August 25, 2026 3:16 pm
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today proposed that any data center moratorium legislation should include a No Technology Pledge amendment, a commonsense accountability measure for anyone seeking to block the development of data centers while continuing to rely on the digital tools, platforms, and services those facilities make possible. “The pledge is simple,” PA Chamber Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Jon Anzur said. “If you support stopping data center development, you should also agree to stop using the technologies that depend on data centers. Pennsylvania has a choice: We can lead in energy, innovation, and infrastructure to drive meaningful investments and job growth in communities across Pennsylvania, or we can tell the next generation of employers to create those opportunities somewhere else. What we cannot do is demand instant access to every digital convenience while opposing the infrastructure that makes those conveniences possible. Data centers are not a fit for every community, but there are many that would benefit from hosting this critical infrastructure.”
August 25, 2026 2:14 pm
(AP) – Dolly Parton, the beloved music and film star known for her vibrant personality and poignant songwriting, has died. She was 80 years old. Her career spanned decades, with hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You.” Born in Tennessee, she rose from humble beginnings to become a country music icon. Her partnership with Porter Wagoner helped launch her career, and she later became a successful actor and businesswoman. Parton was also a philanthropist, founding her Imagination Library to promote children’s literacy. Her charm and humor made her a beloved figure across generations and political divides. (Photo: AP)
August 24, 2026 2:19 am
Gas prices are 18 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.349 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is up 3 cents from last week to $4.09, which marks the highest it’s ever been on this date. This August is shaping up to be the highest on record. So far, the monthly average is $4.06, currently surpassing 2022 when the monthly average for August was $3.97. Even though gasoline demand is down, which is typical for this time of year, crude oil is pushing up the national average. Crude oil prices remain in the $80 per barrel range amid continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 8.96 million barrels per day to 8.68 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 208.7 million barrels to 209.4 million. Gasoline production also increased last week, averaging 9.7 million barrels per day.
August 24, 2026 4:46 am
Earlier this summer, cyclosporiasis invaded southwestern Pennsylvania. Cyclospora infections can sometimes be without symptoms, but they can also cause a gastrointestinal illness with weight loss, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, or a fever. William Sharpnack, a family physician in Washington, PA, says that it does seem to be tied to certain food production, but it is very treatable. He believes that consumers should feel safe buying most fruits and vegetables now, because the CDC does a good job of narrowing down sources and eliminating them quickly. Recently, there was fear surrounding certain jalapeños that were causing illnesses. Sharpnack explains that this was a salmonella outbreak and completely different from cyclospora. Sharpnack says there are proper techniques for cleaning and storing produce. Depending on the type of produce, it should be either rinsed or washed with soap and water, and it should be stored at room temperature or kept in a refrigerator. Sharpnack advises consumers who may still be worried about cyclosporiasis to buy from local farmers’ markets for direct-to-consumer produce.
August 25, 2026 4:54 am
TORONTO (AP) — Canada struck back at the United States with retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of American goods, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment. The announcement happened Tuesday as the trade war between the once-friendly neighbors escalated sharply. The tension threatened one of the world’s largest trading relationships. The new tariffs extended well beyond industrial goods, hitting everyday purchases such as seafood, cheese, clothing, cosmetics and toilet paper, with some facing duties as high as 50%. Canada’s retaliation came after the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs over the weekend on Canadian goods following the collapse of trade negotiations.
August 25, 2026 4:53 am
The Supreme Court’s decision clearing one obstacle to the enactment of President Donald Trump’s order on mail voting may not mean the order ultimately takes effect for November’s elections. But it is increasing the risk of chaos for the midterms. That’s because the decision will kick off a compressed legal fight over the constitutionality of the order. It would require states to follow uniform standards in formatting mail ballots and share information about who sends them with the federal government or those ballots wouldn’t get delivered. Election officials say there’s no way to implement that before November if courts don’t stop it.
August 25, 2026 4:55 am
RENO, Nevada (AP) — Crews have started to contain a wildfire in the Sierra Nevada foothills that destroyed more than 30 homes as it spread perilously close to neighborhoods in Reno, Nevada. Containment reached 27% and there was no new growth of the blaze, which has held steady at about 23 square miles since Sunday. Officials said Monday afternoon that the number of residents under evacuation orders and warnings was reduced to about 63,000, down from more than 90,000 people over the weekend. There’s still concern that winds could push the flames through dry brush into newly developed and densely packed neighborhoods in Nevada’s largest city outside of metro Las Vegas.
August 25, 2026 4:50 am
BRADDOCK, Pa. — A body was pulled from the Monongahela River in Braddock. A 911 call came in about a man’s body in the river at 3:28 p.m. Sunday, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. Police say the body shows no clear signs of trauma. The investigation is ongoing. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner will identify the person and determine the cause and manner of death. Anyone with information is asked to call the County Police Tip Line 1-833-ALL-TIPS. Callers can be anonymous.
August 24, 2026 5:50 pm
(AP) – The U.S. has reopened a border crossing in Arizona to cattle from Mexico as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce near-record-high beef prices. But economists doubt the move will mean much to prices shoppers see at grocery stores. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said concerns about the New World screwworm’s spread lessened enough to allow Mexican cattle to cross the border at Douglas, Arizona, starting Monday. While Mexico has traditionally exported 1.1 million head of cattle a year to the U.S., economists say the biggest problem is that the U.S. cattle herd is the smallest in 75 years.
August 24, 2026 5:49 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have long warned that the world will experience more intense extreme weather events like heat waves, storms, floods and droughts as long as we continue to use gas, oil and coal at our current pace. Those fossil fuels release greenhouse gases, which go up into the atmosphere and heat the planet, which scrambles ecosystems and weather patterns. Still, massive climate events, extremes beyond anything we have seen in modern history, have mostly been thought of as fiction, often been the plots of action movies. Today, such extremes of extremes are discussed as a possibility, even an inevitability, that should be taken seriously and prepared for.
