May 21, 2025 6:07 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street slumped under the weight of pressure from the bond market, where Treasury yields climbed on worries about the U.S. government’s spiraling debt and other concerns. The S&P 500 fell 1.6% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.9%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.4%. Stocks had been drifting only modestly lower earlier in the day, after Target and other retailers gave mixed forecasts for their upcoming profits. The market then turned sharply lower after the U.S. government released the results for its latest auction of 20-year bonds. That helped send Treasury yields jumping. (Photo: AP)
May 21, 2025 6:02 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has used a White House meeting to confront South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with baseless claims of the systematic killing of white farmers in that country. Trump said during Wednesday’s meeting that people are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. At one point, Trump dimmed the lights in the Oval Office to play a video of a far-left politician playing an anti-apartheid song that included lyrics about killing farmers. Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump’s accusation, saying of the behavior alleged by the U.S. president, “We are completely opposed to that.”
May 21, 2025 1:38 pm
(WPXI) – A massive water main break has flooded and caused damage to an intersection in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood. The break is near the intersection of Banksville Road and Potomac Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Banksville neighborhood. Crews were first called to the scene at around 9:30 a.m. Pennsylvania American Water said a 20-inch water line broke there. It was shut off in just over an hour. The water damaged several nearby businesses and homes. A corner shop closed for multiple years and several garages were among the buildings impacted. Police say one of the garages had been storing several vats of oil inside, which came spilling out and into the street during the water main break, as a result, Hazmat crews were called out. Firefighters say they do not know how much oil leaked, but called it “substantial.” The Department of Environmental Protection and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority were also called to the scene.
May 21, 2025 5:03 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a gifted Boeing 747 from Qatar for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Wednesday that the department will “work to ensure proper security measures” on the aircraft to make it safe for use by the president. He said the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.” Trump has defended the gift as a way to save tax dollars. Others have raised concerns about the aircraft being a violation of the Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts. They also have noted the need to retrofit the plane to meet security requirements.
May 21, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has used a White House meeting to confront South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with baseless claims of the systematic killing of white farmers in that country. Trump said during Wednesday’s meeting that people are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. At one point, Trump dimmed the lights in the Oval Office to play a video of a far-left politician playing an anti-apartheid song that included lyrics about killing farmers. Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump’s accusation, saying of the behavior alleged by the U.S. president, “We are completely opposed to that.”
May 21, 2025 5:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that U.S. officials must retain custody and control of migrants apparently removed to South Sudan in case he orders their removals were unlawful. U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts ordered an emergency hearing for Wednesday, after attorneys for immigrants said in court documents that up to a dozen people from several countries, including Myanmar and Vietnam, may have been sent to Africa earlier Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
May 21, 2025 4:59 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has implored House Republicans on Capitol Hill to drop their fights over his big tax cuts bill. He spoke privately for at least an hour trying to unite House Republicans on the multitrillion-dollar package that is at risk of collapsing before planned votes this week. Trump was upbeat afterward, saying there was “unity.” But negotiations are slogging along. It’s not at all clear the package, with its sweeping tax breaks and cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs, has the support needed. With all Democrats opposed, the Republicans can handle only a few defections from their slim House majority.
May 21, 2025 4:52 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Corey O’Connor has ousted Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in a Democratic primary. The campaign hinged on how Gainey was handling city finances, affordable housing and public safety. Victory in Tuesday’s primary all but assures O’Connor of winning November’s general election against a low-profile Republican nominee. The city hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in nearly a century. O’Connor is the Allegheny County controller and the son of a former Pittsburgh mayor. O’Connor and Gainey had jousted over whether Gainey had adequately addressed concerns about affordable housing, public safety, homelessness and revitalizing downtown.
May 21, 2025 4:50 am
Pat Phillips won the only contested row office race in Washington County. He received 3,871 votes to defeat Heather Sheatler who received 3,365 votes. Brenda Davis finished with 2,793 votes and Tony DeLost with 2,789. There was no Democratic candidate in Tuesday’s primary. Voter turnout was low with only about 20-percent expected to cast a ballot. Complete Election results.
May 21, 2025 4:46 am
Charles Tenny was the winner on both the Democratic and Republican tickets in the race for Magisterial District Judge. Tenny narrowly held off incumbent Jim Saieva on the democratic side 1,072 to 965. On the republican ticket, Tenny garnered 55-percent of the vote with just over one-thousand votes. The district includes Canonsburg, Houston and North Strabane. State Commonwealth Court allowed Tenny to remain on the ballot after three Democratic and three Republican voters challenged Tenny’s candidacy, alleging that he lives at a Fayette County property with his wife.
