August 27, 2025 1:51 pm
Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman issued a statement Wednesday afternoon on the mass shooting during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Bishop Eckman says “We hold close in prayer the students, families, teachers, parish community, and first responders. We ask the Lord to bring healing to the injured, eternal rest to those who have died, and consolation to all who mourn.”
He added that this story touches our local Church in a particular way. Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who shepherds the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, is a native son of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, here at home, our Diocesan Director of Safety and Security, Wendell Hissrich, continues to actively monitor developments and to remain in close contact with law enforcement. Our schools remain vigilant, and followed established safety protocols today, as they do every day. We are grateful for the professionalism of our administrators, teachers, and staff who work each day to keep our children safe. (Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Pittsburgh)
August 27, 2025 4:09 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook’s lawyer says she’ll sue President Donald Trump’s administration to try to prevent him from firing her. Longtime Washington attorney Abbe Lowell said Tuesday that Trump “has no authority to remove” Cook. If Trump succeeds in removing Cook from the Fed’s board of governors, it could erode the Fed’s political independence, which is considered critical to its ability to fight inflation because it enables the Fed to take unpopular steps like raising interest rates. The Republican president said Monday he was removing Cook because of allegations she committed mortgage fraud. Cook was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2022.
August 26, 2025 4:11 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — The White House says a judge’s decision to throw out the Trump administration’s lawsuit against all federal judges in Maryland is a direct assault on the president’s ability to enforce immigration laws. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson says Tuesday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen will not be the final say on the suit. The administration has filed a notice of appeal. Cullen was nominated by President Donald Trump but slammed the administration’s lawsuit as “potentially calamitous” in his ruling. Cullen also criticized the Republican administration’s attacks on the judiciary. At issue in the lawsuit was an order by the chief judge of the Maryland district court that stopped the immediate deportation of migrants challenging their removals.
August 27, 2025 4:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other top Democrats are warning President Donald Trump to stay out of the cities they run. Trump has suggested sending federal troops to cities like Chicago and Baltimore, claiming violence is out of control. Democrats, including Pritzker, say this is a political move meant to intimidate opponents and another signal of his authoritarian takeover. They argue crime is falling and accuse Trump of ignoring cities with worse crime rates that have Republican leaders. Democrats plan to fight any intervention and use the issue to show they have real public safety solutions.
August 26, 2025 4:00 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has sparked backlash from some members of his loyal base by saying his administration would allow 600,000 Chinese students into American universities. That would be a departure for the administration after it’s added new vetting for student visas, moved to block foreign enrollment at Harvard and more. The State Department said in May that it would revoke visas for students tied to the Chinese Communist Party and boost vetting of new applicants. Trump’s announcement Monday adds to confusion about the administration’s restrictive visa policies and its approach to China as the superpowers tussle over trade and intensifying tech competition.
August 27, 2025 3:54 am
Jordan Cramer, who has been Acting Assistant Township Manager, will continue leading the fire department while overseeing the township’s day-to-day operations. The board voted 3–2 to have him serve as Interim Township Manager until a permanent replacement is hired. Supervisors Jeff Bull and George Rowand opposed the move. Bull said the board had previously agreed to assign responsibilities to supervisors rather than Cramer and noted that the former township manager opposed naming him to the interim role. He declined to comment on how well Cramer is performing in the position. In other business, supervisors approved the final land development plan for an Industry Public House at the former TGI Friday’s site. The project includes adding an outdoor patio to the existing structure. The board also accepted the resignation of part-time South Strabane police officer Cody Kusluch, who stepped down for personal reasons effective August 19, 2025.
August 26, 2025 1:21 am
(AP) – A federal appeals court says it’s unconstitutional for Pennsylvania to throw out mail-in ballots simply because the voter didn’t write an accurate date on the return envelope. Tuesday’s unanimous decision by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Pennsylvania to stop throwing out such ballots. It’s the latest time in at least a half-dozen cases that a court has told Pennsylvania to stop throwing out such ballots. However, higher courts have always reinstated the requirement in the heavily litigated matter that has pitted liberals trying to get rid of the requirement against Republicans who defend it.
August 27, 2025 3:52 am
NEW YORK (AP) — A conservative election researcher whose faulty findings on voter data were cited by President Donald Trump as he tried to overturn his 2020 election loss has been appointed to an election integrity role at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency’s website shows Pennsylvania activist Heather Honey is now serving as the deputy assistant secretary for election integrity. The political appointment shows how self-styled election investigators who have thrown themselves into election conspiracy theories since 2020 are now being celebrated by Trump’s administration. Her new role also comes as Trump has used election integrity concerns as a pretext to try to give his administration power over election administration that the Constitution does not give to presidents.
August 26, 2025 1:35 pm
(AP) – It’s a love story and, baby, she said yes: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. The superstar singer and football player revealed the news in a five-photo joint post on Instagram on Tuesday. It’s the fairy-tale culmination of a courtship that for two years has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world. It’s unclear when and where the two got engaged. The announcement comes not long after Swift’s appearance on “New Heights.” That’s the podcast hosted by the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother Jason Kelce. (Photo: AP)
August 26, 2025 4:31 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, a sharp escalation in his battle to exert greater control over what has long been considered an institution independent from day-to-day politics. Trump said in a letter posted Monday on his Truth Social platform that he is removing Cook because of allegations that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, a Trump appointee to the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, made the accusations last week. Cook said Monday night that Trump has no authority to fire her and she would not step down.
