Pulitzer Prizes in journalism awarded to The New York Times, The Washington Post, AP and others
NEW YORK — The Associated Press won a Pulitzer Prize in feature photography Monday for its coverage of global migration through Latin America to the U.S., while The New York Times and the Washington Post each won three Pulitzer Prizes for their work in 2023. The Times and Reuters news...
How often does Gov. Josh Shapiro use Pennsylvania’s state plane?
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — The two-engine, eight-seat Beechcraft King Air 350i took off from a small regional airport across the Susquehanna...
An American soldier was arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, U.S. officials say
WASHINGTON — An American soldier visiting a girlfriend in Russia’s port city of Vladivostok was arrested on charges of stealing from her and remains in custody, according to several U.S. officials. U.S. officials said Monday the soldier, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, was stationed in South Korea and was in...
PennWest trustees recommend 2 presidential candidates
PennWest University trustees on Monday forwarded the names of two presidential hopefuls – one from Utah and the other from Tennessee – to the State System of Higher Education, which will pick the institution’s next president later this month. They are:Jon Anderson, provost and vice president for academic affairs/professor at...
Hamas accepts Gaza cease-fire; Israel says it will continue talks but launches strikes in Rafah
JERUSALEM — Hamas announced its acceptance Monday of an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel said the deal did not meet its “core demands” and that it was pushing ahead with an assault on the southern Gaza town of Rafah. Still, Israel said it would continue negotiations. The high-stakes diplomatic moves...
Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israelis appear closer to Rafah offensive
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Monday morning a White House official said, as Israel appeared closer to launching an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah — a move staunchly opposed by the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. A National Security Council spokesperson...
Columbia University cancels main commencement after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests
NEW YORK — Columbia University is canceling its large university-wide commencement ceremony following weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have roiled its campus and others across the U.S., but it will hold smaller school-based ceremonies this week and next, the school announced Monday. “Based on feedback from our students, we have...
Boeing calls off its first astronaut launch because of valve issue on rocket
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Boeing called off its first astronaut launch because of a valve problem on the rocket Monday night. The two NASA test pilots had just strapped into Boeing’s Starliner capsule when the countdown was halted, just two hours before the planned liftoff. A United Launch Alliance engineer,...
Trump fined $1,000 for gag order violation in hush money case as ex-employee recounts reimbursements
NEW YORK — The judge presiding over Donald Trump’s hush money trial fined him $1,000 on Monday and warned that future gag order violations could send him to jail, while jurors heard detailed testimony for the first time about the financial reimbursements at the center of the case. The testimony...
On D-Day, 19-year-old medic Charles Shay was ready to give his life, and save as many as he could
BRETTEVILLE-L’ORGUEILLEUSE, France — On D-Day, Charles Shay was a 19-year-old U.S. Army medic who was ready to give his life — and save as many as he could. Now 99, he’s spreading a message of peace with tireless dedication as he’s about to take part in the 80th anniversary commemorations...
Nervous about falling behind the GOP, Democrats are wrestling with how to use AI
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s campaign and Democratic candidates are in a fevered race with Republicans over who can best exploit the potential of artificial intelligence, a technology that could transform American elections — and perhaps threaten democracy itself. Still smarting from being outmaneuvered on social media by Donald Trump...
Brad Parscale helped Trump win in 2016 using Facebook ads. Now he’s back, and an AI evangelist
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Donald Trump’s former campaign manager looked squarely into the camera and promised his viewers they were about to witness a bold new era in politics. “You’re going to see some of the most amazing new technology in artificial intelligence that’s going to replace polling in the...
5 years after a federal lawsuit, North Carolina voter ID trial is set to begin
RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s photo voter identification law is set to go to trial Monday, with arguments expected to focus on whether the requirement unlawfully discriminates against Black and Hispanic citizens or serves legitimate state interests to boost public confidence in elections. The non-jury trial...
Germany recalls its ambassador in Russia for a week in protest over a hacker attack
BERLIN — Germany said Monday it recalled its ambassador to Russia for a week of consultations in Berlin following an alleged hacker attack on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party. Germany last week accused Russian military agents of hacking into the top echelons of Scholz’s Social Democrats’ party and other sensitive government...
Experts say there is no evidence of avian flu strain in Pennsylvania
A strain of avian flu that has infected cattle elsewhere in the United States hasn’t been found in Pennsylvania. But even if it does arrive locally, experts said it won’t affect the meat or milk supply and will likely only cause a cold for cattle. “It poses no issue in...
2 women found dead and 5-year-old girl critically injured in New Mexico park, police say
CLOVIS, N.M. — Two women were found dead and a 5-year-old girl critically injured at a park near Clovis, New Mexico, authorities said Sunday. Meanwhile, police said they are searching for an abducted 10-month-old girl, who is the daughter of one of the victims. No suspect has been identified yet...
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwatersVideo
HOUSTON — Storms in Texas brought additional rain Sunday to the already saturated Houston area where hundreds of people have been rescued from flooded homes and roads, while to the north in the Fort Worth area, a child died after being swept away when the car he was traveling in...
Driver dies after crashing into a security barrier around White House complex, authorities say
WASHINGTON — A driver died after a vehicle crashed into an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, and the incident late Saturday was being investigated as a traffic crash, police said. President Joe Biden was spending the weekend in Delaware, and the Secret Service said there was no...
$400 million boost in federal funds for security at places of worship
NEW YORK — A $400 million increase in federal funding is available for security in places of worship, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Sunday. The boost in money comes as concerns rise over threats against Jewish and Muslim communities, fueled in part by the Israel-Hamas war. Places like synagogues...
Mexican authorities say thieves killed 2 Australians and an American to steal their truck
MEXICO CITY — Thieves apparently killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday. Baja California state prosecutors released grisly details of the slayings, but have not yet officially confirmed the identification of...
Trump says Biden is running a ‘Gestapo’ administration. It’s his latest reference to Nazi Germany
ATLANTA — Donald Trump told Republican donors at his Florida resort this weekend that President Joe Biden is running a “Gestapo administration,” the latest example of the former president employing the language of Nazi Germany in his campaign rhetoric. The remarks Saturday at Mar-a-Lago were described by people who attended...
King Charles III’s openness about cancer has helped him connect with people in year after coronation
LONDON — King Charles III’s decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey. Charles has used his illness to highlight the need for early diagnosis...
What a judge’s gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
NEW YORK — Virtually every day of his hush money criminal trial, former President Donald Trump talks about how he can’t talk about the case. A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found...
Pro-Palestinian protesters at USC comply with school order to leave their encampment
Protesters left a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Southern California early Sunday after they were surrounded by police and told they could face arrest if they didn’t go. The move, days before commencement events are set to begin on the Los Angeles campus, came after the university said campus...
Ukraine marks its 3rd Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
KYIV, Ukraine — As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine’s east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting. Ukraine’s air force said that Russia had launched...
