February 4, 2026 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is demanding a $1 billion payment from Harvard University to end his prolonged standoff with the Ivy League campus, doubling the amount he sought previously as both sides appear to move further from reaching a deal. The president raised the stakes on social media Monday night, saying Harvard has been “behaving very badly.” He said the university must pay the government directly as part of any deal — something Harvard has opposed. Trump’s comments on Truth Social came in response to a New York Times report saying the president had dropped his demand for a financial payment, lowering the bar for a deal.
February 4, 2026 4:57 am
The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States is set to expire this week, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. The end of the New START Treaty sets the stage for what many fear could be an unconstrained nuclear arms race. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for one more year if Washington follows suit, but U.S. President Donald Trump has been noncommittal about extending it. Arms control advocates have warned that the treaty’s termination would fuel a renewed arms race.
February 4, 2026 1:50 pm
(AP) – The Washington Post is laying off one-third of its staff in the newsroom and other departments, a brutal blow at one of journalism’s most legendary brands. The large-scale cutbacks include eliminating the Post’s sports department and shrinking the number of journalists it stations overseas. The changes were announced by Executive Editor Matt Murray in a Zoom meeting with staff. The staff reduction is a significant setback at the Post, known in history books for its Watergate revelations and most recently for aggressive coverage of President Donald Trump’s cutbacks to the federal workforce, and for journalism in general.
February 3, 2026 4:55 am
Disney is naming parks chief Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, succeeding Bob Iger. D’Amaro has served as Disney Experiences Chairman, spearheading efforts for the company’s theme parks, cruises and resorts. The decision on the next chief executive at Disney comes almost four years after the company’s choice to replace Iger went badly, forcing Iger back into the job. Only two years after stepping down as CEO, Iger returned to Disney in 2022 after a period of clashes, missteps and a weakening financial performance under his hand-picked successor, Bob Chapek.
February 3, 2026 4:52 am
BENTLEYVILLE, Pa. — Two people were flown to hospitals after a fire at Bentley Tower in Bentleyville Monday night. Washington County 9-1-1 says the fire broke out just after 9 p.m. The senior high-rise along Washington Street has a total of 90 units. Fire and smoke reportedly originated in a unit on the seventh floor. At this time, no other information is available including what may have caused the fire.
February 3, 2026 5:01 am
Washington City Council got a review from Council Public Works Director Joe Pintola on the success of removing snow from city streets. Pintola said that right off the bat, three of the four city trucks used for snow removal broke down. Two trucks were back in service within one shift. The third returned to service a week later. Three independent contractors were hired when federal monies became available after the city enacted a disaster declaration. Pintola says that all metered areas of city streets will be clear as of 2/3/2026. He is concerned about road salt. Road crews are down to a minimal amount. Pintola says that salt has been on order for several weeks, but excuses from the supplier change indicating that the salt is either on rail cars or barges. He did say that the city does have a supply of cinders that can be used on hills to keep traffic moving if additional snow arrives before the salt. He said that businesses did a fine job of cleaning sidewalks. He asks residents to make sure their sidewalks are clear as code enforcement officers will be dispatched to issue fines. In other city business, a public hearing will be held at 5:00 pm on Thursday to go over the demolition list of properties for 2026. Council will then go into their voting meeting beginning at 6:00 pm.
February 3, 2026 2:27 pm
The National Football League, in partnership with VisitPITTSBURGH and the Steelers, have released the first official renderings of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The new renderings show a two-site Draft campus designed to showcase Pittsburgh’s landmarks, waterways and skyline, according to VisitPITTSBURGH. The Draft Theater and Main Stage will be located outside of Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore. The Draft Theater will be a viewing area that will create a dramatic setting for pick selections and televised coverage. A part of the NFL Draft Experience, the league’s interactive fan festival, will be located at Point State Park. It will feature interactive activities, youth programming, food and beverage offerings and immersive NFL exhibits designed for fans of all ages. The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 and some five-hundred to seven-hundred thousands fans are expected attend. (Photo: AP)
February 3, 2026 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a roughly $1.2 trillion spending package to end a partial government shutdown. The bill went to President Donald Trump who signed it. The vote wraps up congressional work on 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, funding the vast majority of the government for the budget year ending Sept. 30. The last bill still to be worked out covers the Department of Homeland Security where Democrats are demanding more restrictions on enforcement operations. Trump has said he will sign the bill once it reaches his desk.
February 3, 2026 5:09 am
State and local officials are pushing back against federal plans to expand immigrant detention facilities. President Donald Trump’s administration is scouting locations across the U.S. for new sites, sparking protests and legal challenges. In Minnesota, fatal shootings during immigration enforcement have intensified scrutiny on ICE. In Virginia, a proposed detention center drew hundreds of people to a tense public hearing. Kansas City officials have passed a moratorium attempt to block a new ICE detention site. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s legislature is advancing a bill to ban state and local contracts for ICE facilities. A law Trump signed last year includes $45 billion to expand ice detention facilities.
