October 17, 2026 4:09 am
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — High winds are fueling a fast-moving fire that has burned homes in Southern California. At least six homes had burned in Southern California on Friday. Flames engulfed expensive coastal properties and prompted thousands to evacuate. Two firefighters were taken to the hospital with heat-related injuries. Black smoke was visible from far away while firefighters doused blazing homes. The wildfire started in the coastal city of San Clemente and quickly moved into San Juan Capistrano. It was one of several fires in the region that was hit by dry, warm gusts known as Santa Anas. They blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore.
October 17, 2026 3:59 am
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that former Greene County District Attorney, David Russo, was convicted Friday of official oppression for conduct while he was in office. The verdict came after three days of testimony regarding Russo’s misuse of his office to have emergency “Stop the Bleed” kits seized from county ambulances. Russo had a detective who worked for the District Attorney’s Office obtain a search warrant without valid probable cause to seize the kits, which were designed for mass casualty events. Multiple kits were taken out of active service ambulances. Russo will be sentenced December 10. He has been free on bail.
October 17, 2026 9:37 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo has left Rome’s Gemelli hospital four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. Dozens of well-wishers greeted the pope as he walked out of the hospital on Saturday and into a waiting vehicle to return to the Vatican. The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
October 17, 2026 9:36 am
PARIS (AP) — Protests have erupted across France, with demonstrators clashing with police over rising living costs and student grievances. In Paris, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent groups. A car and a newspaper kiosk were set on fire in the Place de la République. In Lyon, a fire broke out inside a tourist office. In Marseille, shops and a municipal police station were damaged. The protests are part of a revival of the “yellow vest” movement, which emerged in 2018. Authorities reported over 30,000 people involved in 140 protest actions outside the Paris region by midday.
October 17, 2026 7:52 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged support for U.S. sanctions against Russia after President Donald Trump paused them. The White House decision raises fears of Ukraine’s vulnerability to Russian attacks as winter approaches. Overnight, Russian strikes killed at least four people in Ukraine, while Ukrainian drones killed a woman in a Russian border region. Zelenskyy called Trump’s move unfortunate but hoped sanctions can still be revived. Critics argue Trump’s decision aids Putin. Meanwhile, Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and Ukrainian drones disrupted flights at Moscow airports.
October 17, 2026 7:51 am
(AP) — An airstrike has killed three children in Yemen, according to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. They accuse Saudi Arabia of launching the attack in Yemen’s southwestern province of Dhamar. The Houthi-run health ministry said Saturday that the strikes hit houses in al-Ar village, killing a child aged 8 and two aged 10 and wounding more than a dozen people. Meanwhile, a journalist is undergoing surgery after being attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine suffered severe injuries, including a nearly detached finger and broken vertebrae, during the assault on Friday.
October 17, 2026 4:12 am
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Trudy has strengthened slightly as it moves towards southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico’s Pacific coast, and could keep growing through Saturday. It is a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. Trudy’s center will approach the coast on Saturday. he center of Trudy will approach the coast of southwestern and west-central Mexico on Saturday and pass near the coast Saturday night into Sunday. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco. The Mexican Navy urged the maritime community and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution due to high waves, heavy rains and the risk of rising river levels, flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas.
October 17, 2026 3:50 am
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) announced that 1,260 measles cases have been confirmed across 43 counties so far this year. The DOH also confirmed five measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania this year. The best protection against measles is getting fully vaccinated. The vaccine is proven 97 percent effective at preventing measles for life after two doses.
October 17, 2026 3:30 am
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop brought Ghostbusters Weekend to downtown Canonsburg. Festivities will continue today from 2:00 PM until 7:00 PM. There will be costumed characters, a scavenger hunt, themed offerings from local businesses, and a replica Ecto-1 car. To wrap up the weekend, there will be a screening of the 1984 “Ghostbusters” at the Canon Theatre at 7:00 PM.
October 17, 2026 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Katie Zacharia is leaving her role as White House press secretary after a brief and challenging tenure. She said on social media late Friday that it “was an honor to work for” President Donald Trump. A person familiar with the situation said earlier that Zacharia would be transitioning out. Her departure follows Trump’s comments suggesting she reconsider her position. Zacharia faced immediate scrutiny during her first briefing Tuesday, where she appeared uncomfortable and was criticized for her professional background. She had previously described herself as a lawyer without passing a bar exam. Trump said he wanted her to have a good life and avoid media criticism. Zacharia’s first official day was Monday.
