Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs laws banning conversion therapy for minors
DETROIT — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Wednesday two bills banning the use of so-called conversion therapy on minors, prohibiting a form of counseling or therapy seeking to get gay, lesbian or transgender individuals to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Michigan becomes the 22nd state in that...
Greek wildfires trigger blasts at ammunition dump
RHODES, Greece — Wildfires whipped on by strong winds triggered a series of major explosions Thursday at an air force ammunition dump in central Greece, but no injuries were reported as the site had been safely evacuated in advance, officials said. Fires have raged across parts of Greece during three...
Trump lawyers meet with prosecutors as potential U.S. indictment over 2020 election looms: AP source
WASHINGTON — Lawyers for Donald Trump were meeting Thursday with members of special counsel Jack Smith’s team as a potential indictment loomed over the former president’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, according to a person familiar with the matter. The meeting included Trump lawyer John Lauro,...
Supreme Court allows construction to resume on Mountain Valley Pipeline
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed construction to resume on a contested natural-gas pipeline that is being built through Virginia and West Virginia. Work on the Mountain Valley Pipeline had been blocked by the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., even after Congress ordered the project’s approval as...
21 dead and 40 rescued after a wind-tossed boat overturns in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — At least 21 people died and 40 others were rescued after a Philippine passenger boat overturned on Thursday when it was lashed by strong winds in Laguna Lake southeast of Manila, police said. Police said rescue operations were continuing, but did not immediately provide figures for the...
Arizona teen Alicia Navarro missing for nearly 4 years shows up safe at Montana police station
GLENDALE, Ariz. — An Arizona teenager who vanished without a trace nearly four years ago is safe after walking into a police station in Montana, authorities said. Alicia Navarro, 18, of Glendale showed up alone this week in a small town about 40 miles from the Canadian border and identified...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister to discuss military cooperation
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military issues and the regional security environment, state media said Thursday, illustrating North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine as the isolated country celebrated the 70th anniversary of an armistice...
Putin promises African summit that Russia will make maximum efforts to avert a food crisis
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin told leaders and officials from most African countries on Thursday that his nation is making full efforts to avert a global food crisis despite concerns that its withdrawal from a deal allowing grain shipments from Ukraine will cause shortages and price spikes....
22 attorneys general oppose 3M settlement over water systems contamination with ‘forever chemicals’
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Twenty-two attorneys general urged a federal court Wednesday to reject a proposed $10.3 billion settlement over contamination of U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially dangerous chemicals, saying it lets manufacturer 3M Co. off too easily. The deal announced in June doesn’t give individual water suppliers...
Big men on campus: From snacks to sleeping pads, Steelers load in for 2023 training camp at Saint Vincent College
When Pittsburgh Steelers players are hanging out at the end of a day at training camp, even a game of Uno can get amped up quickly. “Everything you can get competitive about, it’s going to happen,” said offensive tackle Kevin Dotson. “Everybody’s trying to win. That’s part of what’s great...
Whistleblower tells Congress the U.S. is concealing ‘multi-decade’ program that captures UFOs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims. Retired Maj. David Grusch’s highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress’ latest foray into...
Pitt to raise in-state tuition for undergrads on its main campus by 2%
The University of Pittsburgh is increasing its base tuition for in-state undergraduate students on its main campus by 2% this fall, but will freeze tuition on its branch campuses in Hempfield, Johnstown, Bradford and Titusville. Out-of-state undergraduates will see increases of 7% on the main campus, while graduate students from...
South Florida waters hit hot tub level and may have set world record for warmest seawater
The water temperature around the tip of Florida has hit triple digits — hot tub levels — two days in a row. Meteorologists say it could be the hottest seawater ever measured, although some questions about the reading remain. Scientists are already seeing devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding...
Rudy Giuliani is not disputing that he made false statements about Georgia election workers
ATLANTA — Rudy Giuliani is not disputing that he made public comments falsely claiming two Georgia election workers committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential race but he argues that his words are constitutionally protected statements, according to a court filing. That assertion by Giuliani, who as part of Donald...
Jury acquits Kevin Spacey in London on sexual assault charges dating back to 2001
LONDON — A London jury acquitted Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges on Wednesday after a four-week trial in which the actor said he was a “big flirt” who had consensual flings with men and whose only misstep was touching a man’s groin while making a “clumsy pass.” Three men...
Fire on New York construction crane causes arm to collapse and hit a building as it falls
NEW YORK—A towering construction crane caught fire high above the West Side of Manhattan on Wednesday morning, causing its long arm to snap off, smash against a nearby building and plummet to the street as people ran for their lives on the sidewalk below. At least six people suffered minor...
W.Va. residents are at a loss after newspaper that bound community together shuts down
WELCH, W.Va. — Months after Missy Nester ended The Welch News’ 100-year run, she can barely stand to walk through the office doors of the newspaper her mother taught her to read with growing up in West Virginia’s southern coalfields. It’s too painful. The Welch News owner and publisher’s desk...
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floats an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Republican lawmakers may consider an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct, responding to enormous GOP pressure to demonstrate support for Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In remarks Tuesday at the Capitol, McCarthy said the...
Biden’s son Hunter pleads not guilty to 2 tax crimes after agreement with prosecutors falls through
WILMINGTON, Del. — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge’s concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more...
Rival Koreas mark armistice anniversary in 2 ways that highlight rising tensions
SEOUL, South Korea — The truce that stopped the bloodshed in the Korean War turns 70 years old on Thursday and the two Koreas are marking the anniversary in starkly different ways, underscoring their deepening nuclear tensions. North Korea has invited delegations from China and Russia as it prepares to...
No Mega Millions winner — jackpot rises to $910 million
The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $910 million after Tuesday night’s drawing produced no big winners, extending a stretch of bad luck dating back to April. The numbers drawn were: 3, 5, 6, 44, 61 and the yellow ball 25 The absence of a winner for the estimated...
A judge blocks limits on asylum at U.S.-Mexico border but gives Biden administration time to appeal
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. But the judge delayed his ruling from taking effect immediately to give...
Point Park University names Chris W. Brussalis as president
Trustees at Point Park University Tuesday evening removed the “interim” from Chris W. Brussalis’ title and made him the institution’s ninth president, six months after he stepped in following the departure of Don Green. Brussalis, 59, a North Hills resident, is a known entity both on campus and in Pittsburgh....
Victims identified in double fatal Mt. Pleasant Township motorcycle crash
Two residents of Greensburg were killed in a motorcycle crash Tuesday night on Route 819, according to information released by the Westmoreland County coroner. Timothy P. Kuhns, 50, was driving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle north on Route 819 in Mt. Pleasant Township just before 8 p.m. when he lost control around...
Fire damages attic, basement of former South Huntingdon coffee shop
Fire damaged a former coffee shop in South Huntingdon Township on Tuesday evening. According to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher, fires were found in the basement and the attic of the former Breaktime Coffee Services building, located at 2246 First St. in Wyano. No one was found in the building...
