July 9, 2026 5:02 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war. The strikes came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said recent Iranian attacks on ships signaled the end of the ceasefire. Thursday’s attacks appeared bigger all around than Wednesday’s strikes, though there has been no word on damage in the three Gulf Arab countries. Iran said the two days of strikes had killed at least 14 people, the majority members of Iran’s armed forces, and wounded 78 others.
July 9, 2026 5:05 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The potential unraveling of a fragile truce between Iran and the United States has renewed anxiety over fuel prices. It’s raising concern that gasoline prices could go up again if sustained fighting keeps oil tankers from traveling through the Persian Gulf. Oil prices rose to their highest point in weeks after President Donald Trump declared the U.S. ceasefire with Iran over on Wednesday. Trump spoke after Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and on American military sites in other Gulf nations. Costlier crude oil could lead to costlier gas station fill-ups. That could happen as drivers in many countries were getting a break from elevated prices brought on by the war.
July 9, 2026 5:05 am
SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — The Maine Democratic Party has voted to hold a convention now that Graham Platner has announced he’ll drop out of the U.S. Senate race. Platner, accused of sexual assault by a former girlfriend, denies the allegation but faced pressure to quit. The party plans to select a replacement, with potential contenders already showing interest. Platner had until July 13 for a new candidate to be considered. Ahead of his announcement, his campaign denied trying to influence the selection process. Meanwhile, voters expressed disappointment and called for Platner to withdraw.
July 9, 2026 5:07 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan has been spared from prison for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents waited in the hallway. A federal judge fined her $5,000 and cited her otherwise law-abiding life in issuing the sentence. Hannah Dugan resigned as a Milwaukee County judge after her obstruction conviction and had to move amid threats against her family. Her lawyers argued that President Donald Trump’s administration sought to crush her to ensure judicial compliance with courthouse arrests. She faced up to five years in prison Wednesday, but the judge cited her lifetime of public service.
July 9, 2026 5:46 am
LONDON (AP) — Bonnie Tyler, the gravelly voiced Welsh pop star known for “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” has died at 75. She was hospitalized in Portugal in May 2026 for emergency surgery and placed in an induced coma. Tyler earned three Grammy nominations and represented Britain at Eurovision in 2013. Her iconic song, boosted by real eclipses, has over 1 billion streams. Born Gaynor Hopkins, she grew up in Wales and was inspired by artists like Janis Joplin. Her career took off with hits like “It’s a Heartache.” Tyler was married to Robert Sullivan, a former Olympic judo competitor.
July 8, 2026 2:59 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Pitt” led all nominees with 25 in a dominant sophomore season, while “Hacks” led all comedies with a record-breaking 24 for its final season as the Emmy nominations were announced. HBO Max’s emergency room series “The Pitt” owned this year’s acting categories. Previous winners Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa were nominated again. Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif and Sepideh Moafi also got nominations, with “The Pitt” taking four of the seven supporting actress spots. “Hacks” star Jean Smart was nominated again, having won best actress in a comedy for all four previous seasons. Her sidekick, Hannah Einbinder, got a fifth nomination.
July 8, 2026 12:44 pm
Harrisburg, PA – Ahead of the 25-day closure of the Interstate 376 Commercial Street Bridge, PennDOT is encouraging drivers to plan their trip using the enhanced real-time travel information available on a specialized webpage at https://www.511pa.com/map/page/CommercialStBridge. These enhancements support Governor Josh Shapiro’s commitment to providing accessible, real-time digital services to every Pennsylvanian. Hosted through the department’s www.511PA.com traveler information website, the page is dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions on primary travel routes to events and around the greater Pittsburgh area. The new webpage includes links to traffic maps with travel time for primary routes around the City of Pittsburgh, as well as other helpful links and travel tips for navigating the closure. Users can see real-time incidents, construction, traffic cameras, traffic speeds, and message board displays on the maps. Travelers using the “My Routes” option will also have access to a list of special points of interest when choosing their starting point or destination, making it easier than ever to find the best route around the closure. There will also be real-time travel information posted on changeable message signs and PennDOT will be utilizing cameras throughout the closure to enhance monitoring of current traffic conditions, as well as message boards to help direct travelers.
July 8, 2026 4:48 am
The Cecil Township Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the Conditional Use Application for the Cool Valley Development. The site of the proposed development is 216 acres along Interstate I-79, Lewicki Rd., and Morganza Rd. It will be used for retail, town homes, and an apartment complex. Frank Egizio, the Chairman of the Board, believes that the applicant was not fully prepared for the hearing. He said that there are still a lot of unanswered questions, including what the traffic flow would be like and how the development would impact residents in the surrounding area. Residents who spoke at the hearing expressed concerns regarding traffic, public safety, and light pollution. One resident, Michelle Turbanic, was pleased with the number of residents who showed up at the hearing, because she believes that taking part in local government is extremely important. Supervisor Cindy Fisher ensures that the Board will represent the residents and make sure that their concerns are validated. John Haynes, who spoke on behalf of Cool Valley Development, refused to comment after the hearing. The hearing will be continued on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM, with a vote immediately following.
July 8, 2026 5:40 am
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at UPMC Washington hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of a new, second linear accelerator, an advanced radiation machine used to treat cancer. Beth Wild, the president of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, says this addition not only ensures that patients receive the best care possible, but that they receive it as soon as they need it. Ziad Fawaz, a radiation oncologist and medical director at the Cancer Center, explains that this technology offers more advanced imaging and improved treatment accuracy. The system can accurately target tumors and minimize exposure to healthy tissue. Brook Ward, the president of UPMC Washington, says that this is an important milestone for the hospital, the Cancer Center, the Washington community, and the surrounding area. He also says that, while the technology is important, it is the great team at the Cancer Center that really makes a difference.
July 7, 2026 2:50 am
PennDOT says single-lane restrictions will be in place during their annual bridge inspections in Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. In Greene County, bridge inspections will take place on Interstate 79 northbound over Route 221 at Exit 19 in Washington Township on Wednesday, July 8th, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. In Washington County, Interstate 70 in both directions from Exit 40 and 41 in Speers Borough will be affected on Thursday, July 9th, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. In Westmoreland County, the inspections will occur on July 8th from noon until 4 p.m. on Route 981 between Wimmerton Industrial Park and Lloyd Avenue in Unity Township. PennDOT District 12 staff will perform the inspection work on the structures and all work is dependent on weather and operational conditions.
