July 7, 2026 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is claiming credit for Walmart’s recent price cuts, though the retailer’s statement doesn’t mention his administration’s involvement. Trump faces backlash over inflation, which rose after his tariffs and the Iran war’s impact on energy costs. He blames Democrats for the ongoing issue. In a social media post Monday, Trump says Walmart lowered prices at his request to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. However, Walmart’s statement describes the cuts as a seasonal strategy, with no mention of government interaction. Inflation has climbed 4.2% over the past year, higher than the rate Trump inherited.
July 7, 2026 4:50 am
Politico reports that a woman has accused Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assault. Platner denied the allegations Monday, but said he’d consider the next steps for his campaign. He states that any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue. He says he will be considering next steps for his campaign. Jenny Racicot claims Platner entered her home in 2021 while drunk and assaulted her. She says they had been in an on-and-off relationship but cut off contact after the incident, which she says wasn’t consensual. Monday’s report pushed several supporters away from a candidate who has long been controversial.
July 6, 2026 4:52 am
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Explosions rocked Damascus shortly after French President Emmanuel Macron entered the presidential palace to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, wounding at least four people. Syrian authorities did not immediately comment on the incident. Two explosions happened near the Four Seasons Hotel, where Syrian media reported that Macron was staying. The French president’s office said he was safe and that his visit to Syria was continuing. Citing an unnamed security official, state media reported that the two blasts in the heart of the capital were caused by explosive devices. No group immediately claimed responsibility. The incident comes days after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the Justice Palace, killing at least 10 people.
July 7, 2026 4:47 am
WEST HOMESTEAD, Pa. — Sandcastle Waterpark is implementing a new chaperone policy. General Manager Richard Spicuzza announced the policy on Monday. Guests who are 15-years-old and younger are now required to be with an adult who is 21 or older while at the park. Kennywood Park announced an Identical policy last month following reports of possible unauthorized meetups. Spicuzza also serves as Kennywood’s general manager and said the change at Sandcastle was sparked by positive feedback coming from the historic amusement park’s guests. “I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the positive impact this policy has had at Kennywood this summer. We’ve heard from many guests who appreciate the welcoming atmosphere it has helped reinforce, and that feedback gave us confidence to introduce the same policy at Sandcastle,” Spicuzza said. A chaperone is able to look after six guests who are teens 15-years-old or younger. They must be present at the park at all times during the teens’ visit, but are not required to accompany them at all times. The new policy goes into effect on Friday.
July 6, 2026 1:37 pm
PennDOT says the scheduled restrictions and closure of a portion of South Main Street between Park Avenue and East/West Prospect Avenue in the City of Washington is underway. Monday, There will be daily single-lane restrictions in place from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and traffic will be controlled by flaggers. Then, starting Monday, July 13 and running through the end of September the area will close to traffic beginning at 6:00 a.m. Crews will be doing saw cutting and preparation work for the closure of South Main Street. During the closure, crews will demolish the existing concrete box culvert under South Main Street and replace it with a new cast-in-place concrete box culvert. Additional work to be performed includes drainage repairs/replacement, new inlets, and new asphalt roadway pavement. The work includes excavation of the existing concrete box culvert, installing a new pre-cast concrete box culvert, full-depth asphalt road replacement and concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk replacement. This work is part of the Catfish Creek Bridge Replacement Project.
July 6, 2026 2:11 am
Sunday afternoon storms caused localized flooding in Washington for a second straight day. Three of Saturday’s flooded streets were under water again late afternoon Sunday. The flooding outside Cameron Stadium Sunday was even deeper than it was Saturday, flowing over the sidewalk in front of the W&J Football facility. For the second day in a row, Beau & Wheeling Streets, west of Jefferson Avenue, were impassible. Sunday flooding: Park Avenue Cameron Stadium West Wheeling Street
July 6, 2026 4:53 am
MONESSEN, Pa. — The Monessen Fire Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person who they say damaged several flags on display. The flags were reportedly damaged around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4, along Schoonmaker Avenue between Third and Fourth streets. A police report has been filed, the department said in a social media post. Anyone with video or information is asked to contact the City of Monessen Police Department. According to the department, the flags were donated by local business owners and residents as part of a regular tradition. “Our department’s values are deeply rooted in community, tradition, respect, and honor. That is why it is truly upsetting to see these flags treated with such disrespect, especially on a day meant to celebrate our nation and the freedoms they represent,” the social media post reads.
July 6, 2026 4:59 am
A new government watchdog report says the Secret Service missed several chances to stop the 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Butler. The Office of the Inspector General released the findings last week, narrowing down five points where the Secret Service reportedly dropped the ball. Trump was holding a campaign rally on July 13, 2024, when Thomas Crooks opened fire eight times. Rallygoer Corey Comperatore died, and several others were hurt. A bullet grazed the president’s ear, and the Secret Service shot and killed Crooks shortly afterward. The office’s report found that the Secret Service failed to detect a drone the gunman flew to see the campaign event stage. The Secret Service did not have a joint communications room with local law enforcement, so they were out of the loop when it came to communication about a suspicious person. The agency also failed to share intelligence about a long-distance threat with the Pittsburgh field office, so the event was not properly staffed. The Secret Service failed to secure the area outside the perimeter of the event. Additionally, the agency did not block the line of sight from the rooftop where the shooter was looking at the stage. The Office of Inspector General interviewed 92 people and created a 3D model to reconstruct what happened for the report.
July 6, 2026 5:07 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed holding center for migrant families and unaccompanied children awaiting removal from the U.S., putting it next to a Louisiana airfield that has become the nation’s largest hub of deportation flights. Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials signed a contract to build the facility at a former military base in Alexandria, according to Ralph Hennessy, executive director of the local England Airpark Authority. ICE said the facility is not a detention center but a “staging facility.” Immigration advocates say the facility is a departure from existing legal frameworks for managing children and expressed concern that they would be held longer than court-mandated limits.
July 6, 2026 5:06 am
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Mourners dressed in black have flooded into Iran’s capital for a procession as part of the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Helicopter images aired on Iranian state television showed a massive crowd stretching from Tehran’s Azadi, or Freedom, Square for kilometers down a multilane street of the same name. The crowd appeared larger than one that turned out for the 2020 procession for the late Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Solemani, which drew over 1 million people. The turnout came as Iran negotiates with the U.S. over a permanent end to the war that killed the 86-year-old cleric.
