May 20, 2026 5:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump has scored another win against a Republican rival, purging Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s primary and knocking out one of his most outspoken critics on Capitol Hill. Massie has been a particularly difficult thorn in Trump’s side. He pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, opposed the war with Iran and voted against Trump’s signature tax legislation last year. He lost Tuesday to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein following the most expensive U.S. House primary in history.
May 20, 2026 5:04 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Recent presidents have stayed away from trading stocks in companies whose fortunes they could lift or scuttle with the stroke of a pen. But Donald Trump smashed that precedent in the first quarter of this year with more than 3,500 buy and sell orders, many of them involving companies whose profits have been directly impacted by his decisions as head of the government, according to a recent disclosure. Among the companies Trump traded in were Nvidia, Apple and some big defense contractors. The Trump Organization said the portfolio is managed by third parties and the president has no say in what stocks to buy and sell.
May 20, 2026 5:02 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House has endorsed a plan to redraw its congressional districts to favor Republicans at the urging of President Donald Trump. The chamber voted Wednesday on a new congressional map sending it to the more skeptical state Senate. Some Republicans have questioned whether redistricting could backfire — making districts competitive enough for Democrats to gain seats instead of securing all seven for the GOP. If the proposal becomes law, South Carolina would delay its U.S. House primaries to August and spend at least $3 million on another statewide election. Lawsuits against a new map are likely.
May 19, 2026 5:02 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Authorities say the two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque had been radicalized online where they first met. Investigators said Tuesday that the pair shared white supremacist views and left behind writings showing their hatred toward various races and religions. Authorities also found at least 30 guns, ammunition and a crossbow at two residences after Monday’s attack. Authorities praised the security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego and two other men who were killed for slowing the attackers. They say the victims helped stop the attackers from reaching schoolchildren just steps away. Police have said the shooters killed themselves.
May 20, 2026 5:01 am
GENEVA (AP) — The body overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza plans to ask the United Nations Security Council to press Hamas to disarm. The Associated Press saw the Board of Peace report before its release. The report is expected to be discussed Thursday. It states that Hamas’ refusal to disarm is a major obstacle to the ceasefire’s full implementation. Hamas has rejected the report, calling it fallacious. The ceasefire began in October but has stalled due to the deadlock over disarming Hamas. The report highlights ongoing ceasefire violations and emphasizes that disarmament is crucial for reconstruction and progress toward Palestinian self-determination.
May 20, 2026 4:51 am
WARMINSTER, Pa. (AP) — Democrats in Pennsylvania backed by Gov. Josh Shapiro won their primaries to shape a congressional slate in which they hope to flip the state’s four swing districts and, ultimately, capture a U.S. House majority. Janelle Stelson, Bob Harvie and Bob Brooks won the party’s nomination Tuesday in three swing districts where Democrats had a contested primary for the right to take on Republican seat-holders in November. All were endorsed by Shapiro, who is putting his clout on the line and also is trying deliver Democratic control of the state Legislature. Shapiro will face Republican Stacy Garrity in his reelection bid.
May 19, 2026 12:44 pm
Authorities are investigating the death of the chief of The Heidelberg Borough Police Department. The borough put out a release on Tuesday, saying they are “saddened to announce the sudden and tragic death of Police Chief Dennis Dixon while on duty.” Chief Dixon was found dead in his patrol vehicle around just before nine o’clock Monday night. He joined the Heidelberg Police Department in 2008 and was promoted to chief in 2018. The Allegheny County Police Department is handling the investigation and information regarding the cause and manner of his death will be released by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
May 19, 2026 1:45 am
It’s primary election day across Pennsylvania. The polls opened at seven a.m and will close at eight p.m. Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander says she is expecting to see around a thirty-five to thirty-eight-percent voter turnout, but is hoping for better since the weather is expected to be fairly nice. There are two costly and hotly contested races. One is for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 46th Senatorial District. Three-term incumbent Republican Camera Bartolotta is being challenged by Al Buchtan, a Greene County businessman, for a place on November’s ballot. Evan Snyder of Washington County’s Nottingham Township is running unopposed for the seat in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, Bud Cook, the incumbent republican representative in the Pennsylvania State House is going up against Ben Humble from Waynesburg. Voters will also be asked to cast votes for nominations for Lieutenant Governor and for both chambers of the General Assembly. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and his Republican opponent Stacy Garrity are both unopposed. (Photo: AP)
May 19, 2026 5:08 am
The Peters Township School Board voted to approve their preliminary operating budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The budget will include a tax increase of .32 mills. That equates to a 1.97% millage increase. According to Business Manager Brad Rau, the school district was allowed to raise taxes by 3.5% without voter approval. The $89,784,137 budget is balanced and has a $5 million reserve fund. The vote was 5-3 to approve. Directors Rolf Briegel, Jason Camilletti, Kathleen Chaudhari, Michael Lynch and Richard Soeder voted to approve the measure. Directors Thomas Adrian, Alex Binsse and Sarah Kennedy voted against the measure. Director Alex O’Neill was not in attendance. According to Vice Chairperson Kathleen Chaudhari, the district is facing more than $20 million in building maintenance projects over the next 5 years. There are two paving projects along with HVAC and roof replacements that are in need of attention. In addition to the tax increase, directors by the identical 5-3 vote approved a measure to file 2027 property tax assessment appeals to properties transferred in the district from July 1, 2024 through June 30 2026. Appeals will be filed on properties with a minimum sales price of $200,000 and a minimum under-assessed tax revenue of $500. A vote to formally adopt the budget will occur on June 22.
May 19, 2026 2:39 am
Triple A says Memorial Day travelers can expect to pay the highest gas prices at the pump in four years. Gas prices are nine cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.760 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Nationally, after some consistent declines, the national average price for gasoline rose towards the end of last week and the national average is $4.51, a penny less than last Monday and nearly 50 cents higher than a month ago. Travelers are preparing to hit the road in record numbers this week, and drivers will be facing the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2022. This time last year, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.17. Simultaneously, oil is trading around $107/barrel after spending most of last week trading around $100/barrel. With elevated oil prices and expected higher demand, prices could continue to push upward through the week and into the weekend. (Photo: AP)
