May 20, 2026 5:02 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House has endorsed a plan to redraw its congressional districts to favor Republicans at the urging of President Donald Trump. The chamber voted Wednesday on a new congressional map sending it to the more skeptical state Senate. Some Republicans have questioned whether redistricting could backfire — making districts competitive enough for Democrats to gain seats instead of securing all seven for the GOP. If the proposal becomes law, South Carolina would delay its U.S. House primaries to August and spend at least $3 million on another statewide election. Lawsuits against a new map are likely.
May 19, 2026 5:02 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Authorities say the two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque had been radicalized online where they first met. Investigators said Tuesday that the pair shared white supremacist views and left behind writings showing their hatred toward various races and religions. Authorities also found at least 30 guns, ammunition and a crossbow at two residences after Monday’s attack. Authorities praised the security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego and two other men who were killed for slowing the attackers. They say the victims helped stop the attackers from reaching schoolchildren just steps away. Police have said the shooters killed themselves.
May 20, 2026 5:01 am
GENEVA (AP) — The body overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza plans to ask the United Nations Security Council to press Hamas to disarm. The Associated Press saw the Board of Peace report before its release. The report is expected to be discussed Thursday. It states that Hamas’ refusal to disarm is a major obstacle to the ceasefire’s full implementation. Hamas has rejected the report, calling it fallacious. The ceasefire began in October but has stalled due to the deadlock over disarming Hamas. The report highlights ongoing ceasefire violations and emphasizes that disarmament is crucial for reconstruction and progress toward Palestinian self-determination.
May 20, 2026 4:51 am
WARMINSTER, Pa. (AP) — Democrats in Pennsylvania backed by Gov. Josh Shapiro won their primaries to shape a congressional slate in which they hope to flip the state’s four swing districts and, ultimately, capture a U.S. House majority. Janelle Stelson, Bob Harvie and Bob Brooks won the party’s nomination Tuesday in three swing districts where Democrats had a contested primary for the right to take on Republican seat-holders in November. All were endorsed by Shapiro, who is putting his clout on the line and also is trying deliver Democratic control of the state Legislature. Shapiro will face Republican Stacy Garrity in his reelection bid.
May 19, 2026 12:44 pm
Authorities are investigating the death of the chief of The Heidelberg Borough Police Department. The borough put out a release on Tuesday, saying they are “saddened to announce the sudden and tragic death of Police Chief Dennis Dixon while on duty.” Chief Dixon was found dead in his patrol vehicle around just before nine o’clock Monday night. He joined the Heidelberg Police Department in 2008 and was promoted to chief in 2018. The Allegheny County Police Department is handling the investigation and information regarding the cause and manner of his death will be released by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
May 19, 2026 1:45 am
It’s primary election day across Pennsylvania. The polls opened at seven a.m and will close at eight p.m. Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander says she is expecting to see around a thirty-five to thirty-eight-percent voter turnout, but is hoping for better since the weather is expected to be fairly nice. There are two costly and hotly contested races. One is for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 46th Senatorial District. Three-term incumbent Republican Camera Bartolotta is being challenged by Al Buchtan, a Greene County businessman, for a place on November’s ballot. Evan Snyder of Washington County’s Nottingham Township is running unopposed for the seat in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, Bud Cook, the incumbent republican representative in the Pennsylvania State House is going up against Ben Humble from Waynesburg. Voters will also be asked to cast votes for nominations for Lieutenant Governor and for both chambers of the General Assembly. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and his Republican opponent Stacy Garrity are both unopposed. (Photo: AP)
May 19, 2026 5:08 am
The Peters Township School Board voted to approve their preliminary operating budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The budget will include a tax increase of .32 mills. That equates to a 1.97% millage increase. According to Business Manager Brad Rau, the school district was allowed to raise taxes by 3.5% without voter approval. The $89,784,137 budget is balanced and has a $5 million reserve fund. The vote was 5-3 to approve. Directors Rolf Briegel, Jason Camilletti, Kathleen Chaudhari, Michael Lynch and Richard Soeder voted to approve the measure. Directors Thomas Adrian, Alex Binsse and Sarah Kennedy voted against the measure. Director Alex O’Neill was not in attendance. According to Vice Chairperson Kathleen Chaudhari, the district is facing more than $20 million in building maintenance projects over the next 5 years. There are two paving projects along with HVAC and roof replacements that are in need of attention. In addition to the tax increase, directors by the identical 5-3 vote approved a measure to file 2027 property tax assessment appeals to properties transferred in the district from July 1, 2024 through June 30 2026. Appeals will be filed on properties with a minimum sales price of $200,000 and a minimum under-assessed tax revenue of $500. A vote to formally adopt the budget will occur on June 22.
May 19, 2026 2:39 am
Triple A says Memorial Day travelers can expect to pay the highest gas prices at the pump in four years. Gas prices are nine cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.760 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. Nationally, after some consistent declines, the national average price for gasoline rose towards the end of last week and the national average is $4.51, a penny less than last Monday and nearly 50 cents higher than a month ago. Travelers are preparing to hit the road in record numbers this week, and drivers will be facing the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2022. This time last year, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.17. Simultaneously, oil is trading around $107/barrel after spending most of last week trading around $100/barrel. With elevated oil prices and expected higher demand, prices could continue to push upward through the week and into the weekend. (Photo: AP)
May 18, 2026 2:52 am
A retired priest and chaplain is facing charges for sex-related crimes dating back to 2009 – after investigators say two victims recently came forward. Now, our news partners at WPXI say there could be more victims. Authorities say 84-year-old Robert Byrnes is currently facing multiple charges, including aggravated indecent assault without consent and obstruction and official oppression. The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office says Byrnes was a chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement agencies through 2018, and was issued a badge and a state police uniform. He lived at Christ Our Shepard Center in Greensburg in an apartment above the kitchen and the DA’s office says both male victims reportedly worked in the kitchen there. Following his arraignment, Byrnes on $250,000 unsecured bail. He’s expected to appear in court again in June.
May 19, 2026 4:50 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates says drones that targeted its Barakah nuclear power plant all came from Iraq. The announcement Tuesday means that Iranian-backed Shiite militias were likely behind Sunday’s nuclear plant attack. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said he’s willing to give Iran a few days — possibly until early next week — to make progress in peace negotiations before the United States resumes military strikes. No group has claimed responsibility for the UAE attack, though Iran and its proxies had been suspected. Such militias have launched repeated drone attacks targeting Gulf Arab states after Israel and the United States began their war against Iran on Feb. 28.
