August 13, 2025 5:06 am
BERLIN (AP) — The German government says that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Berlin on Wednesday to join Chancellor Friedrich Merz for talks with European and U.S. leaders ahead of the Trump-Putin summit later this week. Merz has convened a series of virtual meetings on Wednesday in an attempt to have the voice of European and Ukraine’s leaders heard ahead of a summit that they have been sidelined from. Zelenskyy is due to meet with European leaders first, to prepare for a virtual call with U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance about an hour later.
August 13, 2025 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mexico is sending 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States in the latest major deal with the Trump administration. American authorities are ratcheting up pressure on criminal networks sending drugs across the border. Those being handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of “Los Cuinis,” a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. They were being flown to American soil after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members transferred to the U.S. in February.
August 13, 2025 5:05 am
Billionaire SpaceX, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X and its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot app in its top recommended apps in its App Store. Musk posted the comments on X, saying, “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps?” He added that “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.”
August 13, 2025 5:26 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has put a personal touch on this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. Trump announced the honorees himself, naming George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, Kiss and Michael Crawford. Trump is now chair of the Kennedy Center and revealed the names during a Wednesday press conference at the Washington cultural institution. Unlike in Trump’s first term, when he didn’t attend an honors ceremony, this year he plans to host the awards himself. Trump says he was “98% involved” in choosing the nominees. At least some of this year’s winners have a history of backing Trump, though one member of Kiss, Paul Stanley, has often criticized the president. The ceremony is Dec. 7.
August 13, 2025 5:30 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is now rolling out a service where its Prime members can order their blueberries and milk at the same time as their batteries and other basic items. The online juggernaut said Wednesday that customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns now have access to fresh groceries with its free Same-Day Delivery on orders over $25 for Prime members, with plans to reach over 2,300 locations by year-end. The company said that if an order doesn’t meet the minimum, members can still choose Same-Day Delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of order size.
August 12, 2025 8:14 am
Sections of Alaska’s capital city are bracing for the arrival of what could be record floodwaters due to rainwater and snowmelt flowing downstream from a basin dammed by the Mendenhall Glacier. Residents in some parts of Juneau have evacuated. Flooding from the basin has become an annual concern for residents. On Tuesday, officials confirmed water had started escaping the ice dam and was flowing downstream, with flooding expected into Wednesday. In past years the flooding has swept away houses and swamped hundreds of homes. The Mendenhall Glacier is a thinning, retreating glacier that acts as a dam for Suicide Basin, which fills each spring and summer with rainwater and snowmelt.
August 12, 2025 8:21 am
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to defend their security interests at an upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, set for Friday, focuses on the ongoing war in Ukraine. European leaders are concerned about being sidelined and fear that Putin might secure favorable concessions. Trump has suggested that Ukraine may need to give up some territory, which has disappointed U.S. allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected this idea. Meanwhile, Russia appeared close to capturing a key city in the Donetsk region on Tuesday, complicating the situation further.
August 12, 2025 4:34 am
CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) — An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant that shook the ground near Pittsburgh left two dead and sent at least 10 to hospitals. An Allegheny County spokesperson says an explosion followed by several smaller blasts happened Monday morning at the Clairton Coke Works. The plant is a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, and is considered the largest coking operation in North America. The explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel. Officials said a rescue operation was ongoing Monday.
August 12, 2025 2:02 am
Peters Township Police, like many departments, often find themselves addressing a distress call, only to find themselves addressing that same call again, somewhere down the line. Peters Township Council took steps to try and rectify that situation. They hired a Social Services Coordinator. Marguerite Ratay, LCSW was hired to help the township in instances where intervention for mental health or emotional health circumstances need to be addressed. According to Township Manager Paul Lauer, Ratay has already proved her worth. During her presentation to council, she said that over last weekend, she was instrumental in intervening with police on four calls and getting the people involved the information needed to access proper counseling. Ratay also works with the fire department and emergency services department when necessary. Ratay’s services are also available to the general public. There is an online request form that residents may fill out so that she knows how to address a resident’s concern. Lauer said that the Washington County Commissioners made the program possible by offsetting costs for the position by directing monies from the Federal Opioid Settlement Fund to the township. According to Lauer, Peters Township is the only municipality in Washington County to employ someone in this position.
August 12, 2025 6:43 am
Under the direction of President Tony Colaizzo, The Canonsburg Educational and Cultural Institute (CECI) is moving forward with an $8 million first phase renovation project. This phase includes converting the old Canon-McMillan Middle School auditorium into a 500-600 seat first-class theater according to Colaizzo with upgraded restrooms, reception area, lighting, and sound systems featuring Broadway shows, concerts, and comedy acts. The project also involves adding additional parking to accommodate an expected 50,000 visitors annually to the new theater, with CECI requesting $110,000 in support from the borough. Completion of the first phase is projected for fall 2026. Beyond the theater, CECI is transforming the gymnasium into a health and wellness center, converting the cafeteria into restaurant space, and upgrading classrooms to provide adult education and daycare services, creating a multi-use community space serving all ages. In other business, the council approved the reassignment of $14,491 in demolition funds from the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the 2024 Taylor Drive CDBG project. Additionally, a $10,000 contribution was authorized for Canonsburg Streets to the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County, supporting local redevelopment efforts.The council also gave the green light for the Canonsburg Friends of the Park and Camp Splash Kids Triathlon event, scheduled for August 16th from 9 a.m. to noon at Canonsburg Town Park.
