September 28, 2026 5:01 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As tech titans warned an AI-weary world that their own advanced systems could endanger humanity, the question emerged: What do they have to gain? The answer may lie in the companies’ efforts to score political goals ahead of the U.S. midterm elections and the money top artificial intelligence labs and their investors stand to make in much-anticipated listings on a jittery stock market. Experts, analysts and former government evaluators tell The Associated Press that Anthropic and OpenAI appear with their rhetoric to be seeking public favor and to set the terms for their own safety protocols in the unregulated market.
September 28, 2026 5:43 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift made history and Nirvana was awarded the 2026 Video Vanguard Award at the starry MTV Video Music Awards. Swift received the inaugural Artist Director Honors, making her the most-awarded artist in VMA history. She was previously tied with Beyoncé for most wins. She also took home the top prize of video of the year and dedicated the award to Dolly Parton. Madonna opened the show and was joined by her recent collaborators Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx. LISA won the first award for best pop. Snoop Dogg is hosting the event. The show is being broadcast live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (File Photo: AP)
September 27, 2026 4:58 am
BOSTON (AP) — A powerful nor’easter is pummeling the shoreline in the eastern U.S. for a second day. The storm has caused another round of flooding in low-lying areas in New Jersey and New York City and knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes into New England. The slow-moving storm is expected to linger through Sunday with heavy rain, strong winds and dangerous surf. One death has been linked to the storm. A New York City Housing Authority worker was killed when a tree fell Saturday. The storm has disrupted travel up and down the coast, canceling and delaying flights again on Sunday in Boston and New York.
September 27, 2026 5:02 am
HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Hurricane Nolo is moving away from the Hawaiian Islands amid a lingering threat of heavy rain and flash flooding. A high-wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening as Nolo had top sustained winds near 105 mph. Far to the east, Mexico’s Baja California peninsula braced, meanwhile, for the expected arrival of major Hurricane Polo on Monday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Polo is a dangerous Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 125 mph. It was expected to reach the Baja peninsula on Monday amid a threat of storm surge, high winds and heavy rains.
September 27, 2026 5:16 am
The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 74,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The war began nearly three years ago. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran has not been formally notified of U.S. President Donald Trump’s rejection of its proposed deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump told Axios he expects U.S. negotiators to engage in more talks this week. And the World Health Organization says almost 700 people in Yemen have been killed since an escalation in fighting last month between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and government forces.
September 27, 2026 2:43 am
MONESSEN, Pa. — A Monessen man is in custody following an investigation into child sexual assault allegations. The Monessen Police Department says it helped Homeland Security execute a search warrant at 26-year-old Joshua Rioux’s Aliquippa Avenue home on Sept. 26. Police say federal investigators alerted them about videos depicting a juvenile being sexually assaulted by Rioux before executing the search warrant. Rioux was taken into custody and questioned, where police say he admitted to sexually assaulting a male juvenile on several occasions over an approximate two-year period. Police reported that one of the incidents was recorded on video. Rioux faces more than 50 charges, including several counts of rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. He’s being held at the Westmoreland County Jail without bail.
September 27, 2026 3:54 am
The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating an organized fraud scheme in which scammers impersonate federal law enforcement agencies. Investigators say the scam typically begins with a pop-up appearing on the victim’s computer. The victim is then contacted by individuals claiming to represent federal officials. The scammers tell victims that their identity or Social Security number has been connected to criminal activity and that their bank accounts or personal information have been compromised. The victim is instructed to withdraw money from their accounts, purchase gold bars or coins, and turn the gold over to a courier for “safekeeping.” Approximately $6.5 million has been stolen through this scheme. Anyone who may have been targeted by this scam should contact investigators. The public is reminded that no legitimate law enforcement officer will instruct you to purchase gold or give cash or gold to a courier.
September 27, 2026 6:00 am
BOSTON (AP) — A powerful storm is creeping along the U.S. Northeast coast, causing high winds and knocking out electricity for thousands. The nor’easter is affecting the Mid-Atlantic area and New England. At one point, around 100,000 customers were without power on Saturday. The National Weather Service warns that high winds, tides, and heavy rain will continue through Sunday. In New Jersey, New York and elsewhere, some streets are flooded and some homes and businesses are inundated. In Brooklyn, New York, a 56-year-old man was struck and killed by a falling tree, according to the New York City Police Department, the first confirmed fatality from the storm. The New York City Housing Authority later confirmed he was an employee of the agency. He was identified by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a social media post as Leighton Brown. The storm has also led to flight cancellations, concert postponements and disrupted sports events. Officials are urging residents to use caution. (Photo: AP)
September 27, 2026 7:33 am
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. meets certain conditions. Trump spoke to reporters Saturday outside the White House before leaving for a college football game. Iran offered this week to reopen the strait and resume talks on its nuclear program in seven days if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire that would include Lebanon.
September 27, 2026 7:22 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian strikes on Ukraine have killed at least two people overnight into Sunday, officials said. It comes hours after Moscow rejected German calls to ease its escalation toward NATO. Russia’s top diplomat dismissed a meeting with his German counterpart during the U.N. General Assembly. Tensions between Russia and Germany have worsened, especially after a drone attack at Leipzig airport last month. Moscow has been targeting Ukraine with missiles and drones, while Kyiv has struck Russian oil refineries. In Kyiv, a man died after a Russian drone hit a building. Another drone hit a vehicle repair shop, causing a fire.
