April 10, 2025 5:05 am
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The number of people killed when a roof collapsed at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic has surged to 221. Burials and funerals are taking place Thursday for some of the dead, including merengue icon Rubby Pérez who was performing on stage early Tuesday when the cement roof fell onto clubgoers at the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo. The Center of Emergency Operations finalized its search after crews rescued 189 people alive from the rubble. Doctors are warning that some of the two dozen patients who remain hospitalized are still not in the clear, especially eight who are in critical condition.
April 10, 2025 4:54 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is seeking a rate increase this summer that includes hiking the cost of a first-class stamp from 73 cents to 78 cents. The request was made Wednesday to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which must OK the proposal. If approved, the 5-cent increase for a “forever” stamp and similar increases for postcards, metered letters and international mail would take effect July 13. The proposed changes would raise mailing services product prices approximately 7.4%. The Postal Service contends, as it did last year when it enacted a similar increase, that it’s needed to achieve financial stability. President Trump has said he is considering putting USPS under the control of the Commerce Department in an effort to stop losses at the $78 billion-a-year agency, which has struggled at times to balance the books with the decline of first-class mail.
April 10, 2025 4:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new executive order from President Donald Trump that’s part of his effort to invigorate energy production launches the possibility that his Department of Justice will go to court against state laws aimed at slashing planet-warming greenhouse gas pollution from fossil fuels. The order signed by Trump on Tuesday comes as U.S. electricity demand ramps up. It also coincides with “climate superfund” legislation gaining traction in various states. Trump has declared a “national energy emergency” and says his attorney general should take action against state laws targeting climate change. That puts liberal states in the crosshairs of Trump’s Department of Justice. Democratic governors vowed to keep fighting climate change.
April 10, 2025 4:48 am
BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. — (WPXI) – PennDOT is adding Monday hours for the next month to help alleviate long wait times due to the Real ID enforcement deadline approaching. At the Bridgeville Driver’s License Center on Wednesday, frustrations were high with four-hour wait times and many people being turned away for not having the proper documents. “It’s a mad house. It’s complete chaos,” said Nikki Williams, who drove from Washington. “Set aside at least four hours. Get it done as soon as you can, if you’re flying in May, you have to have to get it done.” May 7 is when enforcement begins at airports domestically and in government buildings. You can also use a passport or military ID.
April 9, 2025 5:49 pm
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A magistrate judge in Pennsylvania accused of shooting and wounding her ex-boyfriend in the head as he slept has been convicted of attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges. Sonya McKnight was taken away in handcuffs after the verdict was handed down Wednesday and the trial judge rejected a defense request that she be released. She faces up to 60 years in prison when she’s sentenced May 28. The shooting occurred in February 2024 at the ex-boyfriend’s home. McKnight had lived there, but authorities say the man had repeatedly asked her to leave when their relationship ended.
April 9, 2025 2:15 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a global market meltdown, President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly backed down on his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, but raised his tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%. It was seemingly an attempt to narrow what had been an unprecedented trade war between the U.S. and most of the world to one between the U.S. and China.Global markets surged on the development, but the precise details of Trump’s plans to ease tariffs on non-China trade partners were not immediately clear.
April 9, 2025 10:37 am
BRUSSELS (AP) – European Union member states have voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The tariffs will go into effect in stages, with some on April 15 and others on May 15 and Dec. 1. The EU executive commission didn’t immediately provide a list of the goods Wednesday. Members of the 27-country bloc repeated their preference for a negotiated deal to settle trade issues.
April 9, 2025 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service’s acting commissioner is resigning over a deal to share immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S. Two people familiar with Melanie Krause’s decision confirmed the intended resignation to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about it. The memo signed Monday by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will allow ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records.
April 9, 2025 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed four executive orders aimed at boosting coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that’s long been in decline. Under the orders, Trump will use his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising U.S. power demand amid growth in data centers, artificial intelligence and electric cars. Trump has long promised to boost what he calls “beautiful” coal to fire power plants and for other uses, but the industry has been declining for decades.
April 9, 2025 5:03 am
BANGKOK (AP) —China has raised tariffs to 84% on goods coming from the U.S. in an additional countermeasure. Last week, China said it would levy 34% tariffs on all U.S. goods. China again vowed to “fight to the end” against Donald Trump’s tariffs in a lengthy policy statement published Wednesday, while arguing that trade between the two countries is in balance as a 104% tax on the country’s exports to the U.S. came into effect. “If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” according to a statement introducing the white paper from the Ministry of Commerce.
