September 6, 2026 6:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center is blaming “decades of neglect” for causing part of the ceiling to collapse in the performing arts venue’s grand foyer. Spokesperson Roma Daravi said no one was injured when a chunk of the ceiling fell Friday evening. She said the damage underscores “the urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization” called for by President Donald Trump. Members of the Kennedy Center’s Trump-aligned board are fighting in court over its plans to add Trump’s name to the building and to close the center for two years while performing renovations.
September 6, 2026 6:36 am
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Rescuers in Nepal have pulled out a Chinese man and a woman in separate operations, 10 days after devastating floods hit the country. The man was rescued from a hydropower tunnel, bringing the total to three workers pulled alive from the Trishuli hydropower project. Nepal’s army said a joint rescue team of Nepalese military personnel and South Korean disaster experts rescued the man from a nearly 740-foot tunnel. In flood-hit Nuwakot town, a woman was rescued alive from a house. At least 1,300 people were killed in the Aug. 26 floods, and more than 5,000 remain missing.
September 6, 2026 6:28 am
A man entered a guilty plea after trying to bring a stun grenade onto a plane at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to the Department of Justice. Zachary Velling, 27, of Morgantown, W.Va., pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possessing an unregistered firearm Wednesday. Prosecutors say Velling put his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine at Pittsburgh International Airport Nov. 12, 2024. TSA agents reportedly saw something suspicious inside. Allegheny County police ultimately found it to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade, also called a flashbang. The DOJ says the grenade is a firearm and destructive device that was not registered to Velling. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7. Velling could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
September 6, 2026 3:54 am
A Charleroi couple avoided prosecution on child endangerment charges. Lucner Joseph, and Navilia Norazier each had four counts of endangering the welfare of children charges dropped when prosecutors opted not to pursue charges against them. They are the second couple facing similar charges that had their charges dismissed. In June, Jackson Alexis and Roldy Noel had their charges dismissed when a judge concluded that the prosecution did not present a prima facie against the couple on the charges. According to court records, in February, both couples were found to be living in a recently condemned home at 515 McKean Avenue that had no running water and buckets were being used as toilets. A kitchen was being shared between the two families. Charleroi officials state that the building had been formally condemned.
September 5, 2026 8:47 am
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The decision is linked to the upcoming visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for peace talks. The envoys arrived in Moscow on Saturday to revive efforts to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged a halt to airstrikes during their visit. Meanwhile, Russian attacks have intensified, targeting key sites in Ukraine and leading to casualties. Ukrainian air defenses have been active, intercepting numerous drones.
September 5, 2026 4:13 am
A federal judge is extending a legal block on President Donald Trump’s plan to regulate mail ballots during the midterm elections. The order Friday from U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani comes after she earlier handed down a temporary restraining order prohibiting the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing the new policy. North Carolina began sending mail ballots out Friday and election officials in many states say it’s too late to meet the new requirements. The Trump administration filed a notice late Friday saying it would appeal the ruling.
September 5, 2026 4:06 am
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the murder case against Lindsay Clancy. Jurors could not agree on whether she was criminally responsible when she strangled her three young children in 2023. Friday’s mistrial leaves the case unresolved and allows prosecutors to try Clancy again. She had faced life in prison without parole if convicted of first-degree murder. Prosecutors argued that Clancy acted deliberately and understood her actions, while her lawyers said postpartum psychosis left her unable to control her behavior or appreciate its wrongfulness. The closely watched case drew national attention to maternal mental healthcare and gaps in treatment.
September 5, 2026 4:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Missouri has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to use new congressional districts backed by President Trump in the upcoming midterm elections. The appeal comes after Missouri’s highest court blocked the new map and ordered a statewide vote in November. This is part of a national redistricting battle Trump launched last year. The new boundaries were drawn to help Republicans gain an additional seat and maintain their House majority. Missouri’s top court said the previous districts must be used in the general election. State law sets a Tuesday deadline to make changes to the November ballot.
September 5, 2026 4:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump describes the conflict in Iran as “small potatoes” and says he agrees with Vice President JD Vance’s assertion that months of on-and-off attacks in the Middle East are no longer a “war.” In an exchange with reporters Friday, Trump said U.S. strikes on Iran are now “intermittent” and downplayed the impact of the war — which has cost over $37.5 billion and 18 U.S. service members’ lives. Vance, during a White House briefing Thursday, rejected calling the U.S. fighting with Iran a “war,” stating there’s no active shooting. Trump also highlighted the lower U.S. death toll in the fighting with Iran compared to other conflicts and reiterated that the conflict has weakened Iran’s nuclear program.
September 5, 2026 4:02 am
BEIRUT (AP) — Israel’s military says it has taken control of the Ali Taher ridge in Lebanon, despite ongoing clashes with Hezbollah. The area has seen frequent fighting since a ceasefire began over two months ago. On Thursday night, Israel announced its control, but continued airstrikes, raising questions from Hezbollah. The U.S. is urging Lebanon to pressure Hezbollah to hand over the area to the Lebanese army, but Hezbollah resists, fearing Israeli takeover. Israel claims it has neutralized Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure there. The situation remains tense, with both sides maintaining a strong presence in the region.
