February 13, 2025 12:41 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Donald Trump’s health secretary. That vote Thursday puts the prominent vaccine skeptic in control of $1.7 trillion in federal spending, vaccine recommendations and food safety as well as health insurance programs for roughly half the country. Republicans fell in line behind Trump despite hesitancy over Kennedy views on vaccines. The GOP has largely embraced Kennedy’s vision to “Make America Healthy Again” by directing the public health agencies to focus on chronic diseases such as obesity. He’s earned a formidable following with his populist and sometimes extreme views on food, chemicals and vaccines. (Photo: AP)
February 13, 2025 5:41 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has removed a key legal challenge in the way of President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce with a deferred resignation program. It was a significant legal victory for the Republican president after a string of courtroom setbacks. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. on Wednesday found that the labor unions that sued didn’t have legal standing to challenge the program, commonly described as a buyout. Trump wants to use financial incentives to encourage government employees to quit. According to the White House, tens of thousands of workers have taken the government up on its offer. The deferred resignation program has been spearheaded by Elon Musk, who is serving as Trump’s top adviser for reducing federal spending.
February 13, 2025 5:10 am
BRUSSELS (AP) — Several NATO allies are insisting that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace negotiations, after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he would hold talks soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey said Thursday that “Ukraine’s voice must be at the heart of any talks.” The United States has rattled NATO by saying that Ukraine should never join and that European allies should take responsibility for Ukraine’s security. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that Europe has driven sanctions against Russia, invested heavily in Ukraine’s defense, and will have to foot the bill for reconstruction. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the United States is betraying Ukraine.
February 13, 2025 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is intensifying its sweeping efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection. Hundreds of thousands of workers could be affected. In addition, workers at some agencies have been warned that large workplace cuts are coming. The Office of Personnel Management told agencies on Thursday to lay off all probationary employees. Even workers in the personnel office itself were not immune: Dozens of probationary employees at OPM were told on an afternoon group call that they were being dismissed and then instructed to leave the building within a half-hour.
February 13, 2025 5:06 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Elon Musk has called to “delete entire agencies” from the United States’ federal government. Musk has consolidated control over large swaths of the government with President Donald Trump’s blessing since assuming leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency. That’s included sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and inviting a constitutional clash over the limits of presidential authority. Musk made the comments Thursday to the World Governments Summit in Dubai. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person through his investments in SpaceX and electric carmaker Tesla, also joked that he was the “White House’s tech support,” borrowing from his profile on the social platform X, formerly Twitter, which he owns.
February 13, 2025 5:03 am
PITTSBURGH — UPMC is recommending, not requiring masks at its hospitals and outpatient facilities. That is a change in guidance the hospital system gave on Monday when officials said masks would be required to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses. In a statement, UPMC said “To protect the health and safety of our employees, patients and visitors, everyone in our health care facilities will wear effective masks, which reduce transmission of respiratory viruses in health care settings. We will continue to monitor the number of cases in our communities and adjust as the situation evolves,” But, now UPMC’s website states that masks are recommended in inpatient care facilities, like hospitals outpatient centers, urgent care and senior living facilities. The reason for the change in guidance was not immediately clear.
February 13, 2025 4:57 am
Joann Fabric has announced it will be closing more than 500 of its approximate 850 locations amid its bankruptcy restructurings. A company spokesperson called it “a very difficult decision” but that it would be “right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward,” CNN reported. There will be closings in all 50 states, according to court filings. California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington will be hit the hardest. Ten locations in the Pittsburgh area will be closed including stores in Bridgeville, Belle Vernon, Greensburg and Pleasant Hills.
February 13, 2025 4:52 am
The Bentworth School District had a remote instruction day Thursday and will have one more on Friday due to illnesses. The district says they have been monitoring those illnesses for the past few days. Officials say they wanted to prevent the spread to other healthy students. An exact number of students was not provided. Officials say the pause will provide the custodial staff time to clean the buildings. All on campus after school activities are cancelled. Students will follow a two-hour delay schedule while on remote learning and these days will not need to be made up during their spring break.
February 12, 2025 5:13 pm
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms is urging users to stay vigilant about “romance scams” ahead of Valentine’s Day, warning of unsolicited messages through its apps and other social media platforms, as well as general text messages. Scammers tend to pose as “attractive, single and successful individuals,” Meta says. They build trust over a period of time before asking their targets for money. (Photo: AP)
February 12, 2025 3:00 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence. The vote Wednesday came after Republicans who had initially questioned her experience and judgment fell in line behind her nomination. Gabbard was an unconventional pick to oversee and coordinate the country’s 18 different intelligence agencies. She had made past comments sympathetic to Russia, she once met with now-deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad and had expressed previous support for government leaker Edward Snowden. Gabbard is a military veteran and a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii. She has no formal intelligence experience and has never run a government agency or department. (Photo: AP)
