July 30, 2025 5:56 pm
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Wednesday that a Greene County woman pleaded guilty to kidnapping and aggravated assault involving two victims in 2022, as well as her role in covering up a double murder days earlier. Shawna Smith pleaded guilty to kidnapping, aggravated assault, and conspiracy for the Feb. 14, 2022, incident at a Waynesburg home. She also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and obstruction for helping to conceal shell casings from a double murder committed by her boyfriend, Cortland Rogers, two weeks earlier. In accordance with a plea agreement, Smith, 26, of Waynesburg, will serve 10 to 20 years in state prison. Rogers previously pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to serve life in prison for killing Kevin Williford and Judy Hunter on Feb. 1, 2022. Two weeks later, Smith and Rogers lured two victims into a nearby home and held the victims at gunpoint for several hours. The female victim was assaulted and suffered multiple injuries from being punched, kicked, and stomped on repeatedly.
The murder victims were found the same day Rogers and Smith perpetrated the kidnapping.
July 30, 2025 4:15 pm
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Ozzy Osbourne returned to the “home of metal” for the last time on Wednesday as an emotional Birmingham honored one of its most cherished sons. Thousands of Black Sabbath fans paid their respects to the band’s front-man as his hearse made its way through the city center followed by his tearful wife and children. The hearse carrying Osbourne, who died last Tuesday at the age of 76, went down Broad Street, one of the city’s major thoroughfare, to the Black Sabbath bench, which was unveiled on the Broad Street canal bridge in 2019. “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, oi, oi, oi,” fans screamed. Six vehicles carrying the Osbourne family followed the hearse, accompanied by police motorcycle riders and a police car. The family emerged briefly to inspect the array of tributes, with his wife of 43 years, Sharon, visibly moved and wiping away tears. And long after the hearse had moved on for the private funeral, the city, which has embraced its reputation as the citadel of heavy metal, was pounding to the beat of Black Sabbath. It was in Birmingham, where he grew up, that the world-conquering heavy metal band was formed in 1968.
July 30, 2025 3:31 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is leaving its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, brushing off repeated calls from President Donald Trump for a cut. The Fed’s decision Wednesday leaves its key short-term rate at about 4.3%, where it has stood after the central bank reduced it three times last year. Chair Jerome Powell has said the Fed would likely have cut rates already if not for Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Powell and other Fed officials say they want to see how Trump’s duties on imports will impact inflation and the broader economy. Two Fed governors dissented in favor of a cut.
July 30, 2025 3:02 pm
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Two lanes of traffic on Forbes Avenue will be closed intermittently over the next two weekends to accommodate the paving work, Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced. The paving will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, and continue until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2. Crews will focus on the right lane at three locations between Craft Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard. Although only the right lane will be directly worked on, the center lane will also be blocked due to construction equipment, leaving one lane open for traffic. Parking and stopping along Forbes Avenue will be prohibited during this time. On Saturday, August 9, paving will occur in the right lane from Schenley Drive to Schenley Drive Extension, with further details to be determined. Buses will maintain service along Forbes Avenue, except for the stop at Craft, which will be temporarily closed. Most side streets will remain accessible, and flaggers will assist with traffic flow. Pedestrian access to sidewalks and crosswalks will be maintained, and roadway barriers will remain until lane striping is completed, expected before Aug. 15.
July 30, 2025 2:24 pm
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The United States and Pakistan say they have reached a trade agreement that is expected to allow Washington to help develop Pakistan’s largely untapped oil reserves and lower tariffs for the South Asian country. Pakistani officials did not specify where the exploration would take place, but most of Pakistan’s reserves are believed to be in the insurgency-hit southwestern province of Balochistan, where separatists oppose any foreign investment. Early Thursday, U.S. President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves.” Pakistan’s premier also hailed the agreement.
July 30, 2025 2:14 pm
FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Officials have confirmed that two girls and an adult missing since a massive explosion at a Nebraska biofuels plant are dead. The explosion happened Tuesday at Horizon Biofuels in Fremont. The two children were waiting for an employee to finish work. The blast destroyed part of the plant, and firefighters are still battling the blaze Wednesday. Officials suspect wood dust an elevator caused the explosion at the plant, which makes animal bedding and wood pellets. The structure’s instability has made it difficult for crews to gain access inside. he company did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
July 30, 2025 2:11 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is pushing for Americans to upload personal health data to new apps run by private tech companies. This initiative aims to make accessing health records and monitoring wellness easier. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump is expected to discuss this at an event with leaders from companies like Google and Amazon. The system will focus on diabetes, weight management, and digital tools for patient check-ins. While officials say patients must opt in and data will be secure, experts warn of ethical and legal concerns. Critics worry about data privacy and potential misuse of sensitive information.
July 30, 2025 1:37 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Sen. John Fetterman’s publisher has announced the release of his memoir, “Unfettered,” set for Nov. 11. Penguin Random House imprint Crown shared the news on Wednesday. The book covers Fetterman’s journey from being the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, to becoming a national figure. The book also delves into Fetterman’s political battles and his physical and mental health challenges, including a stroke in 2022. Fetterman is known for his unique style and imposing height. The Democratic senator collaborated with Buzz Bissinger of “Friday Night Lights” fame on the memoir, which promises an honest look at his life and career.
July 30, 2025 4:54 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed revoking a scientific finding that’s long been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. The proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule rescinds a 2009 declaration that determined carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health. The “endangerment finding” is the legal underpinning of a host of climate regulations under the Clean Air Act for motor vehicles, power plants and other pollution sources. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposed rule change on a podcast ahead of an official announcement set for Tuesday in Indiana. Three former EPA leaders say Zeldin’s proposal would endanger the lives of millions of Americans.
July 30, 2025 4:52 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge. The 50-49 vote comes despite Democratic attempts to stop the nomination and whistleblower complaints against Bove. The most recent whistleblower to share evidence with Congress has not come forward publicly but recently provided an audio recording of Bove that contradicts some of his testimony at his confirmation hearing last month, according to two people familiar with the recording. The people requested anonymity because the whistleblower has not made the recording public.
