October 1, 2025 5:20 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government was thrown into a shutdown with no easy endgame in sight. Democrats held firm Wednesday to their demands to salvage health care subsidies that President Donald Trump and Republican in Congress have refused to negotiate. The White House threatened mass layoffs of federal workers in a matter of days. No new talks were scheduled after the president failed this week to secure a deal with congressional leaders. Blame was being cast on all sides. A vote to end the government shutdown has failed. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he’s praying that Democrats come to their senses. (Photo: AP)
September 30, 2025 1:36 am
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling, in a 4-3 vote, on Friday that says, voters that have flaws in their mail in ballots must be given the opportunity to cast a provisional ballot to allow their vote to be counted. The ruling states that the Washington County Board of Elections must inform voters of fatal flaws. That reverses the policy approved by The Washington County Board of Elections from April 2024. In a 2-1 vote the policy was established that no notice would be given to voters if their ballot contained a fatal flaw. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman is also the Chairman of the Board of Elections. He says that he is not positive that the decision has added any clarity to how faulty ballots should be handled. He points to Pennsylvania act 77 that says ballot curing is not allowed, but the Supreme Court says that voters must be given notice of the flaw and then decide if they will file a provisional ballot. Sherman says voters will be notified by email by Pennsylvania’s SURE system if flaws on their mail in ballot are identified. Those voters will then be given the opportunity to file a provisional ballot at their polling station. Sherman says that Washington County and other counties are seeking clarity from the legislature and the governor to put this issue to rest. Currently, a decision by the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals has been sent to the US Supreme Court to rule whether incorrect dates on ballot return envelopes render a ballot ineligible. The appeals court said they are not disqualifying errors. Sherman said the county will abide by the final decision of the court, state or federal. (Photo: AP)
October 1, 2025 4:51 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s counties, school districts and social service agencies are warning of mounting layoffs, borrowing costs and damage to the safety net as the politically divided state government enters its fourth month of a budget stalemate. The stalemate entangling Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate has no certain end in sight as finger-pointing falls along partisan lines. As October begins, county officials and social service providers say the damage is accelerating. They say lines of credit and reserves are running out, meaning deeper layoffs and more service shutdowns are inevitable. Kristen Rotz of the United Way of Pennsylvania says things will get exponentially worse in October.
October 1, 2025 4:54 am
PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle is lowering the prices of more than 300 key grocery staples. The grocery store chain says this is part of its new seasonal pricing initiative that’s intended to provide customers with immediate relief from inflation. “By lowering the prices of key items that our customers frequently purchase, we intend to deliver reliable everyday value and savings opportunities for Giant Eagle customers as they shop for their families throughout the season,” said Justin Weinstein, of Giant Eagle. Shoppers will see the lower prices starting on Oct. 2. The program remains in effect through the end of the year. Items that will have their prices reduced or held are the more than 300 most frequently purchased products, Giant Eagle says. That includes staples like eggs, shredded cheese, 80/20 ground beef, Cheerios, tomatoes, bacon, potatoes, apples, canned beans and frozen vegetables. Giant Eagle says the pricing initiative is an element of the “Because it Matters” strategy, which reaffirms the company’s commitment to better everyday value and quality while prioritizing what matters to its customers.
October 1, 2025 4:58 am
A popular retailer has announced plans to expand into Western Pennsylvania. A spokesperson from Meijer said the business has acquired properties in the area. “While there is no definitive timeline for the opening of new stores on these properties, we’re excited about the prospect of bringing our quality products and exceptional shopping experience to customers throughout Western Pennsylvania,” the statement said. They have not announced exactly where those properties are. “We look forward to introducing ourselves to these communities and are committed to being an active and engaged neighbor,” Meijer’s statement said. Meijer currently operates more than 500 stores throughout the Midwest and employs over 70,000 people. The privately-owned, family-operated business claims to be the “pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept,” when they opened a supercenter in the 1960s that sold groceries, clothing and hardware in one place.
September 30, 2025 4:44 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown has begun. And it’s plunging the U.S. into a fresh cycle of uncertainty. President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed and many offices will be shuttered. Trump vows to “do things that are irreversible, that are bad” as he seeks to punish Democrats. His administration has called for mass firings. Democrats picked this fight as they demand funding to save health care subsidies that are expiring and sending insurance costs soaring. Republicans have refused to negotiate. More voting is expected Wednesday.
October 1, 2025 4:45 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown means further disruption for the U.S. Education Department, which has seen half of its employees laid off by the Trump administration. The department says many core operations will continue in a shutdown, but civil rights investigations will stop, and no new federal grants will be issued. About 87% of the workforce will be furloughed. The department still will manage federal student aid, with Pell grants and loans continuing, and payments will still be due. However, 632 of 747 employees in the Office of Federal Student Aid will be furloughed. The Office for Civil Rights will halt investigations into discrimination by race and disability, adding to an existing backlog of complaints.
September 30, 2025 4:46 am
QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump is proposing using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces. He’s suggesting U.S. military might be deployed against what he describes as the “invasion from within.” Addressing military brass abruptly summoned to Virginia on Tuesday, Trump outlined a muscular and at times norm-shattering view of the military’s role in domestic affairs. He was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared an end to “woke” culture and announced new directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness. The messages underscored the Trump administration’s efforts not only to reshape contemporary Pentagon culture but to enlist military resources in the president’s priorities and in everyday American civic life.
October 1, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said his administration was close to reaching a deal with Harvard University, the Ivy League institution it has targeted with a series of investigations and billions of dollars in funding cuts as it presses for changes to its policies and governance. A truce with the country’s oldest and wealthiest college would end a clash that has tested the independence of America’s colleges. Trump initially said a deal had been reached but in further comments said officials were “close to finalizing” the deal but “we haven’t done it yet.”
October 1, 2025 4:17 pm
(AP) – Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died. She was 91. While living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago, Goodall documented the animals using tools and doing other activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans. She also noted their distinct personalities. Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not only humans’ closest living biological relatives but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling her into the public consciousness.
