May 24, 2025 4:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to sponsor international students as they obtain visas to study in the U.S. Harvard filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts earlier Friday. In its lawsuit, Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.” The ruling from U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs puts the sanction against Harvard on hold, pending the lawsuit.
May 24, 2025 4:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has reached a deal with Boeing that will allow the company to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed and killed 346 people. The Justice Department said in a court filing that it had reached an “agreement in principle” that will require the company to pay and invest more than $1.1 billion and, in return, the department will dismiss the criminal case against the aircraft manufacturer. The deal still needs to be finalized. Attorney Paul Cassell said the families of victims he represents will object to the deal and “hope to convince the court to reject it.”
May 24, 2025 3:59 am
CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians in the first phase of an exchange that was a moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire in the 3-year-old war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first phase of the exchange brought home 390 Ukrainians, including soldiers and civilians, with further releases expected over the weekend that will make it the largest swap of the war. Russia said it had received the same number from Ukraine. Kyiv and Moscow agreed in Istanbul last week to the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side in their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Russia’s 2022 invasion.
May 25, 2025 1:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a “planned partnership” between the iconic American steelmaker and Japan-based Nippon Steel, which has sought to buy it. Trump’s statement Friday comes after Nippon Steel’s nearly $15 billion bid to buy U.S. Steel was blocked by former President Joe Biden and, since Trump became president, subject to another national security review. Trump’s called it a “planned partnership” that’ll add $14 billion to the U.S. economy, although it wasn’t clear what the terms of the deal would be. The companies didn’t immediately comment. Trump said he will be in Pittsburgh at U.S. Steel on May 30th to hold a rally. (Photo: AP)
May 24, 2025 3:45 am
A Friday night barn fire broke out in Donegal Townhship. According to Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers, several fire departments were dispatched to the 500 block of Lake Road at approximately 9:00 p.m. The fire was extinguished quickly but several animals did perish in the blaze. No other casualties were reported.
May 24, 2025 3:49 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man accused of trying to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence is seeking to delay his next court appearance because he’s receiving mental health treatment. Cody Balmer’s lawyer said Friday that his hearing scheduled for Wednesday will be postponed to ensure he’s mentally fit when he appears in court. The hearing was scheduled to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to take the case to trial. Balmer is currently being held at a state prison with a mental health unit. Balmer’s mother and brother say he suffers from mental illness, something that Balmer denied in one brief court appearance. Authorities say Balmer expressed hatred for Shapiro.
May 23, 2025 2:10 pm
Billy Joel announced that he has canceled all of his scheduled concerts, including Pittsburgh, after being diagnosed with a brain disorder. Joel was scheduled to perform at Acrisure Stadium with Rod Stewart on July 5th. According to a post on his Facebook page, he has been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which has gotten worse with recent performances. It has led to problems with his hearing, vision and balance. Joel is now undergoing physical therapy and has been advised not to perform while he’s recovering. (Photo: AP)
May 23, 2025 8:15 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is threatening a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union as well as a 25% tariff on Apple products unless iPhones are made in America. The threats were delivered over social media on Friday. They reflect Trump’s ability to disrupt the global economy with a burst of typing, as well as the reality that his tariffs aren’t producing the sufficient trade deals he’s seeking or the return of domestic manufacturing he’s promised to voters.
May 23, 2025 10:19 am
(AP) – A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to host international students with visas to study in the U.S.
May 23, 2025 2:14 am
GASTONVILLE, Pa. — The National Weather Service said a tornado touched down in Washington County during severe storms on Wednesday. NWS meteorologists said the strong winds came in a straight line from Finleyville. The tornado was an EF-1 and estimated to have reached a peak wind speed of 90 m.p.h. “We’ve seen damage from a tornado. We see uprooted and snapped trees, shingle damage, actually the most structural damage we’ve seen in our survey today,” said NWS meteorologist Matthew Kramar. The Chartiers Township Fire Department posted on Facebook that their department responded to multiple reports of trees and wires down. The majority of the damage was on Silver Maple, Green, Walnut and Locust Streets. Two other tornadoes were confirmed in Butler County.
