August 20, 2026 4:58 am
PITTSBURGH — A case of measles has reached the Pittsburgh area. The Allegheny County Health Department says a person who visited the emergency department at UPMC Children’s Hospital on Aug. 12 and 18 has tested positive for measles. The person is not from Allegheny County and is currently in isolation. UPMC will call patients who were exposed during those two days. ACHD tells anyone who was in the exposure area and hasn’t had two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine to call their health care provider. Individuals should not go to a health care facility without calling ahead. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through breaths, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and irritated eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward.
August 20, 2026 4:53 am
GEORGES TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a box truck in Fayette County on Thursday. The crash happened at around 8 a.m. near the intersection of Valley School and Morgantown roads in Georges Township. Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker identified the victim as Charles Plum, 17, of Lake Lynn. Plum was taken to a hospital in an ambulance, where he was later pronounced dead. State Police say the motorcycle hit the box truck at a high rate of speed. This happened as the truck attempted to make a left turn onto Morgantown Road from Valley School Road.
August 21, 2026 4:59 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Heavy rain and winds are pounding the Northeast U.S. Storms tore through a beach on Long Island and stranded dozens of people in their cars in New Jersey on Thursday. Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and rain pummeling down as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island’s outer barrier. It tore apart a major beach club, leaving broken beach chairs and wood beams littered across the shoreline. No major injuries have been reported. Police in Dover, Delaware, say a likely tornado touched down and caused significant damage across the city.
August 21, 2026 5:04 am
Iran has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of economic pain and isolation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that it will only increase hostility after Trump threatened “crushing economic measures” against Iran. Doctors Without Borders has condemned the decision by Israel’s military not to investigate two fatal attacks on the medical humanitarian group’s staff. Six European countries rebuked Israel over a settlement project near Jerusalem. The U.K. calls it “an unacceptable and destructive act.” A mass funeral was held in Gaza City for 50 people killed in Israeli airstrikes nearly three years ago but whose remains were just recovered.
August 21, 2026 5:02 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and South Korean militaries are wrapping their annual drills six days earlier than initially scheduled in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea. The end of the drills set for Friday comes after North Korea said such a step isn’t enough to convince it to return to talks. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just before they began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.
August 21, 2026 5:01 am
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. military says a charter aircraft carrying eight people crashed at a remote radar site in western Alaska on Thursday, killing all on board. The crash happened at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. Clint Johnson with the National Transportation Safety Board had said earlier there were two pilots and six passengers on board. The plane had taken off from Anchorage and was believed to have crashed early Thursday afternoon on approach to Cape Newenham, according to Johnson.
August 20, 2026 5:38 pm
HONOLULU (AP) — Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days. Hurricane Lala tore roofs off houses, covered roads in mud and left thousands of homes without power. Now forecasters are warning another tropical storm could form as early as Thursday in the Pacific and approach the islands this weekend. Meteorologists say the system could dump up to 15 inches of rain across the Big Island and trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Currently a tropical depression about 960 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Gov. Josh Green planned a news conference Thursday to discuss storm preparations and update residents on Hurricane Lala, which left two people dead.
August 20, 2026 9:35 am
NORTH CHARLEROI, Pa. — A man faces charges after police say they found nearly 40 cats, many of which were dead, at a home in North Charleroi. According to court documents filed on Wednesday, Joseph B. McKenna Jr. was charged with 18 felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious bodily injury or death and 20 counts of cruelty to animals. Police said they were called to a house on Fourth Street after neighbors reporting at least two cats were dead inside garbage bags on the property and numerous others were running around. Officers reported the house was in deplorable condition both inside and out. Police said 18 dead cats were found in various states of decomposition inside the house and 20 living cats were found running around inside. McKenna told police he was going through personal issues and was struggling to take care of the animals. He was asked whether he had tried reaching out to the Washington County Humane Society, the police department, or a nonprofit for help, and he said he had not. McKenna was taken into custody and is being held at the Washington County Jail.
August 20, 2026 4:49 am
Authorities say an airplane pilot has died after a violent collision with a Pennsylvania state police helicopter near a runway at a small airport. Officials say both state troopers aboard the helicopter survived the crash Wednesday. The state’s acting police commissioner says the plane was coming down on the runway and veered into the helicopter that was close to the ground. The FAA and NTSB called it a midair collision but state police didn’t clarify if the plane was off the ground. Photos on social media showed a helicopter on its side near aircraft debris and a line of emergency vehicles near Carlisle.
August 19, 2026 2:50 am
An investigation continues into a fatal crash along Interstate 79 in Whiteley Township in Greene County Wednesday afternoon. The Greene County Coroner says 26-year-old Robbi Bennett was involved in a two vehicle accident around 1:30 p.m., shutting down the northbound highway between Exit 7 (Kirby/Garards Fort) and Exit 14 (Waynesburg/Masontown). The highway opened around three o’clock. The coroner says a cause and manner of death are pending.
