October 14, 2025 4:48 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man who scaled a security fence in the middle of the night and set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges. Cody Balmer entered the plea Tuesday for the attack in April that caused millions of dollars of damage to the state-owned building in Harrisburg. Gov. Josh Shapiro and members of his family were inside and had to be evacuated. No one was injured, but authorities say the 38-year-old Balmer told them he planned to beat the governor with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him. Balmer’s family has said he has a history of mental health problems. Balmer was sentenced under a plea deal to 25 to 50 years in state prison.
October 14, 2025 4:47 am
Canonsburg Borough Council has appointed Trenton McPherson to the borough’s Park Board, filling an open seat for a five-year term beginning in November. McPherson, who works as a commercial real estate broker for Burns & Scalo, moved to Canonsburg with his family about three years ago from West Virginia. Borough Council President Richard Russo said McPherson’s enthusiasm for community spaces and his professional background made him an ideal fit for the role. “Trenton loves the park and the green space, and he’s been coming to meetings as a volunteer for the past three months,” Russo said. “The interests and ideas he’s bringing are very professional, and we think he’ll be a strong asset for the upcoming projects.” Russo noted that two major park projects are planned within the next two years — relining the pool liner and adding new amenities to the pool area. McPherson has already suggested replacing the old water slide with a new one, which could cost around $70,000. “The board needs some professional people to take on these projects, and we think Trenton is a good guy to do that,” Russo added. In other business, council approved Trick or Treat night for Friday, October 31, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Council also approved Range Resources’ 2025 Turkey Fund Drive, which will take place on the sidewalks at North Central and North Jefferson avenues on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
October 14, 2025 4:45 am
Washington Mayor Jo Jo Burgess is calling for an end to further acts of violence following Saturday’s fatal shooting downtown. In a statement released Monday night, Burgess says since the incident, “numerous rumors and misinformation have been circulated throughout the community. Unfortunately, this has led to acts of vigilantism and other potential violence”. The mayor says “this type of behavior will not be tolerated” and “those who engage in such actions will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law”. Washington City Police continue to investigate the shooting that occurred around 3 a.m. near Joe’s Bakery in the 100-block of N. Main Street. 20 year old Julian Lassic was killed. Another person was also shot and transported to a Pittsburgh hospital. There is no word on their identity or condition. Mayor Burgess says police are working tirelessly but the investigation has been “hindered by a lack of cooperation”. Both the mayor and police say they know there are eyewitnesses who have critical information that could help solve this case. Anyone with information is urged to come forward. You can contact Police directly at 724-223-4226 or submit information anonymously through the tip line at 724-223-4108.
October 13, 2025 5:47 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied and recovered more than half of their sell-off from Friday. The S&P 500 jumped 1.6% Monday for its best day since May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587 points, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%. The indexes rose after President Donald Trump softened his criticism of China, just a couple days after he shocked the market by threatening much higher tariffs on the world’s second-largest economy. Continued excitement about artificial-intelligence technology also helped drive the market, and Broadcom helped lead the way. Bond trading was closed in the U.S. for a holiday.
October 13, 2025 3:52 pm
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — The Egyptian president says U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast peace proposal represents the “last chance” for peace in the region. Speaking Monday at a summit of world leaders, Abdel Fattah El-Sissi also reiterated his call for a two-state solution, saying the Palestinians have the right to an independent state alongside Israel. Trump’s plan holds out the possibility of a Palestinian state, but only after a lengthy transition period in Gaza and a reform process by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes Palestinian independence. El-Sissi also also awarded Trump the Order of the Nile, the country’s highest civilian honor.
October 13, 2025 3:49 pm
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders say they will vote next week on redrawing the state’s U.S. House district map, with the likely aim of securing another GOP seat within already right-leaning boundaries. The plan announced Monday comes amid an emerging mid-decade battle nationally between Republicans and Democrats seeking advantage in the way U.S. House districts are drawn in several states for the 2026 session. North Carolina Republicans already created a map in 2023 that resulted in GOP candidates winning 10 of the state’s 14 U.S. House seats in 2024. That division compared to the 7-7 seat split between Democrats and the GOP under the map.
October 13, 2025 5:16 am
Vice President JD Vance is warning of deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on. Vance spoke Sunday as the shutdown entered its 12th day. He warned that the new cuts would be “painful,” even as he said the Trump administration is working to ensure that the military would be paid and some services would be preserved for low-income Americans, including food assistance. Hundreds of thousands of workers have been furloughed in recent days. In a court filing on Friday, the White House said well over 4,000 employees would soon be fired. Vance said the new cuts would be “painful.”
October 13, 2025 5:15 am
A nor’easter is churning up the East Coast, prompting declarations of a state of emergency in New Jersey and parts of New York state. Another storm has struck farther south with heavy rain and flooding through the Carolinas. Across the continent in western Alaska, the remnants of Typhoon Halong brought hurricane-force winds and catastrophic flooding to coastal communities, pushing entire houses off their foundations. Officials said Sunday that rescue crews headed to tiny Alaskan villages to respond to reports that up to 20 people might be unaccounted for. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says all efforts are being made to help storm victims.
October 13, 2025 5:14 am
JERUSALEM (AP) — President Donald Trump has told Israeli lawmakers their country has no more to achieve on the battlefield and must work toward peace in the Middle East after two years of war against Hamas and skirmishes with Hezbollah and Iran. Trump also says Palestinians should focus on “building their people up” instead of attacking Israel. Trump on Monday addressed the Knesset, emphasizing the need to turn military victories into regional harmony. Trump plans to attend a summit in Egypt with more than two dozen nations. The U.S.-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, but Trump is optimistic about reshaping regional relations. Trump also urges the Israeli president to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges.
October 13, 2025 5:13 am
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas has released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza, as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the Gaza Strip, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands. The 20 were to be reunited with their families and undergo medical checks. Over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are also to be released as part of the deal. The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.
