July 24, 2026 2:11 am
Washington City Police have announced that W. Beau Street between Main Street and Franklin Street has officially reopened to traffic. It had been closed for nearly three months to allow for demolition work on the old Courthouse Square building. Police say they “appreciate the patience and cooperation of our residents, businesses and visitors throughout the duration of this project. We know the closure created challenges and we thank everyone for their understanding”. As traffic returns, Police are asking motorists to use caution, watch for pedestrians and be mindful of any remaining work crews or equipment that may still be present.
July 24, 2026 4:52 am
Pennsylvania lawmakers have changed the rules for reporting lead in school drinking water. Schools are not required to test for lead as long as the topic is discussed at a public meeting. Previously, any lead detection had to be reported, but now only levels above five parts per billion need to be reported. This change came after school associations argued the previous requirements were unrealistic. Environmental groups criticize the move, saying it keeps parents uninformed about potential lead exposure. Critics also highlight flaws in the original law, such as the lack of mandatory testing and accountability for reporting elevated lead levels.
July 24, 2026 5:03 am
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — At least seven explosions were heard near a military base hosting U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. The city is in the country’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The explosions began at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday, according to an Associated Press journalist in the area who heard the blasts. The journalist observed at least four plumes of black smoke rising into the sky from areas near or inside the base at the city’s airport. There was no immediate information on casualties or the cause of the explosions, and Iraqi and U.S. officials did not immediately comment.
July 24, 2026 5:05 am
BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest set of tariff hikes has provoked heated objections from America’s trading partners. The administration late Thursday announced extra tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on 60 countries. Trump says they failed to adequately enforce a ban on goods made with forced labor. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell has slammed them as unjustified. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the U.S. has not given meaningful evidence to support the allegations against dozens of countries accounting for 99% of products imported into the U.S. Japan’s chief government spokesperson says the move was regrettable. The new tariffs took effect just as Trump’s temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expired at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
July 24, 2026 5:12 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The government has withdrawn subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawals in U.S. District Court followed a remarkable back and forth between a visibly irritated Judge Arun Subramanian and government attorneys. They come at a time when the Trump administration is vigorously going after news organizations whose reporting and coverage it doesn’t like — and also trying to crack down on leaks inside the government.
July 24, 2026 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are expected to recommend the states that will hold the first presidential nominating contests in 2028, likely cementing a calendar that moves away from Iowa and New Hampshire in favor of more racially diverse states. The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is weighing competing bids led by South Carolina and Nevada for the first spot, with one Midwest and Northeast state also expected to make the early window. The decision, expected Friday, comes ahead of what is expected to be a wide-open Democratic presidential primary and could shape where candidates campaign first and build momentum in the race for the White House.
July 24, 2026 5:06 am
As officials review widely circulated bystander videos of the fatal police shooting of a homeless man in Madison, Wisconsin, one key perspective won’t be emerging: footage from the officers’ body-worn cameras. That is because unlike nearly every other similarly sized city, Madison doesn’t require police to wear them. The absence of that footage has left residents in the dark about key moments leading up to the shooting, when police say Corey Ruiz pulled a knife during a struggle with four officers, injuring one of them. That officer then fired the shots, according to police. All four officers have been placed on administrative leave pending a state investigation.
July 23, 2026 6:15 pm
(AP) – U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak involving the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The outbreak included 72 people as of Wednesday. The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located. The FDA earlier this week said it remained focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a separate, multistate cyclospora outbreak. The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. (Photo: AP)
July 23, 2026 6:12 pm
(AP) – Tropical Storm Bertha has made a second landfall near the Texas-Louisiana state line, ending its slow crawl across the U.S. Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center said Bertha should weaken rapidly over land after its center come onshore Thursday about 75 miles northeast of Galveston, Texas. Cloudy skies associated with the storm caused SpaceX to cancel a rocket launch Thursday in south Texas. Forecasters said some storm surge along the immediate coast and isolated flash flooding were possible as heavy rains moved onshore. No deaths or significant damage have been reported since Bertha formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm made landfall for the first time Wednesday as it grazed the Louisiana coast.
July 23, 2026 5:38 pm
Uniontown, PA –PennDOT has announced the closure of a portion of Route 2030 (Piersol Avenue) between Route 971 and Frye Avenue for a bridge preservation project in Bentleyville Borough, beginning Thursday, July 30. A posted detour will be in place until the beginning of September utilizing Route 917, Interstate 70, Route 481, and Route 2030 (Piersol Avenue). Crews from Triton Construction, Inc. will conduct bridge preservation activities, including latex overlays, epoxy overlays, expansion dam replacement, concrete repairs to extend the life of eight structures. A $4.1 million infrastructure investment project in Washington and Greene Counties.
