August 26, 2026 5:06 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Darline Graham has won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham on South Carolina’s general election ballot. Darline Graham defeated U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday’s special Republican primary runoff, two weeks after they were the top two finishers in a 10-way primary. Despite being a political unknown, Graham bested some of South Carolina’s top political names in the special election. She was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to serve out the remaining months of her late brother’s current term and swiftly notched an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
August 26, 2026 5:04 am
Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died of cancer. She was 80 years old. Her career spanned decades, with hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Born in Tennessee, she rose from humble beginnings to become a country music icon. Her partnership with Porter Wagoner helped launch her career, and she later became a successful actor and businesswoman. Parton was also a philanthropist, founding her Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy. Her charm and humor made her a beloved figure across generations and political divides.
August 26, 2026 1:21 pm
(AP) – Tim Curry has died at 80. The beloved character actor created a gallery of delicious, loony villains for stage and screen. Curry gained fame as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” an iconic role that became a cultural touchstone, and as the smug concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” His longtime friend and manager Marcia Hurwitz said he died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. He had suffered a stroke in 2012 that put him in a wheelchair.
August 26, 2026 5:09 am
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — An ICE agent charged in Minnesota with firing his gun through a house door, striking a man in his leg, and then lying to justify the shooting, could walk out of a South Texas jail if a federal judge does not intervene. Minnesota’s governor and attorney general is asking a federal judge in South Texas to order the Texas governor to extradite Christian Castro, an ICE agent, to Minnesota. Texas law says he must be released after 90 days of detention, which is Thursday. Attorneys representing the Texas governor said the extradition request has not formally been denied and until the governor makes a decision, it’s too soon to involve the courts.
August 25, 2026 12:39 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania health officials report that two unvaccinated residents have died from measles. They are the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. this year, following three last year. The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles year since 1991, with 2,777 cases reported as of Thursday. In November, international health officials will assess if the U.S. and Mexico have lost their measles-free status. Vaccination rates have dropped below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks, with exemptions rising to an all-time high among kindergartners. State officials aren’t giving any more details about the two people, except that they lived in Lancaster County. (Photo: AP)
August 25, 2026 3:16 pm
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today proposed that any data center moratorium legislation should include a No Technology Pledge amendment, a commonsense accountability measure for anyone seeking to block the development of data centers while continuing to rely on the digital tools, platforms, and services those facilities make possible. “The pledge is simple,” PA Chamber Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Jon Anzur said. “If you support stopping data center development, you should also agree to stop using the technologies that depend on data centers. Pennsylvania has a choice: We can lead in energy, innovation, and infrastructure to drive meaningful investments and job growth in communities across Pennsylvania, or we can tell the next generation of employers to create those opportunities somewhere else. What we cannot do is demand instant access to every digital convenience while opposing the infrastructure that makes those conveniences possible. Data centers are not a fit for every community, but there are many that would benefit from hosting this critical infrastructure.”
August 25, 2026 2:14 pm
(AP) – Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died. She was 80 years old. Her career spanned decades, with hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Born in Tennessee, she rose from humble beginnings to become a country music icon. Her partnership with Porter Wagoner helped launch her career, and she later became a successful actor and businesswoman. Parton was also a philanthropist, founding her Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy. Her charm and humor made her a beloved figure across generations and political divides. (Photo: AP)
August 24, 2026 2:19 am
Gas prices are 18 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.349 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is up 3 cents from last week to $4.09, which marks the highest it’s ever been on this date. This August is shaping up to be the highest on record. So far, the monthly average is $4.06, currently surpassing 2022 when the monthly average for August was $3.97. Even though gasoline demand is down, which is typical for this time of year, crude oil is pushing up the national average. Crude oil prices remain in the $80 per barrel range amid continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 8.96 million barrels per day to 8.68 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 208.7 million barrels to 209.4 million. Gasoline production also increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.
August 24, 2026 4:46 am
Earlier this summer, cyclosporiasis invaded southwestern Pennsylvania. Cyclospora infections can sometimes be without symptoms, but they can also cause a gastrointestinal illness with weight loss, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, or a fever. William Sharpnack, a family physician in Washington, PA, says that it does seem to be tied to certain food production, but it is very treatable. He believes that consumers should feel safe buying most fruits and vegetables now, because the CDC does a good job of narrowing down sources and eliminating them quickly. Recently, there was fear surrounding certain jalapeños that were causing illnesses. Sharpnack explains that this was a salmonella outbreak and completely different from cyclospora. Sharpnack says there are proper techniques for cleaning and storing produce. Depending on the type of produce, it should be either rinsed or washed with soap and water, and it should be stored at room temperature or kept in a refrigerator. Sharpnack advises consumers who may still be worried about cyclosporiasis to buy from local farmers’ markets for direct-to-consumer produce.
August 25, 2026 4:54 am
TORONTO (AP) — Canada struck back at the United States with retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of American goods, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment. The announcement happened Tuesday as the trade war between the once-friendly neighbors escalated sharply. The tension threatened one of the world’s largest trading relationships. The new tariffs extended well beyond industrial goods, hitting everyday purchases such as seafood, cheese, clothing, cosmetics and toilet paper, with some facing duties as high as 50%. Canada’s retaliation came after the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs over the weekend on Canadian goods following the collapse of trade negotiations.
