April 8, 2026 4:50 am
(AP) – Authorities say a stairwell roof at a parking garage being built in Philadelphia collapsed suddenly, killing one person and leaving two missing. Mayor Cherelle Parker told reporters that the section of roof at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s garage fell Wednesday, triggering a “progressive collapse of connected sections across all seven levels.” Officials say crews rescued three people, including one who later died at a hospital. Two people were still missing Thursday, and Parker vowed that searchers wouldn’t give up on finding them. She says the project had obtained all required permits and its inspections were up to date.
April 8, 2026 4:57 am
HONG KONG (AP) — Oil prices are rising again and Asian stocks are trading mostly lower on skepticism over a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Brent crude, the international standard, was up more than 2% to above $97 a barrel. Markets in Japan, South Korea and China were all lower Thursday. U.S. futures were also down. Investors are closely watching whether a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is already slipping after deadly Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Iran again closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks in Lebanon. Wall Street closed sharply higher Wednesday after announcement of the temporary ceasefire agreement.
April 8, 2026 4:56 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Semiofficial news agencies in Iran have published a chart suggesting the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard mined the Strait of Hormuz during the war. The message may be intended to pressure the U.S. as uncertainty hangs over a days-old two-week ceasefire. Further negotiations are expected to be held in Pakistan. The shaky ceasefire has been largely holding between the U.S., Israel and Iran, although Tehran and Washington have offered vastly different explanations of the initial terms.
April 8, 2026 5:01 am
Pro-Iran groups have used artificial intelligence to create slick internet memes in English to try to shape the narrative during the war against the U.S. and Israel, and foster opposition to it. Analysts say the memes appear to be coming from groups linked to the government in Tehran and are part of a strategy of leveraging its limited resources to inflict damage on the U.S. even indirectly. That includes Iran’s use of threats to control the flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire reached Wednesday raised hopes of halting hostilities, but many issues remained unresolved.
April 8, 2026 4:59 am
RAINELLE, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia resident Rebecca Michalski struggles with soaring electricity bills that exceed her income. Despite efforts to conserve energy, her February bill hit $940.08. Many West Virginians are facing similar challenges, with utility costs surpassing rents and mortgages. President Donald Trump promised to cut electricity bills, but prices have risen instead. Nationwide, electricity increased 4.8% in February over a year earlier, with natural gas prices up 10.9%. during the same period. Rising energy costs are driven by increased demand, extreme weather, and infrastructure upgrades. West Virginia’s reliance on coal-fired plants contributes to the problem, leaving residents burdened by high utility costs.
April 9, 2026 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — March has been the hottest month on record for the continental United States in 132 years, according to federal weather data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that March’s average temperature was 50.85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 9.35 degrees above the 20th-century norm. This surpasses the previous record set in March 2012. Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley highlights the unprecedented nature of this heat, noting the sheer volume of records broken. More than 19,800 daily temperature records were shattered, and 2,200 places set monthly highs. Experts predict that a brewing El Nino could intensify global warmth.
April 8, 2026 5:42 pm
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s health ministry says that Israeli strikes during the day killed 182 people, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war. Israel launched a barrage of strikes in central Beirut and elsewhere in the country on Wednesday as a shaky ceasefire took effect between the U.S. and Iran. Iranian officials have maintained that the deal was supposed to include Lebanon, while Israel and the U.S. have insisted that it does not. The ministry says that another 890 people were wounded in the strikes. Altogether, 1,739 people have been killed and 5,873 wounded in Lebanon in just over five weeks since the outbreak of the war.
April 7, 2026 5:01 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran, the United States and Israel have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The 11th-hour deal headed off U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization. But hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday. It was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal. U.S. Vice President JD Vance called it “fragile.” Even before the new attacks Wednesday, much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.
April 8, 2026 4:52 am
CARROLL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A North Charleroi man faces charges after Carroll Township police said he attacked a doctor and staff members at Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital. Court documents police were called to the hospital early Saturday for a report of a violent patient. Court documents said Victor Tyree attacked staff members after being asked not to live-stream video of the emergency room area. Police said surveillance video shows Tyree punching, pushing, and grabbing a doctor and two security guards.
April 8, 2026 3:29 am
North Strabane Township staff moved into their new Municipal Building last fall, but they waited for nicer weather to officially introduce the building to the public. Township officials and several elected officials participated in a ribbon cutting on Tuesday. Township Council President Neil Kelly was excited about the building saying it was desperately needed as their previous building suffered from structural and plumbing issues. Township Manager Andrew Walz said that the building will offer residents amenities that the old building did not have. Residents may rent an event space with a full kitchen for birthday parties, meetings or even exercise classes. Smaller areas are available for business people to rent if they need a temporary office. Instead of constructing a new building from scratch, the township purchased the former Lighthouse Electric offices. County Real Estate records indicate that the building was purchased for $2.75 million. Walz said that $1.6 million in renovations was needed. He said that $1 million of those costs were covered by grants through the state. Walz said the township is not done. A poll of residents last year indicated that they would like an indoor recreation facility. A feasibility study has been ordered for that. Walz said that the site of the old municipal building could be the location for that facility.
