Zohran Mamdani Wins NYC Mayor’s Race

November 5, 2025 2:47 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York City, capping the Democrat’s stunning ascent from little-known state lawmaker just a year ago to one of the most talked-about politicians in the country. Mamdani, a 34-year-old assembly member, defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday’s election. With the victory, the democratic socialist will etch his place in history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. He will also become the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century when he takes office on Jan. 1.

Democrats Dominate As Economic Woes Take Toll On GOP

November 5, 2025 5:04 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are dominating the first major Election Day since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. A debate about the future of the Democratic Party may have only just begun, but there are signs that the economy — specifically, Trump’s inability to deliver the economic turnaround he promised last fall — may hurt the Republican Party for the foreseeable future. Democrats won governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, the only states electing new chief executives this year. Trump was largely absent from the campaign trail, but the GOP candidates closely aligned themselves with the president. They bet that his big win last year could provide a path to victory this time.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill Elected Governor Of New Jersey

November 4, 2025 2:30 am

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill has been elected governor of New Jersey. Her victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli shores up Democratic control of a state that has been reliably blue in presidential and Senate contests but had shown signs of shifting rightward in recent years. The four-term member of Congress centered her campaign on her biography as a Navy helicopter pilot and former prosecutor who would stand up to President Donald Trump. She will be New Jersey’s second female governor. Ciattarelli lost his second straight governor’s election after coming within a few points of defeating Gov. Phil Murphy four years ago.

Abigail Spanberger Elected Virginia Governor

November 4, 2025 1:17 am

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has won Virginia’s election for governor. Her win gives Democrats a boost heading into the 2026 midterm elections and compels Republicans to consider how President Donald Trump and his allies might fare in battleground states and districts. Spanberger defeated Marine veteran and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a campaign heavily centered on economic issues. Spanberger is a former CIA case officer and she served six years in Congress. Her victory flips Virginia’s executive mansion from GOP control. Also Tuesday, Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi won the lieutenant governor’s race and will succeed Earle-Sears.

California Voters Approve New House Map

November 5, 2025 5:03 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California voters have approved a plan to overhaul the state’s congressional district boundaries, giving Democrats a boost in their bid to win the U.S. House majority next year. The approval of Proposition 50 could allow Democrats to gain up to five additional seats in the 2026 midterms, when they hope to gain the power to block President Donald Trump’s agenda in Congress. The measure was pushed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in response to a Republican-led redistricting effort in Texas. The California measure replaces maps drawn by an independent commission with new districts created by the Democratically controlled Legislature.

United States Steel Details New $11 Billion Growth Plan

November 4, 2025 2:52 am

NEW YORK (AP) — United States Steel on Tuesday detailed an $11 billion growth plan with new owner Nippon Steel that includes modernizing the century-old steelmaker. U.S. Steel says it has identified more than 200 initiatives to drive operational efficiencies across all business segments, assisted by nearly 50 professionals from Nippon Steel. The company is upgrading its manufacturing operations and expanding research and development to feature “higher value, lower emission steel.”

Greene County Mining Accident Injures Six

November 4, 2025 11:46 am

Six people were taken to a hospital from a mining accident in Greene County Monday night. First responders were called to the Harvey Mine on Patterson Creek Road in Morris Township around 10:30. The mining company – Core Natural Resources – said that the underground accident involved a pressurized water hose. Five of the six were treated and released, while one person remains hospitalized for further evaluation. Company officials say they conducting an internal review of the incident and working with other agencies to determine exactly what caused it.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney Dead At 84

November 4, 2025 6:45 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at age 84. Cheney died Monday of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. The hard-charging conservative became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq. Cheney led the armed forces as defense chief during the Persian Gulf War under President George H.W. Bush before returning to public life as vice president under his son, George W. Bush. In recent years, he became a stout defender of his daughter, Liz Cheney, when she became the leading Republican critic and examiner of Donald Trump’ actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

No Tax Increase In City

November 4, 2025 12:09 am

Washington City Council has completed their work on the city’s operating budget for 2026 and there is no tax increase. According to Finance Director Ken Westcott, the city’s budget will be $15.3 million. Westcott said that some refinancing of debt was integral in holding the line on taxes. Minimum Municipal Obligations debt was refinanced during 2025. That is debt that was needed to finance pensions for police and firefighters. Had that refinance not happened, the obligation would have been $1.4 million dollars. This year, with the refinance that debt will be $873,000. Firefighter overtime was an issue this year. That is because of military obligations of several firefighters. Westcott says that there are several new hires in the works that will alleviate those overtime costs. One bad news item is that solid waste removal fees will increase in 2026. The new fee will be $320 per year per dwelling. That is a $20 increase over 2025. Council will adopt the budget in December.

McDonald Man Sentenced For Baseball Bat Vandalism

November 4, 2025 5:04 am

MCDONALD, Pa. — A McDonald man will serve up to 18-months in jail after pleading guilty to vandalizing a borough police station and damaging a cruiser back in April. Police say Jacob Tigner used a baseball bat to smash the window and doors of the station and the window of the cruiser. He was arrested back in August in Iowa. Tigner also pleaded guilty to a slew of other chargers for separate incidents in both McDonald and Mount Pleasant Township including; simple assault, drug charges, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, terroristic threats and resisting arrest.