January 27, 2025 7:51 am
The Trump administration has announced a sweeping freeze on all federal grants – those funds already approved by Congress. The administration says it is a temporary pause – but it could have major consequences. This directive may be the most far-reaching executive action this White House has taken yet. It could potentially halt hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending on everything from assistance to farmers to head start programs to disaster relief and public transportation. In a memo describing this that was obtained by ABC News – the White House budget office has ordered all federal agencies to cease any financial assistance if they believe the program might conflict with President Trump’s executive orders.
January 27, 2025 5:29 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The first report on last month’s Jeju Air crash in South Korea has confirmed traces of bird strikes in the plane’s engines, though officials haven’t determined the cause of the accident that killed all but two of the 181 people on board. The preliminary accident report released Monday said feathers and bird blood stains were found in both engines. It says a DNA analysis determined they belonged to migratory ducks. The report also says the plane’s black boxes stopped recording about 4 minutes before the crash.
January 27, 2025 5:29 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tens of thousands of Palestinians are returning to the most heavily destroyed part of the Gaza Strip. Israel lifted its closure of northern Gaza on Monday for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas in accordance with a fragile ceasefire. Massive crowds of people carrying their belongings on foot stretched along a main highway running next to the coast in a stunning reversal of the mass exodus from the north at the start of the war, which many Palestinians had feared Israel would make permanent. Palestinians who have been sheltering in squalid tent camps for over a year are eager to return to their homes — even knowing that they have likely been damaged or destroyed.
January 27, 2025 5:27 am
West Alexander has been working on reclaiming its independence from Donegal Township since 2021. On Saturday, several steps forward in that initiative took place. Doctor Kathleen Miller is the coordinator of the West Alexander Borough Project and she launched a petition signing drive. The drive comes immediately after she received a certified sealed map of the proposed borough boundaries. In addition to those official steps, a resident of West Alexander stepped forward to do their part. Pamela Johnson, who has lived in West Alexander for only six years, made a contribution to the project of $20,000. Johnson said she has fallen in love with the area and calls West Alexander her own “Mayberry.” Miller says the contribution was a “God Send” and will cover all expenses for the creation of the map, attorney retainer and deed transfers should they be successful in gaining their separation from the borough. Miller is hoping to get 80% of the registered voters of West Alexander and 80% of land owners that do not live there to sign the petition. After that, the initiative will be advertised for 30 days and the petition will then be presented to Washington County Courts to work through the legal process. Postcards have been sent out to alert residents when petitions will be available for signing.
January 27, 2025 5:06 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rain has fallen around Southern California and is expected to aid firefighters mopping up multiple wildfires. But potentially heavy downpours on charred hillsides could bring new troubles such as toxic ash runoff. Los Angeles County crews spent much of the past week removing vegetation, shoring up slopes and reinforcing roads in devastated areas of the Palisades and Eaton fires. The National Weather Service reported rain showers Sunday and said most of the region is likely to get less than an inch of precipitation. But there is a threat of localized cloudbursts causing mud and debris to flow down hills. Rain is expected to increase throughout Sunday and could last into Tuesday. Flood watches have been issued for some burn areas.
January 27, 2025 5:04 am
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The White House is claiming victory in a showdown with Colombia over accepting flights of deported migrants from the U.S., hours after President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on imports and other sanctions on the longtime U.S. partner. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a late Sunday statement that the “Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.” Leavitt said the tariff orders — which would have put in place 25% tariffs on all Colombian incoming goods, which would be raised to 50% in one week — will be “held in reserve, and not signed.”
January 27, 2025 5:03 am
DORAL, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push to have Egypt and Jordan take in large numbers of Palestinian refugees from besieged Gaza has fallen flat with both countries’ governments and perplexed a congressional ally. Trump nonetheless said he’d discuss the idea more on Sunday with Egypt’s leader. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday that moving about a 1.5 million people away from Gaza might mean that “we just clean out that whole thing.” Jordan’s foreign minister says his country’s opposition to what Trump floated is “firm and unwavering.” And Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is close to Trump, says the suggestion isn’t feasible.
January 27, 2025 4:58 am
(WPXI) – Officials say a body recovered from a car found in a West Virginia lake is a missing Fayette County man. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office confirms Kevin Lataille, of Smithfield, was the driver of the Hyundai Tucson pulled from Cheat Lake on Sunday. Investigators previously said they thought Lataille went over the side of the Interstate 68 Bridge and into the lake. Vehicle parts were found along the bridge. A hole was cut in the ice on the lake so divers could get in. They said they found the vehicle, with a body inside, twelve feet under the ice. The vehicle was towed out of the lake and put back onto the bridge. The sheriff’s office is still investigating how Lataille’’s vehicle ended up in the water and is asking for help from the public. Anyone who may have information, photos or video of the I-68 Eastbound Cheat Lake Bridge from Sunday, Jan. 19th, around noon, is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office detective division at 304-291-7260
January 27, 2025 4:53 am
CHARLEROI, Pa. — (WPXI) – A Washington County man is facing charges after Pennsylvania State Police determined he had sex with a child. State Police Belle Vernon says troopers were sent to a Fallowfield Township home on Saturday evening for a welfare check on a child. Through investigation, the PSP report states troopers determined Miguel Pedrosa, 62, of Charleroi, was “engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor child.” Pedrosa was arrested and taken to the Washington County Prison. Online court records show he faces multiple charges, including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault of a child older than 11, aggravated indecent assault without consent and corruption of minors.
January 27, 2025 2:54 am
Washington County Commissioners and Prison Officials announced on Monday that they have coordinated with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release Jose Turcios Salmeron, a foreign-born national from El Salvador, on January 23rd. He was being held on charges including aggravated and simple assault. “Last year, the Washington County Correctional Facility released 2,178 incarcerated persons into the county…. of those, less than five were undocumented and sent to ICE. Last week, we booked five incarcerated individuals who face deportation once criminal due process has been completed.” “We want it crystal clear that Washington County is not a sanctuary county. I applaud the Trump Administration for their due diligence in helping clear criminal illegal aliens from our jail. The days of the catch and release policy are over, Commissioner Sherman stated.”
