September 23, 2026 1:22 pm
PennDOT has announced upcoming traffic pattern changes and single-lane restrictions on Interstate 70 between Exit 43 (Route 201 Fayette City) and Exit 46 (Route 51/I-70 Interchange), in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County. Monday, September 28th – there will be single-lane restrictions in both directions of I-70 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and then Monday, September 28th through Friday, October 2nd, there will be single-lane restrictions in both directions of I-70 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and finally, Monday, September 28th through mid-December, drivers will encounter a lane shift in both directions of I-70 at the start and end of the project limits. The current lane shift near Crawford Lane Bridge will be eliminated. During this time, crews will remove existing permanent median barriers, place subbase and temporary asphalt and implement a traffic pattern shift.
September 23, 2026 5:05 am
A 20-year-old Washington County woman and her mother are warning others after they say scammers posing as Steelers personnel gained her trust and stole $2,000. Meredith Bongiorni is a big Steelers fan and has a nonverbal learning disability. Her mother Penny Bongiorni says she began exchanging messages on TikTok and believed she was communicating with her favorite player Eli Heidenreich. At one point, Meredith was instructed to email another person who claimed to be Steelers General Manager Omar Khan. She was told she could receive an all-access pass and sent the scammers $2,000. The family says Meredith worked hard for the money and is still processing the betrayal. State Police are now investigating.
September 23, 2026 5:09 am
Washington (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar are introducing legislation that would ban artificial superintelligence, pause development of advanced AI systems and create a new Department of Artificial Intelligence. The proposal comes as prominent AI executives and researchers increasingly warn about potentially catastrophic risks from rapidly advancing systems. Congress has struggled to agree on AI safeguards as President Donald Trump has pushed back on new regulations and emphasized maintaining an advantage over China. Sanders argues the potential dangers demand immediate action and international cooperation.
September 22, 2026 5:12 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A tense moment between President Donald Trump and CNN’s Kaitlan Collins is a stark reminder of how the conflict between the administration and some news outlets has escalated in just a few days. Trump began his United Nations visit Tuesday by telling Collins: “You should not be here.” CNN is one of three outlets banned from White House grounds, but it had been admitted to the U.N. as regularly credentialed media. CNN, along with MS NOW and Politico, has filed a joint lawsuit asking a judge to find the administration’s move unconstitutional. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
September 23, 2026 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are growing increasingly grim about their chances in November, with aligned groups pumping money into reliably red states and candidates scrambling to distance themselves from unpopular White House policies. From Texas to Ohio and Alaska to Iowa, campaigns are grappling with a fed-up electorate that is sour on the president and angry over soaring fuel prices driven by an unpopular war. While the party is flush with unprecedented cash that could move the needle in some races, overall the mood is glum heading into the election’s final stretch as campaigns try to counter palpable Democratic enthusiasm to maintain their narrow lead in the House and Senate this November.
September 23, 2026 6:25 pm
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Southwestern Mexico is bracing for heavy rain and mudslides after Polo became a major hurricane in the Pacific. Forecasters also warned Wednesday that another system heading toward Hawaii could cause catastrophic flooding later in the week. Hurricane Polo is expected to skirt Mexico’s Guerrero state, submerging coastal areas with up to 6 inches of rain through Thursday. Guerrero has been repeatedly pummeled by hurricanes in recent years. Tropical Storm Nolo was expected to approach the Big Island as early as Friday. Nolo is projected to drop up to 20 inches of rain, raising the possibility of flooding and mudslides.
September 23, 2026 6:27 pm
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge has granted Dolly Parton’s estate a temporary restraining order against the late singer’s nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company. She’s Alive, the entity founded to manage Parton’s estate, had filed the complaint against Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services. The estate accused Seaver of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire in court filings. As part of the order, Seaver and SAPS must refrain from talking with or being within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys and business partners. The order is also meant to keep him from interfering with its business relationships. Seaver and SAPS representatives did not respond to an email Wednesday seeking comment.
September 22, 2026 2:48 am
Spotted lanternflies returned to Pennsylvania over the summer, and as we move into the cooler months, they are still a problem. Rick Kruczek, the Spotted Lanternfly Coordinator with Penn State Extension, says the spotted lanternflies are currently in the process of laying their eggs and preparing for next year’s generation. The insects like to feed on grapes, and they tend to kill grapevines. Kruczek urges the public to squash lanternflies and to scrape away and dispose of egg masses. He says people should also check their vehicles before leaving an area with lanternflies to help stop the spread and protect plants. More information about spotted lanternflies can be found here.
September 22, 2026 3:30 pm
(AP) — A coroner has determined that actor Hayden Panettiere died from an accidental overdose of several drugs including fentanyl. The 36-year-old Panettiere was found unresponsive in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on Aug 16. Her on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the home. According to a statement from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, a combination of fentanyl and its chemical byproduct, as well as the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, was found in Panettiere’s system. The office did not release further details from the autopsy report of the onetime child star.
September 22, 2026 12:39 pm
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States, Denmark, and Greenland have signed an agreement to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic. President Donald Trump signed the deal during the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. The signing follows Trump’s earlier announcement that he planned to bolster U.S. military presence in Greenland while keeping it under Danish and Greenlandic control. Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire for Greenland to become part of the U.S., causing tensions. The agreement recognizes Greenland’s sovereignty and aims to boost security for all parties involved. The U.S. military presence in Greenland has decreased significantly since 1945, and currently has around 200 troops on the Pituffik Space Base.
