June 18, 2025 4:51 am
KANANASKIS, Alberta (AP) — Six of the Group of Seven leaders discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Israel-Iran conflict but failed to reach major agreements on those and many other top issues — wrapping up a summit that was forced to try and show how the wealthy nations’ club might still shape global policy despite the early departure of U.S. President Donald Trump. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his counterparts from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Japan were joined during Tuesday’s final sessions by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO chief Mark Rutte. But the gathered leaders adjourned without offering a joint statement on Ukraine and only released a modest one on Iran-Israel.
June 18, 2025 4:50 am
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 51 Palestinians were killed and over 200 wounded in the Gaza Strip while waiting for U.N. and commercial trucks to enter the territory with desperately needed food, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and a local hospital. Palestinian witnesses told The Associated Press that Israeli forces had fired on the crowds. The military said it was looking into reports that its forces had fired toward the crowd, causing several casualties. It did not appear to be related to a new Israeli- and U.S.-supported aid delivery network that rolled out last month and has been marred by controversy and violence.
June 18, 2025 4:48 am
Iran’s supreme leader warns US that joining Israeli strikes will ‘result in irreparable damage for them’ Iran’s supreme leader has warned the United States that joining the Israeli strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them.” The comments by 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came in a statement read out by a state television anchor against a still image of the leader. “Any military involvement by the U.S. in this field will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage for them,” the statement said. In the message, Khamenei also urged officials to “continue their work with strength and trust in God.” “God will certainly and surely make the Iranian nation … victorious,” he said. State television said that a video of Khamenei giving the same address would be aired later.
June 18, 2025 4:46 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel say they’ve finalized their “historic partnership,” a year-and-a-half after the Japanese company first proposed its deal to buy the iconic American steelmaker for nearly $15 billion. The bid by Nippon Steel was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics, delaying the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. It also forced Nippon Steel to expand the deal, including giving the federal government a say in some matters. The combined company will become the world’s fourth-largest steelmaker, and bring what analysts say is Nippon Steel’s top-notch technology to U.S. Steel. In exchange, Nippon Steel gets access to a robust U.S. steel market.
June 18, 2025 2:52 am
Pittsburgh legend, singer-song writer Lou Christie has died. He was eighty-two. Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, Christie was a graduate of Moon Area High School, who went on to be a big success soon after that. Christie had two, top ten hits in 1963, “Two Faces Have I” and “The Gypsy Cried”. He hit #1 with “Lightnin’ Strikes” in 1965. Christie performed until 2023 and one of his last shows was at the Palace Theater in Greensburg in 2021. (Photo: Lou Christie Facebook)
June 18, 2025 2:38 am
Washington County Commissioners will vote on a measure to bring the demolition of the Washington Mall one step closer to reality. On their agenda for Thursday, commissioners will vote on a cooperation agreement between the county, The Redevelopment Authority of Washington County and Chapman Properties to complete the demolition. The Redevelopment Authority will be administering a $5.9 million contribution from the county’s Blight Mitigation and Demolition Fund to offset some of the demolition costs. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman is pleased that the project is moving one step closer to reality. Commissioner Larry Maggi, stated that he is certainly in favor of the project but wishes that the county had some sort of covenants that guided the types of businesses that could be located on the property. He pointed to the covenants in place at Southpointe I and II as examples. Maggi’s concern is that appropriate enterprises locate to the new project. He does not want to see any business move in that would deter other businesses from locating at the new development. Discussion during the meeting indicated use of the property would be up to South Strabane Township. The purchase of the property is scheduled to close on Wednesday.
June 18, 2025 2:33 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors picked up on a conditional use application hearing for the Hidden Acres development. A public hearing was begun in January of this year and was continued to Tuesday to allow Laurel Communities time to address supervisor concerns with the plan. As was the case in January, about two dozen local residents attended the meeting for the proposed development on Christy Road to voice different concerns than before. Several residents including Doug Matt voiced environmental concerns as they relate to the streams stocked with fish that traverse the property. Also addressed were protected plant and insects living there. Bats and turtles were also animals of concern. Residents of Christy Road voiced their concerns for their own safety. Many pointed out that increased traffic from the development would put their safety at risk as they walked along Christy Road for recreation. Laurel Communities presented a revised application in March of 2025 for a 160 home development that would be located on 279 acres. Jon Kamin, an attorney representing Laurel Communities explained that this is the very first step in a process that has several more steps and could take up to 18 months to complete. Supervisors anticipate voting on the conditional use application in July.
June 17, 2025 5:48 pm
DENVER (AP) — A federal jury in Colorado has found MyPillow founder Mike Lindell defamed a former employee for a leading voting equipment company. Jurors reached the verdict Monday for Lindell, one of the nation’s most prominent election conspiracy theorists. He had called the employee for Dominion Voting Systems, Eric Coomer, a traitor. Lindell’s online media platform also streamed an event where a conservative podcaster accused Coomer of helping rig the 2020 election. During the trial in Denver, Lindell denied making any statements he knew to be false about Coomer. Coomer said his career and life have been destroyed as a result of the statements. Coomer’s lawyers said Lindell either knew the statements were lies, or conveyed them recklessly without knowing if they were true. (Photo: AP)
June 17, 2025 8:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Retail sales fell sharply in May as consumers pulled back after a sharp increase in spending in March to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports. Sales at retail stores and restaurants dropped 0.9% in May, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, after a decline of 0.1% in April. The figure was pulled down by a steep drop in auto sales, after Americans ramped up their car-buying in March to get ahead of Trump’s 25% duty on imported cars and car parts. Excluding autos, sales fell 0.3%. The sales drop comes after sharp declines in consumer confidence this year.
June 17, 2025 5:20 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors say the man charged with killing one Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson says Vance Boelter made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks, but one was not home and the suspect left the other house after police arrived. Boelter surrendered to police Sunday. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home early Saturday. Federal prosecutors have charged Boelter with murder and stalking. He also says faces state murder charges. His attorney declined to comment.
