May 22, 2026 4:53 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have departed Washington for the Memorial Day recess without voting on a roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies. Voting on the bill was abruptly called off on Thursday. Republicans are debating whether to try and block a new $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies. They failed to reach a resolution after a tense meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Soon after Republican leaders announced that they would not vote on the immigration enforcement measure until they return from a Memorial Day recess, the week of June 1. That had been Trump’s self-imposed deadline to pass the bill.
May 22, 2026 4:50 am
HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials are bewildered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland. It comes just weeks after he ordered 5,000 troops to be pulled out of Europe. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the about-face “is confusing indeed.” U.S. defense officials say they don’t know what it means. Trump announced the deployment on Truth Social, citing strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. His decision follows conflicting statements about reducing the U.S. military presence in Europe. NATO allies have been blindsided despite U.S. promises of coordination.
May 21, 2026 4:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is loosening a federal rule that requires grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment. President Donald Trump says that will help lower grocery costs. But it’s not clear how much or how quickly prices could be impacted. Industry groups say it could even raise prices because manufacturers have already redesigned products, retooled factories and trained workers to build and service next-generation refrigerant equipment. The move to relax the Biden-era rules on harmful pollutants known as hydrofluorocarbons is the latest attempt by the administration before the November elections to try to address rising voter concerns over the cost of living.
May 22, 2026 4:54 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has released a critical study of the party’s performance in the 2024 campaign. His decision on Thursday followed intense internal pressure from frustrated Democrats who had publicly demanded the release of the postelection autopsy. The 192-page report, which was concluded last December and authored by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, calls for Democrats to focus on Middle America and the South. The autopsy also points to a reduction in support and training for Democratic state parties, shifts in voter registration, and what it called “a persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”
May 22, 2026 2:58 am
(AP) – Meteorologists predict a developing El Nino could dampen the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, but it won’t eliminate storms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a below-average season with fewer named storms and hurricanes. Colorado State University expects the lowest activity since 2015. El Nino is a warming of the central Pacific that typically reduces Atlantic storms by creating strong wind shear that disrupts storm formation. However, El Nino can increase storm activity in the Pacific, affecting regions like Japan and Korea. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30.
May 22, 2026 1:51 am
PITTSBURGH — The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh resulted in record attendance, global exposure and significant community impact across the region, according to VisitPITTSBURGH. Preliminary data released Thursday show that the event drew 805,000 attendees across the Draft weekend, making it the largest event in NFL history. The 2026 NFL Draft set an all-time day one attendance record with 320,000 fans and garnered more than 55 million viewers worldwide and 14.8 billion PR impressions. The 2026 NFL Draft Week also became the most socially viewed Draft on record, with attendees from 105 countries represented across NFL OnePass registrants. The draft’s success relied on thousands of teammates and volunteers. Preliminary totals show 2,775 volunteer roles filled, 1,148 paid teammates supporting operations and 310 community volunteers participating.
May 21, 2026 2:27 am
Heinz is bringing back its iconic glass ketchup bottle. This marks the first time in nearly a decade that the nostalgic item will be available to consumers. The return is part of the brand’s new campaign, “157 Years of Being Food’s Best Friend.” For a limited time, while supplies last, the classic glass ketchup bottle can be found exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide.
May 21, 2026 8:46 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans filed for jobless aid last week as layoffs remain low despite a number of uncertainties that continue to cloud the economy. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending May 16 fell by 3,000 to 209,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 213,000 new applications analysts had forecast. Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market. The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending May 9 grew by 6,000 to 1.78 million. US markets head lower as oil prices resume their climb and higher treasury yields pressure stocks
May 21, 2026 9:33 am
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has unveiled dedicated parking spaces for military veterans at all 17 service plazas along its more than 565-mile system. This initiative, launched on the heels of Armed Forces Day, was a partnership with State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, the Pennsylvania American Legion and American Legion Post 329 in Elizabethtown. The new parking designation provides two dedicated spots at each service plaza for customers who have served in the United States military. Veterans do not need a special placard or other designation to use these spaces. The partnership was initiated by Rep. O’Mara as a way to better honor veterans traveling through the Commonwealth. PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton stated that the commission is proud to recognize those who served the country. “We are proud to recognize all those who served our country and these dedicated parking spaces serve as a small token of our appreciation,” Compton said. “This initiative furthers our commitment to honoring and creating meaningful opportunities for veterans within our community.” The Pennsylvania American Legion is supporting the partnership by covering the costs of the new signage.
May 21, 2026 5:44 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leaders are expected to abandon a proposal for $1 billion in security money for the White House complex and President Donald Trump’s ballroom on Thursday after members of their own party questioned the timing and the lack of detail in the Secret Service request. Pressured by the White House, Republicans have tried to add the money to a roughly $70 billion bill to restore funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. But the security proposal met with backlash from some GOP lawmakers who are questioning the cost and how the taxpayer dollars would be used. The bill’s text has not yet been released, but the Senate hopes to pass it this week and send it to the House before leaving for a weeklong Memorial Day recess. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged “ongoing vote issues” on Wednesday as leaders tired to measure Republican support, as well as “ongoing parliamentarian issues” as they try to figure out what will be allowed in the bill under the chamber’s rules. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Wednesday that the bill would be “back to square one” without the security money because “the votes are not there.”
