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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Trump administration investigates Maine for claims of withholding gender transitions from parents
PORTLAND, Maine — The administration of President Donald Trump is investigating Maine with a claim that dozens of school districts in the state violate federal law by withholding information about students’ gender transitioning from parents. The U.S. Department of Education said it launched the investigation on Friday, the day after...
Utah becomes first state to ban LGBTQ+ pride flags in government buildings and schools
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah became the first state to prohibit flying LGBTQ+ pride flags at schools and all government buildings after the Republican governor announced he was allowing a ban on unsanctioned flag displays to become law without his signature. Gov. Spencer Cox, who made the announcement late Thursday...
Democrats pour millions of dollars into 2 special elections in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Democrats, with few electoral outlets for their outrage at President Donald Trump’s dramatic restructuring of the federal government, are pouring millions of dollars into two special elections in Florida. That’s where Democratic candidates are trying to accomplish the improbable by flipping a pair of Trump-friendly congressional seats...
Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding for programs with ‘improper ideology’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed his intention to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order that targets funding for programs that advance “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology,” the latest step in a broadside against culture he deems too liberal. Trump claimed there has been...
Musk promises he’ll go to Wisconsin to deliver $2 million to voters but then deletes his message
MADISON, Wis. — Billionaire Elon Musk on Friday deleted a social media post in which he had announced plans to hold a rally in Wisconsin to “personally hand over” $2 million to a pair of voters who have already cast their ballots in the state’s hotly contested Supreme Court race....
Judge likely to strike objections to Pine-Richland School Board candidate’s election petitions
After a brief hearing March 27, Judge John McVay indicated he likely will strike two objections filed against Pine-Richland School Board candidate Robert Stein. The objections, filed by Pine-Richland attorney Chris Cafardi, alleged that Stein, who is running in Region 2 of the district, did not have enough Democratic signatures...
Senators overseeing the military request an investigation at the Pentagon into use of the Signal app
WASHINGTON — The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee requested an investigation Thursday into how Trump national security officials used the Signal app to discuss military strikes, ensuring at least some bipartisan scrutiny on an episode President Donald Trump has dismissed as frivolous. Sen. Roger Wicker,...
Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers in a major restructuring plan
WASHINGTON — In a major overhaul, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized...
Organizers of Fetterman, McCormick event mum on venue details as protesters mobilize
Dana Kellerman plans to protest Saturday in Pittsburgh. She just doesn’t know where yet. Complicating matters, Kellerman said she wasn’t sure where hundreds of other anticipated protesters should go or where they should set up their giant inflatable chicken. It all depends on where U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John...
Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos, expecting to raise $100 billion in tax revenues
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. “This will continue to spur growth,” Trump told reporters. “We’ll...
Democrats take hope from upset win in a GOP-leaning Pennsylvania state Senate district
MANHEIM — Democrat James Andrew Malone narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities, scoring an upset in a district that a Democrat hasn’t represented in the chamber for 136 years. Malone’s victory over Republican Josh Parsons in Tuesday night’s election...
Researchers in limbo as Columbia bows to Trump’s demands in bid to restore $400M federal funding
NEW YORK — When President Donald Trump canceled $400 million in funding to Columbia University over its handling of student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, much of the financial pain fell on researchers a train ride away from the school’s campus, working on things like curing cancer and studying...
Dan Goughnour wins big in state House race, positioning Dems to reclaim majority
Democrats are poised to reclaim control of the Pennsylvania House as McKeesport police officer Dan Goughnour rolled to a commanding victory Tuesday night in a special election to fill a vacancy in the chamber. The chamber has been gridlocked, with 101 Democrats and 101 Republicans, since the January death of...
Fetterman, McCormick to hold event in Downtown Pittsburgh, drawing criticism from some on left
Pennsylvania’s U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman and their wives are holding a public event this weekend in Downtown Pittsburgh where the McCormicks will discuss their new book and participate in a discussion with the Fettermans about mentorship. McCormick is a Republican from Pittsburgh, Fetterman a Democrat from Braddock....
Norwin School Board candidates face hearing on petition challenges
Three Norwin School Board candidates should be removed from the May 20 primary ballot, according to legal challenges filed by two opponents. Westmoreland County Judge Harry Smail is scheduled to hear challenges Wednesday to the nominating petitions of Alex Detschelt, a current school board member seeking a nomination on the...
Self-professed ‘DOGE person’ Frank Bisignano gets his confirmation hearing to lead Social Security
WASHINGTON — Frank Bisignano, a self-professed “DOGE person,” faces questions about whether the Trump administration plans to privatize Social Security as he appears before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday for his hearing to serve as commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Bisignano, a Wall Street veteran and one-time defender...
Greenlanders unite to fend off the U.S. as Trump seeks control of the Arctic island
NUUK, Greenland — Lisa Sólrun Christiansen gets up at 4 a.m. most days and gets to work knitting thick wool sweaters coveted by buyers around the world for their warmth and colorful patterns celebrating Greenland’s traditional Inuit culture. Her morning routine includes a quick check of the news, but these...
TV Talk: Streaming, TV respond to shifting political winds
At any moment, entertainment programming may reflect the culture or it may lead the culture. Sometimes it does both simultaneously to advance the industry’s ultimate goal: making money. The 1998 premiere of NBC’s “Will & Grace,” a show with two lead gay characters, broke new ground in the broadcast prime-time...
Trump to nominate acting CDC director Susan Monarez for the position, White House official says
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will nominate Susan Monarez, the acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a longtime federal staffer, to the permanent position, a White House official confirmed Monday. Trump abruptly withdrew the nomination of his first pick, David Weldon, earlier this month....
Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist 
WASHINGTON — Top national security officials for President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat in a secure messaging app that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, the magazine reported in a story posted online Monday. The National...
Powerful interests poured $18M into top Pa. lawmakers’ campaign coffers
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. HARRISBURG — Power plant operators, gambling magnates, charter school backers, and trade unions are among the interests that gave almost $18 million to Pennsylvania’s top...
Judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive information at US agencies
A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing people’s private data at the Education Department, the Treasury Department and the Office of Personnel Management. U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman issued a preliminary injunction in a case filed last month by a coalition...
Trump criticizes his portrait hanging in Colorado Capitol
President Donald Trump has taken aim at a portrait of himself hanging in Colorado’s Capitol. He’s demanding that it be taken down. Unveiled in 2019, the portrait was painted in oil by the Colorado-based artist Sarah Boardman, the New York Times reported. It depicts the president in a dark suit...
AOC trades barbs with Fetterman, apologizes to Conor Lamb
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York reached out publicly to apologize to fellow Democrat and former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb. In a post on the social media platform X, AOC tweeted a response to Lamb’s post critiquing Democrat Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman. Lamb, of Mt. Lebanon, lost to Fetterman...
Rosie O’Donnell wrote apology letter to Irish PM after his Trump meeting
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell revealed she wrote an apology letter to Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin after her name came up during his meeting with President Donald Trump in the White House. O’Donnell, 63, moved to Ireland after Trump was reelected as president. The two have famously feuded for years. During...


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