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.
October 1, 2026 5:09 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump said Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai copilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound plane. The president was asked Thursday by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran. He said “based on what I’m hearing,” the answer is yes. He said officials were “working on it right now.” He did not offer details. Asked if the U.S. would retaliate against Tehran if it was behind the attack, Trump said Iran would be hit “very hard, don’t worry.”
October 1, 2026 5:10 am
QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is announcing some major changes to the U.S. military in what he calls his “State of the Force” address. They include establishing a new drone command and cutting 20% of the nation’s generals and admirals. He says the Pentagon will launch an effort to study the future of warfare that will be led in part by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Hegseth also says the Defense Department will create an Office of Religious Affairs and plans to build a new base for the first time in 40 years. He made the announcements Wednesday when speaking to junior officers and enlisted leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
October 1, 2026 7:41 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans blame President Donald Trump for persistently high prices, while only about 2 in 10 approve of his handling of the cost of living. As midterm elections approach, the poll signals growing weariness over the Republican president’s aggressive use of tariffs, continued unhappiness with the war in Iran, and broad disappointment with his failure to deliver on the economic relief he promised on the campaign trail two years ago. Even most Republicans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, an increase from the spring, although they’re less willing to hold his policies responsible.
September 30, 2026 4:40 pm
QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the U.S. military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals. He made the announcement in a speech Wednesday to junior officers and enlisted leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The Pentagon chief also announced the creation of a new four-star command to oversee the rollout of autonomous and robotic capabilities in what he called “the fastest peacetime shift in modern military history.” He also again led with how he has drastically retooled the U.S. military by targeting what he calls “woke” culture.
September 30, 2026 4:17 pm
BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. military has completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission against the Islamic State group. The last troops left an air base in northern Iraq under a deal between Baghdad and Washington. President Donald Trump hailed the withdrawal as a victory for the U.S. and Iraq. The move marks a shift from a wartime coalition mission to an Iraqi-led security effort. However, concerns remain about the resurgence of the Islamic State group and attacks by Iran-linked groups. The future of Iraqi militias also remains uncertain as the government seeks to disarm them.
September 30, 2026 4:37 pm
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Passengers on a plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv say they wrestled with a pilot who stabbed the other pilot as the plane dove sharply before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, It was not clear what had motivated the attack. Aviation experts are marveling that the plane didn’t crash. The passengers arrived in Israel on another FlyDubai flight on Wednesday evening. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted one of the responders, who still wore a bloodied shirt. Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia arrested a pilot, who has not been identified. Shaken passengers described believing they were going to die.
September 30, 2026 2:57 pm
MIAMI (AP) — A Florida judge has postponed a plea hearing for former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown. Brown arrived in a Miami courtroom Wednesday and his lawyer says they were ready to accept a plea deal that would let Brown avoid prison time on a reduced charge in an attempted murder case. But the judge said she was in the middle of another trial and not ready to go forward and postponed the hearing until Oct. 28. Brown was accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer in May 2025 and firing two shots at a man he had been in a fistfight with earlier.
September 30, 2026 9:26 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a solid 2.2% pace from April through June as consumer spending and business investment came in strong. Growth in gross domestic product — the nation’s output of a goods and services — decelerated slightly a 2.5% pace from January through March, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. The second-quarter growth number was an improvement on the department’s previous estimate of 1.5%. Consumer spending — which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity — increased at a healthy 3.8% annual pace, up from 0.7% in the January-March period.
September 29, 2026 2:57 am
During their agenda setting meeting, Washington County Commissioners added an item that, if approved, will direct the County Treasurer to withhold county hotel tax revenues and deposit them into a special holding account instead of directing those funds to the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency as mandated by law. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman says that they sent a letter to Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency President Jeff Kotula, asking them to provide information, that Kotula says, is beyond the limits of a financial audit. Commissioners are looking for information on transaction journals, consulting agreements and leases, employment agreements between third parties and the agency or a summary of employee salaries and benefits and other items. Kotula says that they have provided a clean audit again this year. Any tax information is public knowledge and available as public record. The county lost several legal decisions in the Office of Open Records, and Common Pleas Court in search of that information. An appeal to Commonwealth Court is pending. The county says that they are now seeking the information as provided for under county code. Sherman says that commissioners are trying to be good stewards of taxpayer money. Kotula says that Sherman is well aware of how the money is spent as he had been seated on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce that is a partner with the WCTPA and has never had an issue with any funds being spent. Commissioners will vote on the measure on Thursday, October 1 at 10:00 am.
