February 17, 2025 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has halted the firings of hundreds of federal employees who were tasked with working on the nation’s nuclear weapons programs. It’s an about-face that has left workers confused and experts cautioning that DOGE’s blind cost cutting will put communities at risk. Three U.S. officials who spoke to The Associated Press said up to 350 employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration were abruptly laid off late Thursday. One of the hardest hit offices was the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. Those employees have one of the most sensitive jobs across the nuclear weapons enterprise, reassembling warheads. By late Friday night, the agency’s acting director, Teresa Robbins, issued a memo rescinding the firings for all but 28.
February 17, 2025 5:08 am
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has called leaders from key European Union nations and the United Kingdom to his ornate Elysee Palace for an emergency meeting Monday. He wants to discuss how to deal with the Trump administration and step up plans to increase defense spending. The European leaders have been stunned by a weeklong diplomatic blitz on Ukraine from the Trump administration that seemed to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies. There were belligerent warnings ahead of Donald Trump’s reelection as U.S. president. But EU leaders publicly ignored the ominous forebodings and somehow hoped Trump would stand side by side with Europe.
February 17, 2025 5:07 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says its forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon after Tuesday’s deadline for their withdrawal under a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Lebanon’s government has expressed frustration over another delay. A separate ceasefire in Gaza is also in doubt as the region marks 500 days of Israel’s war with Hamas. Talks are yet to start on the ceasefire’s second phase, which would release more hostages and see the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. An Israeli official says four bodies are expected to be returned to Israel on Thursday, with no details.
February 17, 2025 5:06 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Harsh weather moved west as a polar vortex was expected to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 10 people, including nine victims in Kentucky who died during flooding from heavy rains. The National Weather Service warned of “life-threatening cold” into Tuesday, with temperatures in northeastern Montana predicted to dip as low as 45 degrees below zero. Weather forces in the Arctic are combining to push the chilly air that usually stays near the North Pole into the U.S. and Europe. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday that at least 1,000 people stranded by floods had to be rescued.
February 17, 2025 5:00 am
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — George Washington was uneasy about the idea of commemorating his life. He was the first leader of a new republic, not a king. And yet the U.S. will once again celebrate its first president on Monday, 293 years after he was born. The meaning of Presidents Day has changed dramatically over the centuries. At first, the day was often unremarkable and filled with work for Washington himself. Now his birthday is a bonanza of consumerism and the reason many people get a three-day weekend. Some historians say the holiday has lost all discernible meaning and lacks recognizable traditions. Unless you want to count sales from retailers.
February 17, 2025 4:55 am
No injuries are reported after fire crews were called to two separate fire overnight. Both were reported around 2 a.m. The first was at a home along Midway Candor Road in Robinson Township. The home was occupied but everyone did get out safely. Washington County 9-1-1 says the State Police Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate. Dispatchers say the second was a chimney fire at a home in the 100-block of Walnut Road in Mt. Pleasant Township. There is no word on the cause of that fire.
February 17, 2025 4:48 am
MURRYSVILLE, Pa. — (WPXI) – Six people were injured in a crash on Route 66 in Westmoreland County on Sunday. Westmoreland County dispatchers said the crash happened on the 2700 block of Route 66 at 4:45 p.m. At least one person had to be rescued from a vehicle, investigators said. Murrysville medics said two vehicles were involved in the crash. Four of the patients were taken to Allegheny Health Network Forbes in critical condition.
February 17, 2025 4:44 am
PITTSBURGH — Gear up for the coldest day of the week as you head out Tuesday, with single-digit temperatures and below-zero wind chills to start the day. Washington will see wind chills as low as -5 to -10 degrees possible. A Cold Weather Advisory has been issued for Butler, Armstrong, Clarion, Indiana, and the ridges of Westmoreland and Fayette counties until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Wednesday will also be cold with wind chills near zero — which will set the stage for the next system heading our way Thursday, bringing the chance for snow.
February 17, 2025 4:44 am
PITTSBURGH — Another blast of winter to start your week and it’s going to stick around. Watch area roads heading out the door Monday as quick shots of heavier snow showers overnight has left many untreated roads covered and slick. Snow showers will wind down during the day Monday. However, additional light accumulation is possible in any snow showers. Dangerous travel continues due to blowing snow and whiteout conditions in the ridges and mountains where a Blizzard Warning is in effect through Monday afternoon. It will be unseasonably cold for this time of the year with temperatures struggling into the mid 20s on Monday. High temperatures will stay in the 20s much of the week, running 10-20 degrees below normal. Low temperatures Monday night and Tuesday night will fall into the single digits in much of the area with wind chills below zero early Tuesday morning.
February 16, 2025 6:02 am
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel and Hamas have completed the sixth exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners with just over two weeks remaining in the initial phase of their fragile Gaza ceasefire. And U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Israel to begin a Mideast tour. Israelis expressed relief Saturday as the three hostages appeared to be in better condition than the emaciated ones freed a week ago. The ceasefire faces major challenges with its first phase concluding in early March. There have not been substantive negotiations over the second phase, in which Hamas would release all remaining hostages in return for ending the war.
