May 8, 2025 5:01 am
LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates on Thursday as a result of the potential shock to growth emanating from the tariff policies of the Trump administration. Most economists think it’s a near-certainty that the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee will sanction a quarter-point reduction in the bank’s main interest rate to 4.25%. There’s some speculation that some members may opt for an even bigger half-point cut. Economists are going to be particularly interested in the bank’s accompanying economic forecasts as they will be the first since U.S. President Donald Trump made his tariff announcement in early April. Though tariffs on U.K. goods have been paused, uncertainty remains high.
May 8, 2025 4:59 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — After three former Memphis police officers were acquitted in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, community and civil rights leaders are expressing outrage over another disappointment in the long push for police reform. Nichols’s death more than two years ago sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for systemic change as the first post-George Floyd case that revealed the limits of an unprecedented reckoning over racial injustice in Black America. Now, Wednesday’s acquittals again show the need for reforms at the federal level, civil rights leaders say.
May 8, 2025 4:56 am
A deadly midair collision in January between a military helicopter and a commercial airliner, and several crashes since, have prompted officials to focus on fixing the nation’s outdated air traffic control system and hiring more controllers. They say doing so would help ensure safety and prevent the kind of problems that have plagued the Newark, New Jersey, airport since its radar system failed briefly last week. The Federal Aviation Administration is also working on a more immediate fix for the technology and staffing problems in Newark while a broader overhaul is in the works. A broader multibillion-dollar plan will be announced Thursday for long-overdue upgrades to the nation’s air traffic control system.
May 8, 2025 4:53 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvanians 21 or older would be allowed to legally purchase and use marijuana under a bill that has passed the state House on Wednesday. It is the first time a recreational cannabis proposal has been approved by either legislative chamber. All Republicans voted no, but the bill was advanced from the Democratic majority to the Senate by a single vote. Democratic supporters say the proposal will create jobs, ensure a safe product and maintain affordable prices for consumers. But Republican opponents counter that legalization will increase marijuana usage, cause health issues and create safety problems at workplaces. The bill seems likely to see changes if senators decide to act on it.
May 8, 2025 4:51 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was meeting recently with representatives from a teachers union when things quickly devolved. Fetterman began repeating himself, shouting and slamming his hands on a desk. That’s according to two people who were briefed about the meeting and were granted anonymity to discuss it. Fetterman said in a statement through his office that he and the officials “had a spirited conversation” and said he will always support teachers. The interaction adds to the questions being raised about the Democratic senator’s mental health and behavior barely three years after a he survived a stroke and two years after being treated for depression.
May 8, 2025 4:47 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — The Washington County Coroner has a preliminary identification on the human remains found in a wooded area next to Interstate 70. Coroner Tim Warco is reassuring the public that there’s nothing to be concerned about regarding this case, after receiving multiple calls. “I want to reassure the community there is no danger of an actor out there hurting anyone,” said Warco. “The skeletal remains have been there for a number of years, just haphazardly found by a walker, a passerby, who got lost, and came across what I’m sure was very earth-shattering to her.” The coroner’s office is working with an anthropologist and the team from Mercyhurst, who carefully collected and removed the remains. While early forensic reports don’t know show anything suspicious, Warco says it will still be hard to determine the exact cause of death. “We probably will never know the cause of death, simply because of the advanced age of the skeletal remains found in the woods,” said Warco. Warco believes the body may be that of a person who was reported missing during what he called, ‘the Covid period.’ And they have contacted a family member. However, he won’t be making an official identification until a lengthy and thorough investigation.
May 8, 2025 4:41 am
Pennsylvania State Police troopers gathered with community members Tuesday morning for a solemn memorial service honoring fallen officers at the Fraternal Order of Police National Lodge 47 in Eighty Four. Troopers from surrounding barracks, including Uniontown and Washington, joined together to commemorate their fellow officers who gave their lives in the line of duty. The ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily and the deep sense of solidarity among them. “I hope people take a moment to realize that police officers lay down their lives every day,” said Lieutenant Michael Irwin of the Uniontown barracks. “We took an oath and we hold to that oath year in and year out.” Seventeen fallen officers were recognized during the service. Their names were read aloud, each one echoing through the crowd, followed by the traditional playing of “Taps.” A ceremonial gun salute was also held, with troopers firing blanks in a time-honored tribute to the fallen. Local officials and residents joined in the ceremony which emphasized the unity between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The event was hosted as part of an annual ongoing commitment to honor the legacy of those who served with dedication and bravery.
May 8, 2025 2:18 am
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 6:14 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday, brushing off President Donald Trump’s demands to lower borrowing costs, and said that the risks of higher unemployment and higher inflation have risen. The Fed kept its rate at 4.3% for the third straight meeting, after cutting it three times in a row at the end of last year. Many economists and Wall Street investors still expect the Fed will reduce rates two or three times this year, but the sweeping tariffs imposed by Trump have injected a tremendous amount of uncertainty into the U.S. economy and the Fed’s policies.
May 7, 2025 6:12 pm
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Three former Memphis officers have been acquitted of all state charges, including second-degree murder, in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols after he ran away from a traffic stop. An out-of-town jury from a majority-white county found Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith not guilty on all charges after a trial in Memphis state court. The three defendants still face the prospect of years in prison after they were convicted last year of some federal charges and acquitted on others. Nichols fled a 2023 traffic stop after he was yanked out of his car, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser. Five officers who are also Black caught up with him and then fatally beat him.
