September 17, 2025 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is escalating threats against what he calls the “radical left” after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. His administration is considering classifying some groups as domestic terrorists and revoking tax-exempt status for certain nonprofits. These actions are fueled by anger over Kirk’s death, even though there’s no evidence linking these groups to the killing. Nonprofit political groups worry Trump’s words and actions will send a chill through the donor community. Critics argue this could suppress opposition, while supporters see it as a necessary crackdown on political violence.
September 17, 2025 5:00 am
PROVO, Utah (AP) — The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university has been charged with aggravated murder. The charge means 22-year-old Tyler Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem. Robinson appeared briefly before a judge by video from jail. Kirk was gunned down Sept. 10 as he spoke with students and died soon after. Prosecutors allege Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building. Robinson also is charged with felony discharge of a firearm and obstructing justice. Prosecutors say Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.
September 17, 2025 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s law-enforcement intervention in the nation’s capital has led to federal charges against more than 50 people over the past month. A frustrated judge says prosecutors already have dropped charges in at least 11 of those cases. U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh expressed concern on Tuesday that the flurry of dismissed cases is wasting the district court’s resources. He questioned whether Justice Department prosecutors are making charging decisions before cases are properly investigated and vetted. Trump claims his emergency 30-day deployment of federal agents and National Guard members is making the streets safer for District of Columbia residents.
September 17, 2025 4:57 am
WINDSOR, England (AP) — President Donald Trump is relishing the glow of a British royal spectacle during his state visit. He was greeted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday by King Charles III, military honor guards and mounted troops before paying a private tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb. The president, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, attended a musical performance on the castle grounds. The visit aims to strengthen ties amid tensions over Trump’s America First policies. British officials are hoping to avoid awkward questions about Jeffrey Epstein as an opening day full of ceremony and good feelings gives way to the real work Thursday, when Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet.
September 17, 2025 4:55 am
The Monessen School district is dealing with Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. In a letter, Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte says there are 5 cases reported in the elementary school community. He says HFMD is a common viral illness that “primarily affects young children” and includes fever, mouth sores and a rash on the hands and feet. Motte says the district has conducted thorough deep cleaning and disinfecting of all classrooms, common areas, restrooms and high-touch surfaces in the building. All buses and transportation vehicles have also been deep cleaned and are disinfected daily. Officials continue to monitor the situation and are asking parents and guardians to monitor their child for symptoms and keep them home if they do show signs of HFMD.
September 17, 2025 2:51 am
North Franklin Township Supervisors Chairman Bob Sabot announced today that it is his understanding that the Washington Crown Center Mall has officially been sold. Sabot says he wants residents to know supervisors are one-hundred-percent behind the sale and want to defer – to the new owners – the opportunity to make an official announcement on the sale of the mall, the naming of the mall and what businesses will be coming to the mall. Sabot says the board this will assure a vibrant future for North Franklin Township and its residents.
September 17, 2025 2:36 am
The State Department of Environmental Protection has declared Thursday a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Southwestern Pennsylvania, which includes Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette, Armstrong, Beaver and Butler counties. DEP officials say the sunshine and high temperatures will allow for robust ozone formation during the late morning and afternoon. They encourage sensitive groups, like children, older adults and those with respiratory conditions to avoid heavy outdoor activities.
September 16, 2025 3:38 pm
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Prosecutors have brought an aggravated murder charge against the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk in Utah. Prosecutors on Tuesday outlined evidence including a text message confession to the suspect’s partner and a note saying he had the opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices and was “going to take it.” The charge means 22-year-old Tyler Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem. Prosecutors say Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun that fired the fatal shot. Kirk was gunned down Sept. 10 as he spoke with students. There’s no attorney listed in the Utah online court docket for Robinson
September 16, 2025 3:34 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second-degree murder charges against him. Judge Gregory Carro ruled Tuesday that although there is no doubt that the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law doesn’t consider something terrorism simply because it was motivated by ideology. The ruling came as Mangione made his first court appearance in the state case since February. The 27-year-old Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry after Thompson was fatally shot in Manhattan in December.
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.
