September 17, 2026 2:10 am
239 years after the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, members of W&J college came to the Courthouse to take turns to read aloud the document. Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed on Sept. 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. Constitution Day became a holiday in 2004 when Senator Robert Bryd from the state of West Virginia was concerned that American citizens were losing the connection to the document and we have been celebrating the day ever since then.
September 17, 2026 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it as President Donald Trump has threatened. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said Thursday his ruling would “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events.” Earlier, Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, said he closed the iconic performing arts center temporarily due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration” of the aging building.
September 18, 2026 4:56 am
HENRICO, Va. (AP) — In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is beginning, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide who they trust to lead Congress through a cost-of-living crisis, a prolonged war in Iran and other pressing issues. Friday marks the start of early voting in Virginia. Voters in a handful of other states, including Idaho, Minnesota and South Dakota, are able to cast absentee ballots in person, typically at a local election office or voting center. More expansive early voting is scheduled to begin in those and other states in the coming weeks. Election administrators say they’re prepared and confident the vote will be accurate and secure.
September 18, 2026 4:57 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service has stopped developing a controversial computer system tied to President Donald Trump’s effort to limit mail voting. The Supreme Court rejected Trump’s executive order this week. Postmaster General David Steiner confirmed the halt Thursday. He emphasized the agency’s independence and operational focus. Trump’s order aimed to create state citizenship lists for mail voting, but the system faced criticism that it was riddled with errors. A memo to postal employees stated the agency won’t enforce new rules for the 2026 election. Despite the halt, concerns remain about postmark delays affecting mail-in ballots. Steiner urged voters to submit ballots early.
September 18, 2026 5:04 am
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway in the next step of the transition at the top of the $1 trillion conglomerate he led for more than six decades.. The company said Friday that the 96-year-old Buffett will take become chairman emeritus and will take on his new role immediately. His son, Howard, will serve as Berkshire Hathaway’s new chairman as part of the company’s longstanding succession plan. Howard Buffett has served as a Berkshire Hathaway board member since 1993. Longtime Vice Chairman Greg Abel was promoted to CEO in January and has been leading the company since then.
September 18, 2026 4:58 am
Anthropic has announced that its AI model, Claude, is significantly aiding in the development of building its successor. Claude is handling 26% of the model research and development for Anthropic, completing tasks under human supervision. Although Claude isn’t fully autonomous, it collaborates on about 90% of the company’s research and development work. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and other AI leaders have been advocating for a slowdown in AI development because of safety concerns. They emphasize the importance of transparency and public understanding of AI advancements. Anthropic also highlights the need for sharing metrics to better understand AI’s progress toward self-improvement.
September 18, 2026 5:00 am
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has embraced the prospect of his country becoming the European Union’s first associate member. He said Thursday that closer ties with the continent would ensure no country could control Canada’s markets or undermine its sovereignty. Carney’s speech to the European Parliament repeatedly extolled cooperation between Europe and Canada, but the relationship with the U.S. hung over the address. Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have pushed Ottawa to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and seek a far deeper economic, security and political relationship with Europe. Carney told the parliament that he welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal.
September 17, 2026 5:01 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors say an SUV driver was under the influence of drugs when she swerved into the wrong lane, blew a red light and slammed into a Los Angeles city bus, killing two riders. It was a tragedy compounded by the subsequent fatal crash of a TV news helicopter that had been covering the collision that killed the two people on board and one on the ground. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says Bailee Lynn Rios was speeding and impaired. Rios faces two charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of the two people on the bus. Online court records did not list a lawyer who might speak on her behalf.
September 18, 2026 12:21 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Tony- and Grammy-winning musician Duncan Sheik has died at 56. The “Barely Breathing” singer-songwriter composed the music for “Spring Awakening.” The groundbreaking Broadway musical that explored teenage angst ran for more than 860 performances and won eight Tony Awards. The show is beloved in the musical theater community for breaking ground in terms of staging and content Sheik also worked on musicals like “American Psycho.” He blended theater with pop, shifting away from traditional musical theater tropes to bring new audiences to Broadway. His most recent album was 2022’s “Claptrap.”
September 17, 2026 5:46 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it as President Donald Trump has threatened. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said Thursday his ruling would “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events.” Earlier, Matt Floca, the Kennedy Center’s executive director and chief operating officer, said he closed the iconic performing arts center temporarily due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration” of the aging building.
