October 28, 2026 4:39 am
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has decried a “corruption crisis” he says is plaguing the U.S. political system. Talarico on Tuesday was competing for the spotlight with President Donald Trump in deeply conservative West Texas. Trump was in Texas for the third time in a month in a last-minute push to back Republican Ken Paxton and block Democrats from notching their first statewide election victory in more than three decades. Talarico took the stage in Lubbock an hour after Trump wrapped up his own speech across town. He cast himself as an underdog against powerful forces including Trump and Elon Musk, who is bankrolling attack ads against Talarico on Paxton’s behalf. Trump leaned into cultural issues to portray Talarico as too liberal for Texas.
October 28, 2026 4:38 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israelis are closely awaiting final election results after their voting delivered a rebuke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government. Exit polls suggest no clear winner, leading to potential weeks of negotiations. Netanyahu’s opponents appear to have a majority but may struggle to form a coalition. Netanyahu remains defiant, dismissing partnerships with Arab parties. His main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, is open to such alliances. Still, the polls indicate Netanyahu’s Likud party has lost seats but remains the largest. Arab-led parties could play a crucial role in coalition-building. Final results were expected sometime on Wednesday, with potential for another election if no government is formed.
October 28, 2026 4:40 am
MIAMI (AP) — Defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and his family have landed in Miami after fleeing Brazil. Bolsonaro fled after he refused to concede the election to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro’s father Jair Bolsonaro also fled to Florida after losing the 2022 presidential election to Lula. The United States has granted visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family and U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned Brazil’s election result. Bolsonaro is under investigation by Brazil’s Supreme Court, accused of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. He has denied those allegations. The Trump ally visited the White House in May.
October 28, 2026 4:42 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key rate unchanged Wednesday at about 3.9% despite stubbornly high inflation, while providing little hint about the central bank’s next moves. The Fed’s latest policy meeting concludes less than a week before the midterm elections, which have focused heavily on concerns about the cost of living and affordability. Consumers have generally soured on an economy weighed down by more expensive gas, groceries, and clothing, among other items. The Fed wants to return inflation to the Fed’s 2% target, which it typically does by raising its short-term interest rate.
October 27, 2026 4:43 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal law enforcement agents have searched a Beverly Hills home as part of an investigation into Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress amid a wave of sexual misconduct allegations. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter. Agents searched the home of wealthy developer and Swalwell donor Stephen Cloobeck, where the ex-Congressman spent time before resigning from office in April, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation. Swalwell, D-Calif., has denied criminal wrongdoing. Cloobeck, the founder of the Diamond Resorts International timeshare company, told the New York Post in April that he cut ties with Swalwell as accusations against him mounted.
October 27, 2026 5:24 pm
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Two Fayette County corrections officers accused of beating an inmate are now facing criminal charges. The assault on inmate Robert Stimmel during intake processing took place 20 days ago. In the days after the attack, he was diagnosed with multiple broken ribs, a brain bleed, a traumatic brain injury, a concussion and permanent vision problems. Court documents for Ryan Sigley and Amadeus Marinucci, the corrections officers accused in the attack. They’re both charged with aggravated assault, official oppression, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and unsworn falsification to authorities. Sigley and Marinucci were fired nearly two weeks after the attack. A third officer accused on the incident was suspended for 10 days and is not facing any charges.
October 27, 2026 10:38 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy rebounded somewhat in October as gas prices fell modestly but remain elevated. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index jumped 7.5 points to 91.7 in October from 84.2 last month. September’s reading was the lowest in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level reached during the pandemic. Respondents’ views of their present situation rose by 6.9 points to 72.6 while their short-term outlook climbed 8.6 points to 120.4. Even with the improved outlook, Americans remain flustered by the economy after five years of elevated inflation.
October 26, 2026 2:42 am
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed SB 1014 into law, requiring schools in the state to adopt and implement a policy to prohibit the use of cell phones during the school day beginning next school year. Shapiro signed the legislation at Lenape Middle School in Bucks County with legislators, educators, parents, and students on hand. “As educators, teachers, and caregivers, we understand the challenges of raising and educating young people in a digital world. For years, schools have been striving to address the distraction that comes with student cell phones,” said Dr. Joanna Wexler, Superintendent, Central Bucks School District. “Now, we will continue to work with students, staff, and parents to engage in conversations and dialogue around this issue, knowing our students and staff will rise to the occasion and meet these new expectations, continue to excel, achieve, and make us proud in countless ways.”
October 26, 2026 2:46 am
A major announcement Monday morning from both EQT Corporation and Range Resources. Officials say they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which EQT will acquire Range Resources in an all-stock transaction with a value of more than $50 billion. In a news release, EQT President and CEO Toby Z. Rice stated, “This transaction brings together two of the highest-quality, longest-duration asset bases in North America and creates a company uniquely positioned for the next era of natural gas”. According to the release, terms of the agreement were approved by the Board of Directors of both companies. The transaction is expected to close during the first-quarter of 2027 and is subject to regulatory approvals. Officials say the combined company will keep its headquarters in Canonsburg.
October 26, 2026 2:19 am
In a legal déjà vu moment, a North Strabane man put to rest six child sex assault cases that he was facing. Leo McIntyre, 31, was charged in 2022 of assaulting at least six juveniles in his home dating back to 2012. He was facing charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and corruption of minors. During a pre-trial conference being held before his November trial, McIntyre agreed to a negotiated plea deal that will have him serve 14 ½ -30 years in state prison. Back in December, McIntyre was set to accept a negotiated plea deal of 10-30 years in prison, before Judge Traci McDonald rejected the plea deal and sentenced McIntyre to 32-64 years in prison. At that point, McIntyre withdrew his guilty plea and opted for a jury trial. The cases were split into three separate trials. With the global plea deal all six cases have now been put to rest. McIntyre was given the opportunity to present an allocution statement, but he declined to address victim families or the court. In addition to the 14 ½ to 30 years in jail, McIntyre will also serve 30 years of probation. He was found to be a sexually violent predator and will have to register as a sex offender with state police for the rest of his life.
