Governor Shapiro Reacts To White House Outburst

March 2, 2025 4:02 am

Governor Josh Shapiro released a statement in reaction to the White House meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President J. D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Shapiro’s statement read in part, “The Oval Office should be a place where we advance American values-not where we retreat from them. When the President and Vice President attacked President Zelenskyy today, they served to undermine the safety and security of America and our national security interests. I support a diplomatic end to this war. Achieving this requires an honest reckoning of who started the war and who the aggressor is, and to that question, there is only one answer: Russia.” After the meeting and outburst, Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House without signing a minerals deal with the United States.

Robinson Twp. Off Ramp Restriction Announced

March 2, 2025 3:59 am

Beginning March Monday, March 3, PennDot is announcing a single lane restriction on the Westbound I-376 off ramp to southbound I-79 in Robinson Township. That ramp is Exit 64A toward Washington and it will in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, through Friday, March 14. The work being performed is to conduct debris removal work in the rockfall area. The work is part of a $14.97 million highway restoration project in Robinson and Kennedy Townships. Work on the project is expected to end in late spring of this year.

Route 28 Lane Restrictions Extended

March 2, 2025 3:55 am

PennDot has extended a single lane restriction on northbound Rt. 28 indefinitely. The restriction on northbound Rt. 28 occurs just south of the I-279 North/East Ohio Street exit. Inspection crews found significant deterioration of a pier that carries the I-579 HOV lane over Rt. 28. Closure of the I-579 HOV lane is also necessary until a permanent repair can be made. Additional lane restrictions on southbound Rt. 28 may also occur.

PA Republicans Feel Heat Of Early Votes Back Home

March 2, 2025 12:27 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Back in November, three Pennsylvania Republicans won seats in Congress by tight margins. Today, the three find themselves navigating the delicate politics of a divided electorate once again as President Donald Trump makes economy-altering decisions early in his second term. That includes imposing tariffs on raw materials such as steel and aluminum, firing federal workers and pushing for votes on budget legislation that could require cuts to Medicaid. Those moves are already having an effect on the 2026 election. First-term Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has drawn a Democratic challenger. And there’s talk about challengers to another first-term GOP congressman in a nearby district, Rob Bresnahan.

Zelenskyy Leaves Without Signing Minerals Deal

March 1, 2025 4:19 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump berated Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful” in an extraordinary Oval Office meeting, then abruptly called off the signing of a minerals deal that Trump said would have moved that country closer to ending its war with Russia. The astonishing turn of events on Friday has the potential to scramble affairs in Europe and around the globe. During his visit with Trump, Zelenskyy had planned to sign a deal allowing the U.S. greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, then hold a joint news conference. Instead, Ukraine’s leader left the White House shortly after Trump shouted at him, showing open disdain.

Tariff Threats And Uncertainty Could Weigh On Consumers

March 1, 2025 4:13 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ongoing tariff threats from Washington and potentially sweeping government job cuts have darkened consumers’ mood and may be weighing on an otherwise mostly healthy economy. Data released Friday showed that consumers slashed their spending by the most since February 2021, even as their incomes rose. On a positive note, inflation cooled, but President Donald Trump’s threats to impose large import taxes on Canada, Mexico, and China — the United States’ top trading partners — will likely push prices higher, economists say. Some companies are already planning to raise prices in response.

Trump To Designate English As US Official Language

March 1, 2025 4:09 am

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. That’s according to the White House. The order will allow government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in language other than English, according to a fact sheet about the impending order. The executive will rescind a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.

Pope Rests After Setback In Recovery

March 1, 2025 4:06 am

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is resting after an alarming setback in his two-week recovery from double pneumonia. The Vatican said doctors had to put him on noninvasive mechanical ventilation following a coughing fit in which he inhaled vomit that needed to then be extracted. Doctors said it would take a day or two to evaluate how and if the episode impacted Francis’ overall clinical condition. His prognosis remains guarded, meaning he isn’t out of danger.

Trump & Zelenskyy Meeting Devolves Into Shouting Match

February 28, 2025 2:56 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump berated Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful” in an extraordinary Oval Office meeting on Friday, then abruptly called off signing a deal with the U.S. that he said would have moved that country closer to ending its war with Russia. The astonishing turn of events has the potential to potentially scramble international affairs in Europe and around the globe. During his visit with Trump, Zelenskyy had planned to attend sign a deal allowing the U.S. greater access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, then hold a joint news conference. Instead, Trump ordered Zelenskyy and his entourage to leave the White House.

Consumers Cut Spending By Most In Four Years

February 28, 2025 8:47 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key price gauge declined last month, a sign that inflation may be cooling though stiff tariffs threatened by the White House threaten that progress. Yet data released Friday by the Commerce Department also showed that Americans cut their spending last month 0.2% in January from the previous month, likely in part because of unseasonably cold weather. Still, the drop may raise alarms about whether Americans are growing more cautious amid widespread uncertainty about the economic outlook. Inflation declined to 2.5% in January compared with a year earlier, down from 2.6% in December, the government said. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices dropped to 2.6%, the lowest since June, from 2.8%.