Dave Mason – Co-Founder Of The Band Traffic – Dies At 79

April 22, 2026 1:48 pm

NEW YORK (AP) — Dave Mason, co-founder of the psychedelic British band Traffic and songwriter behind “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe,” died Sunday at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. He was 79. A cause was not immediately revealed. Mason canceled his remaining tour dates last summer, citing health issues stemming from an infection. Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 for classics including “Feelin’ Alright?” which he co-wrote with Traffic frontman Steve Winwood. It wasn’t an immediate hit, but became one after it was covered by the likes of Joe Cocker, the Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Grand Funk Railroad.

U.S. Extends Ceasefire With Iran At Pakistan’s Request

April 21, 2026 3:27 pm

ISLAMABAD (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States is extending its ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request as he waits for a unified proposal from the Islamic Republic.  The announcement came as last-minute ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran looked uncertain and a two-week truce was set to expire Wednesday.  Earlier, the White House put on hold Vice President JD Vance’s expected trip to Islamabad for a second round of talks as Tehran — at least for the time-being — has balked at further talks.  In a Truth Social post announcing the ceasefire extension, Trump also said the U.S. military would continue it’s blockade of Iranian ports.  As last-minute ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran looked uncertain, both countries warned that, without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting

Mike Tomlin Will Join NBC Sunday Night Pregame Show

April 21, 2026 12:47 pm

(AP) – Mike Tomlin is going from the glare of an NFL sideline to the glare of television lights. The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach will join NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” coverage as a pregame analyst, two people briefed on the move tell The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because NBC has not announced the move. Tomlin stepped down in January after 19 seasons as Steelers coach. NBC had a studio opening as it is retooling its “Football Night in America” pregame show. Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy announced last month that he was told he would not be back after 17 years.

Retail Sales Up 1.7% In March

April 21, 2026 8:46 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers accelerated their spending in March from February, but they spent most of their money at the gas pump. A spike in gas prices due to the Iran war, now in its eighth week, resulted in a hefty 1.7% gain in March after a revised 0.7% increase in February, according to the Commerce Department’s report on Tuesday. The report marks the first read on spending to capture the effects of the Iran war. Excluding gas prices, the growth was a slim 0.6%, helped in part by government tax refunds and warm weather.

Freedom Transit Offering Rides To NFL Draft

April 21, 2026 2:27 am

To help accommodate those attending the NFL draft, Freedom Transit has added three additional return times from Pittsburgh back to Washington County on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24. One bus will depart downtown Pittsburgh at approximately 10:00 PM, another bus will depart at approximately 11:30 PM and the last bus will depart at approximately 12:15 AM. Information on stop locations in downtown are listed below in the inbound and outbound detour sections.  Freedom Transit has a limited fleet of buses and may not be able to accommodate all riders wishing to use the public transit service during the NFL draft.  Fixed‑route bus service is subject to vehicle capacity limits. Boarding is permitted on a first‑come, first‑served basis until capacity is reached. Seating is not guaranteed, and standing may be required.  The cost to ride the Metro is $4.00 for a one-way ticket.  Tickets can be purchased by downloading the Freedom Transit app on the App Store or Google Play. Learn more about buying bus tickets or click the button.

NFL Draft Week Is Here

April 20, 2026 2:04 am

You may have heard that the NFL Draft is coming to Pittsburgh later this week. Officials have been working to come up with the best travel plan. PennDOT is encouraging drivers to plan their trip using real-time travel information available on a specialized web page. Governor Josh Shapiro’s office has set up 5-1-1 PA.com/map/page/NFL. The page is dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions on primary travel routes. This is just the start of major sports events in the Commonwealth with Philadelphia set to host some FIFA World Cup Soccer matches in June and July and the Phillies are set to host the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 14. Experts say Pittsburgh will host between 500 and 700 thousand people between August 23rd and the 25th.

Court; State Constitution Guarantees Right To Abortion

April 20, 2026 4:55 am

A Pennsylvania court has ruled that the state’s constitution guarantees a right to abortion. This decision overturns a decades-long law that banned using Medicaid funds for abortion costs. The ruling, announced Monday, marks a significant victory for Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics that sued Pennsylvania in 2019 over Medicaid funding limitations. Pennsylvania now joins a few states where advocates have successfully protected abortion access through state constitutions. The attorney general’s office is reviewing the decision and hasn’t said if it will appeal.

US & Iran Signal New Ceasefire Talks

April 20, 2026 4:57 am

ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistani officials say the United States and Iran have signaled they will hold new ceasefire talks in Islamabad. A two-week truce is set to expire Wednesday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf are expected to lead their teams. Both sides remain firm, with President Trump warning of potential conflict and Iran hinting at new strategies. Meanwhile, the U.S. military says it boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia. The Pentagon said the boarding occurred “without incident.”

Iran Gives Field Commanders More Power

April 20, 2026 5:00 am

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran has granted its commanders more autonomy over militias in Iraq, allowing some to act without Tehran’s approval. Three militia members and two other officials described the shift to The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity to speak freely about sensitive matters. It comes amid the pressures of the Iran war. Many Iran-backed militias are funded through Iraq’s state budget and embedded within Iraq’s security apparatus. The conflict in the Middle East has exposed the fragility of Iraq’s institutions. Baghdad has struggled to control the militias. Officials and experts say that even if a fragile ceasefire deal holds, the U.S. is expected to intensify efforts against them. A decentralized structure allows factions to operate independently, complicating efforts to rein them in.

Trump’s Fed Nominee Questioned By Senate Panel

April 21, 2026 5:01 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve says that he never promised the White House he would cut interest rates, even as the president renewed his calls for the central bank to do so. The comments underscore the challenge faced by Kevin Warsh, 56, a former top Fed official whom Trump named in January to replace the current Fed chair, Jerome Powell. Democrats on the committee accused Warsh on Tuesday of flip-flopping on interest rates over the years, supporting higher interest rates under Democratic presidents and advocating rate cuts during Trump’s time in office.  (Photo:  AP)