University of Pittsburgh says it’s willing to freeze in-state tuition in 2024-25 — if it gets a larger state subsidy
The University of Pittsburgh says it’s willing to freeze in-state tuition for the 2024-25 academic year, provided the state delivers a larger-than-usual state appropriation that year: a 9.25% increase. The dollar request was conveyed to state officials in a letter of intent Friday. An in-state freeze would apply to thousands...
The federal government is headed into a shutdown. What does it mean, who’s hit and what’s next?
WASHINGTON — The federal government is heading toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics as Republicans in the House, fueled by hard-right demands for deep cuts, force a confrontation over federal spending. While some government entities will be exempt — Social Security checks, for...
Tropical Storm Ophelia moves inland over North Carolina as coastal areas lashed with wind and rain
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Tropical Storm Ophelia swirled across North Carolina after making landfall near Emerald Isle on Saturday morning, lashing eastern parts of the state with rain, damaging winds and dangerous surges of water. The storm came ashore with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph (110 kph) at around 6:15 a.m....
Many states are expanding their Medicaid programs to provide dental care to their poorest residents
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For months, Carlton Clemons endured crippling pain from a rotting wisdom tooth. He couldn’t sleep, barely ate and relied on painkillers to get by. The 67-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, could not afford to see a dentist on the $1,300-a-month his family gets in Social Security and disability...
Ukraine targets key Crimean city a day after striking Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine on Saturday morning launched another missile attack on Sevastopol in occupied Crimea, a Russian-installed official said, a day after an attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet left a serviceman missing and the main building smoldering. Sevastopol was put on air raid alert for...
Bushy Run hosts nature walk, final market Saturday
Bushy Run’s final market day of the season will coincide with its fall nature walk Saturday The Bushy Run Market, open from 8 a.m. to noon, is held outdoors near the museum on the fourth Saturday of each month from April to September. The market typically features eight to 15...
New leader of Penn State branch campuses tasked with boosting enrollment
The linguist and administrator who will oversee Penn State University’s 20 branch campuses starting Oct. 1 has talked about their importance as educational game-changers for students and economic anchors for the communities in which they’re located. Margo DelliCarpini also has seen how competitive the higher-education market can be when it...
Auto workers expand strike to 38 locations in 20 states, targeting Stellantis and GM
The United Auto Workers union expanded its strike against major carmakers Friday, walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts-distribution centers in 20 states. Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week, UAW President Shawn Fain...
Oklahoma judge arrested in Texas capital, accused of shooting parked cars and causing collision
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma judge was arrested in Austin, Texas, last week after authorities say he opened fire on parked vehicles while out driving, striking at least one of them, and intentionally crashed into a woman’s vehicle, telling officers later that she had cut him off. Brian Lovell, an...
9/11 defendant ruled unfit for trial after medical panel finds torture left him psychotic
WASHINGTON — A military judge at Guantanamo Bay has ruled one of the 9/11 defendants too mentally ill to stand trial, after a military medical panel found that the man’s abuse in CIA custody years earlier has rendered him psychotic. Guantanamo military commission spokesman Ronald Flesvig confirmed the ruling by...
Sen. Bob Menendez, wife indicted on bribe charges as probe finds $100,000 in gold bars, prosecutors say
NEW YORK — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife were indicted Friday on charges that they took bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car for a range of corrupt acts, including having the Democrat use his influence over foreign affairs to benefit the authoritarian...
Ukrainian missile strikes headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, building smolders
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine struck the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in a missile attack Friday that left a serviceman missing and the main building smoldering, according to military officials on both sides of the war and images from the scene in Crimea. The Russian Defense Ministry initially said...
U.S. and China launch economic and financial working groups with aim of easing tensions
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department and China’s Ministry of Finance launched a pair of economic working groups on Friday in an effort to ease tensions and deepen ties between the nations. Led by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Vice Premier He Lifeng, the working groups will be divided into...
U.S. education chief considers new ways to discourage college admissions preference for kids of alumni
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s education chief said he’s open to using “whatever levers” are available — including federal money — to discourage colleges from giving admissions preference to the children of alumni and donors. In an interview with The Associated Press, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said legacy admissions must...
Government shutdown risk spikes as House Republicans leave town in disarray amid hard-right revolt
WASHINGTON — With House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s latest funding plan in ruins and lawmakers leaving town for the weekend, there’s no endgame in sight as hard-right Republicans push dangerously closer to a disruptive federal shutdown. The White House will tell federal agencies on Friday to prepare for a shutdown, according...
Tropical storm warning issued for East Coast ahead of potential cyclone, forecasters sayVideo
MIAMI — A tropical storm warning was issued Thursday from coastal North Carolina to Delaware ahead of a potential tropical cyclone that’s approaching the densely populated East Coast. The National Hurricane Center announced the formation of “Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen” on Thursday morning. The storm was located about 340 miles...
Bus carrying high school students to band camp crashes, killing 2 and seriously injuring others
WAWAYANDA, N.Y. — A charter bus carrying high school students to a band camp careened off a New York highway and tumbled down an embankment Thursday, killing two adults and seriously injuring several others, officials said. Gov. Kathy Hochul said a failure of a front tire could have contributed to...
David McCormick announces U.S. Senate run with GOP lining up behind him
The Republicans have their preferred candidate in their quest to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Former hedge fund CEO David McCormick announced his run for Senate on Thursday evening in Pittsburgh. At a campaign kickoff at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District with more than 200...
Officer’s threat to charge 11-year-old crime victim draws sharp critique of Columbus police
COLUMBUS — When an Ohio father learned that his 11-year-old daughter had been manipulated into sending explicit photos to an adult, he turned to the police for help. But instead of treating the girl as a crime victim, an officer seemingly threatened to charge her under a law most people...
Philadelphia sheriff disputes controller report that her office can’t account for nearly 200 guns
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s sheriff on Thursday disputed a city controller report that determined that the sheriff’s office couldn’t account for 185 guns that the controller’s office says are missing. Sheriff Rochelle Bilal said at a news conference that the controller’s report released earlier this week contained “misleading statements,” and she...
Booking a covid-19 vaccine? Some are reporting canceled appointments or insurance issues
MILWAUKEE — Some people seeking the newest covid-19 vaccine are running into high demand, insurance headaches and supply delays coast to coast. Millions of the newly formulated vaccines have shipped out since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on them last week for ages 6 months and...
In a first, Massachusetts to ban purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Thursday that she says will make Massachusetts the first state to ban the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies. Massachusetts buys about 100,000 of the plastic water bottles each year. The order bars all executive offices and agencies in...
Will Pa.’s automatic voter registration policy boost turnout or concerns about election security?
Pennsylvania became the 24th state to enact automatic voter registration when Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the new policy Tuesday. When state residents obtain or renew their driver’s license or ID cards, they automatically are registered to vote, unless they choose to opt out of the process on their driver’s...
Greensburg Garden Center to host fall house tour, garden party
Those seeking inspiration for fall decorations and garden displays need look no further than the Greensburg Garden Center’s fall house tour and garden party. The event, scheduled for Saturday, includes a tour of a mid-century modern home and just under two acres of gardens. In addition to highlighting fall decor...
Powerball jackpot elusive again; Saturday prize rises to $725M
Another Powerball drawing, another night without a big winner. The winning numbers were 16-27-59-62-63 with a Powerball of 23. Up for grabs was $672 million, $320 million for all cash. No entries matched all six numbers in the Powerball drawing Wednesday night, pushing the jackpot to $725 million ($345.7 million...
