Qatar says Gaza cease-fire will begin at 7 a.m. Friday, with aid to follow ‘as soon as possible’
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Qatar said Thursday that a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war will begin at 7 a.m. Friday, with aid “going in as soon as possible.” Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, made the announcement in a news conference in Doha, Qatar. The cease-fire had...
OxyContin maker’s settlement plan divides victims of opioid crisis. Now it’s up to the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — The agreement by the maker of OxyContin to settle thousands of lawsuits over the harm done by opioids could help combat the overdose epidemic that the painkiller triggered. But that does not mean all the victims are satisfied. In exchange for giving up ownership of drug manufacturer Purdue...
Feral hogs roaming into Pennsylvania from South pose threat to forests, agriculture
Feral hogs are 300-pound, 30 mile-per-hour rampaging, crop-eating machines and they are moving north into Pennsylvania. A recent study by outfitter Captain Experiences using data from the University of Georgia found that about three dozen hogs have been spotted in 14 Pennsylvania counties. An expert at Penn State told WJAC-TV...
Walmart shooter who injured 4 in Ohio may have been motivated by racial extremism, FBI says
A white gunman who opened fire inside a Walmart in Ohio and wounded four people before killing himself may have been motivated by racist extremism, the FBI said Wednesday. Four shoppers — two Black women, a white woman and a white man — were wounded in the attack at the...
Police say some 70 bullets fired in North Philadelphia shooting that left 2 dead, 5 woundedVideo
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia police investigation into the shooting of seven men, including two who died, continued Wednesday but authorities said no arrests have been made. Several guns were recovered from the scene and police said at least 70 rounds were fired around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, leaving bullet holes in...
Automatic pay raise pays dividends, again, for top state officials in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania law that delivers automatic pay raises for state officials will pay dividends next year for lawmakers, judges and top executive branch officials. The law will give more than 1,300 officials — including Gov. Josh Shapiro, 253 lawmakers and seven state Supreme Court justices — a...
Fiery crash kills 2 at Niagara Falls’ Rainbow border bridge. Officials say no sign of terrorismVideo
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A vehicle speeding toward a U.S.-Canada bridge from the American side crashed and exploded at a checkpoint in Niagara Falls on Wednesday, killing two people and prompting the closing of multiple border crossings for hours. Authorities weren’t sure what spurred the wreck but said there were...
Susan Sarandon dropped from Hollywood company after comments on Israel-Hamas war
NEW YORK — Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon and “Scream” star Melissa Barrera were each dropped by Hollywood companies after making comments on the Israel-Hamas war that some deemed antisemitic. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the upcoming “Scream VII,” acknowledged Barrera’s exit from the horror franchise. “The Mexican-born actress,...
Pope meets relatives of Israeli hostages and Palestinians in Gaza and sets off firestorm over words
Pope Francis met separately Wednesday with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war and set off a firestorm by using words that Vatican diplomats usually avoid: “terrorism” and, according to the Palestinians, “genocide.” Francis spoke about the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians after his...
Democrats who swept Moms For Liberty off school board fight superintendent’s $700,000 exit deal
PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania school board that banned books, Pride flags and transgender athletes slipped a last-minute item into their final meeting before leaving office, hastily awarding a $700,000 exit package to the superintendent who supported their agenda. But the Democratic majority that swept the conservative Moms For Liberty slate...
Greensburg Garden Center gears up for annual holiday sale
Wreaths, garlands, trees, ornaments and other handmade decorations will be up for grabs at the Greensburg Garden Center’s annual holiday sale next week. The sale, scheduled for Dec. 1 and 2, features decorations made by about 30 of the center’s volunteers, said Co-President Carla Rusnica. Common items are artificial and...
Biden’s plan would raise salaries for Head Start teachers but could leave fewer spots for kids
WASHINGTON — A new plan from the Biden administration could significantly increase salaries for thousands of low-paid early childhood teachers caring for the country’s poorest children but might force some centers to reduce their enrollment. The Health and Human Services agency’s proposed federal rule would require Head Start programs, which...
If you haven’t started your Thanksgiving trip, you’re not alone. The busiest days are still to come
The late crush of holiday travelers is picking up steam, with about 2.7 million people expected to board flights on Wednesday and millions more planning to drive to Thanksgiving celebrations. Airline officials say they are confident that they can avoid the kind of massive disruptions that have marred past holiday...
The journey of Minnesota’s Rutt the moose is tracked by a herd of fans
A herd of followers are tracking a moose on the loose in southern Minnesota, hoping the majestic animal’s journey ends safely after it was spotted Tuesday 140 miles (225 km) northwest of Minneapolis. Fans have been tracking the young male moose for weeks and posting updates on a Facebook page...
JFK assassination remembered 60 years later by surviving witnesses to history, including AP reporter
DALLAS — Just minutes after President John F. Kennedy was fatally shot as his motorcade rolled through downtown Dallas, Associated Press reporter Peggy Simpson rushed to the scene and immediately attached herself to the police officers who had converged on the building from which a sniper’s bullets had been fired....
Israeli official says talks continuing, hostage release won’t take place before Friday
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s national security adviser says a planned hostage-for-prisoner swap with Hamas has been delayed until at least Friday. In a statement released late Wednesday, Tzachi Hanegbi said that contacts on the deal were continuing. “The release will begin according to the original agreement between...
Pennsylvania governor appeals decision blocking plan to make power plants pay for greenhouse gases
HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration said Tuesday that it is appealing a court ruling that blocked a state regulation to make Pennsylvania’s power plant owners pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, even as the Democrat warned lawmakers to get to work on a better alternative. In a statement,...
Authorities capture man accused of killing 3 in simmering Colorado property dispute
DENVER — A man was captured Tuesday after being on the run for one day after police say he fatally shot three people and critically wounded a fourth over a years-long property dispute regarding the use of an easement on the suspect’s property in rural Colorado, authorities said. The suspect,...
In tears, ex-Trump executive testifies he gave up company job because he was tired of legal woes
NEW YORK — Tearing up as he testified, Donald Trump’s former corporate controller said he “gave up” on his longtime job because he was worn out by the company’s legal woes. Jeffrey McConney was on the witness stand for a fourth day in six weeks at the ex-president’s civil fraud...
Giving thanks isn’t just a holiday tradition. It’s part of how humans evolved
NEW YORK — It’s the season of giving thanks — and it turns out humans have been doing it for a long, long time. As more researchers dig into the science of gratitude, they’ve found the feeling likely played a key role in helping our ancestors band together and survive....
Rosalynn Carter’s advocacy for mental health was rooted in compassion and perseverance
CONCORD, N.H. — The sun was shining in June 1979 as Rosalynn Carter made her way through an enthusiastic crowd in Laconia, New Hampshire. “She shook my hand!” yelled one delighted participant. The first lady was in the state for her husband’s reelection campaign, but this was no political rally....
Judge imposes stricter bond conditions on Trump co-defendant in Georgia election subversion case
ATLANTA — The Georgia judge overseeing the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump and others declined a request to revoke the bond of one of the defendants but did impose stricter bond conditions after prosecutors complained about his social media posts that mentioned witnesses and co-defendants. Fulton County...
Shooting that wounded 4 in Ohio is the 2nd to occur at a Walmart in 24 hoursVideo
BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — A gunman opened fire Monday evening inside a Walmart in Ohio and wounded four people before killing himself — the second shooting in 24 hours to take place at a store operated by the retail giant. The attack at the Walmart in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton,...
60 years after JFK’s death, today’s Kennedys choose other paths to public service
NEW YORK — Patrick Kennedy, son of Sen. Ted Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, remembers being a young state legislator in Rhode Island some 30 years ago and hearing encouraging words from the opposition leader at the time. “I just want you to know that no matter...
Israeli Cabinet approves cease-fire with Hamas that includes release of some 50 hostages
JERUSALEM — Israel’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a temporary cease-fire with the Hamas militant group that is expected to bring the first halt in fighting in a devastating six-week war and win freedom for dozens of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip. The deal calls for a four-day cease-fire,...
