February 20, 2026 4:50 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia could have some form of uranium enrichment within the kingdom under a proposed nuclear deal with the United States. That’s according to congressional documents and an arms control group. Both U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden tried to reach a nuclear deal with the kingdom to share American technology. Nonproliferation experts warn any spinning centrifuges within Saudi Arabia could open the door to a possible weapons program for the kingdom. The kingdom’s assertive crown prince has suggested he could pursue a nuclear weapon if Tehran obtains an atomic bomb.
February 20, 2026 4:51 am
Eric Dane, the actor known for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” has died at 53 due to ALS. His representatives say he died on Thursday afternoon. His family says he spent his final days with loved ones. Dane rose to fame as Dr. Mark Sloan on “Grey’s Anatomy” and later played Cal Jacobs on “Euphoria.” He also starred on “The Last Ship,” where production paused as he battled depression. In April 2025, Dane shared his diagnosis of ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He later spoke publicly to push ALS awareness and research. He leaves two daughters with wife Rebecca Gayheart, who he married in 2004.
February 19, 2026 6:20 am
LONDON (AP) — The former Prince Andrew was arrested and held for hours by British police on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest Thursday was an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment. It was the first time in nearly four centuries that a senior British royal was placed under arrest, and it underscored how deference to the monarchy has eroded in recent years. King Charles III took the unusual step of issuing a statement on the arrest of his brother, saying the law must take its course. The former prince was released about 11 hours later.
February 19, 2026 1:47 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has announced at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package. The president said at Thursday’s meeting that five countries have also agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force for the war-battered Palestinian territory. Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania have pledged to send troops for a Gaza stabilization force, while Egypt and Jordan have committed to train police. Troops will initially be deployed to Rafah, a major population center where the U.S. administration hopes to first focus reconstruction efforts. (Photo: AP)
February 19, 2026 1:46 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell last week as layoffs remain at historically low levels. The number of Americans filing for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 14 fell by 23,000 to 206,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s significantly fewer than the 225,000 new applications that analysts had forecast. Filings for unemployment benefits are viewed as representative of U.S. layoffs. The total number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the previous week ending Feb. 7 increased to 1.87 million, up 17,000 from the previous week, the government said.
February 19, 2026 6:53 am
State Police in Summerhill Township, Cambria County have charged a McDonald woman with theft by deception and financial exploitation after they say she led her mother to believe she was being held against her will and needed the money to be released. Troopers say 42 year old Erica Bardell later admitted that she was not in danger and was “just trying to get money”. According to the criminal complaint, Bardell received $1,400 through electronic transfers from her 70 year old mother who lives in Portage, Pa.
February 19, 2026 4:51 am
No injuries are reported after a crash knock down several poles and wires in Canton Township early Thursday morning. It happened around 12:30 a.m. at Jefferson Avenue and Brush Run Road. Crews from West Penn Power were called in to make repairs and the crash reportedly did knock out power to some customers. West Penn Power’s Outage map showed more than one-hundred customers without service in Canton Township as well as 82 in Buffalo Township and 28 in Blaine Township.
February 18, 2026 2:04 am
Washington County Commissioners will vote this morning on an Opioid Settlement Review Committee. The board will consist of seven appointees that will serve one year terms. According to Commissioner Nick Sherman, the board is made up of addiction counselors, a school district superintendent, and law enforcement professionals among others. Commissioner Larry Maggi says that he is pleased with the make up of the board. He calls it a good blend of people from all over Washington County. He says that the board will now bring transparency to the award process that is much clearer that having a few county employees offering recommendations. Appointed to the committee; Dr. John Tamiggi, Director of Washington County Human Services, Dan Buzzard, Washington County Court Administrator, Teresa Cypher, a licensed professional counselor and operator of Turning Point II, Ed Zelich, Superintendent of Charleroi School District, Amy Podgurski-Gough, Community Coordinator of Teen Outreach, Joe Glover, Chief of Peters Township Police, and Aliesha Walz, Executive Director of the Washington County Community Foundation. Sherman says that the board will serve one year terms. The formation of the committee is a result of 17 recommended programs by Washington County being called into question by the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse And Abatement Trust late last year. That board rejected 8 grants outright and called another 9 grants still under consideration. There has been no update on the status of those decisions.
February 19, 2026 2:40 am
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) has been voted the Best Small Town Museum in the USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice Awards. After weeks of voting, readers have selected the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as the Best Small Town Museum in America. Proudly representing the transportation museum community, PTM has garnered national attention by their inclusion in the Best Small Town Museum category. “We are deeply honored to receive this national recognition along with so many other prestigious, small town museums,” said Jeanine DeBor, Executive Director/CEO. “This distinction acknowledges the importance of transportation history in our country, specifically the important mission of preserving the Trolley Era. We are thankful to everyone who voted for us.” This national award recognizes excellence in small town museums and the nomination highlights PTM’s commitment to preserving streetcars and their impact on our communities for generations to come. Winners were announced on February 18, 2026. This is the first year PTM was selected for inclusion in this list.
February 19, 2026 5:05 am
TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in California say it will be at least another day before crews can attempt to recover the bodies of eight people killed in an avalanche and one other who remains missing. Crews say there’s still heavy snow and a high risk of more avalanches Thursday in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe. The victims include a group connected to an area skiing academy. Six others were found alive by rescuers Tuesday hours after the avalanche hit on Tuesday. A mayor near San Francisco says the group included moms from the Bay Area. Authorities said Wednesday that among the survivors are one of four professional guides on the trip.
