Trump’s New York hush money case set for trial April 15
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump will stand trial April 15 on charges related to hush money payments meant to cover up claims of marital infidelity, a New York judge ruled Monday, tersely swatting aside defense claims of prosecutorial misconduct. Assuming the date holds, the decision from Judge Juan...
U.N. demand for Gaza cease-fire provokes strongest clash between U.S. and Israel since war began
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council on Monday issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since...
Court agrees to block collection of Trump’s $454 million civil fraud judgment if he puts up $175M
NEW YORK — A New York appeals court on Monday agreed to hold off collection of former President Donald Trump’s more than $454 million civil fraud judgment — if he puts up $175 million within 10 days. If he does, it will stop the clock on collection and prevent the...
Boeing CEO to step down in management shake-up as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker
A leadership shake-up at Boeing, including news Monday that its top executive plans to step down, highlights the difficult path facing the iconic aircraft manufacturer as it tries to navigate through yet another safety crisis. CEO David Calhoun, who has been under unrelenting pressure since a panel blew off a...
Pakistani trade delegation visits Kabul in sign of easing tensions over cross-border attacks
ISLAMABAD — A delegation from Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce arrived in Kabul on Monday to meet its Afghan counterparts to discuss how to improve trade relations, after tensions have risen over cross-border militant attacks. Last week, Pakistan’s military carried out rare airstrikes against suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside...
Energy agency announces $6 billion to slash emissions in industrial facilities
The Biden administration announced $6 billion in funding Monday for projects that will slash emissions from the industrial sector — the largest-ever U.S. investment to decarbonize domestic industry to fight climate change. The industrial sector is responsible for roughly 25% of all the nation’s emissions, and has proven difficult to...
Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used medication
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will again wade into the fractious issue of abortion this week when it hears arguments over a medication used in the most common way to end a pregnancy, a case with profound implications for millions of women no matter where they live in America and,...
NBC’s Chuck Todd lays into his network for hiring former RNC chief Ronna McDaniel as an analystVideo
NEW YORK — Former NBC News “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd criticized his network Sunday for hiring former Republican National Committee head Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, saying on the air that many NBC journalists are uncomfortable with the decision. Todd spoke on “Meet the Press” after his...
Trump’s NYC hush money, fraud cases could reach boiling point
Donald Trump’s New York legal troubles are expected to reach a boiling point Monday in Manhattan, where he’s poised to make a last-ditch attempt to dodge legal jeopardy in the Stormy Daniels hush money saga — and faces the end of a grace period in his separate civil fraud case...
Worm moon to include extra special feature early Monday morning
It might be a little later in the evening for some folks, but the full worm moon will be putting on a show early Monday morning. March’s full moon, referred to as the worm moon by the Farmers’ Almanac because of its proximity to the spring equinox, will be at...
Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora
BOULDER, Colo. — Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, saying an ouburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth. It could also make for great aurora viewing. There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the...
New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy suspends her Senate campaign to replace indicted Sen. Menendez
WASHINGTON — New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy has suspended her U.S. Senate campaign to replace Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez as he faces federal corruption charges. Murphy announced her decision in a video posted to her social media on Sunday. “New Jersey’s next senator must focus on the issues of...
Concert hall attack dents Putin’s tough image. He tries to use it to rally support for Ukraine war
A week ago, President Vladimir Putin swaggered triumphantly onstage at a post-election event surrounded by young people in T-shirts reading “Putin — Russia — Victory,” and he confidently shrugged off Western criticism of the vote as neither free nor fair. This weekend, a very different Vladimir Putin addressed a nation...
Hardy souls across New England, New York dig out after major winter storm
BOSTON — Thousands of hardy souls across New England spent Sunday digging out after a major weekend storm dumped more than two feet of snow in some areas, caused multiple road accidents, downed power lines and left hundreds of thousands across the Northeast in the dark, some perhaps for days....
Acclaimed Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini dies at age 82
ROME — Maurizio Pollini, a Grammy-winning Italian pianist who performed frequently at La Scala opera house in Milan, has died. He was 82. Pollini died on Saturday, La Scala said in a statement. The announcement didn’t specify a cause of death, but Pollini had been forced to cancel a concert...
Palestinians describe heavy destruction, forced marches in ongoing Israeli raid around Gaza hospital
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians who fled during an ongoing Israeli raid in and around the Gaza Strip’s main hospital described days of heavy fighting, mass arrests, forced marches past dead bodies and flattened buildings in interviews Sunday. The Israeli military says it has killed over 170 militants and detained...
Oath Keepers’ son emerges from traumatic childhood to tell his own story in a long shot election bid
KALISPELL, Mont. — The eldest son of one of America’s most infamous seditionists is building a new life since breaking free from his father’s control — juggling work, college classes and volunteer firefighting. And Dakota Adams has tossed one more ball in the air this year: a Democratic campaign for...
Pope Francis skips Palm Sunday homily at start of busy Holy Week that will test his health
ROME — Pope Francis decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, avoiding a strenuous speech at the start of a busy Holy Week that will test his increasingly frail health. Hobbled by bad knees and persistent respiratory problems, Francis also...
3 of 4 suspects charged in Russia concert hall attack admit guilt during court hearing
MOSCOW — Three of the four suspects charged with carrying out the concert hall attack in Moscow that killed more than 130 people admitted guilt for the incident in a Russian court Sunday. Moscow’s Basmanny District Court formally charged Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19; and Shamsidin...
Mifepristone access is coming before the U.S. Supreme Court. How safe is this abortion pill?
The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case Tuesday that could impact how women get access to mifepristone, one of the two pills used in the most common type of abortion in the nation. The central dispute in the case is whether the Food and Drug Administration overlooked serious...
Shapiro’s proposed energy policy needs GOP support
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 — As part of what his administration is calling a “new era” of energy policy, Gov. Josh Shapiro...
4 Westmoreland athletes will represent U.S. at junior world kickboxing championship in Hungary
Xander Eddy’s friends at Norwin High School don’tbelieve him when he talks about the eight national and world kickboxing titles he holds. Eddy, 15, a sophomore at Norwin, started kickboxing when he was 4 years old. He dedicates 15 to 20 hours per week to training with his teammates, conditioning...
Pitt-Greensburg math professor wins national award for algebra textbook
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg math professor Kayla Heffernan won a national award for creating a college algebra textbook that uses a teaching method called guided inquiry. But Heffernan, 33, of Hunker, finds more value in the impact her work has had on students. The POGIL Project is a nonprofit...
Biden, Trump win Louisiana’s presidential primary
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won Louisiana’s primary Saturday, collecting more delegates after they already clinched their party nominations. Biden also appeared in Missouri’s Democratic primary, with results not expected to be reported until next week. None of the races were in suspense. Biden and...
Biden views LGBTQ flag restriction as abusive, White House says
WASHINGTON — The White House criticized congressional Republicans for adding a ban on U.S. embassies flying the LGBTQ pride flag to a government funding bill, saying it abused the budget process and that President Joe Biden will work for its repeal. House Speaker Mike Johnson promoted the flag restriction as...
