May 29, 2026 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain low despite economic uncertainty caused by the Iran war. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims were up to 215,000, up from 210,000 the week before. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by nearly 6,300 to 209,000. The number of Americans signing up for unemployment benefits — a proxy for layoffs — has stabilized in a low range of mostly 200,000 to 250,000 a week since the U.S. economy emerged from a brief but nasty pandemic recession in 2020.
May 29, 2026 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has finished her interview with House lawmakers about the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Bondi stood behind the Trump administration’s release of the Epstein files but refused to answer questions on President Donald Trump’s involvement in it. Democratic lawmakers said Friday that Bondi told them she would not speak about the Republican president in the closed-door interview. Several survivors of Epstein’s abuse gathered outside the Capitol office where lawmakers were interviewing Bondi. The survivors tried to make their presence known to Bondi as she entered the room but say they were shoved aside by police officers. (Photo: AP)
May 29, 2026 4:32 pm
(AP) – Virginia State Police say a bus crashed into vehicles slowing for a work zone on Interstate 95 early Friday, killing five people in two cars and sending dozens to hospitals. The crash happened at about 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County. A state police statement says all five of those killed were from Massachusetts. Most of the injured were taken to hospitals in Stafford and Fredericksburg. Three were in critical condition, police said. Police said the crash is under investigation and charges are pending. The southbound lanes were reopened by noon, with traffic backups.
May 29, 2026 4:25 pm
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A court in Kenya has suspended a U.S. plan to establish a quarantine facility for Americans exposed to a rare Ebola virus in northeastern Congo. The decision came on Friday after backlash from medical workers and activists. The U.S. intended to send affected and exposed individuals to Kenya instead of flying them home. The Kenyan government has only acknowledged discussions about Ebola preparedness, not the facility itself. The High Court in Nairobi halted any agreements until petitions are heard on Tuesday. The Kenya Law Society and Katiba Institute challenged the facility, citing public health risks and lack of public participation.
May 28, 2026 4:22 pm
Ontario (AP) — A Canadian man accused of running an online operation selling lethal products in more than 40 countries has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of counseling or aiding suicide. A lawyer for Kenneth Law says Canadian prosecutors will withdraw 14 murder charges in exchange for the plea. Police in Canada and internationally have been investigating more than 100 suicides linked to Law. Canadian police say he used a series of websites to market and sell sodium nitrite. The substance is commonly used to cure meats and can be deadly if ingested. Police say Law is suspected of sending at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries.
May 28, 2026 2:25 pm
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian authorities say a Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania. Two people had minor injuries and several were evacuated. The Defense Ministry said Friday the drone was tracked by radar in Romanian airspace and crashed onto the roof of a building in Galati. Russia has been using long-range ballistic missiles and drones to damage Ukraine’s power grid and hammer cities, and Ukraine has braced for further heavy bombardments. Romania’s Foreign Ministry said the country is asking NATO for a faster transfer of anti-drone capabilities to its military.
May 29, 2026 2:53 pm
BANGKOK (AP) — Rescue divers in Laos have safely evacuated the first of five villagers trapped in a cave for over a week due to floodwaters. The rescue happened Friday night, with the villager seen walking unsteadily with assistance. Divers found the group on Wednesday, but two villagers remain missing. Rescue teams from Laos, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia are working together, with more help on the way. The villagers had entered the cave to search for valuable minerals and were trapped by flash flooding. Rescuers are pumping water out of the cave, but rain has complicated efforts.
May 29, 2026 4:57 am
One person was injured in a tractor-trailer rollover crash on Interstate 79 north in Amwell Township. Washington County 911 says it happened around 9:30 p.m. between the Amity/Lone Pine and Laboratory exits. The driver reportedly had to be extricated from the cab. They were transported to a local hospital by ambulance and there is no word on their condition. Dispatchers day the tractor trailer was blocking both the north and southbound lanes and closed the Interstate for several hours. Things are back to normal this morning.
May 29, 2026 2:54 am
An Oakdale man accused of lane splitting between two trucks and killing a man on the roadside will face trial. Jaxon Farrell, 18 faces homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle and 18 other charges. At his preliminary hearing, Farrell waived his charges to common pleas court. The criminal complaint states that on August 25, Farrell was lane splitting on an entrance ramp to the Southern Beltway from Route 22 eastbound in Robinson Township. Farrell sped to the right of a tractor trailer and struck a disabled tractor trailer beyond the fog line on the shoulder of the on ramp. In the process Farrell struck and killed 46 year old Brian Everhart who was working on the disabled vehicle. Farrell did not stop to render aid, he continued to drive until his vehicle became disabled. That is where State Police apprehended him. Jaxon told police he hit the truck but did not know he hit a person. Farrell will be formally arraigned on June 30.
May 28, 2026 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and start a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke Thursday to The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but it was unclear if President Donald Trump would approve it. Iran did not immediately confirm any deal with the United States. The tentative agreement comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appears to be wavering.
