November 7, 2025 2:45 am
Washington County Commissioners delivered a split vote on cancelling an economic development contract with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis voted to terminate a six year deal signed in 2023. The cost of the contract was $140,000 per year with escalators. One thing that both commissioners and the chamber agree on is, that there is a distinct lack of communication. Both Sherman and Chamber President Jeff Kotula say that neither side is reaching out to communicate. Sherman said that the chamber received the money and provided no services. Kotula says that $33 million in economic development was made in 2025. Commissioner Larry Maggi dissented saying that the chamber has delivered in each of the years since the original contract was signed in 1999. He says that government can create an environment for a good economy, the county should let business people do the actual economic development. Commissioner Electra Janis said that the contract is unnecessary and she prefers to cancel the contract instead of laying off county employees. According to the motion to terminate, The contract was cancelled because it is an invalid multi year contract, the chamber did not fulfill the requirements of the contract, and budgetary adjustments were needed for cost savings.
November 7, 2025 2:39 am
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced on Friday that SNAP recipients who have not received benefits this month – but were supposed to – should have them by the end of the day. Shapiro made the announcement Friday afternoon with Department of Human Services Secretary Valerie Arkoosh. This comes after a federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. He says the money is coming from the U.S. Treasury and not from Pennsylvania. Shapiro said he is already working to fight the Trump administration in court if needed again. (Photo: AP)
November 6, 2025 4:51 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she won’t seek reelection. The announcement Thursday by the California Democrat brings to a close a storied career that saw her become the first woman to hold that job and arguably the most powerful woman in American politics. Pelosi’s decision comes as a seasoned generation of political leaders is stepping aside. Pelosi was an architect of the Affordable Care Act and other landmark policies. The 85-year-old congresswoman relinquished her leadership position three years ago. Former President Barack Obama calls her one of the best House speakers ever. (Photo: AP)
November 6, 2025 4:25 pm
(AP) – Flight cancellations are accelerating as U.S. airlines comply with a government order to cut flights because of the shutdown. Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among 40 of the busiest across the U.S. where flights will be cut. That is according to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by The Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration says it will begin reducing air traffic on Friday to maintain safety, as air traffic controllers go unpaid and show signs of strain during the shutdown. The plan is to phase-in cuts of 10% of flights across the affected airports. Airlines say they will try to minimize the impact on travelers. Passengers should start to be notified about cancellations Thursday. (Photo: AP)
November 6, 2025 4:24 pm
(AP) – A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find the money by Friday to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. The ruling Thursday was in response to a challenge from cities and nonprofits complaining that the administration was only offering to cover 65% of the maximum benefit. The Trump administration said last month that it would not pay benefits at all for November because of the federal shutdown. Last week, two judges ordered the government to pay at least partial benefits using an emergency fund. It initially said it would cover half, but it now says it will cover 65%.
November 6, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she won’t seek reelection. The announcement Thursday by the California Democrat brings to a close a storied career that saw her become the first woman to hold that job and arguably the most powerful woman in American politics. Pelosi’s decision comes as a seasoned generation of political leaders is stepping aside. Pelosi was an architect of the Affordable Care Act and other landmark policies. The 85-year-old congresswoman relinquished her leadership position three years ago. Former President Barack Obama calls her one of the best House speakers ever.
November 6, 2025 4:55 am
CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has ordered improvements at a Chicago-area immigration facility after detainees sued over “inhumane” conditions. The order, effective for 14 days, mandates clean bedding, space to sleep, hygiene products and medication. Detainees must also have access to showers, meals and bottled water. The judge criticized the conditions as “unnecessarily cruel” and requested a status report by Friday. In another case, Senior Border Patrol official Greg Bovino defended the use of force against protesters. Allegations include excessive force and unprovoked actions by agents, with ongoing legal scrutiny of these practices.
November 6, 2025 4:54 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The grim task of finding victims from the firestorm that followed the crash of a UPS cargo plane in Louisville, Kentucky, has entered a third day. Investigators are still gathering information to determine why the aircraft caught fire and lost an engine on takeoff. Tuesday’s inferno consumed the enormous aircraft and spread to nearby businesses, killing at least 12 people, including a child. Any hope of finding survivors in the charred area of the crash at UPS Worldport seemed unlikely. Three people were aboard when the plane crashed as it took off for Honolulu.
November 6, 2025 4:51 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Movement has slowed toward a deal to end the government shutdown after election wins for Democrats. Election victories in Virginia and New Jersey have emboldened Democrats and raised fresh doubts about the possibility of a breakthrough. That’s despite the punishing toll of the shutdown, which has lasted 37 days. The Federal Aviation Administration announced plans to reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 high-volume markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety amid staffing shortages. Millions have already been affected by halted government programs and missed federal paychecks. But Democrats are holding firm that any deal to end the shutdown include a fix for health care.
November 6, 2025 4:50 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Supreme Court justices seem skeptical about President Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally impose far-reaching tariffs, putting at risk a cornerstone of his agenda in the biggest legal test yet of his boundary-pushing presidency. Three conservative justices raised questions Wednesday about whether an emergency law gives Trump near-limitless power to set and change duties on imports, with potentially trillion-dollar implications for the global economy. Challengers say Trump is illegally using the emergency law and American small businesses are paying the price. The Republican president says a ruling against him would be catastrophic for the economy.
