April 30, 2025 5:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy slumped for the fifth straight month to the lowest level since the onset of COIVD-19 as worries about the impact of tariffs take a heavy toll on consumer expectations for future growth. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 7.9 points in April to 86, its lowest reading since May 2020. The figures reflect a rapidly souring mood among consumers, most of whom expect prices to rise because of the widespread tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
April 30, 2025 5:18 am
The U.S. economy shrank 0.3% from January through March, first drop in three years. It was slowed by a surge in imports as companies in the United States tried to bring in foreign goods before President Donald Trump imposed massive tariffs. The January-March expansion was the slowest in almost three years and was down from 2.4% in the last three months of 2024. Imports shaved 5 percentage points off first-quarter growth. Consumer spending also slowed sharplye
April 30, 2025 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is acknowledging that his tariffs could result in fewer and costlier products in the United States. He says American kids might “have two dolls instead of 30 dolls.” But he’s also insisting China will suffer more from his trade war. The Republican president has tried to reassure a nervous country that his tariffs won’t provoke a recession. But a new government report shows the U.S. economy shrank during the first three months of the year. Trump told his Cabinet on Wednesday that his tariffs meant China was “having tremendous difficulty because their factories are not doing business.” He said the U.S. didn’t really need imports from the world’s dominant manufacturer.
April 30, 2025 2:42 am
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh says a Washington man has been charged with criminal homicide in the shooting death of 28 year old Nasstylejah Wilkerson of Washington. Walsh says they have issued an arrest warrant for Trevon McCrary. Wilkerson was shot just before noon on Monday near JFK elementary school and was found lying on the sidewalk in the 100 block of West Walnut Street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to UPMC Washington Hospital where he died in the emergency room. The shooting happened near the school’s playground where dozens of children had been playing. Walsh says they were able to name a suspect quickly, thanks to investigative work by the City of Washington Police Department and witnesses in the area. He tells WJPA they do believe they have a motive for the shooting, however they are not releasing that information at this time.
April 29, 2025 5:16 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed executive orders to relax some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts. Tuesday’s action is a significant reversal as the import taxes threatened to hurt domestic manufacturers. Automakers and independent analyses have indicated that the tariffs could raise prices, reduce sales and make U.S. production less competitive worldwide. Trump portrayed the changes as a bridge toward automakers moving more productions into the United States. The administration provides automakers that finish their vehicles domestically a 15% rebate this year, offsetting the cost of the tariffs. That rebate would be 10% the second year, giving automakers some time to relocate production of parts to the U.S.
April 29, 2025 5:11 am
Kraft Heinz lowered its full-year sales and earnings guidance Tuesday, citing weaker customer spending in the U.S. and the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. It’s the latest big food company to issue disappointing results. Last week, PepsiCo lowered its full-year earnings forecast, also citing tariffs. Kraft Heinz acknowledged that it’s in a tough spot. It needs to keep prices low to prevent consumers from migrating to cheaper store brands of products like ketchup. But tariffs will add to its expenses. The company said it’s looking for alternative suppliers and may reformulate some products to try to mitigate tariff costs.
April 29, 2025 5:08 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Italian cardinal at the heart of the Vatican’s “trial of the century” announced Tuesday he was withdrawing from participating in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope. Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s status has dominated discussions in the days after Pope Francis’ death amid questions about whether he would participate in the conclave to elect his successor. After his 2020 downfall, Becciu had said he would not participate in any future conclave. But in recent days he had asserted he had a right to enter the Sistine Chapel with other cardinals on May 7. On Tuesday, the 76-year-old Italian issued a statement through his lawyers that said he had “decided to obey” the will of Pope Francis.
April 29, 2025 5:06 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A man was electrocuted in Pittsburgh‘s South Side Slopes neighborhood after severe storms moved through the city on Tuesday afternoon. A Pittsburgh Public Safety official says police, fire and EMS responded to the 1000 block of St. Martin Street for a man electrocuted by live wires around 7 p.m. He died on scene. “I walked down there and [saw] him lying between the car and the truck, and his feet were on fire and wires were lying on top of him,” Mike Bryan said. Pittsburgh Public Safety urges residents to use extreme caution after the storm, especially as night falls, due to storm damage hazards like downed trees and possible live wires.
April 29, 2025 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is opening a weeklong celebration of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. Officials kicked off the promotional campaign Monday with a focus on his immigration crackdown. Tom Homan, Trump’s top border adviser, said “we’re going to keep doing it, full speed ahead.” Trump is holding a rally in Michigan on Tuesday and delivering a commencement address at the University of Alabama on Thursday. Although immigration remains the Republican president’s strongest issue in public opinion surveys, he’s faced declining support overall. Polling from AP-NORC shows there are concerns that he’s focused on the wrong issues.
April 29, 2025 5:05 am
MADRID (AP) — Power had almost fully returned to Spain early Tuesday morning as many questions remained about what caused one of Europe’s most severe blackouts across Spain and Portugal. By 7:00a.m., Spanish electricity operator Red Eléctrica said that more than 99% of energy demand had been restored. Power had returned to several regions across Spain and Portugal as the nations reeled from the still-unexplained widespread blackout that had turned airports and train stations into campgrounds for stranded travelers. Monday night, many city residents, including in Spain’s capital of Madrid, went to sleep in total darkness.
