October 1, 2026 4:49 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Rachel has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, located about 235 miles off the southern tip of Baja California, is slowly continuing westward and expected to strengthen on Friday before weakening this weekend. Rachel’s swells are expected to generate life-threatening surf off Mexico’s coast, the NHC warned. Northern Mexico and parts of the U.S. Southwest are still dealing with flooding and damage from Hurricane Polo remnants earlier this week.
October 1, 2026 5:38 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is moving roughly 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East. The move follows President Donald Trump’s warning of possible new strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, Trump is suggesting there are early indications linking Iran to a co-pilot who attempted to crash an Israel-bound flight on Wednesday. The president is warning of retaliation if the link is confirmed. As for the ships, they can carry more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines. A U.S. official says this deployment could mean three carriers will be in the Middle East as early as the end of October.
October 1, 2026 12:45 pm
Nearly 1,000 Duquesne Light Company workers went on strike at midnight. Members of Local 29 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers walked off the job following failed contract negotiations. The union is seeking management solutions for safety, staffing, equipment and working conditions. A representative stated that the union had not received a proposal from the company after presenting its last full offer Tuesday night. Striking workers have established continuous picket lines at company facilities. Union members are rotating on six-hour shifts to maintain a 24-hour presence every day. Tension occurred at facility gates as trucks from Indiana arrived at the property. Duquesne Light brought in out-of-state, non-union workers to fill operational gaps left by striking personnel. (Photo: WPXI)
October 1, 2026 12:32 pm
(AP) – A medical helicopter crash off Catalina Island near Los Angeles has killed two people and hospitalized two. Authorities on Thursday morning continued searching for a fifth person who was also aboard the helicopter. First responders were called to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy says the helicopter was transporting a patient off the island and went down shortly after takeoff. The two survivors were brought to mainland hospitals in stable condition. Authorities say the helicopter is submerged in 240 feet of water off Catalina, which is about 22 miles off the mainland. It’s not clear what caused the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
October 1, 2026 10:46 am
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Renee Good’s family has sued the U.S. government and several immigration officials, alleging wrongful death, conspiracy and other violations in the 37-year-old woman’s killing by an immigration officer during a federal crackdown in Minnesota. The two lawsuits were filed by Good’s partner, Becca Good, and Renee’s brother Brent Ganger. Renee Good, a mother of three, was fatally shot Jan. 7 as protests against immigration raids flared across Minneapolis.
September 30, 2026 5:59 am
Crews are on the scene of a water main break in North Franklin Township. Washington County 911 dispatchers say it happened around 3:15 a.m. in the 400-block of Franklin Farms Road. Video from the scene initially showed water spraying directly on the front of a home. Dispatchers tell WJPA News that three homes were flooded. Crews from Pennsylvania American Water are on the scene. As of 7:30 a.m, Pennsylvania American Water spokesman Brent Robinson tells us it was a 16-inch main that ruptured. 25 customers are impacted and repairs are expected to take six-to-eight hours.
October 1, 2026 4:45 am
In Hanover Township, there have been five hearings for a conditional use application towards a proposed data center at Starpointe Business Park. Prime Data Centers, LLC is proposing the development, which would consist of seven buildings and a power generation facility. Residents have heard from multiple witnesses for Prime. During Wednesday night’s hearing, witnesses discussed physical characteristics of Starpointe Business Park. Kate Nolan Bryden, the senior vice president of development, hopes all of the witnesses addressed residents’ concerns. If the conditional use application is approved, Prime would like to host an open house for residents to learn more about the development. One resident, Mark Dumbovich, says he is unsure if he supports the data center or not, and he wants to hear from more witnesses. Another resident, Cathy Glandon, says that she is still concerned about noise pollution and how it could affect her health. Solicitor Dennis Makel announced that the hearing will continue October 7, 12, and 28 at 6:00 PM at the Hanover Township Fire Department Hall.
September 30, 2026 4:47 am
Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt held his 4th election update briefing on Wednesday, instead of the usual Tuesday. This week he noted that no part of any voting system used in Pennsylvania is ever connected to or permitted on in internet facing network. He said through bipartisan efforts, law enforcement partners, including the Pennsylvania State Police, and other state agencies are working together to ensure that they are prepared for any developments on, or even after, election day. He added, “to keep our voting infrastructure secure, the department relies on a number of cybersecurity layers such as 24/7 network monitoring firewalls and encryption.” He also addressed the topic of voter intimidation by commenting, according to the Pennsylvania election code, unless they are voting, serving a warrant or preventing disturbances, police officers and military personnel are prohibited being within 100 feet of a polling place. He added that requests for mail-in ballots are much higher during this cycle than the most recent midterm general election in 2022. More than one million voters have asked for mail-in ballots, and 30 counties have started to fulfill those requests. The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is October 19; the deadline to apply for a mail ballot is October 27th and ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, November 3.
September 30, 2026 2:52 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed the state’s fifth measles-related death this year. An unvaccinated Lancaster County resident who tested positive for measles has died, according to the department. The person’s age was not released to protect their privacy. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old Mifflin County resident died from the disease, days after a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County. Two infants from Lancaster County died in August, marking the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year, and the first in Pennsylvania in 35 years. The latest death comes as the total number of measles cases in the state this year reaches 943 across 39 counties. Of those 943 cases, state health officials note that only four, or less than 1%, are among vaccinated people. (Photo: AP)
October 1, 2026 5:07 am
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Attorneys for Christa Pike say the death row inmate is still alive but in critical condition a day after the state’s failed attempt to execute her for the 1995 murder of a woman. The state tried to execute Pike by lethal injection on Wednesday but neither the initial nor backup dose of pentobarbital killed her. Pike was still snoring when the execution chamber’s microphone was cut off more than an hour into the attempt, and she was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Her lawyers said Thursday that she is still being treated, but they didn’t know details about how she’s faring. Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee, called what transpired “deeply disturbing” and has ordered an independent review.
