May 16, 2025 4:20 am
A federal judge in Maryland will hear arguments over whether the Trump administration can invoke the state secrets privilege in the court case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The judge had ordered Abrego Garcia’s return from El Salvador in April after he was mistakenly deported. She has since directed the administration to provide information about what it’s done to bring him back. Government lawyers say those details are protected state secrets. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys disagree. They note that President Donald Trump and his administration have repeatedly discussed the case publicly and said Abrego Garcia won’t return. The judge’s hearing was set to begin Friday afternoon.
May 16, 2025 4:17 am
ATLANTA (AP) — A hospital is using a breathing tube and other measures to keep a brain-dead Georgia woman’s body functioning because she is pregnant. Her family says it should have the option to stop the life-support devices but that they’ve been told state law removes that choice. Georgia bars abortion in most cases after cardiac activity can be detected, which is usually around six weeks into pregnancy. One expert says whether states can force measures to preserve the life of a fetus are murky in the aftermath of the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door to state abortion bans.
May 16, 2025 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems intent on keeping a block on President Donald Trump’s restrictions on birthright citizenship while looking for a way to scale back nationwide court orders. It’s unclear what such a decision might look like. But a majority of the court expressed concerns Thursday about what would happen if the Trump administration were allowed, even temporarily, to deny citizenship to the children born of some immigrants. The justices heard arguments in Trump’s emergency appeals over lower court orders that have kept the restrictions on hold nationwide while lawsuits go forward. Nationwide injunctions have emerged as a check on Trump’s efforts to remake the government and a source of frustration to the Republican president.
May 16, 2025 4:05 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI)-A woman has pleaded guilty to vandalizing a Squirrel Hill synagogue. The words “Jews 4 Palestine” and an inverted triangle were spray-painted onto the exterior of Chabad of Squirrel Hill last July. An entry sign at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh was vandalized on the same day. Two people were later federally charged with the vandalism. On Thursday, Talya Lubit, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and defacing and damaging a religious building. During the multi-federal agency investigation, agents uncovered that Lubit had been communicating with a man named Muhammad Hamad. Their conversations consisted of anti-Semitic rhetoric. Plus, according to investigators, Hamad was making homemade bombs. In fact, he detonated three of them, and detectives included the photos in their complaint. Through the investigators, detectives learned a third person was involved in the vandalism. That person is also now facing charges. Lubit, according to the Department of Justice, has agreed to pay full restitution for the damage done to the Chabad property and the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh sign. She’ll be sentenced in September.
May 16, 2025 4:01 am
Pennsylvania American Water issued a release advising motorists of paving work to be performed on Friday. As part of their project of installing a new water main, contractors will pave both lanes of McClelland Road. The work will begin at McDowell Lane and stretch to Anderson Drive. Traffic restrictions will begin on May 16 and run through May 30. All work will be done between 7:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. All work is dependent on weather. Motorists are asked to consider alternate routes.
May 15, 2025 5:06 am
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — President Donald Trump is urging Qatar to use its influence over Iran to persuade the country’s leadership to reach an agreement with the U.S. over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. Trump is visiting Qatar as part of a three-country Mideast swing. He made the appeal during a state dinner held Wednesday in his honor by Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Trump, who also visited Saudi Arabia this week, will wrap up his three-country Mideast tour with a visit to the United Arab Emirates. While in Riyadh on Wednesday, Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a one-time insurgent leader who fought against the U.S. in Iraq.
May 15, 2025 5:04 am
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers have approved a referendum seeking to repeal an abortion-rights amendment passed by voters six months ago. The Republican-led Senate voted Wednesday to place a new amendment on the statewide ballot that would instead impose a ban on most abortions, with exceptions for rape and incest. The vote came after the GOP majority used a rare procedural move to cut off debate by Democrats who opposed the measure. The new referendum would go before voters in November 2026 unless Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe calls a special election sooner than that. Missouri senators also passed legislation that would repeal a voter-approved paid sick leave law.
May 15, 2025 5:01 am
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A hospital in southern Gaza says 54 people have been killed in overnight airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis. An Associated Press cameraman counted 10 airstrikes on the city overnight into Thursday and saw numerous bodies taken to the morgue in Nasser Hospital. Some bodies arrived in pieces, with some body bags containing the remains of multiple people. The hospital’s morgue confirmed 54 people had been killed. The strikes come as U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East, visiting Gulf states but not Israel. There had been hope that Trump’s regional visit could usher in a ceasefire or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
May 15, 2025 4:58 am
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s not surprised that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a no-show for anticipated peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey this week. Trump had pressed for Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in Istanbul this week. But on Thursday he brushed off Putin’s decision to not take part in the expected talks in Istanbul. Trump said, “I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there.” The president’s comments came in an exchange with reporters as he took part in a business roundtable with executives in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his visit to the Middle East.
May 15, 2025 4:55 am
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Russian officials say Russia’s delegation has arrived in Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine. However, President Vladimir Putin was not part of the delegation, according to a list released by the Kremlin Wednesday night, prompting criticism from Western officials that Moscow isn’t serious about the peace effort. AUkrainian official said a delegation including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on its way the Turkish capital Ankara. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy challenged the Russian leader to meet in person in Turkey. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenged the Russian leader to meet in person in Turkey. Ukraine’s presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said Zelenskyy will sit at the table only with Putin
