December 9, 2025 5:11 am
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is nearly complete, after a two-month process plagued by delays and finger-pointing. Now, the key players are to move to a far more complicated second phase, which could reshape the Middle East. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan lays out an ambitious vision for ending Hamas’ rule of Gaza. If successful, it would see the rebuilding of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision, normalized relations between Israel and the Arab world and a possible “pathway” to Palestinian independence. If it stalls, Gaza could become trapped in instability for years.
December 9, 2025 5:06 am
MIAMI (AP) — Democrat Eileen Higgins has won the Miami mayor’s race over a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump. Higgins on Tuesday became the first Democrat in nearly 30 years to be elected Miami mayor. Her win gives Democrats a boost in one of the last electoral battles ahead of the 2026 midterms. Higgins spoke frequently in the Hispanic-majority city about Trump’s immigration crackdown, saying she has heard of many people in Miami who were worried about family members being detained. Higgins will be the first woman to lead the city of Miami. She beat Trump-backed candidate Emilio Gonzalez, a former city manager.
December 9, 2025 5:04 am
SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Renewed border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia is showing no signs of stopping. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in both countries and have sought refuge in temporary shelters. A Thai military spokesperson on Wednesday reported about 400,000 people have been evacuated and around 700 schools closed. Cambodia has evacuated more than 127,000 villagers. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to continue fighting. Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen has promised a fierce response. The conflict follows a skirmish Sunday that derailed a ceasefire U.S. President Donald Trump had promoted to end similar fighting in July over territorial claims.
December 9, 2025 5:01 am
MOUNT POCONO, Pa. (AP) — At a nighttime event in Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump tried to emphasize his focus on combating inflation, although the issue couldn’t quite command his full attention. The president told the crowd gathered at a casino and resort in Mount Pocono on Tuesday that inflation was no longer a problem and that Democrats had used the term “affordability” as a “hoax” to hurt his reputation. Yet he meandered during his remarks, asking why the U.S. couldn’t take in more immigrants from Scandinavia and using an expletive to described countries such as Haiti and Somalia.
December 9, 2025 5:00 am
Firefighters battled the cold and flame early Tuesday morning in Peter Township. Washington County 9-1-1 says a home was fully engulfed in flames when crews were called to the 400-block of Thompsonville Road just after 3:30 a.m. It took crews about thirty-minutes to bring the blaze under control. A man inside the home was able to get out safely and call 9-1-1. No injuries resulted. The State Police Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate. It’s believed the fire broke out on the first floor of the home and spread to the second floor.
December 9, 2025 4:56 am
Washington and Jefferson College is advising students to avoid the area of N. Main Street where there have been recent shootings. A safety advisory was sent to students and parents Monday by Dean Eva Chatterjee-Sutton, the Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students. In the letter, she says; “In the past two week, there have been two alleged shooting incidents in the vicinity of North Main Street. One over the Thanksgiving break and the other last night, while neither of these situations has ties to Washington & Jefferson College, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. Out of an abundance of caution, we are advising everyone to avoid that area after dark, as the potential risk associated with being near the affected area is not worth the added risk of exposure”. She says they are working closely with the City of Washington and area law enforcement officials as they address safety concerns in the community. W&J issues a shelter-in-place alert Sunday after an incident in which police say they were called for a report of shots fired and a man experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. 65 year old William Coles was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and prohibited possession of a firearm.
December 9, 2025 2:58 am
Ambulance Service Still Undecided In Peters TwpA vote to direct township staff to begin negotiations for ambulance service took a turn at Peters Township’s council meeting. It was anticipated that council would direct staff to begin negotiations with either UPMC Washington County Ambulance and Chair Services or AHN Canonsburg Ambulance Services. Staff prepared a recommendation to select AHN Canonsburg Ambulance. The motion was reluctantly made to select AHN Canonsburg and when a roll call vote was taken, it ended in a 3-3 tie. Alison Shanafelt, Frank Arcuri, and Robert Lewis voted for the measure. Frank Kosir, Dr. Thomas Pirosko and Gary Stiegel voted against. Councilman Matt Rost was absent, creating the tie vote. A motion was then made to have staff negotiate with both organizations to bring their final and best offers forward. Township Manager Paul Lauer said he hopes to have a final contract in front of council for their second meeting in January. The township’s current ambulance service provided by VFW Post 764 in McMurray is vacating its services due to increasing costs of operation.
December 9, 2025 2:52 am
The trial of a Washington man accused of attempted kidnapping to inflict terror or injury and strangulation began Tuesday. Jose Zaragoza, 50 allegedly met with the mother of their shared child in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle in South Strabane Township in May of 2024 to discuss custody issues. Victim testimony from Liliana Escobar described the meeting in the parking lot that escalated when Zaragoza was described as reaching throu gh the window of Escobar’s vehicle to unlock the door. Unable to open the door, Zaragoza was said to reach in and choke Escobar with both hands. The assault continued where he covered her mouth and nose, further preventing her to breathe appropriately. Escobar’s beeping of her car horn brought a stranger for help. At that point Zaragoza fled. The defense, under cross examination, directed the jury’s attention to court documents describing the custody agreement saying that Escobar was in violation with that and that she wanted to meet in the parking lot as a set up. Escobar recorded the incident on her phone saying that her attorney needed stronger proof that Zaragoza may be aggressive in their relationship. The afternoon included a full playing of the recording and witness testimony regarding their help for Escobar. The trial continues on Wednesday.
December 8, 2025 5:44 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is giving farmers some $12 billion in aid to help as they struggle to sell their crops while getting hit by rising costs. The move comes after the president raised tariffs on China as part of a broader trade war. China has since agreed to buy more U.S. soybeans, but sales have so far been slow. Farmers have backed Trump politically but his aggressive trade policies and frequently changing tariff rates have come under increasing scrutiny. Farmers will get the money by the end of February, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said. Trump says his tariffs will help pay for the new program.
December 8, 2025 4:12 pm
(AP) – Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” topped the Golden Globe nominations on Monday. It was a victory for Warner Bros. just after Netflix struck a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business. With nine nominations, the film lead Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” which gained eight, and Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” with seven. New this year was a best podcast category, too. Its nominees featured a mixture of news, advice and celebrity interview programs. Nominations were read by Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall, from Beverly Hills, California.
