September 30, 2026 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former special counsel Jack Smith has forcefully defended his prosecutions of President Donald Trump and his investigative tactics. He pushed back against repeated Republican efforts to paint him and his team as partisan political operators during a Senate hearing Tuesday that featured a senator’s bungled attempt to accuse him of lying about a basketball game. The hearing came as Republicans have pushed for Smith to be prosecuted and offered a forum for them to assail him for what they contend were politicized prosecutions that unfolded at the height of the 2024 presidential race. Democrats rallied in defense of Smith, eliciting testimony on the legal and factual basis for the criminal cases against then-candidate Trump.
September 29, 2026 5:02 am
HUDSON, N.H. (AP) — Five weeks before Election Day, Democratic optimism is soaring. But glaring vulnerabilities threaten to undermine the unstoppable blue wave that Democrats believe is coming. Look no further than New Hampshire, where Democratic leaders are sounding the alarm about political challenges that could jeopardize the party’s ability to win in November. More than anything, they are concerned about the Republican Party’s overwhelming financial advantage that will allow its candidates to dominate the airwaves in the closing days of the campaign. Some Democrats also note that their party’s brand remains deeply unpopular, and they have virtually no margin for error in elections that are playing out largely in Republican-leaning states.
September 30, 2026 4:58 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers posted fewer job openings in August, but the American labor market remains resilient in the face of higher energy costs caused by the fighting with Iran. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that U.S. job openings slid to 7.08 million from a revised 7.34 million in July. Openings came in below the 7.2 million that forecasters had expected. The department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) also showed that layoffs fell and the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — was little changed in August.
September 30, 2026 4:59 am
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the U.S. owner of steelmaker Stelco of betraying Canadian workers after it announced layoffs it attributed in part to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs — tariffs Cleveland-Cliffs’ chief executive has publicly championed. Carney also threatened legal action against Cleveland-Cliffs, saying the Ohio-based company has binding employment obligations stemming from its C$3.4 billion ($2.4 billion) takeover of Stelco in 2024. Stelco says up to 500 workers could be affected as it indefinitely idles cold-rolled and coated operations at its Hamilton, Ontario, plant and shifts production to its Lake Erie facility in Nanticoke.
September 30, 2026 2:52 am
Harrisburg, PA – Following an annual adjustment to account for food costs and inflation, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has announced increases to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) income limits and maximum benefit amounts starting October 1st. These changes will benefit all SNAP recipients and no one will experience a decrease in benefits because of these updates. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) made the changes as part of an annual re-evaluation of SNAP’s income eligibility standards, the maximum benefit amount, and the minimum benefit amount. This adjustment is a routine, annual process. “SNAP is the nation’s most important anti-hunger program. I strongly encourage anyone who may need food assistance to apply for SNAP,” said PA DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “SNAP helps more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians afford food for themselves and their families, and PA DHS will always help Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity keep food on their tables.” The average increase for most SNAP recipients will be $18.
September 30, 2026 4:44 am
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is accepting construction and maintenance services feedback through an online survey. The public can take the survey through October 20 by visiting 2026 PennDOT Construction/Maintenance Customer Satisfaction Survey. Under the Shapiro Administration, more than 21,800 miles have been improved statewide, and work has advanced on nearly 2,000 state and local bridges. PennDOT has been hard at work on Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges throughout the year, improving more than 2,600 road miles and advancing work on 373 state and local bridges from January through August of this year. Governor Shapiro also recently announced additional, accelerated work – 79 “Rapid Deployment Projects” that are the first round of a $775 million investment from the Motor License Fund over 18 months. “The PennDOT team is committed to serving every county, every community, every time, and this annual survey helps the department see successes and opportunities,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “The survey also helps us find areas where we can educate the public while learning about how the public receives road information.” The 17-question survey asks participants how they receive PennDOT roadway information and how often PennDOT meets or exceeds expectations in construction and maintenance activities. Respondents are also asked about experiences reporting concerns to the department, and whether or how they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services. Those interested can take the survey at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects.
September 30, 2026 5:44 am
Carnegie Mellon University announced Wednesday that hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin is donating $3 billion, with the bulk of the money to be used to start a new campus in Miami that will focus on societal challenges. The Pittsburgh-based private research university said the contribution is the largest ever to any education institution in the U.S. In addition to spending $2 billion for a new 35-acre campus in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, some of the rest of the money will go to the Pittsburgh campus’ computer science program.
September 29, 2026 10:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy sank to the lowest level in more than a decade this month as prices remain elevated and wages stagnate amid the ongoing Iran war. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index tumbled 6.7 points to 81.9 in September, down from 88.6 in August. That’s the lowest reading in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level reached during the pandemic. Respondents’ views of their present situation fell by 7.9 points to 109.3. Their short-term outlook also slid, falling 5.9 points to 63.6.
September 29, 2026 4:39 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — City of Washington Police say two missing teenage girls have been located. Kimea Lowry,13, and Alia Matthews, 14 were reported missing Monday and had not been seen since Friday morning. Police announced early Tuesday morning that Lowry had been found. Matthews was located Monday evening in Canonsburg. No other information was released.
September 29, 2026 5:08 am
CANONSBURG, Pa. — Canonsburg Police are asking for the public’s help to identify two suspects who threw items at moving vehicles on Sunday evening. It between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. as the suspects were driving through town. Investigators believe the individuals are likely juveniles who wore hoodies and covered their faces to hide their identities. The department postd on Facebook that “We received multiple police reports of these two driving through town throwing items at moving cars that potentially could have caused a serious accident”. Chief Alexander Coghill told our news partners at WPXI that police believe the two teenage boys are between the ages of 14 and 16, so there’s a very strong possibility they don’t even have their driver’s licenses and are riding this type of e-bike illegally in more ways than one. Coghill said the teens threw eggs, cans, iced tea containers, and more at passing cars. He said at least one of those cars reported damage. Neighbors who live on several streets, including West College, North Jefferson, Arlington Drive, and East Pitt, reported seeing the pair. “We know these same two individuals, at least by their clothing and the type of bike, are responsible for a lot of antagonizing,” Coghill said. “They’ve gone to different festivals, they’ve been on Interstate 79, they’ve been wreaking havoc throughout our area.” Police are encouraging anyone with information to call the Canonsburg Police Department.
