August 1, 2025 5:22 pm
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Former Food Network star Paula Deen has abruptly closed the Savannah, Georgia, restaurant she started with her two sons nearly three decades ago. Deen said in a statement Friday on her website and on social media that she and sons Jamie and Bobby Deen had made a “heartfelt decision” to close The Lady & Sons, which they opened in downtown Savannah in 1996. She also shut down an attached takeout business called The Chicken Box. No reason was given. Deen said four restaurants she owns in Tennessee, South Carolina and Missouri will remain open. Deen’s flagship Savannah restaurant helped launch her to fame. Her Food Network show premiered in 2002 and ran for a decade.
August 1, 2025 5:20 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been moved from a federal prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas as her criminal case generates renewed public attention. The federal Bureau of Prisons said Friday that Maxwell was taken to Bryan, Texas, but did not explain the circumstances. Her attorney confirmed the move but also declined to discuss the reasons for it. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She had been held at a prison in Tallahassee, Florida, until her transfer to the camp in Texas. (Photo: AP)
August 1, 2025 5:17 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he has directed his team to fire the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures, after a weak report showed hiring slowed and was much weaker in April and May than previously reported. Trump in a post on his social media platform alleged that the figures were manipulated for political reasons and said that Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, should be fired.
August 1, 2025 2:07 pm
MIAMI (AP) — A Miami jury ordered Elon Musk’s car company on Friday to pay more than $200 million to victims of a deadly crash involving its Autopilot driver assist technology, opening the door to other costly lawsuits and striking a blow to Tesla’s reputation for safety. The federal jury held that Tesla bore significant responsibility because its technology failed and that not all the blame can be put on a reckless driver, even one who admitted he was distracted by his cell phone before hitting a young couple out gazing at the stars. The decision comes as Musk seeks to convince Americans his cars are safe enough to drive on their own as he plans to roll out a driverless taxi service in several cities in the coming months. The decision ends a four-year long case remarkable not just in its outcome but that it even made it to trial. Many similar cases against Tesla have been dismissed and, when that didn’t happen, settled by the company to avoid the spotlight of a trial.
August 1, 2025 2:04 pm
(WPXI) Four people allegedly involved in a drug and firearms trafficking ring in Westmoreland County have been arrested, resulting in the seizure of over 47,000 doses of heroin and fentanyl. Attorney General Dave Sunday made the announcement Friday. David Jefferies, 34, James Womack, 33, and Shelton Payne, 34, were charged with illegal possession of firearms and felony drug trafficking. “Fentanyl continues to fuel the opioid crisis in the Commonwealth and nationwide, and dealers use firearms to protect their lucrative trade,” Attorney General Sunday said. The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Jefferies’ home, where officers said they discovered a Glock 9mm handgun, approximately 382 grams of fentanyl and black tar heroin. The Office of Attorney General Agents were assisted by the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and the Police Departments of North Huntingdon, Monessen, Rostraver, New Kensington and Irwin in this operation.
August 1, 2025 12:42 pm
(WPXI) NORTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Neighbors in North Fayette were woken up by police early Thursday morning after three cars were stolen in their neighborhood. “The cop was pounding on our door around 5 am,” said Tonya Belonzi. “He said, ‘Are you Tonya? Do you own an Audi? Well, it’s stolen.’” A video posted to the Ring Neighbors app shows someone wearing a mask walking up to a car and trying the door handle. When he realizes the car is locked, he walks away. Neighbors who live along nearby Farmcrest Drive were shocked to see that video. North Fayette police are asking anyone with doorbell cameras to look at their footage to see if they spot anything suspicious and give them a call at 724-693-8400.
August 1, 2025 8:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs last month and Labor Department revisions showed that hiring was much weaker than previously reported in May and June. . The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%. The deterioration in the job market occurs as companies are paralyzed with uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s erratic trade policies. The Labor Department reported that revisions shaved a stunning 258,000 jobs off May and June payrolls.
August 1, 2025 7:37 am
Pennsylvania American Water officials say 28 customers were without service following a water main break early Friday morning along McCombs Road in Peters Township. An eight-inch main ruptured causing water to shoot into the air and the roadway to buckle. One home was flooded and the company says its disaster restoration company is responding. Service was expected to be restored by 6 p.m.
August 1, 2025 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the tariff rate on U.S. imports from Canada to 35% from 25%, effective Friday. The announcement from the White House late Thursday said Canada had failed to do more to stop traffickers and illicit drugs. The rate applies to goods not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Trump earlier had threatened to impose the higher tariff on Canada if no deal was reached by Friday, his deadline for reaching trade agreements with dozens of countries. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was disappointed by Trump’s actions. He vowed to diversify Canada’s exports and said his government will try to minimize the impact and protect Canadian jobs.
August 1, 2025 5:05 am
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A father and mother who died on an Arkansas hiking trail were stabbed to death and a 28-year-old schoolteacher has been charged in the killings. Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said during a news conference Thursday that authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack. They have no reason to believe Andrew James McGann knew the couple or their children. McGann was arrested on Wednesday. Clinton and Cristen Brink were found dead on a walking trail at Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday. Two of their three daughters who were with them at the time were not hurt in the attack.
