July 6, 2025 7:48 am
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Thousands of people across Pennsylvania are about to get some extra cash in their bank accounts, thanks to property tax and rent rebates. The state started sending out checks as part of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program on Tuesday. This initial wave includes approximately 425,000 rebates totaling $258 million. The money is going to older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities. Gov. Shapiro calls this a “big deal” for seniors. “I’ve heard for years from seniors who struggle to stay in their homes, who need just a little bit of extra help, and how the property tax/rent rebate is a critical lifeline for them,” Shapiro said. Applications for the 2024 rebates are still being accepted. The deadline was just extended to Dec. 31.
July 6, 2025 7:46 am
(WPXI) PITTSBURGH — Two men are accused of abusing and neglecting nine dogs in a Pittsburgh home. According to court documents, police received a tip from a concerned citizen about animal abuse happening at a house on the 5100 block of Blair Street in Hazelwood. Police said they were given video of what appeared to be Ryan Chavers, 31, hitting the dogs with what they described as a long pipe-like object. Officers said that Garrett Harper, 47, was also living at the house. Police entered the house on June 5 at 7:45 a.m. after getting a search warrant. Nine cane corso dogs were found inside. Three of them were adults and six were puppies, all around eight weeks old. The animals were in need of medical care and were taken to Animal Friends for treatment. Among them, the puppies had bloody tails, with one having a partially docked tail that was still hanging off. Charges were filed against both Harper and Chavers on July 3. Combined, the two face over 100 charges.
July 6, 2025 7:39 am
(WPXI) BEAVER FALLS, Pa. — A man is facing charges and another man was shot after a dispute over fireworks in Beaver Falls. The Beaver Falls Police Department said officers were called to the 300 block of 12th Street at 10:20 p.m. on the Fourth of July for a reported shooting. Police said a 47-year-old man was shot in the leg there and was taken to a local hospital in a personal vehicle before he was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital. The initial investigation revealed that the shooting happened after someone threw fireworks into a group of children. This resulted in a confrontation between the victim and Jaden Stull, 20, of Beaver Falls. Police said Stull began to run away and shot the victim in the thigh and shin. The victim tackled him after this. Stull is also believed to have shot himself in the hand. Both men are in stable condition. Stull faces charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and firearm violation charges.
July 6, 2025 5:22 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made tax cuts a central part of his political legacy. There were his first-term cuts. And now the Republican has pushed through an extension of those cuts and added new tax breaks. But the bill he signed into law Friday also comes with significant cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, contradicting promises to protect such programs. Democrats plan to make that expected fallout a campaign focus, while Republicans argue the bill will boost the economy. Historically, major legislation that’s been backed mostly by just one party has rarely translated into political rewards. So the long-term effects of Trump’s tax policy are unclear.
July 6, 2025 5:19 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel’s military launched airstrikes early Monday targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks came after a suspected Houthi attack targeting a ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif. The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the two missiles the Houthis fire, but they appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries from the attack.
July 6, 2025 5:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is stepping up pressure on trading partners to quickly make new deals before a Wednesday deadline when a tariff pause by President Donald Trump expires. There are plans for the U.S. to start sending letters Monday warning countries that higher tariffs could kick in Aug. 1. That furthers the uncertainty for businesses, consumers and America’s trading partners. And questions remain about which countries will be notified, whether anything will change in the days ahead and whether Trump will once more push off imposing the rates. Trump could extend the time for dealmaking, as he has done before.
July 5, 2025 3:47 am
KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Heavy rains have caused devastating flash floods in Texas Hill Country, killing at least 24 people and leaving many others missing. At a news conference late Friday Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said two dozen people were dead after least 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain poured down overnight, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Authorities said 237 people had been recued so far, including 167 by helicopter. Among the missing are more than 20 girls from a summer camp. Officials say the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.
July 5, 2025 3:45 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine overnight in the largest aerial assault since the war began. The capital Kyiv was the primary target. Authorities said one person was killed and at least 26 people, including a child, were injured. Hours after the barrage, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had a “very important and productive” phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump told reporters it was “a very good call.” When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: “I don’t know. I can’t tell you whether or not that’s going to happen.” The Kyiv attack came hours after Trump held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. president said was disappointing.
July 5, 2025 3:41 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed his tax and spending bill into law after Republicans muscled it through Congress. At nearly 900 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. The House approved the bill Thursday and Trump signed it on his own self-imposed Fourth of July deadline. The bill would make permanent many of the tax breaks passed in Trump’s first term while also adding new ones, such as new tax deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and interest payments on auto loan
July 5, 2025 3:35 am
A Friday afternoon accident on Interstate 79 sent six people to hospitals. At approximately 2:20 pm first responders were sent to Interstate 79 North near Manifold Road for a multi-vehicle accident. When crews arrived they found one car with heavy damage in the median and a second car rolled on its roof on the side of the road. According to South Strabane Township fire fighters, five people were transported to UPMC/Washington Hospital and one was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital trauma center. The accident shut down all lanes of Interstate 79 North while crews worked to clear the accident. The road was reopened an hour later. The accident remains under investigation.(Photo: South Strabane Township Fire Department Facebook)
