Hunter Biden associate’s testimony provides insight into business dealings
WASHINGTON — Focusing on the Bidens rather than Donald Trump’s federal court appearance, House Republicans released a transcript Thursday of their interview with Hunter Biden’s former business associate detailing overseas financial dealings by the president’s son. The more than five-hour closed-door interview with Devon Archer by the House Oversight Committee,...
2 Navy sailors arrested on charges tied to national security, China
SAN DIEGO — Two Navy sailors have been arrested and accused of providing sensitive military information to China — including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material, federal officials said Thursday. The two sailors, both based in California, were charged with similar moves to provide sensitive intelligence...
Trump cites self incrimination concern in lawsuit against Michael Cohen
NEW YORK — Donald Trump is concerned that evidence sought by Michael Cohen in a $500 million lawsuit the former president filed against his ex-lawyer could potentially incriminate him in other cases. Trump argued in a court filing Wednesday in Miami that documents sought by Cohen, particularly Trump Organization financial...
Drag artists and LGBTQ+ advocates sue to block Texas law expanding ban on sexual performances
AUSTIN, Texas — A group of drag performers and LGBTQ+ rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new Texas law that expands what is considered an illegal public performance of sexual conduct, arguing it is meant to target drag shows and could also criminalize ballet and...
U.S. military may put armed troops on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran seizures
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. military is considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, in what would be an unheard of action aimed at stopping Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels, five American officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. Since...
Live Casino Pittsburgh expects 700 cars for 2nd annual car cruise
Live Casino Pittsburgh will host its second car cruise Sunday in support of young student-athletes. The Hempfield casino held its first car cruise last year. It showed about 600 cars, drew 3,200 attendees and generated $6,000 for Educated Athletes First — a nonprofit started by former Jeannette football player Demetrious...
Swaths of U.S. living through brutal summer, and it’s a climate wake-up call for many
Veronica Iordanova remembers Octobers growing up in Arizona when it was too cold to trick-or-treat in a short-sleeved Halloween costume. She can’t imagine that anymore. The summer heat lasts longer and feels more intense now, and she knows that is a result of human-caused global warming. She worries about her...
Republicans don’t dare criticize Trump over Jan. 6. Their silence fuels his bid for the White House
WASHINGTON — When Senate Leader Mitch McConnell rose to announce his vote to acquit Donald Trump of impeachment charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the Republican assured the public the former president would have his day in court. “He didn’t get away with anything yet —...
Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges that he tried to overturn 2020 electionVideo
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss, answering for the first time to federal charges that accuse him of orchestrating a brazen and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power. The former president appeared...
Pennsylvania anglers advised to catch, kill invasive Northern Snakehead fish
An invasive fish found in Pennsylvania fresh waters has made the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission advisory list. In a release Wednesday, the agency said anyone reeling in a Northern Snakehead in Pennsylvania should report their catch and dispose of the fish. The advisory applies to the lower Susquehanna River...
Body seen along floating barrier Texas installed in the Rio Grande, Mexico says
MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government reported for the first time Wednesday that a body was spotted along the floating barrier that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott installed recently in the Rio Grande river, across from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said authorities were trying to recover the body,...
Invasive fruit flies have been found near Los Angeles, prompting a produce quarantine
LOS ANGELES — The discovery of nearly 30 invasive fruit flies has prompted a produce quarantine affecting over 79 square miles of Los Angeles County as state and local officials try to stop the fly from spreading and hurting California’s fruit and vegetable industry. It’s the first quarantine ever in...
Mike Pence fought an order to testify but now is a central figure in his former boss’s indictmentVideo
NEW YORK — Mike Pence fought the Department of Justice in court to try to avoid testifying against his former boss. But the former vice president plays a central role in a new federal indictment unsealed Tuesday that outlines the first criminal charges against Donald Trump connected to his efforts...
St. Louis Cardinals mega-fan charged with joining Capitol riot in red face paint and Trump hat
A St. Louis Cardinals mega-fan known as “Rally Runner” was arrested Wednesday on charges that he joined a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and used a stolen shield to help other rioters attack police officers, court records show. Daniel Donnelly Jr., 43, was wearing red...
GOP group set to air anti-Trump ads in Pa. as post-indictment pressure ramps up
One of the nation’s biggest anti-Trump groups is poised to launch a six-figure advertising campaign Thursday in four swing states — including Pennsylvania — in response to the former president’s indictment on efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The Republican Accountability Project said Wednesday it will be running the ad...
Police search Senate office buildings after report of active shooter; later declare it a false alarmVideo
WASHINGTON — Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order and searched Senate office buildings near the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon after a 911 call warned of a possible active shooter. But a floor-by-floor search of the three buildings found nothing, and Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said the cause of the security...
FBI looks for more possible victims after woman escapes from cinderblock cage in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. — A man who posed as an undercover police officer kidnapped a woman in Seattle, drove her hundreds of miles to his home in Oregon and locked her in a makeshift cell in his garage before she managed to escape and flag down a passing motorist, the FBI...
American fugitive who faked his death can be extradited to Utah to face rape charge, UK judge says
LONDON — An American fugitive accused of faking his own death to avoid a rape charge in Utah can be extradited to the U.S., a judge in Scotland ruled Wednesday, calling the man “as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative.” The wanted man known in Scotland as...
Russian drone strikes hit Ukrainian port on Romania’s border that is key to grain exports
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drones on Wednesday hit a Ukrainian port city along the border with Romania, causing significant damage and a huge fire at facilities that are key to Ukrainian grain exports. The attacks followed the end of a deal with Russia that had allowed Ukrainian shipments to world...
Ban on incandescent bulb sales officially in effect under new U.S. rules
SAN FRANCISCO — Get ready to say goodbye to the once ubiquitous incandescent light bulb, pioneered by Thomas Edison more than a century ago. You can thank — or blame — new federal energy efficiency regulations that went into full effect Tuesday. Quite possibly without you even noticing. The Energy...
Climate change made July hotter for 4 of 5 humans on Earth, scientists find
Human-caused global warming made July hotter for four out of five people on Earth, with more than 2 billion people feeling climate change-boosted warmth daily, according to a flash study. More than 6.5 billion people, or 81% of the world’s population, sweated through at least one day where climate change...
Heaviest animal ever may be this ancient whale found in Peruvian desert
NEW YORK — There could be a new contender for heaviest animal to ever live. While today’s blue whale has long held the title, scientists have dug up fossils from an ancient giant that could tip the scales. Researchers described the new species — named Perucetus colossus, or “the colossal...
Mega Millions jackpot has soared to $1.25 billion. Here’s how hard it is to win
NEW YORK — There’s no shaking it. Your chances of winning the lottery are extremely slim. After no big winner Tuesday night, the Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.25 billion. If someone wins it all on Friday, when the next Mega Millions drawing takes place, the prize would...
When is the 1st day of school 2023? Here’s the schedule for Western Pa.
The beginning of the school year around Western Pennsylvania starts in less than three weeks. Among public school districts in six counties, the earliest start date is Aug. 21, with three districts — Allegheny Valley, McKeesport Area and North Allegheny — opening their doors on the Monday that week. Only...
More teachers are quitting their jobs. Educators of color often are more likely to leave
HARRISBURG — Rhonda Hicks could have kept working into her 60s. She loved teaching and loved her students in Philadelphia’s public schools. As a Black woman, she took pride in being a role model for many children of color. But other aspects of the job deteriorated, such as growing demands...
