August 8, 2025 5:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum requiring colleges to prove they do not consider race in admissions. This follows a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 against affirmative action. The court allowed colleges to consider how race has shaped students’ lives if applicants shared that information in essays. Trump’s Republican administration accuses colleges of using personal statements as proxies to consider race. The policy issued Thursday has similarities to parts of agreements with Brown and Columbia universities, which agreed to provide data on race as part of settlements to restore their federal funding. Conservatives argue colleges still consider race through proxy measures, but no clear pattern emerged in the racial makeup of last year’s freshman class.
August 8, 2025 5:16 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it plans to take over Gaza City in another escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas. The decision, made after a late-night meeting of top officials, drew Palestinian rejection, fueled mounting international calls to end the war and provoked worries in Israel over the fate of hostages still held by Hamas. Israel’s air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. Another major ground operation would almost certainly exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe. Hamas in a statement rebuffed Netanyahu’s plans and vowed remain defiant.
August 8, 2025 5:03 am
A Washington teenager accused of cutting off his ankle monitor and then shooting a man multiple times in the city of Washington has been arrested. Sixteen-year-old Tristan Lassic was taken into custody Thursday night after a SWAT situation in Banksville in Allegheny County. The city shooting happened on July 29th around 1:30 a.m. when police allege Lassic shot Rashard Carter multiple times near Lassic’s home at 47 Shannon Ave. Carter was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, but there has been no information on his condition. Authorities say that earlier this year, Lassic appeared before a judge on a firearms charge, but was released on bond and sent home with an ankle bracelet. Lassic is being held in the Washington County Jail without bond.
August 8, 2025 2:50 am
Washington City Council voted on a measure Thursday to approve a Conciliation Agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mayor JoJo Burgess was limited on the amount of information that he was able to disclose. He did say that the nature of the infraction stemmed from a paperwork filing error. There is no fine involved with the infraction either. In other business, council approved a resolution moving the final day for solid waste collection payments to December 31. Burgess also recognized two individuals and a community resource. Grady Hinkler was given a proclamation for his Eagle Scout award and his work installing garden boxes at JFK Catholic School. Burgess also bestowed the “Pride In Washington” award to The LeMoyne Community Center for its work in making the community a better place to live. He also honored the LeMoyne Community Center’s Executive Director Teresa Burroughs for her work at the center. Burgess said that the center was on the brink of collapse, and Burroughs, through her hard work brought it back making it a resource for individuals of all ages, all over the city.
August 7, 2025 3:29 pm
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that to destroy Hamas Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip. He said Israel would eventually transfer Gaza’s administration to friendly Arab forces, as the Security Cabinet discussed a widening of its 22-month offensive. Asked in an interview with Fox News if Israel would “take control of all of Gaza,” Netanyahu replied: “We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza.” The Security Cabinet would still need to approve such a decision. Hospitals in Gaza meanwhile said at least 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings. (Photo: AP)
August 7, 2025 2:56 pm
THOMPSON, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say two Pennsylvania State Police Troopers responded to an incident in the area of State Route 171 in Thompson Township, Susquehanna County on Thursday morning and during the encounter, a male suspect opened fire on the responding Troopers, wounding two of them. Authorities say Trooper Joseph Perechinsky and Trooper William Jenkins suffered serious injuries as a result of the gunfire and were airlifted to a medical facility for emergency treatment. Both are hospitalized and are currently listed in stable condition. The investigation is active and ongoing. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
August 7, 2025 2:51 pm
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are searching for a man who they say attacked a woman in the Hill District on April 23. Police said an active arrest warrant is out for Bryant Garrett, 62. He’s charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery and terroristic threats. The woman who was attacked on April 23 in the 2200 block of Webster Avenue sustained significant injuries. Police said Garrett is known to frequent the Hill District and may have shaved his head and goatee to avoid being arrested. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 412-255-6787.
August 7, 2025 2:26 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is forcing out more senior officials, including a former acting director who resisted Trump administration demands to turn over the names of agents who participated in Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigations and the head of the bureau’s Washington field office. That’s according to people familiar with the matter and internal communications seen by The Associated Press on Thursday. Brian Driscoll led the bureau in the weeks that followed President Donald Trump’s inauguration last January. Steven Jensen for months led the Washington office, one of the bureau’s largest and busiest. Driscoll and Jensen have sent farewell messages to colleagues. (Photo: AP)
August 7, 2025 2:11 pm
(WPXI) ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Robinson Township police officer is facing assault charges after a run-in with a local business owner. Court paperwork alleges that off-duty officer Steve Pies punched the man in the face following a traffic dispute back on July 2. According to the criminal complaint, it started when Al Cannella, owner of Al’s Service, failed to yield to Pies when turning onto Forest Grove Road. Cannella then drove to his business and Pies followed. Pies then, allegedly, got out of his truck and began yelling at Cannella before punching him in the face. Cannella fell into his own truck, fracturing multiple ribs. He told Channel 11 he did not want to comment on the incident at this time. As for Officer Pies, the complaint states he admitted his involvement to a Sergeant. We did reach out to Robinson Township Police about the status of Officer Pies. We were told the department was working on a statement. So far, we have not received it. Pies is due in court on August 26.
August 7, 2025 8:48 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits rose modestly last week, a sign that employers still retaining workers despite economic uncertainty related to U.S. trade policy. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 2 rose by 7,000 to 226,000, slightly more than the 219,000 new applications analysts forecast. The report is the first government labor market data release since Friday’s grim July jobs report sent financial markets spiraling downward, spurring President Donald Trump to fire the head of the agency that tallies the monthly jobs numbers. Applications for jobless benefits serve as a proxy for layoffs.
