August 23, 2026 1:39 am
Back to school is coming up fast, and the Washington School District is ready to go! Superintendent Alisa King addressed a couple of topics that have been in the news recently, including a new executive order that lowers the number of recommended vaccines for children. King says that the district currently has a high vaccination rate. They are encouraging and working with families to ensure that students are getting all necessary vaccines. Cell phone bans in public schools have also been a big topic recently. King says that the district already uses Yondr pouches for students at the secondary level. The pouches have worked well. King explains that the district will be using Multi-Tiered System of Supports for students in middle school. The district already uses this system at the elementary school. This includes using data to find where students are struggling and ensuring that they get the support they need to improve in class. High school students can look forward to new electives this school year. The 2026-27 school year begins on August 26.
August 24, 2026 4:55 am
Health issues have forced musician Bret Michaels off the road for now. The former Poison frontman and Butler native took a break from touring late last month after surgery for a kidney stone. He returned to performing this weekend in Atlanta, but immediately ran into more problems. According to a Saturday social media post, doctors and paramedics determined right after the show that Michaels needed more rest and recovery time from his “recent surgeries.” Michaels will reportedly take the next several months to heal. “We will be pulling Bret off the road for the time being,” his doctors, Dr. Abby Borhan and Dr. Patel, said. “He wanted to attempt this show, but we feel there is a much-needed period of rest and slow recovery ahead, especially considering the heat and humidity during the summer months and the effect it can have on his blood sugar levels.” Michaels, who has type 1 diabetes, said Sunday that he didn’t factor in the effect a coast-to-coast flight would have on his blood sugar and pressure, after switching to a new medication. The remainder of Michaels’ 2026 tour dates have been canceled.
August 23, 2026 5:01 am
The head of Iran’s top security body says Tehran will see any country’s support for new U.S. economic measures against the Islamic Republic as an “act of war.” Iran’s president, meanwhile, said Sunday that the memorandum of understanding signed in June with the United States is the best way out of the stalled conflict. The U.S. treasury secretary on Monday is expected to announce new economic measures against Tehran. Also Monday, Pakistan’s army chief plans to travel to Tehran as mediators try to revive talks. Meanwhile in Gaza, health workers say an Israeli strike killed a 4-year-old child.
August 24, 2026 5:03 am
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney drew international attention earlier this year by warning that middle powers such as Canada must resist economic coercion. Now President Donald Trump is putting that to the test in a deepening trade war. The United States has imposed 50% duties on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Carney said Canada’s dollar-for-dollar retaliation will begin Sept. 8. Carney’s strategy is to accept economic pain rather than yield to pressure from a larger power. Whether Canada can withstand the cost could shape how Carney is viewed at home and abroad. And it could influence how other U.S. allies respond to Trump.
August 24, 2026 4:59 am
RENO, Nevada (AP) — A wildfire that exploded in size in Reno, Nevada, over the weekend has forced authorities to urge more than 90,000 residents to leave their neighborhoods. Videos show some homes have already been destroyed. But there’s concern that shifting winds could push the flames into densely packed neighborhoods on the edge of the city. Schools across the Reno area are closed Monday because of the evacuations and to keep roads clear for emergency crews. Authorities said late Sunday that the Hawk Fire had stayed in its footprint and that firefighters were extinguishing hotspots. Those crews are working to keep the fire from jumping a main highway and reaching more homes.
August 23, 2026 6:16 am
CHICAGO (AP) — After trade negotiations crumbled down to the eleventh hour, U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on scores of Canadian imports kicked in Saturday. The new levies are expected to affect roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, ranging from hockey sticks to agricultural products. And Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly promised that his government would roll out “dollar for dollar” retaliatory measures starting Sept. 8. The latest escalation between the two countries — which once held one of the world’s most durable trade alliances — plunges them deeper into a trade war that has kept both sides of the border on edge throughout Trump’s second term in office.
August 23, 2026 6:13 am
DALLAS (AP) — A Texas judge has denied a new trial for Karmelo Anthony in the stabbing death of an athlete at a high school track meet. The case drew national attention and spurred harassment of the families and demonstrations at the courthouse. The 19-year-old Anthony is serving 35 years in prison after being convicted of murder in the April 2025 death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Judge Michael Chitty denied the retrial motion in a half-page order following a two-day hearing this week near Dallas. He cited a review of the evidence but did not elaborate. Anthony’s defense says there will be an appeal.
August 23, 2026 6:08 am
SAN MARINO (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has used a visit to San Marino and a major Catholic gathering in the nearby Italian city of Rimini to urge Catholics to reject division, conflict and social polarization, calling instead for dialogue, mercy and friendship across political and cultural differences. He spoke on Saturday at the annual Rimini Meeting, warning against a culture that “rearms minds, words and nations.” Leo said Christians should work to overcome poverty, inequality and war. He also delivered a strong message to young Catholics, describing them as “a sign that the future is promising, and not a threat,” and encouraging them to engage with society and help build a “civilization of love.”
August 23, 2026 6:10 am
Iran’s president has defended a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. as the best way to end a stalled conflict. He emphasizes the agreement aligns with Iran’s dignity and interests. The deal, signed in June, aimed to end the war and reach a nuclear accord, but key issues remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Iran’s new security chief warned neighboring countries against supporting U.S. sanctions, threatening retaliation. In the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian man reported on Sunday being beaten by an Israeli settler. Israel’s military is also pursuing a suspect in a separate stabbing incident, highlighting ongoing violence in the region.
August 23, 2026 6:04 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Deadly airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday have raised doubts about new U.S. efforts to advance a ceasefire there. Local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent say at least 10 people were killed in two strikes, days after a U.S. envoy met with Israel’s prime minister. Witnesses said Israeli troops also crossed the ceasefire line and detained a Hamas police colonel. Israel’s military said the strikes targeted Hamas commanders involved in previous attacks. The Palestinian Red Crescent said a strike on a police station killed at least nine people. On the diplomatic front, ceasefire negotiations appear stalled, with disagreements over Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal.
