June 25, 2026 5:52 pm
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A United Nations agency paused the evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz after the British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off the coast of Oman. The strike reported by the British military followed the passage of several tankers that used a route backed by the U.N. The head of the International Maritime Organization said the plan to move stranded ships out of the Persian Gulf through the strait will be on hold until the agency can confirm safety guarantees for the ships on the evacuation list and in the region. It was unclear who launched the projectile or the type of vessel that was targeted.
June 25, 2026 9:20 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose to a new three-year high in May as gas prices peaked, a sign rising costs could pose political problems for President Trump as midterm elections near. The increase was largely driven by more expensive gas, as well as pricier semiconductors and other computer equipment that are in high demand for the AI buildout. Rising prices have caused the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve to keep their key rate unchanged this year, a reversal from January when they had penciled in two cuts. Some economists forecast the central bank could lift rates this year instead.
June 24, 2026 4:58 am
NORTH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 20-year-old North Franklin Township firefighter says he is lucky to be alive after his was hit by a vehicle Monday along Route 40. A speeding driver hit him and took off. Logan Lilley was with firefighters doing traffic control after responding to a downed tree. He tells our news partners at WPXI “I probably shouldn’t be standing with how fast he hit me”. Lilley says he ran towards the guardrail and jumped but was struck by the hood on his boot. He was thrown over the guardrail and suffered a hand injury and well as other cuts and sprains. He believes the driver was traveling around 55 mph. That driver did not stop and police are still searching for a white KIA. “I have angel wings tatted on my back, so I go with I had an angel with me that day, and for being a pretty religious person, I think God was definitely there for me,” he said. Firefighters are hoping this incident is a wake-up call for drivers to slow down. State Police continue to search for the hit-and-run driver.
June 25, 2026 2:14 am
HARRISBURG – Legislation to give Pennsylvania municipalities the time and authority to rein in data center projects across the state continues its way through the General Assembly. The state House of Representatives , on Wednesday, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority passed H.B. 2496 to empower local governments to place up to a six-month “pause” on the consideration of any data center application. Municipalities could adopt, amend or repeal sections of their related land-use ordinances during the pause. “This pause window allows local governments the time they need to thoroughly research, draft and pass comprehensive land-use ordinances pertaining to data centers,” Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, a co-sponsor said. “The bill gives our local officials necessary breathing room to update these ordinances, evaluating demands like water and energy usage and other considerations related to protecting our communities from potential harms caused by data center development.” Critically, the pause dates back to the moment the public was notified of the meeting agenda, and any application filed during the pause is subject to the new rules.
June 25, 2026 5:07 am
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by a pair of powerful earthquakes that officials say killed at least 188 people and trapped more than 200. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that hit Wednesday evening were among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century, and could be felt throughout the region. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said authorities were shifting rescue teams from other parts of the country to La Guaira, north of the capital, Caracas. The natural disaster is just the latest challenge for Rodríguez, who took office in January after the U.S. seized then-president Nicolas Maduro in a surprise military operation.
June 24, 2026 5:05 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A sprawling legislative package aimed at lowering the cost of housing and spurring more home construction won broad bipartisan approval from Congress this week, but it’s hit a major roadblock in becoming law. Although the White House supported the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, President Donald Trump canceled the housing bill signing ceremony on Wednesday. He says he won’t sign the measure until Congress passes separate election reform legislation. The delay could impact aspiring homeowners and renters at a time when many Americans are burdened by the cost of housing.
June 24, 2026 5:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans who were berated by President Donald Trump over opposition to his war in Iran have reversed course, holding a late-night vote to try to appease him. They rejected a war powers resolution Wednesday night, a day after a similar measure passed. Trump harangued GOP senators face to face earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran on Tuesday, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues. Trump exchanged particularly harsh words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of four Republicans who had voted with Democrats on the measure. Cassidy later changed his position after he received a White House briefing on the war.
June 24, 2026 5:10 am
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped into the national spotlight this week as a surging political force within the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders aren’t so sure that’s a good thing. Some of the most powerful Democrats in Washington downplayed the impact of Mamdani’s victories on Tuesday, when the 34-year-old democratic socialist mayor’s slate of congressional candidates defeated three establishment favorites — including two incumbents — in primary contests. He had even more victories in state legislative races, where he successfully backed five other candidates. Mamdani now hopes to export his policies and politics to other states, and he’s demanding major changes across the Democratic Party.
June 26, 2026 2:33 am
NEW YORK (AP) — David Clayton-Thomas, the lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears whose husky, high-strung tenor on “Spinning Wheel,” “And When I Die” and other hits helped make the so-called “brass rock” band among the most popular acts of the late 1960s, has died at age 84. He was a stocky, onetime street fighter and petty thief in Canada who briefly became a rock superstar, the front man of a nine-member group that sold millions of records and won two Grammys for its self-titled second album. Backed by horns, keyboards and percussion, his urgent shout was a signature voice of the era. A spokesman says Clayton-Thomas died Wednesday in Toronto.
June 24, 2026 5:41 pm
Harrisburg, PA – On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 2650 in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The bill would codify Governor Josh Shapiro’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards in law and require data center developers seeking Commonwealth support protect energy affordability, engage local communities, create family-sustaining jobs, and meet strong environmental standards. The bill would replace the current exemption from paying sales tax with a new GRID certification framework built around strict accountability standards, transparency, and ongoing compliance requirements. Requirements would include protecting energy affordability, promoting transparency, engaging local communities, supporting workforce development, and strengthening environmental protection. Under the legislation, projects with a GRID certification would be required to demonstrate ongoing compliance through annual reporting and verification requirements. “I’ve heard directly from Pennsylvanians who are concerned about what data center development could mean for their communities, and I share those concerns. My GRID Standards establish strong, enforceable requirements for any project seeking Commonwealth support — requiring developers to bring their own power, engage with local communities transparently, support Pennsylvania workers, and protect our environment.
