April 25, 2025 5:07 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has agreed with voting rights groups and Democrats that the Constitution gives the power to regulate federal elections to states and Congress — not the president. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington blocked the Trump administration from immediately enacting certain changes to how federal elections are run, including adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form. Trump had called for this and other changes in a March executive order. The decision is a setback for the president, who has argued a proof-of-citizenship requirement is needed to restore public confidence in elections. Still, the judge allowed other parts of Trump’s order to go forward for now, including a directive to tighten mail ballot deadlines.
April 25, 2025 5:05 am
BANGKOK (AP) — China has denied any suggestion it’s in active negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs, saying any notion of progress in the matter is as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.” China’s comments come after Trump said Tuesday things are going fine with China and the final tariff rate on China’s exports would come down “substantially” from the current 145%. China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said Thursday any form of negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect. Trump says it would be “physically impossible” to go through negotiations with dozens of countries.
April 25, 2025 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll suggests Americans’ trust in President Donald Trump to bolster the U.S. economy appears to be faltering. The survey finds many people fear the country is being steered into a recession and Trump’s broad and haphazardly enforced tariffs will cause prices to rise. Roughly half of U.S. adults say the Republican president’s trade policies will increase prices “a lot” and another 3 in 10 think prices could rise “somewhat.” About half of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the possibility of the U.S. economy going into a recession in the next few months.
April 25, 2025 5:00 am
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — (WPXI) – Lack of funding is playing a huge role in public transit decisions across the state. As some state funding has dried up, millions in revenue are needed to keep these agencies going. Currently, the different transit agencies are not permitted to work together and cannot pick up riders on similar routes. “That’s inefficient. That’s what we are trying to develop: a place where these agencies can work together and craft routes that eliminate these inefficiencies,” said Senator Jay Costa. In order to do that, all these transit agencies have to merge or work under one umbrella, similar to SEPTA in Philadelphia. That’s why Costa is proposing creating a Southwestern Pennsylvania Transit Authority targeted at Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. “Westmoreland, a lot of stuff is going on in Beaver County right now. Washington County, you have Southpointe and things happening there. There are many opportunities for us to tie together, one single network, a whole series of economic opportunities to bring people to and from work and people want to do that,” Costa said. How it works is still being decided as he looks to his fellow state senators to get on board. It comes at a time when Allegheny County alone has over $100 million in revenue to make up, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit is proposing fare hikes and a 35 percent reduction in fixed routes.
April 25, 2025 4:55 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. — (WPXI) – The shelves of the Community Circle Food Pantry in Washington are barely stocked. “We got our truck last Wednesday. Last Thursday, we had 151 families. It took us down to nothing,” said Director Melanie Wolfe. Volunteers took to Facebook with a plea for anyone who can donate to please do so. This is only the second time they have had to ask for extra help and they say they will not be able to feed local families in the coming days without extra help. Volunteers said it has been hard giving out less food. They went from two boxes, to one box, to half a box. “I ran out of food one time, and that was when we were with the Washington Food Bank and that was during Covid. That is expected. This is not expected. We should have full shelves at all times,” Wolfe said. They worry that people cannot find their new, unmarked building to drop off donations. It is off of West Cherry Avenue Alley, near the Citizens Library. Volunteers are hopeful for donations, while also certain that even more families will be reaching out for help.
April 25, 2025 2:38 am
A Washington man will spend time in state prison for his role in delivering the drugs that killed a Washington woman. Alan Gubanish, 36 pleaded guilty to a drug delivery resulting in death charge for supplying heroin to Casey Cole, 31 of North Franklin Street in February of 2024. According to court documents, police were called and found Cole in her apartment with a bag of heroin in her mouth. The person who called police indicated to them that Cole had purchased the drugs from Gubanish earlier in the day using a cash app. Police were able to verify the account after examining Cole’s phone. Gubanish was sentenced to 4-8 years in state prison. Additional charges of possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications device were all dropped.
April 24, 2025 5:40 pm
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — The suburban Chicago man who killed seven people at a 2022 Independence Day parade has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Hours of statements from survivors of the shooting and grieving relatives wrapped up Thursday. But Robert E. Crimo III wasn’t there to hear it. He skipped the sentencing hearing. Survivors say they feel a range of emotions, including relief, anger and closure. Dozens were wounded in the shooting in a suburb north of Chicago. The judge ordered seven sentences of life in prison for the first-degree murder charges and 50 years for dozens of attempted murder counts.
April 24, 2025 5:38 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has offered rare criticism of Vladimir Putin, urging the Russian president to “STOP!” after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Trump said in a social media post on Thursday that “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying.” Trump also said, “Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump’s criticism of Putin is notable because Trump has repeatedly said Russia, the aggressor in the conflict, is more willing than Ukraine to get a deal done.
April 24, 2025 5:03 am
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Heads of state and royalty will begin converging on Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, but the group of poor people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basilica are more in keeping with Francis’ humble persona and disdain for pomp. U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are among the leaders arriving Friday. That is the last day Argentine pope will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica before his coffin is sealed in preparation for his funeral Saturday. More than 90,000 mourners have waited hours in line to bid farewell to Francis, who died Monday.
April 24, 2025 5:02 am
ATLANTA (AP) — The pastor of a Georgia megachurch who led a nationwide 40-day “fast” against Target stores is now calling for a “full Target boycott.” The Rev. Jamal Bryant said this week that the Minneapolis-based retailer has not met all of the initiative’s demands. Among them: Restoring its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion principles and pledging money to Black-owned banks and businesses. Target announced in January that it would phase out some DEI initiatives, including a program designed to help Black employees build meaningful careers and promote Black-owned businesses. Target said it is committed to creating a welcoming environment for its workers, customers and suppliers.
