September 18, 2026 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service has stopped developing a controversial computer system tied to President Donald Trump’s effort to limit mail voting. The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s executive order this week. Postmaster General David Steiner confirmed the halt Thursday. He emphasized the agency’s independence and operational focus. Trump’s order aimed to create state citizenship lists for mail voting, but the system faced criticism that it was riddled with errors. A memo to postal employees stated the agency won’t enforce new rules for the 2026 election. Despite the halt, concerns remain about postmark delays affecting mail-in ballots. Steiner urged voters to submit ballots early.
September 18, 2026 5:04 am
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway in the next step of the transition at the top of the $1 trillion conglomerate he led for more than six decades.. The company said Friday that the 96-year-old Buffett will take become chairman emeritus and will take on his new role immediately. His son, Howard, will serve as Berkshire Hathaway’s new chairman as part of the company’s longstanding succession plan. Howard Buffett has served as a Berkshire Hathaway board member since 1993. Longtime Vice Chairman Greg Abel was promoted to CEO in January and has been leading the company since then.
September 18, 2026 4:58 am
Anthropic has announced that its AI model, Claude, is significantly aiding in the development of building its successor. Claude is handling 26% of the model research and development for Anthropic, completing tasks under human supervision. Although Claude isn’t fully autonomous, it collaborates on about 90% of the company’s research and development work. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and other AI leaders have been advocating for a slowdown in AI development because of safety concerns. They emphasize the importance of transparency and public understanding of AI advancements. Anthropic also highlights the need for sharing metrics to better understand AI’s progress toward self-improvement.
September 18, 2026 5:00 am
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has embraced the prospect of his country becoming the European Union’s first associate member. He said Thursday that closer ties with the continent would ensure no country could control Canada’s markets or undermine its sovereignty. Carney’s speech to the European Parliament repeatedly extolled cooperation between Europe and Canada, but the relationship with the U.S. hung over the address. Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have pushed Ottawa to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and seek a far deeper economic, security and political relationship with Europe. Carney told the parliament that he welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal.
September 17, 2026 5:01 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors say an SUV driver was under the influence of drugs when she swerved into the wrong lane, blew a red light and slammed into a Los Angeles city bus, killing two riders. It was a tragedy compounded by the subsequent fatal crash of a TV news helicopter that had been covering the collision that killed the two people on board and one on the ground. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says Bailee Lynn Rios was speeding and impaired. Rios faces two charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of the two people on the bus. Online court records did not list a lawyer who might speak on her behalf.
September 18, 2026 12:21 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Tony- and Grammy-winning musician Duncan Sheik has died at 56. The “Barely Breathing” singer-songwriter composed the music for “Spring Awakening.” The groundbreaking Broadway musical that explored teenage angst ran for more than 860 performances and won eight Tony Awards. The show is beloved in the musical theater community for breaking ground in terms of staging and content Sheik also worked on musicals like “American Psycho.” He blended theater with pop, shifting away from traditional musical theater tropes to bring new audiences to Broadway. His most recent album was 2022’s “Claptrap.”
September 17, 2026 5:46 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it as President Donald Trump has threatened. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said Thursday his ruling would “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events.” Earlier, Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, said he closed the iconic performing arts center temporarily due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration” of the aging building.
September 17, 2026 12:16 pm
LATROBE, Pa. — The Luke Bryan show scheduled for Thursday evening in Latrobe has been canceled due to field conditions. The show, which is part of Bryan’s 2026 Farm Tour, was to take place at 1846 Farms on Bell Memorial Church Road. “This call was made for everyone’s safety on the grounds,” organizers posted on bigtickets.com. Organizers said a full refund for tickets and parking will be processed automatically to the original payment method and will appear in 7-10 business days. Following the cancelation announcement, 1846 Farms posted a statement on Facebook: “We are incredibly saddened for our community, our guests, and everyone who worked so hard to prepare for this day. But today is also a reminder of something farmers know all too well you can prepare, plan, and work tirelessly, but ultimately, you cannot control the weather. “Our area has experienced an exceptionally wet summer, with record amounts of rainfall creating challenges that are simply beyond anyone’s control. “It’s a reality farmers face every day, and it speaks to the incredible character, resilience, and grit of the men and women who continue to get back up and keep going, season after season. “God bless our farmers. “There will be sunny days ahead. From all of us at 1846 Farms, thank you for the tremendous support you’ve shown our farm and our community. We look forward to the day we can welcome you all back again.”
September 17, 2026 1:39 pm
This past weekend, on Saturday September 12, 2026, the City experienced a significant flooding event. City officials are seeking assistance for residents whose properties were damaged. Damage from the flooding can be reported by clicking the following link: https://crisistrack.juvare.com/public/washingtonPA/request.html After reporting damage to Crisis Track, you may also report to the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator by emailing with the following required information: Name/Address/Phone number/Email Address and description of damages and estimated dollar amount. The Emergency Management Coordinator can be reached at cricher@washingtonpa.us If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Mayor JoJo Burgess at: 724-223-1380
September 16, 2026 2:39 am
Severe storms that resulted in a major flooding event impacted areas across Washington County on Sept. 12, 2026. Since the event, Washington County Emergency Management has been working in coordination with municipal Local Emergency Management Coordinators to assess the impacts and assist communities. While many residents and business owners may have already reported damage to their insurance companies or municipal officials, Washington County is asking residents and businesses to also self-report flood-related damage to their homes, businesses or property through the county’s online damage reporting system. Residents and businesses submitting a report should provide information about the extent of the damage and include photographs, if possible. “We appreciate the patience and support of residents and business owners as we work through this process. The more information we have, the clearer the picture becomes of the overall impact, helping the county respond to this aftermath and prepare for future storms,” said Deputy Director of Washington County Emergency Management Dan Harvey. Submitting a damage report does not guarantee financial assistance or reimbursement from any entity. Rather, the information will help Washington County Emergency Management and municipal leaders develop a complete assessment of flood-related damage throughout the county to aid in this aftermath and future storms. If you have immediate needs, we are asking residents to contact their local municipality and speak with their Local Emergency Management Coordinator. The coordinator will work with Washington County Emergency Management to address reported needs. If you have questions about the online reporting system or experience difficulties submitting a report, contact the Washington County Department of Public Safety at 724-228-6911 or email damage@washcopa.gov.
