illegal. The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers had started. That announcement prompted labor unions for federal employees to ask the judge to block the Republican administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those already sent out. The White House referred a request for comment to the Office of Management and Budget. The budget office has yet to respond.
October 16, 2025 4:59 am
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Col. Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as Madagascar’s new leader after seizing power in a military coup. This rapid takeover ousted President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country. Randrianirina, the commander of an elite army unit, took office at the nation’s High Constitutional Court. The United Nations has condemned the military takeover as unconstitutional. The coup followed weeks of anti-government protests led by young people. Randrianirina plans to run the country with a military council for up to two years before elections. The situation has led to Madagascar’s suspension from the African Union.
October 16, 2025 4:58 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs at the seat of U.S. military power. The refusal was near-unanimous, from trade publications, wire services, television networks and newspapers, and included outlets that appeal largely to conservatives like Fox News Channel and Newsmax. Many of the reporters chose to turn in their badges together at the 4 p.m. deadline set by the Defense Department to vacate the building. Reporters said their work will continue despite the loss of access.
October 16, 2025 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela. The president on Wednesday also said he’s considering land operations following recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela. Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event that he had authorized the move because Venezuela is allowing criminals and drugs to flow into the U.S. On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the record of the U.S. spy agency in various conflicts around the world without directly addressing Trump’s comments about authorizing the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.
October 16, 2025 4:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are rejecting for the 10th time a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government. They are insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. The repetition of votes on the funding bill has become a daily drumbeat in Congress. It underscores how intractable the situation has become as the vote has at times been the only item on the agenda for the Senate floor. House Republicans have left Washington altogether. The impasse has lasted over two weeks, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, even more without a guaranteed payday and Congress essentially paralyzed.
October 16, 2025 4:51 am
FAIRCHANCE, Pa. — A Fayette County school district is warning parents that their kids may have received contaminated shaved ice. The Albert Gallatin Area School District superintendent, Christopher Pegg sent a letter to parents on Wednesday. Pegg said that children who attended a trunk-or-treat at the A.L. Wilson Elementary School on Wednesday evening got shaved ice that may have been contaminated with broken glass and insulin. There’s been no word on how the materials wound up in the ice. Officials say they have called in the State Police to investigate. Anyone who has a child who may have consumed any of the shaved ice is asked to immediately seek medical attention if their child starts showing any adverse effects. The school district is asking anyone impacted to contact their business office.
October 16, 2025 2:34 am
Washington City Police Chief Steve Devenney issued a release Wednesday afternoon, saying that the city police department , along with the District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Washington Regional SWAT Team and East Washington Borough Police served a search warrant at 147 N. Main Street in the city, which is currently being leased and occupied by “Sin City Disciples Motorcycle Club.” Devenney says the goal of the warrant was to obtain vital video information/evidence leading up to and after the shooting that occurred the morning of 10-11-2025. He says this information/evidence may also aid in identifying those individuals who may have crucial information that would aid in this investigation. He says the investigation is ongoing, and they continue to ask those who were present before, during, and after the shooting to please come forward with information. Twenty-year-old Julian Lassic was killed and another individual critically injured. WJPA also spoke with Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh, who said this is an ongoing investigation and he can not comment on details – other than to say the law enforcement officers were armed but no shots were fired. Walsh says one individual was found, but at this time, no further information was released. There was one minor injury when a police officer fell through a ceiling during the search.
October 16, 2025 12:14 am
Freedom Transit held a Community Workshop, looking for feedback on their upcoming five year Transit Development Plan. Sheila Gombita, Executive Director of Freedom Transit says they are looking to navigate an arena where costs are continuing to rise and government funding remains limited. Freedom Transit is looking to increase efficiencies and lower costs on their fixed route and shared ride services. During the meeting scenarios were offered where service routes had small improvements or had defined shortened or streamlined routes. The shared ride service was the area where a great deal of attention was paid. Gombita says that it is the most expensive service they provide. Some changes that could be made include limits to recreational trips, reduced weekday and Saturday hours, a minimum distance trip requirement and limits in rural areas of the county where trips may only be available certain days of the week. Gombita also reintroduced the idea of microtransit routes. She describes them as similar to an Uber or Lyft ride experience. The proposed service would only be available in certain areas of Washington and in the Canonsburg, Houston, Southpointe area. Freedom Transit is looking for your feedback. A survey link is available on their Facebook page and on their website, www.freedom-transit.org
October 15, 2025 6:11 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown is entering a third week, and Democrats say they’re not intimidated by President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come. In fact, Democrats appear emboldened. And they’re showing no signs of caving as they return to Washington from their home states. Senate Democrats, in votes Tuesday and Wednesday, again rejected a Republican bill to open the government. Republicans are now planning additional votes on individual spending bills, starting Thursday with the defense legislation that would fund salaries for the military. It’s unclear whether Democrats will support it.
October 15, 2025 6:07 pm
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the human cost “cannot be tolerated.” U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order halting the job cuts, saying she believes evidence would show the cuts were illegal. The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers had started. That announcement prompted labor unions for federal employees to ask the judge to block the Republican administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those already sent out. Emails sent to the White House and the Office of Management and Budget after the judge’s ruling haven’t been returned.
