March 18, 2026 5:01 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The widening war in Iran is exposing big gaps at the State Department, especially in the bureau that handles the Middle East. In recent weeks, officials say, the Trump administration has cut staff, left key leadership jobs vacant and relied on a small circle of aides. Former officials describe an understaffed and demoralized workforce. They link the turmoil to mixed public messaging, weak planning and trouble helping Americans trapped in conflict zones. They say the department started evacuation planning late. The State Department now relies on temporary task forces and volunteers.
March 18, 2026 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. national debt has hit a record $39 trillion. The deficit hit the milestone Wednesday just weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. The Government Accountability Office says rising debt can raise borrowing costs for mortgages and cars. It can also squeeze wages and push up prices. Budget advocates warn that growing interest payments force tougher tradeoffs. The federal debt has surged under both Republican and Democratic presidents, most recently fueled by wars, large-scale pandemic spending and tax cuts. The U.S. national debt hit $38 trillion five months ago — and $37 trillion two months before that.
March 19, 2026 4:28 pm
BARCELONA (AP) — Spanish authorities say they have found the body of a missing college student from Illinois. The body of 20-year-old James “Jimmy” Gracey was found Thursday evening in the waters off a Barcelona beach, near where he was last seen outside a nightclub with his friends early Tuesday. He never returned to the room he was renting with friends. Police recovered his phone soon after he went missing. Gracey was a student at the University of Alabama, and was visiting friends in Barcelona for a spring break trip.
March 19, 2026 5:22 pm
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is supporting a proposal to rename César Chavez Day following stunning abuse allegations against the revered labor leader. Newsom said Thursday he will move quickly on legislation if it passes to rename March 31 as Farmworkers Day. Political leaders in states and cities are considering similar moves after the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America union and others alleged Chavez sexually abused them. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office says he won’t issue a proclamation honoring César Chavez Day this year. There also are calls to alter memorials honoring the man who helped secure better wages and working conditions for farm workers.
March 19, 2026 4:50 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania regulators are seeking $2.6 million in penalties from UGI because of a gas leak and deadly explosion at a chocolate factory. The state Public Utility Commission on Wednesday asked an administrative law judge to issue the fines. Regulators argue UGI’s gas distribution equipment serving R.M. Palmer Co. in West Reading violates state and federal rules. The March 2023 blast killed seven workers and injured 10 people. It destroyed a factory building and a nearby apartment building. UGI is calling the explosion a heartbreaking tragedy and expressing sympathy for the victims’ families, people in West Reading and others who were affected.
March 18, 2026 5:50 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials expect the Iran war will worsen inflation this year while having little impact on growth, but they still expect to cut their key rate once in 2026. For now, Fed policymakers left short-term interest rates unchanged Wednesday for the second straight meeting at about 3.6%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that it’s too soon to predict the long-term impact of the Iran war on the U.S. economy. Powell also said he has “no intention” of leaving the central bank until a Justice Department investigation related to his testimony about a building renovation is over.
March 18, 2026 10:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department is easing sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company, with some limits. The Trump administration is looking for ways to to ease oil prices that have soared during the Iran war. The U.S. issued a license on Wednesday that lets Venezuela’s state-run company sell and export Venezuelan oil to U.S. buyers and on global markets. The move could have the effect of getting more oil into the world market. Separately, the White House says Trump will waive, for 60 days, requirements for goods shipped between U.S. ports to be moved on U.S.-flagged vessels for 60 days. That 1920s law is often blamed for making gas more expensive.
March 18, 2026 4:56 am
HONG KONG (AP) — About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran. Maritime and trade data platforms report it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when it said it closed the key waterway for vessels of the U.S. and its allies. Analysts say Iranian oil export volumes remain resilient. Many of the vessels that have passed through the Strait are so-called “dark” transits evading Western sanctions that likely have ties with Iran. More recently, vessels with ties to India and Pakistan have also successfully crossed the strait as governments stepped up negotiations.
March 18, 2026 2:40 am
The Washington County Board of Elections has filed a petition with the Court of Common Pleas seeking approval to make changes to several election districts in response to population shifts, challenges in recruiting poll workers, and increasing costs to the county. “It is important to evaluate these changes as we see some polling locations struggling to handle voter traffic while others are barely used,” said Chair Nick Sherman. “The Mon Valley was once one of the most populated and active areas, but now there are too many polling locations that are difficult to staff. This allows
us to save county resources yet still provide people physical locations to vote in their neighborhoods.” Following careful planning and evaluation, the county is proposing the consolidation of 24 voting precincts, reducing the total number of polling places from 180 to 156 ahead of the May 19 primary election. “We are also seeing increasing difficulty finding actual polling locations that are accessible,” said Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander. “Many churches that previously hosted polling places have closed, and other buildings in these communities are not ADA-compliant. In several cases, the precincts we are proposing to consolidate already share the same physical location, so combining them will improve efficiency by reducing the amount of equipment and the number of poll workers required.” The proposed changes would affect the following municipalities: California Borough, Charleroi Borough, Cross Creek Township, Donora Borough, Fallowfield Township, Independence Township, Monongahela City, Mount Pleasant Township, Peters Township, Robinson Township, Smith Township, Union Township, the City of Washington, and West Finley Township. A judge will hear the arguments and decide on the proposed changes in a hearing set for next Thursday, March 26th in Courtroom 6 at 1:15pm. You can find the specifics on the proposed changes for each precinct at https://www.washingtoncopa.gov/elections or posted in the communities.
March 18, 2026 4:46 am
North Strabane Township Supervisors could be adding a new method of transportation in township neighborhoods, golf carts. Supervisors will consider directing their solicitor to draft an ordinance that would allow golf carts in neighborhoods governed by home owners associations. Supervisor Harold Close is behind the effort. He says that the ordinance would be strict if it is written at all. Golf carts would need to be “street legal”, possessing lights, and turn signals and be insured. Drivers would have to be 16 years of age and licensed to operate the vehicles. They would only be allowed in the specific neighborhoods and not on main roads. Golf carts could not even cross a township road to travel from one HOA community to another. Supervisors will also look to award their paving contract. Portions of six roads will be paved. Linley Road from Lily Ridge to S. Johnson, Taylor Drive from Thomas Road to Nancy Drive, Coachside from Meadowbrook to Meadow Ridge, Lakeview Drive from Coachside to the cul-de-sac, Nancy Drive and Lenore Way from Nancy Drive to Taylor Drive. The bid from Redstone Excavating is for $782,225. Township Engineer Vince Seyko says that may not be a firm total. He says that because of the war in Iran, he anticipates asphalt costs to increase. If those increases come about, liquid fuels funds cannot be used to cover them. Those increases must come out of the general budget. Supervisors will vote on these items on September 24.
