October 3, 2025 4:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials have approved another generic version of the abortion pill, prompting outrage from some abortion opponents aligned with President Donald Trump. Anti-abortion groups quickly criticized the move Thursday, calling it a “stain” on the Trump administration. The groups have been pushing for a safety review of mifepristone for months. The FDA first approved the drug as a safe and effective way to end pregnancies in 2000. The new version of the pill is from drugmaker Evita Solutions. It’s not the first generic version, which FDA previously approved in 2019.
October 3, 2025 4:50 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Americans’ routine interactions with the federal government this week are increasingly being met with partisan messaging. As a Senate deadlock keeps the federal government unfunded, some traditionally apolitical federal agencies are using their official channels to spread a coordinated political message that the shutdown is the Democrats’ fault. The messages are appearing in banners on agency websites, in autoreplies to emails, and in social media posts. They blame the political party that is out of power in Washington, when both sides are refusing to accommodate the other. Some experts suggest that they might be violating a federal law related to political activity by federal employees.
October 3, 2025 4:49 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is now openly embracing the conservative blueprint he desperately tried to distance himself from during the 2024 campaign. In a post on his Truth Social site Thursday morning, Trump announced he would be meeting with his budget chief, “Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame,” to discuss which federal agencies should be cut and whether the cuts should be permanent. Trump’s comments represent a dramatic about-face after he and his campaign spent much of last year denouncing the massive proposed overhaul of the federal government that was drafted by many longtime allies and current and former administration officials.
October 3, 2025 2:51 am
Washington County Commissioners announced today that they are enhancing courthouse security with the implementation of an advanced AI-powered weapons detection systems. During Thursday’s County Commissioners meeting, the board voted unanimously to replace aging metal detectors with two Evolv touch-less security screening systems. The Evolv systems, which are already in use at major Pittsburgh sporting venues and several school districts, allow individuals to walk through without stopping or removing items from their pockets. This touch-less approach improves both efficiency and safety, reduces wait times and minimizes physical contact during entry screening. “As someone who worked in the courts for almost two decades, I understand that courtroom security is crucial,” said Chair Nick Sherman. “Very few people are in court for good reasons, emotions can run high, and even a simple situation can escalate. With so much violence in the world today, it’s imperative that we protect our county employees an the public.” The Evolv systems will be installed at both the front and back entrances of the courthouse, replacing the aging walk-through metal detectors currently in use. The total cost of the four-year agreement is just over $94,000, with one-third of the funding provided through grants. “As the former Sheriff and law enforcement officer, I understand the importance of keeping up with technology to keep our courthouse safe,” Commissioner Larry Maggi said, noting
that, unfortunately, this is an extremely important and necessary measure. “I love it,” said Vice-Chair Electra Janis. “We need to be at the forefront as technology constantly evolves.”
October 3, 2025 2:21 am
People are wondering when something might happen with the demolition of Courthouse Square. After the County Commissioner’s voting meeting, Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman provided an update. Sherman says that there is a lot of activity on site. He points to EPA regulations that govern the demolition. He said that internal hand work is in the completion stage. Asbestos mitigation, precious metals removal and porcelain removal all should be completed in approximately one month. After that, a crew from Adamo Demolition Company of Detroit, Michigan will come in to tear down the building. Sherman says the process is a robotic process that will employ a robot pulling the demolition debris into the elevator shafts and using conveyor belts to take it to transport vehicles. He says that once the robots are in place, that process will take about a month. Once the demolition is complete, the county will begin construction on the new public safety building. It will be a three story structure that houses the 9-1-1 dispatch center, the sheriff’s office and a booking center.
October 3, 2025 12:52 am
Washington City Council worked on issues on polar opposite sides of daily business at their voting meeting. Council approved the final land development plan for the Washington County Public Safety Building. They also added 15 homes to the demolition list to be torn down in 2026. Councilman Joe Pintola announced that PennDot will be replacing and synchronizing traffic and crossing signals in the spring along Maiden Street and Jefferson Avenue. Councilman Andrew Callan is warning residents that the city is aware of a larger than usual amount of ticks at Washington Park. He says that they are currently working with an exterminator to effectively solve the problem. Councilman Joe DeThomas reports that if a resident finds a dead dear that was not hit by a car to report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The commission is concerned with a deer disease called Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease or EHD. He says that the disease is severely affecting and killing deer in southeastern Ohio and the game commission there is considering cancelling deer hunting season there. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is monitoring the disease closely. If you find a dead deer call the game commission at 1-833-PGC-Wild.
October 2, 2025 7:40 am
LONDON (AP) — Police have reported that two people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a synagogue attack in northern England. Greater Manchester Police believe the suspect is also dead. The incident occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police bomb experts are investigating whether the attacker had an explosive device. The attack involved a car being driven at members of the public and a man being stabbed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his horror at the attack and announced additional police deployment at synagogues across the U.K.
October 2, 2025 5:02 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida has seen a significant increase in immigration, with thousands of migrants arriving under former President Joe Biden. Government data obtained by The Associated Press shows that no state was more affected by the immigrant surge under Biden. Florida had 1,271 migrants who arrived from May 2023 to January 2025 for every 100,000 residents, followed by New York, California, Texas and Illinois. Many immigrants have settled in areas like Orlando, drawn by the Latino community and job opportunities. The influx has boosted Florida’s economy, with immigrants contributing to various sectors. However, with President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, many now fear detention. Community organizations have expanded to support the growing immigrant population.
October 2, 2025 5:00 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have converged on Memphis, Tennessee, to meet with federal agents forming a crime fighting task force there. Bondi says via social media that the Memphis Safe Task Force made more than 50 arrests over a two-day period. The agents include personnel from immigration and drug enforcement. They have begun serving criminal arrest warrants while teaming with state agencies on traffic stops. Bondi says more than 200 officers have been deputized. The Tennessee National Guard is also supposed to begin working with Memphis Police, although it is unclear how soon that will happen.
October 2, 2025 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has seized on the government shutdown as an opportunity to reshape the federal workforce and punish detractors. The administration is threatening mass firings of workers and suggesting “irreversible” cuts to programs and services important to Democrats. The aggressive approach coming from the Trump administration is on par with what certain lawmakers and budget observers feared if Congress failed to do its work and relinquished control to the White House. Thursday is day two of the shutdown, and Congress is at a standstill. Democrats are demanding any bill to reopen government save health care funds. Republicans say they’re willing to have talks about health care, but not now.
