February 18, 2025 5:04 am
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The top diplomats from Russia and the U.S. met in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Tuesday’s talks represented a rapid and major change in American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. No Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting. It came as the beleaguered country is slowly but steadily losing ground against more numerous Russian troops in a grinding war that began nearly three years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks if Kyiv doesn’t take part. European allies have also expressed concerns they are being sidelined. Beyond Ukraine, the meeting has been expected to focus on thawing relations between Russia and the U.S.
February 18, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information. That’s according to two people familiar with the official’s departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Acting Commissioner Michelle King’s departure from the agency —after more than 30 years of service — was initiated after King refused to provide Department of Government Efficiency staffers at the Social Security Administration with access to sensitive information, the people said.
February 18, 2025 5:02 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is seeking access to troves of sensitive taxpayer data at the IRS. That’s according to two people familiar with the inner workings of the plan who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If successful, Musk and his group would have access to millions of tightly controlled files that include taxpayer information, bank records and other sensitive records. The people who spoke to The Associated Press and requested anonymity said DOGE is specifically seeking access to an IRS system, that enables employees “to have instantaneous visual access to certain taxpayer accounts.” Advocates fear that the potential unlawful release of taxpayer records could be used to maliciously target Americans.
February 18, 2025 5:05 am
TORONTO (AP) — A Delta Air Lines plane has flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and ended up on its roof, injuring 18 people. The airport’s chief executive says all 80 people on board survived and those hurt had relatively minor injuries. The flight from Minneapolis attempted to land on a dry runway at around 2:15 p.m. Monday in Toronto. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph were blowing snow at the time. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hosed it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend.
February 17, 2025 5:07 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says its forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon after Tuesday’s deadline for their withdrawal under a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Lebanon’s government has expressed frustration over another delay. A separate ceasefire in Gaza is also in doubt as the region marks 500 days of Israel’s war with Hamas. Talks are yet to start on the ceasefire’s second phase, which would release more hostages and see the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. An Israeli official says four bodies are expected to be returned to Israel on Thursday, with no details.
February 17, 2025 3:51 pm
A badly injured child is among 19 people who were injured when a Delta Airlines plane flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. The airport confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred Monday with the Delta flight from Minneapolis and that all 80 passengers and crew are accounted for. Video from the scene shows the Mitsubishi CRJ-900LR upside down on the snowy tarmac as emergency workers hose it down. The plane was somewhat obscured by snow from a winter storm that hit Toronto over the weekend. Ornge air ambulance says it is transporting one pediatric patient to Toronto’s SickKids hospital and two adults with critical injuries to other hospitals in the city.
February 17, 2025 2:18 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has begun firing several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees, upending staff on a busy air travel weekend and just weeks after a fatal mid-air collision in Washington. Probationary workers were targeted in late night emails Friday notifying them they had been fired. That’s according to David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union. One air traffic controller told the Associated Press the fired workers include personnel hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance.
February 17, 2025 2:22 pm
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military says its forces will remain in five strategic locations in southern Lebanon after Tuesday’s deadline for their withdrawal under a ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Lebanon’s government has expressed frustration over another delay. A separate ceasefire in Gaza is also in doubt as the region marks 500 days of Israel’s war with Hamas. Israel and the United States have sent conflicting signals over whether they want the Gaza truce to continue. Talks are yet to start on the ceasefire’s second phase, which would release more hostages and see the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
February 17, 2025 4:44 am
PITTSBURGH — Another blast of winter to start your week and it’s going to stick around. Watch area roads heading out the door Monday as quick shots of heavier snow showers overnight has left many untreated roads covered and slick. Snow showers will wind down during the day Monday. However, additional light accumulation is possible in any snow showers. Dangerous travel continues due to blowing snow and whiteout conditions in the ridges and mountains where a Blizzard Warning is in effect through Monday afternoon. It will be unseasonably cold for this time of the year with temperatures struggling into the mid 20s on Monday. High temperatures will stay in the 20s much of the week, running 10-20 degrees below normal. Low temperatures Monday night and Tuesday night will fall into the single digits in much of the area with wind chills below zero early Tuesday morning.
February 17, 2025 4:55 am
No injuries are reported after fire crews were called to two separate fire overnight. Both were reported around 2 a.m. The first was at a home along Midway Candor Road in Robinson Township. The home was occupied but everyone did get out safely. Washington County 9-1-1 says the State Police Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate. Dispatchers say the second was a chimney fire at a home in the 100-block of Walnut Road in Mt. Pleasant Township. There is no word on the cause of that fire.
