March 19, 2026 4:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania regulators are seeking $2.6 million in penalties from UGI because of a gas leak and deadly explosion at a chocolate factory. The state Public Utility Commission on Wednesday asked an administrative law judge to issue the fines. Regulators argue UGI’s gas distribution equipment serving R.M. Palmer Co. in West Reading violates state and federal rules. The March 2023 blast killed seven workers and injured 10 people. It destroyed a factory building and a nearby apartment building. UGI is calling the explosion a heartbreaking tragedy and expressing sympathy for the victims’ families, people in West Reading and others who were affected.
March 18, 2026 5:50 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials expect the Iran war will worsen inflation this year while having little impact on growth, but they still expect to cut their key rate once in 2026. For now, Fed policymakers left short-term interest rates unchanged Wednesday for the second straight meeting at about 3.6%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that it’s too soon to predict the long-term impact of the Iran war on the U.S. economy. Powell also said he has “no intention” of leaving the central bank until a Justice Department investigation related to his testimony about a building renovation is over.
March 18, 2026 10:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department is easing sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company, with some limits. The Trump administration is looking for ways to to ease oil prices that have soared during the Iran war. The U.S. issued a license on Wednesday that lets Venezuela’s state-run company sell and export Venezuelan oil to U.S. buyers and on global markets. The move could have the effect of getting more oil into the world market. Separately, the White House says Trump will waive, for 60 days, requirements for goods shipped between U.S. ports to be moved on U.S.-flagged vessels for 60 days. That 1920s law is often blamed for making gas more expensive.
March 18, 2026 4:56 am
HONG KONG (AP) — About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran. Maritime and trade data platforms report it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when it said it closed the key waterway for vessels of the U.S. and its allies. Analysts say Iranian oil export volumes remain resilient. Many of the vessels that have passed through the Strait are so-called “dark” transits evading Western sanctions that likely have ties with Iran. More recently, vessels with ties to India and Pakistan have also successfully crossed the strait as governments stepped up negotiations.
March 18, 2026 2:40 am
The Washington County Board of Elections has filed a petition with the Court of Common Pleas seeking approval to make changes to several election districts in response to population shifts, challenges in recruiting poll workers, and increasing costs to the county. “It is important to evaluate these changes as we see some polling locations struggling to handle voter traffic while others are barely used,” said Chair Nick Sherman. “The Mon Valley was once one of the most populated and active areas, but now there are too many polling locations that are difficult to staff. This allows
us to save county resources yet still provide people physical locations to vote in their neighborhoods.” Following careful planning and evaluation, the county is proposing the consolidation of 24 voting precincts, reducing the total number of polling places from 180 to 156 ahead of the May 19 primary election. “We are also seeing increasing difficulty finding actual polling locations that are accessible,” said Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander. “Many churches that previously hosted polling places have closed, and other buildings in these communities are not ADA-compliant. In several cases, the precincts we are proposing to consolidate already share the same physical location, so combining them will improve efficiency by reducing the amount of equipment and the number of poll workers required.” The proposed changes would affect the following municipalities: California Borough, Charleroi Borough, Cross Creek Township, Donora Borough, Fallowfield Township, Independence Township, Monongahela City, Mount Pleasant Township, Peters Township, Robinson Township, Smith Township, Union Township, the City of Washington, and West Finley Township. A judge will hear the arguments and decide on the proposed changes in a hearing set for next Thursday, March 26th in Courtroom 6 at 1:15pm. You can find the specifics on the proposed changes for each precinct at https://www.washingtoncopa.gov/elections or posted in the communities.
March 18, 2026 4:46 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors could be adding a new method of transportation in township neighborhoods, golf carts. Supervisors will consider directing their solicitor to draft an ordinance that would allow golf carts in neighborhoods governed by home owners associations. Supervisor Harold Close is behind the effort. He says that the ordinance would be strict if it is written at all. Golf carts would need to be “street legal”, possessing lights, and turn signals and be insured. Drivers would have to be 16 years of age and licensed to operate the vehicles. They would only be allowed in the specific neighborhoods and not on main roads. Golf carts could not even cross a township road to travel from one HOA community to another. Supervisors will also look to award their paving contract. Portions of six roads will be paved. Linley Road from Lily Ridge to S. Johnson, Taylor Drive from Thomas Road to Nancy Drive, Coachside from Meadowbrook to Meadow Ridge, Lakeview Drive from Coachside to the cul-de-sac, Nancy Drive and Lenore Way from Nancy Drive to Taylor Drive. The bid from Redstone Excavating is for $782,225. Township Engineer Vince Seyko says that may not be a firm total. He says that because of the war in Iran, he anticipates asphalt costs to increase. If those increases come about, liquid fuels funds cannot be used to cover them. Those increases must come out of the general budget. Supervisors will vote on these items on September 24.
March 18, 2026 4:53 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has lashed out with multiple attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors and Israel following the killing of one of its top leaders in an airstrike, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses. Two people were killed near Tel Aviv. Israel, on Wednesday. Israel has kept up the intense pressure on Lebanon with strikes it said targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, hitting multiple apartment buildings in Beirut and killing at least six people as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant complex had been hit by a projectile but suffered no damage.
March 17, 2026 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Trump national security officials will face tough questions in Congress about the war in Iran and the FBI’s ability to stop attacks at home. On Wednesday, intelligence chiefs testify before a Senate committee, and they face a House panel on Thursday. Hearings are likely to focus on the revelation that outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. carrying out a deadly missile strike on an elementary school in Iran. The White House says it is investigating. Lawmakers also are expected to press FBI Director Kash Patel at a time when the U.S. is confronting an elevated terrorism threat.
March 17, 2026 4:54 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s a growing body of data showing that the tariffs President Donald Trump said would help American factories are, in fact, squashing many of them. Take, for example, Allen Engineering, which makes industrial equipment in northeast Arkansas. Jay Allen says his costs for the parts for his power trowels have all been hiked by import taxes. He said he lost money last year, even though he cut his payroll and increased prices. Data shows manufacturing jobs dropped during Trump’s first year back in office. The White House says Trump’s policies will take time to make a difference. But economists say the uncertainty caused by the tariffs has set back the sector.
March 18, 2026 12:23 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore the government-run Voice of America to full operations, putting hundreds of journalists who have been on administrative leave for a year back to work. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth’s order came a week after he ruled that Kari Lake, President Donald Trump’s choice to effectively lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, did not have the authority to effectively dismantle the congressionally authorized Voice of America. Following an executive order by Trump a year ago, Lake had put 1,047 of 1,147 employees on administrative leave. The administration had contended it was a bloated agency and wanted government-run news organizations to better reflect its point of view
