August 20, 2025 5:18 am
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats are joining a colleague who can’t leave the state Capitol because she won’t agree to having law enforcement officers shadow her. Republicans imposed that requirement to prevent Democrats from repeating a walkout that kept the GOP-controlled Legislature from passing a plan for redrawing the state’s congressional districts to President Donald Trump’s liking. Democrats who had gone to other states returned Monday and learned that Republicans insisted on the law enforcement escorts. Rep. Nicole Collier refused to agree and stayed overnight on the House floor. Democrats began joining her Tuesday to expand the protest. The House is expected to vote on the Republican maps Wednesday.
August 20, 2025 5:17 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli military official says the country’s top generals have approved plans to call up tens of thousands of reservists in order to begin a new phase of operations in some of Gaza’s most densely populated areas. Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, the official said that the military will be operating in parts of Gaza City where the Israeli military has not yet operated and where Hamas is still active. The official says the plan would now progress toward a final approval stage. It remains unclear when the operation will begin. The official says 50,000 reservists will be called up in the coming month, nearly doubling the number of active reservists to 120,000.
August 20, 2025 5:15 am
RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin is strengthening again and forecasters say it could intensify again to be a major hurricane. The storm is creeping toward the mid-Atlantic coast and churning up menacing waves that have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City. By Wednesday evening, its outer bands had reaching North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Erin is unlikely to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea. But authorities are warning that its large swells will cut off roads on the Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center is watching two more tropical waves.
August 20, 2025 5:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C., have falsified crime data. That’s according to two people familiar with the probe who weren’t authorized to publicly discuss an open investigation. The investigation, reported Tuesday, comes amid an escalating showdown between the Trump administration and the city over control of the police department. It wasn’t immediately clear what federal laws could have been violated by the possible manipulation of crime data. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office declined to comment.
August 20, 2025 5:15 am
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda says it has agreed a deal with the United States to take deported migrants on condition that the deportees should not have criminal records and not be unaccompanied minors. The Ugandan foreign affairs ministry in a statement Thursday said the two sides are working out the details. Uganda also expressed a preference that those brought into the country should be of African nationalities. According to CBS News, which cited US government documents, the Trump administration had reportedly reached agreements with Uganda and Honduras to accept deportees as part of a broader effort to persuade countries worldwide to assist in its crackdown on illegal immigration.
August 20, 2025 5:14 am
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota has joined a wave of states suing TikTok, claiming the app uses addictive algorithms that harm young people’s mental health. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, alleges TikTok violates state laws against deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison accuses TikTok of knowing the dangers but failing to act. The case follows similar lawsuits from about 24 states. TikTok disputes the claims, stating it has safety measures in place. Minnesota seeks a declaration that TikTok’s practices are deceptive and a permanent injunction against them, along with financial penalties. Ellison emphasizes the need for TikTok to operate safely.
August 20, 2025 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook late Wednesday said she wouldn’t leave her post after Trump on social media called on her to resign over an accusation from one his officials that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, the head of the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and a Trump appointee, alleged early Wednesday that Cook had claimed two primary residences in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Trump followed up Pulte’s accusation by calling on Cook to resign, in the latest effort by the administration to exert greater control over one of the few remaining independent federal agencies.
August 20, 2025 5:11 am
One person was transported to a local hospital after a two-vehicle crash along Interstate 70 westbound Tuesday morning. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say it happened just before 11 a.m. at mile-marker 22 just before the south junction. Dispatchers say a tractor trailer and a van were involved. The person injured was reportedly in the van. There is no word on their identity or condition. The crash closed both westbound lanes but the highway reopened around noon.
August 20, 2025 5:08 am
A Donora woman is facing arson charges in connection with a fire Monday evening at a home in the 200-block of Allen Avenue. 64 year old Tamara Stewart allegedly set fire to clothing during an argument with her boyfriend. She is charged with aggravated arson, arson endangering property and risking a catastrophe. Stewart is last reported in the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 27.
August 20, 2025 5:01 am
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are looking to the future with a major proposal to expand their stadium at Station Square, a move that team officials and local leaders say could revitalize the South Shore and bring significant economic benefits to the city. At a news conference Tuesday, the Riverhounds unveiled renderings for a proposed expansion that would transform their current venue into a 15,000-seat stadium. The new facility would meet U.S. Soccer’s Division I professional league standards and potentially host larger Division I college matches. The team estimates the project could generate at least $10 million annually for the city. The Riverhounds have applied to join Division I professional soccer, with a projected launch date of 2028.
