House Republicans Race Toward Final Vote On Trump Bill

July 2, 2025 4:55 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are sprinting toward a vote on President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package. They are looking to seize momentum from a hard-fought vote in the Senate, essentially daring members with concerns to defy Trump and vote against it. The bill will extend and make permanent various individual and business tax breaks that Republicans passed in Trump’s first term, plus temporarily add new tax breaks, such as no income taxes on tips and overtime. The House had already passed one version of the bill back in May with just a single vote to spare. It’s unclear they’ll be able to do the same with the Senate-amended version.

UPenn Settles Transgender Athletes Case With Feds

July 2, 2025 4:52 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Pennsylvania has changed three school records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. The school says it also will apologize to female athletes it says were “disadvantaged” by Thomas’ participation on the women’s swimming team. The moves were part of a resolution of a federal civil rights case that found the school violated the rights of female athletes. Thomas in 2022 became the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title. The school now shows other athletes holding the school’s top times in Thomas’ events, noting she set records under rules in place at the time.

Airport Seeking Volunteers For Public Trial

July 2, 2025 2:48 am

(WPXI) Pittsburgh International Airport is preparing to conduct a public trial before the new terminal opens later this year, hoping to enhance the “Day One” experience for passengers. You can be a part of what the airport is calling a full-scale dress rehearsal to re-enact what the opening day of the new, transformed airport will look and feel like. The Allegheny County Airport Authority said it’s seeking 3,000 to 4,000 volunteers. “It’s a voluntary opportunity to test, shape, and influence the new PIT experience before it officially opens,” the airport said on its website. According to the airport, volunteers will act as passengers and follow a script while moving through the terminal. They will be asked to provide feedback on how the entire process went for them. The event is expected to take place in September, with final dates to be announced soon.

Burgettstown Teen Who Drowned In Ohio River Identified

July 2, 2025 2:24 am

WEIRTON, W.Va. — (WPXI) – A 13-year-old girl from Burgettstown died Monday evening after being swept away by a current in the Ohio River. Reese Hanshaw had just completed eighth grade and was set to begin her freshman year at Burgettstown High School this fall. She was swimming with family members near the Veterans Memorial Bridge when a younger cousin got caught in the water. Family members say Reese rushed to help—and in the process, was pulled away by the current. According to Weirton Police, Officer Adam Mortimer responded within minutes and entered the river to bring Reese to shore. Life-saving efforts were immediately performed by Mortimer, EMS crews, and the Weirton Fire Department before Reese was transported to Weirton Medical Center, where she later died.

DDAP Secretary Visits Charleroi

July 2, 2025 2:22 am

Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones (pictured) was in Washington County on Tuesday to highlight a $1.5 million investment the Department is making to open a regional substance use disorder (SUD) drop-in center that will serve residents of Greene, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.  Davis-Jones says that in partnership with Club Serenity, a recovery organization, the new center will provide community-driven harm reduction support services to increase overdose prevention, a connection to SUD support services, and access to daily essentials for those struggling with SUD.  Funding for the grant is provided, in part, from the portion of opioid settlement funding that was appropriated to DDAP by the General Assembly for the 2023-24 fiscal year. 

Jury Reaches Verdict On Four Of Five Charges

July 1, 2025 5:40 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial said Tuesday that it has reached a verdict on four of five counts against the hip-hop mogul and was unable to reach a decision on the top charge, racketeering conspiracy. The judge indicated that he would instruct the jury to continue weighing the charge, echoing the sentiments of prosecutors and Combs’ defense team that just two days into deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts.  (Photo:  AP)

LevelUp Pickleball Club Coming To Canonsburg

July 1, 2025 3:06 pm

(WPXI) Set to open in August 2025, LevelUp Pickleball Club is shaping up to be the premier pickleball club in the country – and it’s right outside of Pittsburgh. Located in Canonsburg, the club is the ninth-largest indoor pickleball club in the country, at 62,000 square feet, with 40,000 square feet serving as court space. The facility is equipped with various amenities, including 16 indoor courts, three bars, a 4,500-square-foot restaurant, and men’s and women’s locker rooms. The facility is set to open in August. “As I travel the country, we teach 280 camps a year in 45 states and having seen all the clubs that are out there, we decided to make what I feel was the best indoor club in the country,” Wayne Dollard shared.

Attorney General Bondi’s Claims Raise Epstein Questions

July 1, 2025 3:02 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi’s comments about evidence the Justice Department is reviewing from its Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation have fueled anticipation about the expected release of more files related to the New York financier. But weeks after Bondi’s claim about “tens of thousands” of Epstein videos, it’s unclear what she was referring to. The Associated Press spoke with lawyers and law enforcement officials in criminal cases of Epstein and ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell who said they hadn’t seen and didn’t know of recordings like what Bondi described. One of Maxwell’s lawyers says salacious videos of Epstein with children never surfaced. The department has declined AP requests to speak with officials overseeing the Epstein review. The comment, made to reporters at the White House days after a similar remark to a stranger with a hidden camera, raised the stakes for President Donald Trump’s administration to prove it has in its possession previously unseen compelling evidence.

Jerome Powell Sticks To Position Against President

July 1, 2025 2:53 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is sticking to his position that the central bank will keep its key rate on hold while it waits to see how President Donald Trump’s tariffs effect the economy, defying the steady stream of criticism from the White House, which wants lower borrowing costs. Powell repeated his view Tuesday that U.S. inflation is likely to pick up later this summer, though he acknowledged that the timing and magnitude of any price increase from the duties is uncertain. But he said the Fed will stay on hold while it evaluates how the economy evolves. Powell’s comments underscored the divide between the U.S. central bank’s leader and the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly urged the Fed to cut its key rate, which he says would save U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars on interest costs on the federal government’s massive debt, and boost the economy.

Hurricane Flossie Strengthens Off Mexican Coast

July 1, 2025 2:19 pm

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Flossie has strengthened to a Category 2 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast and could become a major hurricane before weakening later this week. The National Hurricane Center reports the storm has maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. It was located Tuesday about 180 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Rain is currently affecting parts of the coastal region. Flossie is moving northwest at 10 mph and is expected to continue in that direction. Flossie is expected to continue strengthening and become a major hurricane as soon as Tuesday night. Then, it is expected to rapidly weaken starting late Wednesday.