December 9, 2025 2:52 am
The trial of a Washington man accused of attempted kidnapping to inflict terror or injury and strangulation began Tuesday. Jose Zaragoza, 50 allegedly met with the mother of their shared child in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle in South Strabane Township in May of 2024 to discuss custody issues. Victim testimony from Liliana Escobar described the meeting in the parking lot that escalated when Zaragoza was described as reaching throu gh the window of Escobar’s vehicle to unlock the door. Unable to open the door, Zaragoza was said to reach in and choke Escobar with both hands. The assault continued where he covered her mouth and nose, further preventing her to breathe appropriately. Escobar’s beeping of her car horn brought a stranger for help. At that point Zaragoza fled. The defense, under cross examination, directed the jury’s attention to court documents describing the custody agreement saying that Escobar was in violation with that and that she wanted to meet in the parking lot as a set up. Escobar recorded the incident on her phone saying that her attorney needed stronger proof that Zaragoza may be aggressive in their relationship. The afternoon included a full playing of the recording and witness testimony regarding their help for Escobar. The trial continues on Wednesday.
December 8, 2025 5:44 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is giving farmers some $12 billion in aid to help as they struggle to sell their crops while getting hit by rising costs. The move comes after the president raised tariffs on China as part of a broader trade war. China has since agreed to buy more U.S. soybeans, but sales have so far been slow. Farmers have backed Trump politically but his aggressive trade policies and frequently changing tariff rates have come under increasing scrutiny. Farmers will get the money by the end of February, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said. Trump says his tariffs will help pay for the new program.
December 8, 2025 4:12 pm
(AP) – Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” topped the Golden Globe nominations on Monday. It was a victory for Warner Bros. just after Netflix struck a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business. With nine nominations, the film lead Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” which gained eight, and Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” with seven. New this year was a best podcast category, too. Its nominees featured a mixture of news, advice and celebrity interview programs. Nominations were read by Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall, from Beverly Hills, California.
December 8, 2025 10:45 am
Students at Bentworth Middle School were evacuated and then sent home Monday morning. Superintendent Scott Martin says a haze discovered in the gymnasium was the result of a refrigerant leak. He says students were transferred to the high school auditorium for reunification or to await a bus ride home. No students became ill or were injured. Martin says there did have some issues in regards to parent wanting their child to go home with someone who was not on their emergency list. As a result, he says the district will hold a staff review to identify any issues when it comes to the district’s emergency response protocol.
December 8, 2025 5:15 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump is claiming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “ hasn’t read” a U.S-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump was critical of Zelenskyy after U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks aimed at trying to narrow differences on the U.S. administration’s proposal. In an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested the Ukrainian leader is holding up the talks from moving forward. The president told reporters: “Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I’m not sure that Zelenskyy’s fine with it.”
December 8, 2025 5:15 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery’s friendly agreement to sell itself to Netflix just got upended by a hostile actor. Paramount made Warner shareholders a higher offer on Monday and touched off what is likely to be a lengthy fight in the latest episode of media industry consolidation. Paramount’s all-cash offer is worth about $74.4 billion, while Netflix agreed to buy Warner for $72 billion in cash and stock. Both offers will face regulatory scrutiny, and President Donald Trump has promised to weigh in. Shareholders have until Jan. 8, 2026, to vote on Paramount’s offer.
December 8, 2025 5:14 am
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett has launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate in Texas. Crockett’s announcement Monday came after fellow Democrat and former Rep. Colin Allred ended his Senate campaign to run for a House seat. Texas is critical to Democrats’ long-shot hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority in next year’s elections, and GOP incumbent John Cornyn is facing the toughest primary race of his 24-year Senate career against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and two-term Rep. Wesley Hunt. Crockett still faces state Rep. James Talarico for the Democratic nod. Crockett has a national profile as one of Congress’ most outspoken Democrats and a frequent target of GOP attacks.
December 8, 2025 5:14 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has dealt a setback to Justice Department efforts to seek a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has temporarily barred prosecutors from using evidence they’d relied on when they initially secured criminal charges. The ruling doesn’t preclude the government from trying again soon to indict Comey. But it does suggest prosecutors may have to do that without citing communications between Comey and a close friend and associate, Columbia University law professor Daniel Richman. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment Sunday.
December 8, 2025 5:13 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — State and federal authorities are monitoring online criticism and protests against the immigration crackdown in New Orleans. Records reviewed by The Associated Press show the state’s fusion center is tracking message boards for threats to agents and compiling updates on public sentiment. Officials have released few details about the arrests made as part of the operation called the “Catahoula Crunch.” Local leaders are calling for transparency, saying they’ve been kept in the dark. Immigration authorities claim the sweeps target “criminal illegal aliens,” but records show less than a third of those arrested had criminal records.
December 8, 2025 5:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is giving farmers some $12 billion in aid to help as they struggle to sell their crops while getting hit by rising costs. The move Monday comes after the president raised tariffs on China as part of a broader trade war. China has since agreed to buy more U.S. soybeans, but sales have so far been slow. Farmers have backed Trump politically but his aggressive trade policies and frequently changing tariff rates have come under increasing scrutiny. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said farmers will get the money by the end of February. Payments will be limited to no more than $155,000.
