January 23, 2026 5:16 am
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the settlement in Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys during marathon overnight talks, and the Kremlin insisted that the territorial issue needs to be resolved to make peace. The Kremlin meeting, which lasted past 3 a.m. Friday, came hours after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized his European allies Thursday for what he cast as their slow and fragmented response to Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who took part in Putin’s meeting with Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, said it would be impossible to reach a peace deal “without solving the territorial issue.”
January 23, 2026 5:17 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Activists report that Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests has killed at least 5,002 people. Many more are feared dead. But information is scarce in part because Iran has imposed the most comprehensive internet blackout in its history. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency provided the latest death toll Friday and noted more than 26,800 people have been detained. Iran’s government says 3,117 have died. But it has a history of giving lower tolls for political reasons. The Associated Press has been unable to verify these numbers because of the two-week internet shutdown. The U.S. has moved an aircraft carrier group closer to the Middle East. And U.S. President Donald Trump is warning of potential action against Iran.
January 23, 2026 6:11 pm
ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say they have arrested Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder facing charges related to drug trafficking and the killing of a federal witness. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday confirmed Wedding’s arrest. Patel said Wedding was arrested after turning himself in at a U.S. embassy in Mexico, where authorities believe he had been hiding for more than a decade. The former Olympian was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Wedding was charged in 2024 with running a drug ring that used semitrucks to move cocaine between Colombia, Mexico, Southern California and Canada.
January 23, 2026 5:13 am
TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the U.S. that has been in discussion for years. The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form the joint venture. The company said in a statement that the new version will operate under “defined safeguards” with an emphasis on data protections and software assurances for U.S. users. The establishment of a U.S. unit ends years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States.
January 23, 2026 6:13 pm
(AP) – That snowflake icon on your smartphone app might be quick and handy — it just might not be as accurate as a human when the weather gets rough. Experts say that’s especially important during winter storms like the one forecasted to smack the eastern U.S. with a mix of heavy snow, treacherous ice and subzero temperatures. The popular Weather Channel app, for example, uses artificial intelligence to analyze everything from computer models to citizen weather reports. But humans always have the last word. Most experts say the best place to get the most accurate forecast is still probably local television meteorologists.
January 22, 2026 5:52 pm
ATLANTA (AP) — A massive winter storm is barreling toward the eastern U.S., threatening to bring severe ice and snow from Texas to Boston. Forecasters warn the storm could rival a hurricane in damage to power lines and trees, especially in areas with heavy ice. The storm is expected to start Friday in New Mexico and Texas, moving east through the South and then up the coast into New England. Bitterly cold air could follow, with wind chills dropping to minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. Utility workers are on alert and supplies like bread and salt are flying off shelves. (Photo: AP)
January 22, 2026 4:51 am
It looks like there is no getting away from this one. A Winter Storm Watch will be in effect for all of Southwestern Pennsylvania from 7 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Monday as we await the arrival of significant amounts of snow. National Weather Service Meteorologist Bill Modzelewski in Pittsburgh, tells WJPA that although there’s a slim chance the track could change – they are pretty sure they nailed the expected snow totals of between eight and twelve inches, with Washington County likely see the higher amounts of snowfall. On the up side, however, Modzelewski says this storm will bring the white fluffy snow, as opposed to the heavier snow that can often feel like cement. Periods of snow will develop late Saturday night and continue into Sunday, where there is potential for heavy snow of at least six inches, especially east and south of Pittsburgh. Some areas could get even more than that, particularly by Sunday evening. Tune to WJPA 95.3FM/1450AM or wjpa.com for the very latest storm information.
January 22, 2026 5:47 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has defended his investigations of Donald Trump at a public congressional hearing. Smith insisted Thursday he acted without regard to politics and had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought. Smith says no one should be above the law and the law required Trump “be held to account.” Smith’s criminal investigations in Washington, D.C., and Florida shadowed Trump during his 2024 Republican presidential campaign. Smith testified behind closed doors last month but returned to the House Judiciary Committee for the public hearing. Republican lawmakers looked to undermine Smith while Democrats hoped to elicit damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct. Trump says Smith has “destroyed many lives.”
January 22, 2026 5:02 am
The driver of a tractor trailer was injured in a crash early Thursday morning along Interstate 70 westbound in Fallowfield Township. Washington County 9-1-1 says it happened just after 1:30 a.m. near mile-marker 35.5. Dispatchers say the truck went over an embankment. The driver was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. There is no word on his identity or condition. Officials say the plan to remove the truck later today.
January 22, 2026 4:42 am
MONONGAHELA, Pa. — HAZMAT crews were called to the Monongahela Sewage Plant on Wednesday. The Monongahela Fire Department said crews were called to the plant at 1:30 p.m. for a chlorine tank leak. Washington County HAZMAT units followed to take care of that leak. Firefighters said there were no evacuation or shelter-in-place orders given at any point. The situation was wrapped up and the plant returned to normal operations at around 5 p.m.
