March 12, 2025 5:01 am
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The Trump administration says it will immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The announcement came Tuesday, a week after the measures were imposed to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. In a joint statement released following a lengthy day of talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine also said it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz both said the discussions in Jeddah had been positive.
March 12, 2025 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has officially increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%. He has promised that the taxes will help create U.S. factory jobs at a time when his seesawing tariff threats are jolting the stock market and raising fears of an economic slowdown. Wednesday’s move eliminates all exemptions from his 2018 tariffs on the metals, in addition to increasing the tariffs on aluminum from 10%. The U.S. president has separate tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, with plans to also tax imports from the European Union, Brazil and South Korea by charging “reciprocal” rates starting April 2.
March 12, 2025 4:57 am
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has announced its own countermeasures, saying they will enter into force from April 1, after the Trump administration officially increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that as the United States is “applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros,” or about $28 billion. The commission manages trade and commercial conflicts on behalf of the 27 member countries. Von der Leyen said that the EU “will always remain open to negotiation.” Britain, which isn’t part of the EU, meanwhile said it won’t impose retaliatory measures of its own on the U.S.
March 12, 2025 4:55 am
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Police in the Dominican Republic say the FBI has joined the search for a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who went missing nearly a week ago while on spring break. Police said Tuesday they are re-interviewing people who were with Sudiksha Konanki before she vanished in the predawn hours of March 6 at a beach in front of a hotel in the tourist town of Punta Cana. The hotel said her disappearance coincided with a power outage that prompted multiple guests to head to the beach. Dominican President Luis Abinader told reporters that he lamented the situation.
March 12, 2025 2:48 am
South Strabane Township Police say they have arrested 29-year-old Lindsie Spillar of Oakdale on charges of operating an escort and prostitution enterprise from the Rodeway Inn in South Strabane Township. Police say they served a search warrant on her room at the Inn and they found her actively engaged in prostitution with a male guest. Spillar was jailed on multiple charges, including possession of cocaine and heroin. Police say a search of the room revealed a small amount of cocaine and heroin, a large amount of cash and sexual paraphernalia. Police say Spillar also had an arrest warrant out of Westmoreland County for unauthorized use of a vehicle and for failure to appear. South Strabane Township Police Chief Drew Hilk says North Strabane Township Police and District Attorney Jason Walsh assisted in the investigation.
March 12, 2025 2:11 am
Washington County’s Public Affairs Director has resigned his position, following his arrest in Mahoning Valley, Ohio, on misdemeanor charges of engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools. The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force says 55-year-old Patrick Geho responded to an ad and arranged to purchase sex from some females. Geho reportedly pleaded not guilty and was released on a personal recognizance bond. He is due in court June 2nd. Washington County Commissioners subsequently released the following statement: “When we became aware of the charges in Ohio, the commissioners immediately acted to place Mr. Geho on unpaid leave, pending further details. While this is now a matter for the Ohio courts, Pat and the commissioners understand that his continued employment would serve only as a distraction. Consequently, Pat has made the decision to leave his position, a decision we all agree is in the best interest of the people of Washington County.”
March 12, 2025 1:46 am
The second day of testimony in the child rape trial of Anthony Ardeno, Sr. has ended with the defense resting its case after Ardeno took the stand in his own defense. Morning defense testimony centered on Ardeno’s family members offering their views on his life in the community as a law abiding citizen. They described his demeanor and the victim’s demeanor at large gatherings where he and the victim were both in attendance. In afternoon testimony, Ardeno took the stand and described photos from large gatherings in which he and the victim were together and their proximity to each other after the assault allegations were made. In testimony pertinent to the time frame of the allegations, Ardeno said he had not been able to have sex since his mid 60’s because of debilitating back issues and erectile disfunction. Ardeno admitted to having a pornography collection. Under cross examination, prosecutors asked why he had a pornography collection if he had ED. They pushed further asking if his performance issues were because he preferred a six year old girl to an adult. Ardeno denied the allegation. Closing arguments and deliberations will take place on Thursday.
March 11, 2025 2:48 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, escalating a trade war with the United States’ northern neighbor and standing unmoved by recent stock market turmoil and rising recession risks. Trump said on social media that the increase of the tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday is a response to the price increases that the provincial government of Ontario put on electricity sold to the United States. After a brutal stock market selloff on Monday and further jitters Tuesday, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a legitimate plan to grow the economy instead of perhaps pushing it into a recession. But so far the president is doubling down on the tariffs.
March 11, 2025 2:47 pm
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The announcement came a week after the measures were imposed to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces. The administration statement emerged at talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine also said it was open to a 30-day cease-fire in the war with Russia, subject to Kremlin agreement.
March 11, 2025 7:23 am
The State Police Fire Marshal is investigating a house fire in the City of Washington late Monday night. Washington County 9-1-1 says it broke out around 10 p.m in the 900-block of Bruce Street. Dispatchers say no injuries were reported.
