September 26, 2025 5:08 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is putting import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1. Trump said Thursday on his social media site that foreign manufacturers of furniture and cabinetry were flooding the United States with their products and that tariffs must be applied “for National Security and other reasons.” Trump said that foreign-made heavy trucks and parts are hurting domestic producers.
September 26, 2025 5:10 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring that a proposed deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States will be a qualified sale that meets national security concerns laid out by the law. Much is still unknown about the actual arrangement, but Trump said Chinese leader Xi Jinping “gave us the go-ahead” to proceed with the deal. Any major change to the popular video platform could have a huge impact on how Americans — particularly young adults and teenagers — consume information online.
September 26, 2025 5:12 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals to a base in northern Virginia for a sudden meeting next week. The directive doesn’t offer a reason for the gathering next Tuesday of senior commanders of the one-star rank or higher and their top advisers. Confirmation comes from three people familiar with the matter who weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive plans and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Pentagon’s top spokesman confirms that Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.” Vice President JD Vance argued that the media had turned it into a “big story.”
September 26, 2025 5:13 am
SEATTLE (AP) — Amazon has reached a historic $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission which said the online giant tricked customers into signing up for its Prime memberships, and made it difficult to cancel after they did so. The Seattle company will pay $1 billion in civil penalties — the largest fine in FTC history, and $1.5 billion will be paid to consumers who were unintentionally enrolled in Prime, or were deterred from canceling their subscriptions.
September 26, 2025 5:10 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A woman has sued Universal Orlando Resort, claiming she was injured on a roller coaster at its newest theme park. Sandi Streets filed the negligence lawsuit Wednesday in Orlando, a week after a man died from injuries on the same ride. Streets says she was invited to Universal’s Epic Universe theme park before it officially opened in May. She claims the dual-launch coaster caused her head to shake violently, resulting in permanent injuries. The lawsuit states she has suffered disability and medical expenses. Universal has not responded to request for comment.
September 25, 2025 8:43 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy expanded at a surprising 3.8% from April through June in a dramatic upgrade of the government’s previous estimate of second-quarter growth. The Commerce Department said Thursday that U.S. gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — rebounded in the spring from a 0.6% first-quarter drop caused by fallout from President Donald Trump’s trade wars. The department had previously estimated second-quarter growth at 3.3%. The first-quarter GDP drop, the first retreat of the U.S. economy in three years, was mainly caused by a surge in imports as businesses hurried to bring in foreign goods before Trump could impose sweeping taxes on them.
September 25, 2025 8:44 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. jobless claim applications fell to their lowest level in two months last week as layoffs remain low despite mounting evidence of a softening labor market. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the week ending Sept. 20 fell by 14,000 to 218,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast 235,000 new applications. The four-week average of claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, declined by 2,750 to 237,500. The total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits for the previous week of Sept. 13 inched down by 2,000 to 1.93 million.
September 25, 2025 2:23 am
City Mission officially opened its new women’s shelter, Sally’s Sanctuary, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and formal presentation. The 50-bed facility expands the Mission’s capacity for women in need, adding 35 new beds to its existing campus. The $8.3 million project began with a fundraising campaign launched in January 2023. According to Melissa Marion, Director of Development, the shelter was made possible through the support of individuals, businesses, churches, community groups, foundations, and financial institutions, whose generosity helped bring the project to life. The new building spans three floors and features multiple suites, an emergency shelter, laundry rooms, common areas, office space, and a large childcare center. The facility was named in honor of Sally Mounts, City Mission’s former Chief Development Officer of 11 years and current board member. Following the ribbon cutting, attendees gathered outside the building to place their hands on the exterior walls in a symbolic blessing. Among those preparing to move into the new shelter next month are residents Stephanie Hankle and Molly Greenfield. Both expressed excitement for the expanded space and the opportunities it will provide. “City Mission has saved my life,” Greenfield said. “I’m excited not only for myself, but for the population growth and for women to have the option of an emergency shelter.”
September 25, 2025 4:52 am
MASONTOWN, Pa. — An animal control officer is facing felony charges in connection with the deaths of two dogs. Those dogs escaped from their leashes earlier this month in Masontown, Fayette County. Their owner, Lara Mickey, says the dogs were “loved beyond measure,” and they searched to bring them home. Instead, investigators say animal control officer Sam Vargas took the dogs to his home and 24 hours later, shot them both in the head. “Even if you don’t have a microchip, they should be held for 48 hours at a proper kennel,” Mickey said. “So the owner has a chance to try and find them, like we were.” According to the Fayette County District Attorney, Vargas is a contracted officer for several boroughs and townships, but he is not licensed as a kennel operator. By law, investigators say he should have transported the dogs to a licensed facility, where they would have been held for two days. Instead, police say Vargas claimed one of the dogs “snapped” at him, though he had no visible injuries. Witnesses told investigators he admitted saying, “Well, f— this then” before shooting the dogs. Vargas is now charged with felony cruelty to animals. The family says they are devastated and demanding accountability.
September 25, 2025 10:17 am
RED LION, Pa. (AP) — Three Pennsylvania detectives shot to death last week while attempting to arrest a stalking suspect were remembered as exemplary officers and devoted family men at a funeral. The service was held Thursday for Northern York County Regional Police detectives Cody Michael Becker, Mark Edward Baker and Isaiah Emenheiser. It’s been more than a week after they were ambushed by a man who had been inside the home of a woman he was accused of stalking. Two other officers were also hurt. The stalking suspect died in an exchange of gunfire with police.
