November 5, 2026 5:57 am
PARIS (AP) — French trade unions are joining forces for more nationwide strikes and demonstrations for higher wages and in support of the high school protest movement. Major rallies are expected in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille on Thursday after more than a month of protests across France. Transportation chaos is expected and some schools could be shut as teachers join the strike. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that 70,000 police officers are being deployed. They are being backed by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters. France’s main unions warned in a joint statement that the country is on the brink and anger is mounting.
November 5, 2026 4:50 am
JetBlue has raised its checked baggage fees for the second time this year. The increase took effect Tuesday and comes just weeks before the busy holiday travel season in the U.S. kicks off with the Thanksgiving weekend. Most domestic economy passengers will now pay at least $50 each way for their first checked bag. That is up from $39 previously. The price climbs to $55 during peak travel periods like the winter holidays. A second checked bag also increased to $70 each way and $75 during peak travel. JetBlue previously raised checked bag fees in March after the Iran war began and helped set off a broader round of baggage fee hikes among major U.S. airlines.
November 5, 2026 2:08 pm
LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand has been convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. The British comedian faces a significant prison term when sentenced Monday. Brand, known for his risqué comedy and past promiscuity, denied the charges. He was taken into custody after the judge rejected a bail request. Prosecutors described him as a manipulative predator. The jury deliberated for over eight hours before reaching the verdict. Brand was acquitted of two rape counts and one attempted indecent assault. Police have provided prosecutors with investigations into two more allegations against him. Brand’s conviction follows a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4. (Photo: AP)
November 4, 2026 4:50 am
World shares are mostly higher though heavy selling of artificial intelligence-related stocks offset gains for some markets following the U.S. midterm elections. South Korea’s Kospi sank 5.3% and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost nearly 2% on Thursday. Oil prices fell and U.S. futures were mixed after the Dow industrials jumped more than 3% on Wednesday after the Republican Party lost control of the U.S. Congress in the midterm elections. The S&P 500 picked up 1.6% and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.4%. U.S. stocks usually climb following midterms regardless of who wins. But technology shares have taken a hit as investors mull the potential impact on the AI boom from a Congress led by Democratic Party lawmakers.
November 5, 2026 12:47 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted bingo, Care Bears, the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the humble playground slide. These toys join classics like Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe. Experts at The Strong National Museum of Play, which hosts the Hall of Fame, highlight bingo’s global popularity and its appeal to young adults. Care Bears gained support through social media, while Pokémon cards were boosted by anime and manga fans. The slide is praised for helping children develop motor skills. To be inducted, toys must be iconic and engage multiple generations. (Photo: AP)
November 4, 2026 5:50 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks soared after President Donald Trump’s party lost its sole control of Washington in the midterm elections. Stocks generally do well in the months following any midterm U.S. election, regardless of who wins, and the S&P 500 jumped 1.6% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged more than 1,500 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.4%. Stocks of hospital owners and retailers focused on lower-income Americans helped lead the widespread rally. Investors meanwhile see risks for Trump’s social-media company, the AI industry and Elon Musk’s businesses. Oil prices tumbled, which helped Treasury yields ease in the bond market.
November 4, 2026 5:46 pm
Police continue their investigation into the apparent murder-suicide of a father and his two young children. Authorities say they found the bodies of 42-year-old Patrick Lynch, eight-year-old James Lynch and six-year-old Caroline Lynch, lying at the bottom of a parking garage at Municipal Way in Mt. Lebanon Tuesday afternoon.
November 4, 2026 10:43 am
Democrats have won control of Congress in a widespread repudiation of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Democrats have flipped at least seven Senate seats in ruby-red states and battlegrounds alike: Kansas, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina. In the House, Democrats flipped more than two dozen districts, some that voted for Trump by double digits in 2024. House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek election as House Republican leader following the Democrats’ win. Trump faces a profoundly reshaped Washington for the last two years of his presidency. Democrats will have the power to block his legislative agenda, reject his appointees and investigate his administration.
November 4, 2026 12:00 am
Republican candidates for office in Washington County bucked the national trend by electing Republican candidates to all contested races. In the 46th Senate district, Senator Camera Bartolotta held off independent candidate Jodi Borello 56% to 44%. In House races, in the 48th district Tim O’Neal held off Rebecca MacTaggart 57%-43%. In the 50th district Ben Humble beat Lois Bower-Bjornson 65%-35%, in the 15th district it was Josh Kail over Sydney Speicher 62%-38%. In the remaining races involving Washington County, In the 39th district, Andrew Kuzma beat Dylan Altemara 53.5%-46.5%, in the 40th district, Natalie Mihalek held on to defeat Jon Lloyd 51.5%-48.5% and finally in the 46th district Jason Ortitay beat Mike Crossey 53%-47%. Results are unofficial until certified by the counties where the elections were held.
November 4, 2026 12:01 am
Voters in Hanover Township voted against adding two supervisors to their board of supervisors. In a ballot referendum question, residents were asked if they would want to add two supervisors to the township board of supervisors to bring the total number of supervisors to five. The measure to add supervisors failed with 52% of residents wishing to retain the current set up. Those residents in favor of expansion only had 48% of the vote. The final vote total was 482 no and 443 yes.
