July 3, 2026 4:15 am
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — The rush is on across Venezuela’s north coast to identify loved ones before it’s too late. With at least 2,295 people killed in the deadly earthquakes last week, the country is overwhelmed with bodies that officials are struggling to collect, identify and preserve. Many fear mass graves are coming as they search for the bodies of loved ones who died in the earthquakes that struck the South American country on June 24. Thousands are still missing.
July 3, 2026 4:14 am
President Vladimir Putin remains unfazed by Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, despite severe fuel shortages. He dismisses the situation as “not critical” and insists the war will continue until his goals are met. Analysts note that Russian forces have been stalled in recent months. On Thursday, the Russian military launched a deadly attack on Kyiv, killing at least 30 people. Ukrainian strikes have targeted over 50 Russian energy facilities since March, affecting Russia’s refining capacity. Putin downplays the impact, pledging to accelerate repairs and boost air defense production. He rejects ceasefire proposals, demanding Ukraine withdraw from contested regions.
July 3, 2026 4:12 am
Louisiana’s attorney general has been indicted over accusations she threatened the jobs of New Orleans leaders who fought a Republican-led overhaul of local courts in the heavily Democratic city. The 16-count indictment against Republican Liz Murrill was handed up by a New Orleans grand jury. It charges Louisiana’s first female attorney general with intimidation and malfeasance. At the center of the case are deepening rifts between state leaders in Louisiana, which is heavily Republican, and Democrats who control the state’s most prominent city. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has promised a swift pardon. Democratic Mayor Helena Moreno was among those accusing Murrill of threatening public officials.
July 3, 2026 4:11 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Officials say a man with a Tibetan flag in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York set himself on fire and died. Law enforcement responded Thursday evening to a 911 call. The New York Police Department says they found a 52-year-old man with severe burns throughout his body. Police say the man was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead. Law enforcement are investigating what happened and were not able to comment on what prompted the man to set himself on fire. A United Nations spokesperson says the incident happened after all scheduled meetings were finished for the day.
July 3, 2026 4:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Olympian has been indicted on a felony charge for alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. David Hearn is a former Olympic canoe racer who was indicted on a single count of property destruction in Washington, D.C. court. District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said he ripped up recently installed sealant and caused over $1,000 in damage. Hearn previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool to examine the newly peeled coating during a 64-mile bike ride. Trump has said federal authorities made “multiple arrests” of people he said were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool following a $16-million rehabilitation project he launched for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
July 3, 2026 4:06 am
HAMDEN, Ohio (AP) — The discovery of 16 siblings living in deplorable conditions in rural Ohio has left people wondering why the life-threatening squalor wasn’t detected earlier. Seven were taken to hospitals, including one who was in critical condition when rushed to care Tuesday. Windows and doors at the home in Hamden, about 60 miles from Columbus, have been boarded up. Four people who are the children’s parents and grandparents face child endangerment charges. A defense lawyer is urging the public to withhold judgment and let the case “play out.”
July 2, 2026 3:54 am
A Washington teenager accused of taking part in a convenience store robbery last November has taken responsibility for his role in the incident. Christian Patrene, 19 pleaded guilty to one count of felony conspiracy to commit robbery. He was sentenced to 3-8 years in state prison. Patrene, along with 19 year old Christopher Ellis-Valperga, and 17 year old Julian Asbury were accused of trying to rob the Washington Food Mart on Chestnut Street with a gun. A customer playing a skill game machine pulled her own gun and she was shot according to court documents. Investigators accuse Ellis-Valperga as the person responsible for the shooting. Ellis-Valperga is still facing attempted homicide and robbery charges in connection with the incident. Julian Asbury is serving a jail sentence at a juvenile detention facility.
July 3, 2026 3:33 am
Washington City Council voted on current and future projects during their meeting Thursday night. Council approved the purchase of a fifty-foot Aluminum Flagpole from Federal Flags, LLC for $6,867.84. Councilman Andrew Callan explains that it will replace the flagpole right outside of City Hall. Additionally, Council approved a payment to Stonemile for the President’s Pathway Project for $65,515.39. City Administrator Richard Cleveland says that this sidewalk and lighting project is meant to improve safety between Washington & Jefferson College and Main Street. There is still work to be done in that area.
July 3, 2026 2:38 pm
When Governor Josh Shapiro decided he wasn’t going to spend taxpayer money on The Great American State Fair, it looked as if Pennsylvania wasn’t going to be a part of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That didn’t sit well with U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, who talked with Chambers of Commerce, businesses like the Marcellus Shale Coalition about putting together a booth on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. McCormick says that 51 different sponsors have got involved. And there are residents with unique collections and other talents that have made the state’s booth one of the most popular in Washington, D.C., with long lines. McCormick, who was 10 years old when he celebrated the bicentennial with his father in 1976, says he will be celebrating America250 at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
July 2, 2026 2:40 am
Freedom Transit’s Washington Transit Center will be closed on Friday, July, 3 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Fixed route and shared ride services will operate on a normal schedule that day. On July 4, fixed route services will not operate, but shared ride services will operate until 5:00 pm. To schedule shared ride services for July 3, July 4 and July 6, call 724-223-8747 by noon on July 2.
