February 2, 2025 7:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, drawing swift retaliation from the U.S.’s North American neighbors in an emerging trade war. Trump is declaring an economic emergency to put duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, America’s largest trading partners, except for a 10% rate on Canadian oil. Mexico’s president has ordered retaliatory tariffs. Canada’s prime minister says the country would put matching 25% tariffs on up to $155 billion in U.S. imports while also expressing a sense of betrayal at the actions of a longtime ally.
February 2, 2025 7:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Government Efficiency, run by President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems. That’s according to two people familiar with the situation. DOGE, which is assigned to find ways to reduce federal workers, cut programs and slash federal regulations, would have wide leeway to access important taxpayer data, among other things. Senate Finance Committee member Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday. He expressed concern that “officials associated with Musk may have intended to access these payment systems to illegally withhold payments to any number of programs.”
February 2, 2025 7:01 am
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will discuss “victory over Hamas,” countering Iran and expanding diplomatic relations with Arab countries in his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Tuesday’s meeting at the White House will be Trump’s first with a foreign leader since returning to office. It comes as U.S. and Arab mediators begin the daunting work of brokering the next phase of an agreement to wind down the war in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of militant-held hostages. Hamas, which has quickly reasserted its control over Gaza since the ceasefire took hold last month, has said it will not release many of the remaining hostages without an end to the war.
February 2, 2025 6:58 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Competing claims have emerged over a deadly attack on a boarding school in Sudzha, a city in Russia’s Kursk region that has been under Ukrainian control for five months. The Ukrainian military reported four deaths and four people seriously injured, with over 80 people rescued from the rubble. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said the attack was a Russian airstrike on a school where civilians were sheltering and preparing to evacuate. However, Russia’s Ministry of Defense blamed Ukraine, claiming missiles were launched from Ukraine’s Sumy region. Meanwhile, the death toll from a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in Poltava rose to 14, including two children.
February 2, 2025 6:20 am
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil’s team of top-hatted associates says he has seen his shadow and is predicting six more weeks of wintry weather. The prognosticating woodchuck made his forecast as the sun rose Sunday in western Pennsylvania. The annual ritual goes back more than a century and has far older roots in European agricultural life. The event’s date of Feb. 2 doesn’t just divide the calendar between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s also a time of year that figures in the Celtic calendar and the Christian holiday of Candlemas.
February 2, 2025 3:52 am
(WPXI)-Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were out in Washington County on Friday. According to our news partner Channel 11, Tiffany Enamorado was approached by ICE agents as she was transporting some of her employees for her subcontracting business. She just picked up three of her employees, who she admits are undocumented immigrants. One of them is 17, and the two others both have been previously charged with crimes. All three were taken to ICE headquarters in Pittsburgh. She is unaware what has happened to the men. The sister of the 17 year old was told to have them enrolled in school or they will be back. ICE enforcement has been active in Washington County as it has been described by commissioners as a county that is not a Sanctuary County
February 3, 2025 2:03 am
PennDot is announcing single lane restrictions and speed restrictions in Washington County. The restrictions will be in place on Interstate 70 in both eastbound and westbound directions beginning February 5 in Donegal Township. Traffic will be shifted to the inner passing lanes and speed will be limited to 45 mph. This will take place from the West Virginia line to one mile east of Exit 1 (West Alexander.)Speed minders and message boards will be in place. The restrictions are due to scheduled mining activity in the area. The restrictions will be in place for several weeks.
February 4, 2025 7:00 am
Scott Becker, the long-time Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum has announced his retirement, effective May 31st of this year. Becker has been with the Trolley Museum for nearly thirty-two-years. He will honored at the Museum’s Streetcar Soiree on May 16th, where he will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Becker will be succeeded by Jeanine DeBor, the current Deputy Executive Director. She’ll assume the role on June 1st. Becker says he plans to enjoy his retirement by spending more time with his family and travel with his wife. He says, though, he will remain an ambassador for the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
February 2, 2025 6:52 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — At least seven people were killed and 19 were injured when an air ambulance crashed to the ground on a busy Philadelphia street, creating what witnesses described as a massive fireball and a chaotic street scene. The dead from Friday’s accident include a child who was receiving treatment at a Philadelphia hospital. All six on board the medical transport jet were from Mexico. None survived, while one person in a car was killed. Hospitals say most of the injured have been released. NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy called it a “high-impact crash” that left the plane “highly fragmented.” Officials say the impact area is blocks-long, and it could take weeks to recover the debris.
February 1, 2025 10:17 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks this weekend on his first foreign trip in office. He’s heading to Central America to press President Donald Trump’s top priority — curbing illegal immigration — and bring the message that the U.S. wants to reclaim control over the Panama Canal despite intense resistance from regional leaders. It’s an unusual destination for the maiden voyage of America’s top diplomat and reflects not only Rubio’s personal interest in the region but also the Trump administration’s intent to focus much of its foreign policy energy close to home. Limiting immigration and fighting narcotics smuggling are major elements of that effort, but another priority will be curbing China’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere
