September 2, 2025 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has plastered taxes on products from almost every country on earth. He’s targeted specific imports, too. But he isn’t done yet. Trump has promised another round of hefty import taxes on a category of products he’s so far spared in his trade war with the world: pharmaceuticals. For decades, in fact, imported medicine has mostly been allowed to enter the United States duty free. Now the president is threatening duties of 200% or more on foreign drugs. That could disrupt complex and fragile supply chains, drive cheap foreign-made generic drugs out of the U.S., create drug shortages and raise American drug prices.
September 2, 2025 4:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s awarding former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom, announcing the honor two days after his longtime political ally was badly injured in a traffic accident. Giuliani was once lauded for leading New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and later sanctioned by courts and disbarred for amplifying false claims about the 2020 election. Giuliani was also criminally charged in two states; he has denied wrongdoing. Trump in a statement on social media called Giuliani the “greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot.”
September 2, 2025 4:58 am
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $1.3 billion after the winning numbers failed to appear. The numbers drawn Monday night were 8, 23, 25, 40, 53 with the Powerball 5. There have been no jackpot winners since May 31. That long winless streak has allowed the prize to swell to the fifth-largest in the game’s history. The $1.3 billion jackpot is for winners who opt for an annuity. Most people prefer cash and that value is now $589 million. The odds of matching all six numbers are astronomical: 1 in 292.2 million.
September 1, 2025 10:08 pm
State Police say an individual has been taken into custody in connection with five different fires that occurred in Greene County over the Labor Day weekend. State Police said all of the fires happened in the borough of Waynesburg, and included St. Ann Church, Buddy’s Motel and multiple residential properties,. Troopers said they believe all of the fires are connected. No injuries were reported in any of the fires. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Waynesburg Borough police and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office K-9 team are helping state police investigate. In the meantime, Masses at St. Ann Catholic church, which is the oldest Catholic church in Greene County, have been canceled until further notice, including the diocesan Jubilee Mass scheduled for September 6th. Diocesan officials say the main body of the church “appears to be intact,” but adjoining spaces, particularly the basement, sustained “extensive damage and we are grateful to God that no one was injured.” Church officials say services will be temporarily moved to other nearby churches as restoration begins. Saint Ann Church was founded in 1839. The diocese said it’s one of the designated pious visit sites for the Jubilee Year of Hope. (Photo courtesy of Waynesburg Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company Facebook Page)
September 1, 2025 9:16 am
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed over 800 people and injured at least 2,500. A Taliban government spokesman says most of the casualties are in Kunar province, near the border with Pakistan. The 6.0-magnitude quake struck late Sunday, causing extensive damage and destroying entire villages. Desperate residents are searching for missing loved ones in the rubble. Rescue operations are underway, with medical teams arriving from Kunar, Nangarhar province, and Kabul. Authorities have pledged to use all available resources to save lives. The quake has worsened communications in the mountainous region, making rescue efforts challenging.
September 1, 2025 8:59 am
The West Alexander Fair got underway over the weekend. The annual event brings all of the traditional attractions such as animal shows and live stock auctions along with specialty baking contests. Attractions include the Rafter M Rodeo, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, a hot dog eating contest and fireworks. The fair will also offer several live entertainment options. Headliners will be Cross Creek, the Wheeling Park Steel Drum Band and the McGuffey High School marching band along with several other local solo artists. The fair runs through Saturday. Admission is $10, a $35 weekly pass is also available. A full schedule of events is available on their website, westalexfair.com
September 1, 2025 4:09 am
A spokesperson for Rudy Giuliani says the former New York City mayor is recovering from a fractured vertebra and other injuries following a weekend car crash in New Hampshire. New Hampshire State Police said a rented Ford Bronco driven by Giuliani’s spokesperson Ted Goodman was struck from behind by a Honda HR-V driven by a 19-year-old woman Saturday evening. Giuliani’s head of security Michael Ragusa said in a statement Sunday on X that the 81-year-old ex-mayor was taken to a nearby trauma center for treatment of a fractured vertebra, multiple lacerations and injuries to his left arm and lower leg. State police said they are investigating the crash and no charges have been filed.
September 1, 2025 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says the Trump administration will soon expand immigration operations in Chicago. Noem confirmed plans for the stepped up presence of federal agents in the nation’s third-largest city in a CBS News’ “Face the Nation” interview on Sunday. DHS last week requested the Naval Station Great Lakes, about 35 miles north of Chicago, provide DHS limited support in the form of facilities, infrastructure, and other logistical needs for the agency’s operations. Pritzker says that the plan to mobilize federal forces in the city may be part of an effort by President Donald Trump to “stop the elections in 2026 or, frankly, take control of those elections.”
September 1, 2025 4:11 am
As Congress returns to Washington this fall after a monthlong August recess, they will have to find a way to work with Democrats or around them as a government shutdown looms. The annual spending battle will dominate the September agenda, along with conversations among Senate Republicans about changing the chamber’s rules to thwart Democratic stalling tactics on Trump’s nominations. The Senate is also debating whether to move forward on legislation that would slap steep tariffs on some of Russia’s trading partners as the U.S. pressures Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.
September 1, 2025 4:07 am
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Beijing is rolling out the red carpet for more than two dozen world leaders at two major events this week. The guest lists are a window into China’s ambitions, alliances and attempts to expand its influence. The two events are the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a group established in 2001 with a focus on security in Central Asia and the wider region, and a massive military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. High-profile guests include the Russian and North Korean leaders, but Western heads of state and government will be largely absent.
