July 17, 2025 8:48 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Connie Francis, the wholesome pop star of the 1950s and 1960s whose hits include “Pretty Little Baby” and who would later serve as an ironic title for a personal life filled with heartbreak and tragedy, has died at age 87. Her death was announced Thursday by her friend and publicist, Ron Roberts, who didn’t immediately provide additional details. Francis was a top performer of the pre-Beatles era, rarely off the charts from 1957-64. Able to appeal to both young people and adults, she had more than a dozen top 20 hits, starting with “Who’s Sorry Now?” and including the No. 1 songs “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “The Heart Has a Mind of Its Own.”
July 17, 2025 5:25 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is granting two years of regulatory relief to coal-fired power plants, chemical manufacturers and other industries as he seeks to reverse Biden-era regulations he considers overly burdensome. Trump issued a series of proclamations late Thursday exempting a range of polluting industries that he calls vital to national security. The proclamations cover coal-fired power plants, taconite iron ore processing facilities used to make steel, and chemical manufacturers that help produce semiconductors and medical device sterilizers. The proclamations allow the facilities to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards that were in place before rules imposed in recent years by the Biden administration, the White House says.
July 17, 2025 5:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Donald Trump had a recent medical checkup after he noticed “mild swelling” in his lower legs. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that tests by the White House medical unit showed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency. It’s a relatively common condition in older adults that occurs when little valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity gradually lose the ability to work properly. Leavitt also addressed bruising on Trump’s hand, saying it’s “consistent” with irritation from his “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin.” Leavitt’s announcement was notable given the president has routinely kept basic facts about his health shrouded in secrecy.
July 17, 2025 5:18 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The controversy over President Donald Trump’s handling of records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a new dimension Thursday as his administration struggles to make good on its promises to release details on the sex trafficking case involving a one-time friend of the now-president. Trump threatened a lawsuit after The Wall Street Journal on Thursday described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump’s name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein’s 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the letter. Trump in recent days has berated supporters vying for more records from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political support from those who have stoked claims of a coverup in the case.
July 17, 2025 4:59 am
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Communities along a 700-mile stretch of Alaska’s southern coast ordered their residents to higher ground after a powerful earthquake, but officials quickly downgraded and then canceled a tsunami warning in the area. There were no immediate reports of significant damage. Officials said the earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, struck at 12:37 p.m. local time south of Sand Point. The first waves were projected to land there, but the state’s emergency management division said an hour after the quake that it had received no reports of damage. The earthquake was reportedly felt as far away as Anchorage, almost 600 miles to the northeast.
July 17, 2025 4:56 am
A U.S. Army veteran arrested during an immigration raid at a California marijuana farm says he was sprayed with tear gas and pepper spray before being dragged from his vehicle on his way to work. George Retes, a native of Ventura City, California, says he was pinned to the ground by ICE officials on his back and his neck after getting caught between protesters and authorities last week at Glass House Farms in Camarillo. Retes was held for three days before being release without charges and without being allowed to contact a lawyer. He said Wednesday he plans to sue the federal government over his ordeal.
July 17, 2025 4:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed Donald Trump’s request to cancel about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending, moving forward on one of the president’s top priorities despite concerns from several Republican senators. The legislation now goes to the House. It would have a tiny impact on the nation’s rising debt but could have major ramifications for the spending that is targeted, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to U.S. food aid programs abroad. It could also complicate efforts to pass additional spending bills this year, as Democrats and some Republicans have argued that they are ceding spending powers to Trump.
July 17, 2025 4:47 am
Representatives Emily Kinkead and Abby Major have introduced a bipartisan bill to legalize recreational cannabis for adult use in Pennsylvania. House Bill 20 aims to establish a stable, well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public safety, promotes social justice and fosters economic opportunity. “By failing to legalize, Pennsylvania is sending millions in needed revenue to other states,” Kinkead said. “Representative Kinkead and I have worked diligently to craft a piece of legislation that we believe both parties can get behind,” Major said. The lawmakers said the bill is designed to boost local economies and create more than 30,000 new jobs, while also providing a new revenue stream for the state. Key features of the bill include independent regulation through a commission of experts, strong regulatory guardrails, justice reform for prior cannabis-related convictions and inclusive economic growth opportunities for small businesses. The bill also includes consumer safety provisions regarding labeling, packaging, and advertising to protect children. The bill has been referred to the House Health Committee for consideration and mirrors previous bipartisan legislation introduced by Kinkead.
July 17, 2025 4:43 am
Pennsylvania American Water has announced a $2.6 million upgrade to the water system in Washington and Allegheny counties, set to replace over a mile of water main. The projects aim to improve reliability for customers, reduce service disruptions, and increase water flows for firefighting. The upgrades involve replacing aged water mains with new ductile iron pipes in Peters Township, Washington County, and Jefferson Hills Borough, Allegheny County. In Peters Township, the Waterdam Road project involves installing new 16-inch ductile iron pipes to replace water mains from the 1950s and 1990s. The work is being done by company contractors along Waterdam Road from Galley Road to Saddleclub Drive. Construction is scheduled for evenings, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Friday, with completion expected by the end of August. Traffic restrictions will be enforced during both projects, and temporary service interruptions, discolored water, and lower than normal water pressure may occur. Pennsylvania American Water advises customers to contact their Customer Service Organization at 1-800-565-7292 for more information.
July 17, 2025 2:50 am
A contracted IT worker who operates out of Peters Township High School is in the Washington County Jail on child porn charges. Authorities say 46 YEAR Jason Ayres was taken into custody on the high school’s campus Wednesday morning by the Attorney General’s Office Child Predator Unit. Police said they found disturbing downloaded videos, including those of children between 4 and 6 years old. According to the criminal complaint, Ayres admitted to police that he had been viewing child porn on and off for a couple of years, including AI-generated child porn, which is also illegal in Pennsylvania. Ayres is charged with child sexual abuse material and criminal use of communication facility. His bail has been set at $250,000.
