October 16, 2025 4:55 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are rejecting for the 10th time a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government. They are insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. The repetition of votes on the funding bill has become a daily drumbeat in Congress. It underscores how intractable the situation has become as the vote has at times been the only item on the agenda for the Senate floor. House Republicans have left Washington altogether. The impasse has lasted over two weeks, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, even more without a guaranteed payday and Congress essentially paralyzed.
October 16, 2025 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela. The president on Wednesday also said he’s considering land operations following recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela. Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event that he had authorized the move because Venezuela is allowing criminals and drugs to flow into the U.S. On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the record of the U.S. spy agency in various conflicts around the world without directly addressing Trump’s comments about authorizing the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.
October 16, 2025 4:58 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs at the seat of U.S. military power. The refusal was near-unanimous, from trade publications, wire services, television networks and newspapers, and included outlets that appeal largely to conservatives like Fox News Channel and Newsmax. Many of the reporters chose to turn in their badges together at the 4 p.m. deadline set by the Defense Department to vacate the building. Reporters said their work will continue despite the loss of access.
October 16, 2025 5:00 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the human cost “cannot be tolerated.” U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order halting the job cuts, saying she believes evidence would show the cuts were illegal. The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers had started. That announcement prompted labor unions for federal employees to ask the judge to block the Republican administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those already sent out. The White House referred a request for comment to the Office of Management and Budget. The budget office has yet to respond.
October 16, 2025 5:02 am
The public release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language, jokes about rape and flippant commentary on gas chambers has prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, has criticized the backlash, labeling it “pearl clutching.” Vance compared the dustup to past violent comments by a Democratic candidate In Virginia, arguing that Jay Jones’ remarks concerning political violence were worse. Other Republicans, like Vermont’s Gov. Phil Scott, are demanding resignations, calling the comments “unacceptable.” Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have urged investigations, condemning the messages as discriminatory.
October 15, 2025 6:11 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown is entering a third week, and Democrats say they’re not intimidated by President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come. In fact, Democrats appear emboldened. And they’re showing no signs of caving as they return to Washington from their home states. Senate Democrats, in votes Tuesday and Wednesday, again rejected a Republican bill to open the government. Republicans are now planning additional votes on individual spending bills, starting Thursday with the defense legislation that would fund salaries for the military. It’s unclear whether Democrats will support it.
October 15, 2025 6:07 pm
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the human cost “cannot be tolerated.” U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order halting the job cuts, saying she believes evidence would show the cuts were illegal. The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers had started. That announcement prompted labor unions for federal employees to ask the judge to block the Republican administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those already sent out. Emails sent to the White House and the Office of Management and Budget after the judge’s ruling haven’t been returned.
October 15, 2025 9:59 am
SOUTH FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A crash early Wednesday morning has left one person dead. It happened around 3:30am in the northbound lanes of I-79 in South Fayette Township. The vehicle went into the rear of a tractor-trailer stopped along the shoulder on the ramp to the Bridgeville rest stop. The crash left only one lane getting by northbound and led to significant traffic delays for the morning rush.
October 15, 2025 4:46 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — A person was flown to an area hospital after a crash Tuesday night in Charleroi. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers said emergency crews were called to the 800 block of McKean Avenue at 8:45 p.m. Charleroi firefighters said a car had crashed and rolled over. It also hit a pole and sheared it in half. The unidentified individual was treated by Rostraver EMS at the scene until a medical helicopter arrived and flew them from the scene. West Penn Power was notified to make repairs to the broken pole. (Photo: Charleroi Fire Department)
October 15, 2025 1:27 pm
Multiple fire departments were called to a house fire at 719 Fallowfield Avenue in Charleroi Wednesday morning just after eleven o’clock. Authorities say the call initially came in as a house fire with entrapment, but officials say everyone inside was able to get out safely, although one individual did suffer a minor burn. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
