March 5, 2025 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump vowed to keep up his campaign of “swift and unrelenting action” in reorienting the nation’s economy, immigration and foreign policy as he delivered an unyielding address Tuesday night to Congress and the nation. Democratic legislators registered their dissent with stone faces, placards calling out “lies,” and one legislator’s ejection. Trump’s prime-time speech added up to a defiant sales pitch for the policies that he promised during his campaign and leaned into during his first weeks back in office. Trump pledged to keep delivering sweeping changes to the country, rescuing it from what he described as destruction and mistakes left by his predecessor while repeatedly needling Democrats.
March 5, 2025 4:54 am
Several people from our region were special guests at President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. Marc Fogel (pictured) and Corey Comperatore’s family were among a group of “everyday Americans” first lady Melania Trump invited to the U.S. Capitol. Fogel, a Butler County native who was imprisoned in Russia for more than three years, was released in February as part of a prisoner swap negotiated by the Trump administration. He and his mother, Malphine, will attend. In a statement, Fogel said the privilege of sitting before a joint session of Congress as Trump speaks is not lost on him. Corey Comperatore was shot and killed while shielding his family from the gunman who made an attempt on Trump’s life during a rally in Butler last July. The former fire chief’s widow, Helen, and their two daughters were also in attendance. Trump recognized Fogel and Comperatore during his speech.
March 5, 2025 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Al Green of Texas wasn’t the first lawmaker ever to blurt out a protest during a presidential address to Congress. But the Democrat is perhaps the only one in recent memory to actually be ejected from the hall Tuesday night by the Speaker of the House. Green said afterward it was worth it to make his point. Speaker Mike Johnson later called for the congressman to be censured. In past years, several lawmakers have raised their voices to shout at presidents – from GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s shouts against President Joe Biden and Republican Rep. Joe Wilson’s against President Barack Obama. Green, first elected to Congress 20 years ago, has often been a maverick who stood alone.
March 5, 2025 5:06 am
President Donald Trump’s one-hour and 40-minute address to Congress highlighted many of his initiatives, from an immigration crackdown to tariffs and energy policy. But many of his comments Tuesday night included false and misleading information about those efforts. Trump overstated numbers around his immigration crackdown and misrepresented economic figures, repeating several false claims he has made in the past. He also distorted an initiative from his predecessor on electric vehicles and took credit for Army recruitment trends that began before he entered office.
March 5, 2025 4:59 am
Popular burger chain Red Robin is considering closing dozens of underperforming locations to help pay off its debt. The company said in its February earnings release that it was “evaluating alternatives for approximately 70 underperforming restaurant locations, including closure upon expiration of the current lease term.” The president and CEO, G.J. Hart, said the locations would close over the next five years with 10 to 15 of them closing in 2025, USA Today reported. The company already closed one location when its lease expired and will sell three locations during the first quarter of this fiscal year, according to the earnings release. A list of targeted locations was not provided in the release. Red Robin has 498 locations with 407 of them owned by the company and the other 91 owned by franchisees, USA Today reported.
March 5, 2025 3:28 pm
(AP) – Makers of the popular obesity treatments Wegovy and Zepbound are cutting prices for people without insurance. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said Wednesday that it will drop prices 23% for all doses of Wegovy. The new monthly price of $499 takes effect immediately. The new pricing is available to both the uninsured and people who have insurance that doesn’t cover the weight-loss drugs. Last week, rival Eli Lilly said it would cut the monthly price of its starter dose of Zepbound to $349. The U.S. drugmaker also is making larger doses available for $499 through its self-pay program.
March 5, 2025 5:24 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — A Cheeto shaped like the beloved Pokémon Charizard has sold at auction for a total cost of $87,840. The Goldin auction house listed the snack as sold on Sunday. “Presented is a 3-inch long Flamin’ Hot Cheeto in the shape of the Pokémon Charizard, affixed to a customized Pokémon card and encapsulated in a clear card storage box,” the auction’s description states. “It was initially discovered and preserved sometime between 2018-2022 by 1st & Goal Collectibles. The “Cheetozard” surged in popularity on social media platforms in late 2024. There were 60 bids on the uniquely shaped snack, according to the listing. The winning bid was $72,000 plus a buyer’s premium. (Photo: AP)
March 4, 2025 5:08 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says last week’s Oval Office blowup with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump was “regrettable,” and he adds, “It is time to make things right.” His remarks came hours after the White House announced a pause on military aid to Ukraine. In a social media post on X, Zelenskyy said Friday’s White House meeting “did not go the way it was supposed to be.” He added that ”it is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.” He said Ukraine is ready to sign a deal on its rare-earth minerals and security with Washington. Trump said during his address to Congress that he received a letter from Zelenskyy saying as much.
March 4, 2025 2:18 am
Lent begins on Wednesday, as millions of people across the globe head to church to receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads. During Lent, Catholics observe days of fast and abstinence from meat in the Catholic Church and Ash Wednesday is regarded as one of the most sacred days of the year for all Christians.. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence and all Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence in the United States. Individuals who have a medical condition in which fasting may be considered harmful are not obliged to fast, but should perform some other act of penance or charity. According to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, the forty day Lenten season of prayer and penance is meant to convert hearts and minds back to God and Bishop David Zubik says this Lenten season is especially significant since it takes place during the Jubilee Year of Hope, a beautiful time for Christians to turn to the love and mercy of God. Distribution of ashes will be performed at all parishes. You’re urged to contact your parish for their schedule for distribution of ashes. Also during Lent, many churches and organizations host a fish fry. (Photo: AP)
March 4, 2025 1:14 pm
(WPXI) – A person is in critical condition after being hit by a car on the bridge near Kennywood park in Duquesne Tuesday morning. Emergency Crews responded to the 1000 block of Duquesne Boulevard around 8:55 a.m. Allegheny County police said an Audi sedan was traveling north when it hit a person in the roadway. The victim was taken to a hospital. The driver of the car remained on scene. Allegheny County police detectives are investigating.
