Penn State will report incidents of hazing in alignment with Clery Act amendments
Penn State University is now notifying students in its messaging system about hazing incidents. The change was made in accordance with federal requirements — the newly enacted amendments to the Clery Act, the university said. The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to report campus crime data. Penn State said...
New York governor says prison guards arrested, charged in death of handcuffed man beaten by them
UTICA, N.Y. — New York’s governor says prison workers are being arrested Thursday on murder charges in the death of an inmate who was beaten while handcuffed. The beating of Robert Brooks by multiple officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in December was caught on body cameras, triggering widespread outrage and...
Photos: Daily gallery for Feb. 20, 2025
A collection of photos of legendary Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange, who died Wednesday....
When the pope is sick, Italians always gossip about who comes next — even before ‘Conclave’
ROME — The pope looms so large in everyday Italian life that there are lots of expressions that make light of even a dark event like his death. “A pope dies, they make another,” goes one, suggesting how life goes on. “Every death of a pope …” starts another, indicating...
Russia seems to have time on its side as the war in Ukraine reaches its 3rd year
When Russian troops rolled into Ukraine three years ago, they brought their parade uniforms with them on the push to Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin expected a quick victory. What Putin dubbed the “special military operation” has turned into Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Tens of thousands have been...
What’s the key to surviving a plane crash? Skilled crew, strong seats and wings that detach
After watching videos of a Delta Air Lines jet catch fire upon landing and flip over on a Toronto runway, it’s fair to wonder how anyone could have survived. But aviation experts said it was not surprising that all 76 passengers and four crew walked away from Monday’s disaster, with...
Hamas returns bodies of 4 Israeli hostages said to include a mother and her 2 young children
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Hamas on Thursday returned the bodies of four hostages to Israel, prompting a nationwide outpouring of grief as flag-waving crowds lined highways on a rainy day to pay respect to a convoy carrying the coffins and thousands packed a Tel Aviv square in an emotional...
Residents voice concerns as Penn Township continues developing zoning change proposal
As Penn Township officials continue to weigh a series of zoning changes aimed at increasing economic development, resident Darlene Leslie is worried her quiet home will be disturbed by traffic, noise and pollution. Leslie lives in the eastern portion of the township, about three miles from Bushy Run Corporate Park...
IRS plans to lay off 7,000 probationary workers beginning Thursday
WASHINGTON — The IRS will lay off roughly 7,000 workers in Washington and around the country beginning Thursday, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press. The layoffs affect probationary employees with roughly one year or less of service at the agency and largely include workers in compliance...
More staff members exit Sen. Fetterman’s office as he seeks a political middle ground
The staff churn in Sen. John Fetterman’s office continues. NBC News is reporting that two of Fetterman’s longest serving staff members are exiting as the Pennsylvania Democrat seeks to find a working lane between his party and the president. The departures of Charlie Hills, the communications director, and Tre Easton,...
Pete Hegseth directs Pentagon to find $50 billion in cuts this year to fund Trump military priorities
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military services to identify $50 billion in programs that could be cut next year in order to redirect those savings to fund President Donald Trump’s priorities. Hegseth has committed to redirecting Pentagon spending to more directly support warfighters. In a statement...
Agriculture Department tries to rehire fired workers tied to bird flu response
OMAHA, Neb. — The Agriculture Department is scrambling to rehire several workers who were involved in the government’s response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has devastated egg and poultry farms over the past three years. The workers were among the thousands of federal employees eliminated on the recommendations...
Senators clash over FBI director pick ahead of confirmation vote
Republicans and Democrats sharpened their arguments over Kash Patel’s fitness to lead the FBI, offering starkly different versions of the nominee ahead of a confirmation vote expected Thursday. Senate Republicans have rallied around Patel’s nomination and his pledges to fight crime, while Democrats have described him as perilously unsuited for...
Sewickley’s Jason Richey in line to become Allegheny County GOP chair
A Sewickley attorney who formerly ran for governor is in line to become the next chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, as both of his opponents have dropped out of the race. The Allegheny County GOP is scheduled to hold an election Saturday to replace outgoing Chairman Sam...
White man who pleaded guilty to shooting a Black teen who rang a wrong doorbell dies
MISSION, Kan. — An 86-year-old Missouri man has died just days after pleading guilty to a lesser charge in the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black honor student who rang the white man’s doorbell by mistake, prosecutors announced Wednesday. Andrew Lester of Kansas City was charged with first-degree assault...
Winter-weary East Coast hit with another storm as temperatures plunge elsewhereVideo
NORFOLK, Va. — The latest in a long line of storms took direct aim at the East Coast on Wednesday, threatening to dump heavy snow and some ice across several states on winter-weary residents. A storm that dropped snow in the Midwest spread across the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, bringing...
Historic ocean liner departs Philadelphia on voyage to become the world’s largest artificial reefVideo
The historic, aging ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef departed from south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront on Wednesday, marking the opening segment of its final voyage. The SS United States, a 1,000-foot vessel that shattered the transatlantic speed record on its...
Brazil’s former President Bolsonaro has been charged over an alleged coup. What’s next for him?Video
SAO PAULO — Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been charged with orchestrating a plot to stay in office despite losing the 2022 election — a plot that the country’s top prosecutor says included a plan to poison his opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The unprecedented charges handed down...
A worried NATO holds large-scale combat drills as U.S. stance on Europe shifts under TrumpVideo
SMARDAN, Romania — NATO members continued their largest combat exercises of 2025 on Wednesday, testing their ability to rapidly deploy large-scale forces on the 32-nation alliance’s eastern border as worries grow over its most powerful member, the United States. The drills in Romania, which borders Ukraine, come as a shaken...
Trump administration orders halt to NYC toll meant to fight traffic, fund mass transit
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday ordered a halt to congestion pricing tolls in New York City, which thin traffic and fund mass transit by making people pay to drive into some parts of Manhattan. Launched on Jan. 5, the city’s system uses license plate readers to...
2 people dead after small plane collision in southern Arizona
A midair collision involving two small planes in southern Arizona killed at least two people Wednesday morning, authorities said. Federal air-safety investigators said two people were on board each plane as they collided near Marana Regional Airport on the outskirts of Tucson. One plane landed uneventfully while the other hit...
A look at the 8 Latin American crime groups designated as terrorist organizations by U.S.
MEXICO CITY — The United States government is formally designating eight Latin American organized crime groups that also operate in the U.S. to be “foreign terrorist organizations.” They are involved in drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and extend their territory through violence. The Trump administration is applying a “terrorist” designation that’s...
Probability of asteroid striking Earth highest ever recorded
The probability of an asteroid striking Earth on Dec. 22, 2032, has risen to the highest level ever recorded — 3.1%, the New York Times reported. Known as 2024 YR4, the space rock was first detected in December, and it’s between 130 to 300 feet long, according to the Times....
Trump officials want to ban junk food from SNAP. Past efforts show it’s not easy
A push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the U.S. program that helps low-income families pay for nutritious food has been tried before — but it may soon get a boost from new Trump administration officials. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed health and human services secretary,...
Columbine survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter, who forgave gunman’s mother, dies at 43
DENVER — Anne Marie Hochhalter, who was partially paralyzed in the Columbine High School shooting but found strength to forgive and to heal her soul after bonding with another family devastated by the tragedy, has died. She was 43. Hochhalter was found in her home in suburban Denver on Sunday....
