August 20, 2025 5:14 am
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota has joined a wave of states suing TikTok, claiming the app uses addictive algorithms that harm young people’s mental health. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, alleges TikTok violates state laws against deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison accuses TikTok of knowing the dangers but failing to act. The case follows similar lawsuits from about 24 states. TikTok disputes the claims, stating it has safety measures in place. Minnesota seeks a declaration that TikTok’s practices are deceptive and a permanent injunction against them, along with financial penalties. Ellison emphasizes the need for TikTok to operate safely.
August 20, 2025 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook late Wednesday said she wouldn’t leave her post after Trump on social media called on her to resign over an accusation from one his officials that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, the head of the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a Trump appointee, alleged early Wednesday that Cook had claimed two primary residences in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Trump followed up Pulte’s accusation by calling on Cook to resign, in the latest effort by the administration to exert greater control over one of the few remaining independent federal agencies.
August 20, 2025 5:11 am
One person was transported to a local hospital after a two-vehicle crash along Interstate 70 westbound Tuesday morning. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say it happened just before 11 a.m. at mile-marker 22 just before the south junction. Dispatchers say a tractor trailer and a van were involved. The person injured was reportedly in the van. There is no word on their identity or condition. The crash closed both westbound lanes but the highway reopened around noon.
August 20, 2025 5:08 am
A Donora woman is facing arson charges in connection with a fire Monday evening at a home in the 200-block of Allen Avenue. 64 year old Tamara Stewart allegedly set fire to clothing during an argument with her boyfriend. She is charged with aggravated arson, arson endangering property and risking a catastrophe. Stewart is last reported in the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 27.
August 20, 2025 5:01 am
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are looking to the future with a major proposal to expand their stadium at Station Square, a move that team officials and local leaders say could revitalize the South Shore and bring significant economic benefits to the city. At a news conference Tuesday, the Riverhounds unveiled renderings for a proposed expansion that would transform their current venue into a 15,000-seat stadium. The new facility would meet U.S. Soccer’s Division I professional league standards and potentially host larger Division I college matches. The team estimates the project could generate at least $10 million annually for the city. The Riverhounds have applied to join Division I professional soccer, with a projected launch date of 2028.
August 20, 2025 12:35 am
North Strabane residents will be pleased to learn that the township will be receiving over $1.8 million in grant allocations for building projects in the township. Assistant Township Manager Ashley Stack announced at the supervisors agenda meeting that The Pennsylvania LSA Grant program will reimburse $999,940 for renovations performed on the new municipal building. The township will also receive $837,064 from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for construction on the new Public Safety building. Prior to the agenda meeting supervisors held public two public hearings. The first had a traffic engineer hired by Christy Road residents offer his technical memo on previous traffic impact studies that relate to the 160 unit Hidden Acres housing development proposed to be built off of Christy Road. Another hearing will be scheduled to allow developers to respond to the report. Secondly, CC Realty Advisors had a conditional use hearing for their personal warehouse development. The plan calls for four buildings containing 46 units that will have warehouse, office and possibly retail uses in the development.
August 19, 2025 5:17 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C., have falsified crime data. That’s according to two people familiar with the probe who weren’t authorized to publicly discuss an open investigation. The investigation, reported Tuesday, comes amid an escalating showdown between the Trump administration and the city over control of the police department. It wasn’t immediately clear what federal laws could have been violated by the possible manipulation of crime data. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office declined to comment.
August 19, 2025 5:20 am
RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — From Florida to New England, people trying to enjoy some of the last hurrahs of summer along the East Coast have been met with rip-current warnings, closed beaches and in some cases already treacherous waves as Hurricane Erin inches closer. Forecasters expect the center of the monster storm to remain far offshore. But the outer edges are likely to bring high winds, large swells and life-threatening rip currents. The biggest swells along the East Coast could come as early as Wednesday. Authorities are prohibiting people from swimming in beaches in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Delaware.
August 19, 2025 4:56 am
President Donald Trump is vowing more changes to the way elections are conducted in the U.S., but based on the Constitution there is little to nothing he can do on his own. He pledged on his social media site that he would do away with mail voting, which remains popular and is used by about one-third of all voters. He also wants to eliminate voting machines, some form of which are used in almost all of the country’s thousands of election jurisdictions. The Constitution makes the states the entities that determine the “time, place and manner” of elections while allowing Congress to “make” or “alter” rules for federal elections.
August 19, 2025 4:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has started arranging a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Monday, Trump said the U.S. would support European security guarantees to prevent future invasions. Details are still evolving, but European leaders express cautious optimism about Trump’s efforts after their meeting at the White House. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the U.S. commitment to security guarantees as a key outcome. Trump spoke with Putin during the talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders. Concerns remain that Trump might pressure Ukraine into concessions. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for U.S. involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine.
