August 18, 2025 5:15 am
Members of the African American Mayors Association started noticing last year declines in violent crime in their cities. But, those accomplishments, which they felt were already overlooked, became further buried this week with the Trump administration’s unprecedented law enforcement takeover in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump has deployed the first of 800 National Guard members to Washington, D.C. But, the Republican president is setting his sights on other cities including Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles and Oakland, California. One thing they all have in common: They’re led by Black mayors. The federal government’s actions have heightened some of these mayors’ desires to champion the strategies they’ve used to help make their cities safer.
August 18, 2025 5:13 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Republicans will resume pushing through U.S. House maps that would carve out a bigger GOP advantage in the 2026 elections after state Democrats indicated they were ready to end a two-week walkout. California Democrats are also moving ahead with their own reshaping of congressional districts to counteract Texas. Absent lawmakers signaled they were ready to return to Austin after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ended a first special session on redistricting and California moved forward with its own plan. Abbott called the session at the urging of President Donald Trump, who wants to shore up Republicans’ narrow U.S. House majority. The Texas House was scheduled to try convening a quorum Monday.
August 18, 2025 5:10 am
TORONTO (AP) — Air Canada has suspended plans to restart operations after the union representing 10,000 flight attendants decided to defy a return-to-work order. The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered staff back by Sunday afternoon, but the union refused, calling the order unconstitutional. Air Canada now plans to resume flights Monday evening. The shutdown, which began early Saturday, affects about 130,000 people daily. The airline has canceled hundreds of flights, and it could take days to stabilize operations. Passengers can request refunds or alternative travel options, but rebooking may be difficult due to peak travel demand.
August 18, 2025 5:10 am
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Erin pelted parts of the Caribbean and was forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week. It reintensified to a Category 4 storm with 130 mph winds and early Monday had edged closer to the Southeast Bahamas. Additional strengthening was forecast for Monday followed by gradual weakening, but Erin was expected to remain a large, major hurricane into midweek. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 60 miles and tropical-storm-force winds up to 230 miles. Erin will impact coastal areas even though it isn’t forecast to make a direct landfall.
August 18, 2025 5:05 am
BULLSKIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Fayette County EMS assistant director of operations is in custody and facing several charges after a hit-and-run crash in Fayette County on Saturday night. State Police say the multi-vehicle crash happened around 10:30 p.m. at the intersection of East End Road and Memorial Boulevard in Bullskin Township. Police say two vehicles were stopped in the left-hand turn lane of Memorial Boulevard when a third vehicle entered the same lane at a high rate of speed. That third vehicle hit one of the stopped vehicles, pushing it into the other stopped vehicle. After the crash, police say the driver of the speeding vehicle, identified as Matthew McKnight, 46, of Connellsville, left the scene. McKnight and the vehicle he was driving, which had sustained extensive front-end damage, were located at a nearby home. One of the other drivers, identified as James Blackburn, 76, of Connellsville, suffered serious injuries and was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he was last reported in critical condition. McKnight is now facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving death or personal injury and reckless driving. Fayette/Greene EMS Chief Rick Adobato says McKnight was “immediately put on suspension” after his arrest.
August 18, 2025 4:59 am
FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Damaging winds in Fayette County toppled trees and power lines around Ohiopyle State Park Sunday afternoon. A Fayette County 911 supervisor says multiple trees came down around the state park, including on top of parked cars. The park’s natural waterfall was evacuated because of the falling material. Downed trees, including one that fell over a concrete walking path, and emergency crews working to clear debris were reported. There were also power outages reported in the area.
August 18, 2025 4:53 am
TORONTO (AP) — Air Canada has reached an agreement with the union representing 10,000 flight attendants to end a strike. The union first announced the agreement early Tuesday after talks resumed late Monday. The strike, which began over the weekend, affected about 130,000 travelers daily during the peak summer travel season. Flights will start resuming Tuesday evening, but full restoration may take a week or more. The agreement guarantees pay for work performed while planes are on the ground, resolving a major issue. Air Canada operates around 700 flights daily and estimated that 500,000 customers were affected by cancellations.
August 18, 2025 4:51 am
WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Marianna woman was killed in an ATV crash early Sunday morning. The Washington County Coroners Office says Jenna Slagle, 33, was pronounced dead at 3:14 a.m. She was the passenger in a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle that lost control on private property near the intersection of Field and Stream Club Road and Lawry Lane in West Bethlehem Township. The vehicle rolled over and stopped in a ditch. Slagle was not wearing a seatbelt or restraint and was ejected from the vehicle. A cause and manner of death are pending. State police are investigating.
August 17, 2025 8:26 am
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is spending the last Sunday of his summer vacation with several dozen homeless and poor people and the church volunteers who help them. He is celebrating a special Mass for them and inviting them into the Vatican’s lakeside estate for a lunch of lasagna and roast veal. In his homily, Leo celebrated the “fire of charity” that had brought them together. Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with the poor people of Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and then as bishop. There, he greatly reinforced the work of the local Caritas charity, opening soup kitchens and shelters for migrants. (Photo: AP)
August 17, 2025 8:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding. The effort comes a year after the agency was honored for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet. In June, the Senate parliamentarian in June blocked a Republican proposal to sell off the agency’s new electric vehicles and infrastructure and rescind any remaining money, but the push continues. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says she’s going ahead with a bill to rescind what’s left of the $3 billion in federal funding.
