October 20, 2025 8:17 am
LONDON (AP) — Amazon’s cloud computing service experienced a major outage on Monday, disrupting many online services like Snapchat, Roblox, and Signal. The issue began around 3 a.m. Eastern Time, affecting Amazon’s own services like Ring and Alexa. Amazon blamed the problem on its domain name system, which translates web addresses into IP addresses. By around 6 a.m., Amazon reported recovery across most services. This isn’t the first time AWS has faced such issues, with previous outages in 2023 and 2021. Experts say these disruptions highlight the internet’s reliance on a few major cloud providers.
October 20, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to find a good job under President Donald Trump, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds, in what is a potential warning sign for Republicans as a promised economic boom has given way to hiring freezes and elevated inflation. High prices for groceries, housing and health care persist as a fear for many households, while rising electricity bills and the cost of gas at the pump are also sources of anxiety, according to the survey. Some 47% of U.S. adults are “not very” or “not at all confident” they could find a good job if they wanted to, an increase from 37% when the question was last asked in October 2023. Electricity bills are a “major” source of stress for 36% of U.S. adults at a time when the expected build-out of data centers for artificial intelligence could further tax the power grid. Just more than one-half said the cost of groceries are a “major” source of financial stress, about 4 in 10 said the cost of housing and health care were a serious strain and about one-third said they were feeling high stress about gasoline prices.
October 20, 2025 4:57 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Freed from the prison where he had been serving time for ripping off his campaign donors, former U.S. Rep. George Santos says he’s humbled by his experience behind bars but unconcerned about the “pearl clutching” of critics upset that President Donald Trump granted him clemency. “I’m pretty confident if President Trump had pardoned Jesus Christ off the cross, he would have had critics,” Santos said Sunday in an interview on CNN. Santos, who won office after inventing a bogus persona as a Wall Street dealmaker, pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft last year and began serving a 7-year sentence in July at a prison in New Jersey. But Trump ordered him released him Friday after he’d served just 84 days. Trump called Santos a “rogue,” but said he didn’t deserve a harsh sentence and should get credit for voting Republican.
October 20, 2025 4:55 am
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States could purchase Argentinian beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers. “We would buy some beef from Argentina,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.” Trump promised earlier this week to address the issue as part of his efforts to keep inflation in check. U.S. beef prices have been stubbornly high for a variety of reasons, including drought and reduced imports from Mexico due to a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds there. Trump has been working to help Argentina bolster its collapsing currency with a $20 billion credit swap line and additional financing from sovereign funds and the private sector ahead of midterm elections for his close ally, President Javier Milei.
October 20, 2025 4:51 am
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A U.S. appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump can take command of 200 Oregon National Guard troops. He’s still barred from actually deploying those troops — at least for now. A panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 Monday to put on hold an order that kept Trump from taking command of the troops. Another order prohibits Trump from sending any Guard troops to Oregon at all. The administration is now asking for that order to be dissolved. Oregon’s attorney general said he would ask a broader appeals court panel to reconsider the ruling.
October 20, 2025 1:51 am
The celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Washington County Courthouse was held Saturday evening with a black-tie gala that drew hundreds of celebrants from the county’s legal, political, and cultural communities. Guests were treated to a roving banquet, musical performances, and the western Pennsylvania tradition of a wedding cookie table. The family of the late attorney Dennis Phillips donated a portrait of George Washington which will remain on permanent public display in the chambers of the President Judge. Proceeds from the event will help benefit local charities including Casa for Kids, the Washington City Mission, Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Washington County Bar Association. The Washington County Courthouse has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
October 20, 2025 1:04 am
(AP) – State emergency management officials say they’re facing funding challenges from the federal government that threaten the country’s ability to respond to crises. The Trump administration has cut state grants and tied funding to immigration enforcement. And the government shutdown adds to the problem. Last week, a federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop linking grants to immigration enforcement. Some states have seen drastic cuts to homeland security grants, leading to a freeze on the entire $1 billion program. Emergency management agencies are delaying hiring and equipment purchases. Experts warn these disruptions could jeopardize preparedness and response to disasters.
October 20, 2025 1:01 am
The investigation continues into the death of a man whose body was found outside a business in South Strabane Township early Sunday morning. The man was identified as Jude Cassidy, 62, of Washington, in a release from Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. Police were called to the Trinity Point Shopping Center approximately 4:30 am Sunday when employees arriving for work found the body. While the investigation is on-going, authorities think Cassidy may have suffered a medical episode and do not believe foul play was involved. South Strabane police say they are not currently looking for a suspect and believe there is no danger to the public. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 724-225-8111 or email dhilk@southstrabane.com.
October 20, 2025 1:00 am
The closure of South Main Street in Washington will be extended. According to PennDot, South Main Street between Park Avenue(Rt. 18) and East Prospect Avenue will remain closed until Monday, October 27. Motorists are advised to continue using the posted detour of Rt. 18, Rt. 40, Rt. 19, Sanitarium Road to South Main Street. This is a continuation of water main line replacement before the Catfish Creek Bridge Replacement Project, scheduled for Spring 2026.
October 19, 2025 12:07 pm
PARIS (AP) — Thieves have pulled off a daring heist at the Louvre, stealing priceless Napoleonic jewels. On Sunday, they used a basket lift to access the museum, smashed display cases, and fled with the treasures. The theft happened in the Galerie d’Apollon, where the French Crown Jewels are displayed. Officials say the operation took only four minutes and was carried out by professionals. The Louvre has faced criticism for under-staffing and security issues. The museum closed for the rest of Sunday as investigators began their search for clues. The heist has sparked political debate in France.
