September 16, 2025 9:37 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers increased their spending at a better-than-expected pace in August from July, helped by back-to-school purchases, even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs are starting to hurt the job market and lead to price hikes. The performance was also helped by the continued efforts by Americans to keep pushing up purchases ahead of expected price increases. Retail sales rose 0.6% last month from July, when sales were up a revised 0.6%, according to the Commerce Department’s report released Tuesday.
September 16, 2025 9:11 am
Robert Redford has died at 89. The Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema died in Utah on Tuesday. His publicist didn’t immediately provide a cause of death. After rising to stardom in the 1960s, Redford was one of the biggest stars of the ’70s with such films as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were.” Redford played the wily outlaw opposite Paul Newman in 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” a box-office smash from which Redford’s Sundance Institute and festival got its name.
September 16, 2025 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the Federal Reserve widely expected to reduce its key interest rate by a quarter-point to about 4.1%, economists and Wall Street investors will be looking Wednesday for signs of how deeply the Fed might cut rates in the next few months. There are typically two different approaches the Fed takes to lowering borrowing costs: Either a measured pace that typically reflects a modest adjustment to its key rate, or a much more rapid set of cuts as the economy deteriorates in an often-doomed effort to stave off recession. For now, most economists expect the central bank will take the recalibration approach.
September 16, 2025 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance says the national unity he’s “desperate” for after the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk cannot be had with people who condone political violence. The Republican vice president commented Monday as he wrapped up an appearance hosting Kirk’s radio program. Kirk, the founder of the Turning Point USA political organization, was fatally shot last week as he appeared at a Utah college. Vance said the Trump administration will explore “every option to bring real unity to our country and stop those who would kill their fellow Americans because they don’t like what they say.”
September 16, 2025 4:53 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says its expanded operation in Gaza City has begun and warned residents to move south. It said its intensified operation “to destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure” has started. Israel’s Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced the expansion of Israel’s operation on X on Tuesday morning, after a night of heavy strikes against northern Gaza that killed at least 20 people. Israel has been warning Gaza City residents to evacuate for the past month ahead of a Gaza City operation, but many have said they are unable to evacuate due to overcrowding in Gaza’s south and the high price of transport.
September 16, 2025 4:47 am
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A man faces multiple felony assault charges after police say he fought with several officers at a Pittsburgh hospital. According to the criminal complaint, Naron Weaver, 24, of Pittsburgh, was discharged from UPMC Presbyterian when he got into an argument with a social worker. Police tried to escort him out but said he refused to leave. Officers say the situation escalated and he fought with them. Police said Weaver punched, kicked and bit them as they tried to handcuff him. Four officers were checked out in the emergency room after the incident. Weaver is to face a court hearing in early October.
September 16, 2025 2:55 am
Two Cecil Township Police officers who were indicted by a grand jury waived their cases to court at their preliminary hearing. Cecil Township Police Sergeant John Holt and Officer Shawn McNaughton both face a list of misdemeanor charges. Chief among the charges are, obstruction of administrative law, un-sworn falsification to authorities of forged or altered documents and tampering with public records among others. According to investigators, the case stems from a September 2018 traffic stop where police were alerted to a man appearing to be driving drunk. The officers pulled the man over and said that they could smell alcohol coming from the car. The unidentified driver then told police to call a “senior township official.” They took the driver to the police station and found he had a BAC of .15. Police called the township official who said it is up to police to handle the matter. Initially the driver was written up for a DUI. Investigators say that charge was later changed to a traffic warning approved by Holt. Investigators also state that Holt drove the man home. Both officers are currently on administrative leave. They are free on $1,000 bond. Both will be arraigned in common pleas court on October 23.
September 16, 2025 2:37 am
In the wake of some violent incidents at recent home football games, officials with the Washington School District posted a letter reminding parents and guardians of their policy on supervision of students on Friday nights. District officials say any students younger than eighth grade must be supervised by a parent or guardian and those without the appropriate adult will be denied admission to the stadium. The district says the move is “for the safety of all spectators and to maintain a positive game day experience”.
September 16, 2025 2:27 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania says that the nation must “turn the tide” against political violence and the belief that government can’t solve problems. The Democratic governor delivered the remarks Tuesday at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh, days after the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk. Shapiro says political leaders must condemn all forms of political violence and reject the “rhetoric of vengeance.” Shapiro and his family fled the governor’s office residence in the middle of the night in April after an alleged arsonist broke in and set it on fire in an attempt to kill Shapiro.
September 16, 2025 2:18 am
An Ellsworth man will face trial for his alleged shooting of his ex-girlfriend’s new partner. Christopher Harper, 18 is charged with felony homicide and carrying a firearm without a license in the August 17 shooting of Elijah Johnson, 21 of Carnegie on Walnut Steet in Ellsworth Borough. During his preliminary hearing, the victim’s girlfriend Samiya Kastner testified that she heard a loud boom and saw Harper in her bedroom. She looked at Johnson and saw him in a pool of blood. She testified that she used to date Harper. Earlier testimony from a juvenile placed Harper at the scene. The witness said that she saw Harper pull a gun from a backpack and reach into the bedroom where Johnson was located and heard a loud boom. State Police testimony spoke of an interview with Harper after he was apprehended. Harper stated that he stepped into the bedroom where Johnson was lying next to Kastner. He saw a gun at the end of the bed and Johnson threatened to kill him. Harper then said he shot Johnson. Harper faces additional charges of burglary and reckless endangerment. The judge held all charges for trial.
