April 17, 2026 7:19 am
CAIRO (AP) — The United States and Iran are locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Iran fired on a ship trying to pass through, escalating tensions. The U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran restricts passage in the strait. The conflict threatens global energy supplies and risks renewed conflict. Despite this, Pakistani officials reported progress toward a deal, with a ceasefire in Lebanon easing tensions. However, questions remain about the truce’s stability.
April 18, 2026 4:27 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30 cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.
April 18, 2026 4:24 am
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Defense witnesses in the prosecution of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk say conjecture about the case is making it impossible to have a fair trial. The testimony came as attorneys for Tyler Robinson on Friday urged a Utah a judge to ban cameras from the courtroom. Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow want cameras allowed and say they promote transparency. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson if he is convicted in the Sept. 10 shooting of Kirk. The conservative activist had been addressing a crowd of thousands on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
April 17, 2026 3:36 pm
A body was recovered from the Ohio River in Allegheny County on Friday. An Allegheny County Police Department spokesperson says the body of an adult man was found just after 7 a.m. near Neville Island. First responders were called to recover the body at the Chestnut Street Boat Ramp in Sewickley. The medical examiner’s office is working to identify the man. The investigation is ongoing. This is the second body in the Pittsburgh area within a few days. On Wednesday, an unknown-aged male’s body was pulled from the Ohio River at the Emsworth Lock and Dam.
April 17, 2026 5:00 am
BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister say the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels. In a social media post Friday, Trump said Iran announced that the strait is open and “ready for full passage.” Minutes earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the passage for all commercial vessels through the strait is ”completely open” in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon. He said it would stay open for the remaining period of the ceasefire. It was not immediately clear what that meant for the U.S. blockade of the strait.
April 17, 2026 9:37 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are falling by more than 10%, and Wall Street is rallying toward another record after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is fully open, which would allow oil tankers to exit the Persian Gulf again and carry crude to customers worldwide. The S&P 500 rallied 0.7% as U.S. stocks sprinted toward the finish of a third straight week of big gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 1%. Stocks have rallied more than 11% since late March on hopes that the United States and Iran can avoid a worst-case scenario for the global economy.
April 17, 2026 3:30 am
Washington and Jefferson College and the Borough of East Washington hosted a town hall meeting to unveil the college’s plans to build a new dormitory on campus. Josh Guiser, Vice President of Business and Finance and CFO of W&J led the discussion of the building that is designed by Kimmel Architecture. Not all details are in, but the building is a four story structure that is designed to hold up to 112 double occupancy units. The layout will include study and gathering lounges with community kitchen spaces. It is designed to be totally accessible for any type of disability. The building will be surrounded by East Pine Avenue, Forrest Avenue and Penn Street, right behind the Phi Gamma Delta and Delta Gamma houses on East Chestnut Street. The Church of the Covenant will be at the rear entrance to the building. Guiser says that the need was driven by the $50 million Anica Donnan Rawnsley Endowment that funds scholarships for Washington County students. Guiser characterized the project as a “fast paced’ project with construction to begin in 2026 and the building to be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2027. The building is yet to be named. No cost details are currently available. W&J hopes to continue other housing partnerships such as the one that it has with the George Washington Hotel that is reserved for upper classmen. Guiser says that they want to be a good neighbor and the building will allow students to take advantage of campus activities and be convenient to allow students to explore activities in the City of Washington. (Photo Credit: Washington and Jefferson College and Kimmel Architecture)
April 17, 2026 4:56 am
MONONGAHELA, Pa. — An off-duty police lieutenant is facing charges after a high-speed chase. Greene Washington Regional Police Lieutenant Nathanael Ferree, 43, of McKeesport, was arrested in Monongahela last month. Monongahela police say they tried to pull Ferree over around noon, after witnesses said he sped through an intersection. Officers say he was going more than 90 miles per hour along Route 837 in New Eagle, where the speed limit is 35. According to the criminal complaint, two marked police vehicles chased him for about two miles, with lights and sirens, as hr weaved in and out of traffic, even crossing the double line. Officers say he eventually pulled over and told them he was not paying attention and didn’t see or hear them behind him. Ferree reportedly resigned the day after his arrest to pursue his own security business outside of law enforcement.
April 16, 2026 2:47 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington City Police say two previously missing and endangered juveniles have been safely located within the City of Washington. Fifteen-year-old Stephany Frazier and fifteen-year-old Martell Jones, were reported missing on April 12th and police were particularly concerned because Frazier left behind a note indicating possible intent to harm herself and her safety was of immediate concern. Police say both juveniles were returned to their parents, and they appear to be safe. The City of Washington Police Department would like to thank the public for their assistance, vigilance, and cooperation in helping to locate these juveniles. The support and attention from the community played a valuable role in bringing this incident to a safe resolution. We are grateful for the positive outcome and are pleased that both individuals have been found and are being safely reunited with their families.
April 17, 2026 2:44 am
ELRAMA, Pa. – Pennsylvania American Water says it is completing more than $11 million in upgrades at its E.H. Aldrich Water Treatment Plant in Elrama, Washington County, improving drinking water reliability, efficiency, and safety for approximately 527,000 customers in Allegheny and Washington counties. Officials say the majority of the investment, approximately $8 million, is allocated to essential upgrades for the facility’s raw water intake and pump station. These improvements became necessary after water levels in the Monongahela River dropped by 3-5 feet when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed the nearby Monongahela River Locks and Dam 3 in 2024. Lower-than-expected river levels increased silt and debris at the plant’s intake, causing wear and reducing the efficiency of intake screens and pumps. To maintain water service, the company is upgrading intake equipment and pumps to meet customer demand, especially during changing river conditions. Construction on the intake project started in September 2025, with crews working from a barge and divers replacing intake bar screens and two 35-foot traveling screens. The project includes installing temporary pumps and reconstructing raw-water pumps to prevent disruptions to drinking water service during construction. Built in 1960, the plant is a critical regional facility, treating an average of 32 million gallons of water per day and capable of producing up to 50 million gallons daily to serve communities across southwestern Pennsylvania.
