April 5, 2026 7:51 am
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A smoky wildfire in Southern California that broke out Friday morning was mostly under control Saturday afternoon. The Springs Fire in Riverside County, about 64 miles east of Los Angeles, was 75% contained by Saturday. Strong Santa Ana winds that were predicted to gust up to 45 mph on Saturday had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, helping firefighters. About 260 personnel are battling the blaze, and no structures have been damaged. Most evacuation orders have been lifted, and officials expected the rest to be removed by the end of the day. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
April 5, 2026 8:20 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Screenwriters and Hollywood studios have reached a tentative deal after a few weeks of negotiation. The Writers Guild of America and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced the deal late Saturday. The four-year agreement is longer than a typical contract. It still needs approval from the guild’s board and members. The terms of the deal are not immediately announced. But it is expected to include several union priorities such as better health care plans and more protection against artificial intelligence. The tentative deal comes three years after writers went on a historic strike that partially brought Hollywood to a standstill. Actors and directors are still negotiating new contracts with the studios.
April 5, 2026 7:50 am
HOUSTON (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway to the moon. The three Americans and one Canadian will reach their destination Monday, performing a lunar flyby and then coming straight back home. They are the first moonbound crew in more than half a century, picking up where NASA’s Apollo program left off. On the downside, their toilet is on the blink again. Until it is fixed, Mission Control has instructed the astronauts to break out more of the backup urine collection bags. The toilet malfunctioned following Wednesday’s liftoff and has been hit and miss ever since.
April 4, 2026 8:24 am
MARSHALL COUNTY, WV — A worker Friday morning died after being crushed at a coal mine in Marshall County, prompting a multi-agency emergency response. Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office identified the miner as Darin Reece, as Morrisey gave his condolences, “We extend our condolences to his family, his fellow miners, and all those who knew him. He served as a Continuous Miner Section Supervisor and was part of a workforce that takes on difficult and dangerous work every day.” According to authorities, Marshall County 911 received a call just after 10:30 Friday morning requesting EMS for Reece at the Ohio County Mine Golden Ridge Portal who had been crushed and suffered head and neck injuries. Dallas EMS, Marshall County EMS, Ohio County EMS, Stone Church VFD, West Finley VFD, and air medical were all requested for aid.
April 4, 2026 6:47 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Yesterday, Iran shot down a US fighter jet, the two crew members ejecting from the F-15. One of them was rescued, though a search is ongoing for the second. This is the first time Iran has downed a manned US aircraft in the war. Reports indicate that Iran has also shot down an A-10 fighter supporting the search, however the pilot is safe. Iran shooting down two American military aircraft marks an exceedingly rare assault for the U.S. that has not happened in more than 20 years. It shows the Islamic Republic has a continued ability to hit back despite President Donald Trump asserting the country has been “completely decimated.” The last time a U.S. fighter jet was shot down in combat was during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Experts suggest a shoulder-fired missile likely was used. Some analysts say the attacks reflect how Iran is “weak but still lethal.”
April 4, 2026 6:50 am
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The Artemis II astronauts have captured Earth’s brilliant blue beauty as they zoom ever closer to the moon. NASA released the crew’s first downlinked images Friday, 1 1/2 days into the first astronaut moonshot in more than half a century. The first photo taken by commander Reid Wiseman shows a curved slice of Earth in one of the capsule’s windows. The second shows the entire globe with the oceans topped by swirling white tendrils of clouds. It even includes a pale green aurora. As of midday Friday, the crew was 100,000 miles from Earth and quickly gaining on the moon.
April 4, 2026 9:15 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drone strikes on Ukraine have killed five people and wounded 30 more, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks occurred as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 286 drones overnight, with 260 being downed. In Nikopol, three women and two men were killed and 19 others, including a 14-year-old girl, were wounded. In Sumy, a strike injured 11 people, including a 15-year-old. In Russia, officials said Ukrainian drone strikes overnight killed one person and wounded five others.
April 4, 2026 6:43 am
Students across Pennsylvania are encouraged to participate in contests created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Historical Commission to mark our nation’s 250th birthday. The contests celebrate our state’s and nation’s history, while encouraging students to learn about the work and role of the courts. Winners will be notified May 8 and recognized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court at the May 18 oral argument session at the Capitol in Harrisburg. The first is a coloring contest open to students ages 5-11 and gives young students the opportunity to create their own judge. The second is an essay contest open to students in grades 3-12. The essays are being judged on creativity and overall quality when answering the following questions: “Why is the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania important?” (Grades 3-5) and “Which Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice inspires you and why?” (Grades 6-12). Students and parents are encouraged to submit photo entries on Instagram by tagging @pennsylvaniacourts or essay entries can be submitted by email to CommunicationsOffice@pacourts.us or mail to: AOPC Communications, c/o Stacey Witalec, 601 Commonwealth Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17106. The deadline for entries is April 24.
