House Speaker McCarthy is back to square one as the Senate pushes ahead to avert a federal shutdown
WASHINGTON — As the Senate marches ahead with a bipartisan approach to prevent a government shutdown, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is back to square one — asking his hard-right Republicans to do what they have said they would never do: approve their own temporary House measure to keep the government...
Fire at wedding hall in northern Iraq kills 100 people, injures 150
MOSUL, Iraq — A raging fire seemingly caused by fireworks set off to celebrate a Christian wedding consumed a hall packed with guests in northern Iraq, killing around 100 people and injuring 150 others as authorities warned Wednesday the death toll could still rise. Authorities said that flammable building materials...
U.S. secures the release of soldier who crossed into North Korea 2 months ago
WASHINGTON — The United States has secured the release of a U.S. soldier who sprinted across a heavily fortified border into North Korea more than two months ago, and he is on his way back to America, officials announced Wednesday. U.S. ally Sweden and rival China helped with the transfer....
The Supreme Court will let Alabama’s congressional map be redrawn to better represent Black voters
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the drawing of a new Alabama congressional map with greater representation for Black voters to proceed. The new districts also could help Democrats trying to flip control of the House of Representatives. The justices, without any noted dissent, rejected the state’s plea...
Over 50 arrested after mobs ransacked Philadelphia stores. Dozens of liquor outlets are shut downVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Dozens of people faced criminal charges Wednesday after a night of social media-fueled mayhem in which groups of thieves, apparently working together, smashed their way into stores in several areas of Philadelphia, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, authorities said. Police said they made at least 52...
Ohio high school football coach resigns after team used racist, antisemitic language during game
BROOKLYN, Ohio — An Ohio high school football coach resigned Monday after his team used racist and antisemitic language to call out plays during a game last week. Brooklyn High School coach Tim McFarland and his players repeatedly used the word “Nazi” as a play call in a game against...
Biden urges striking auto workers to ‘stick with it’ in picket line visit unparalleled in historyVideo
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — President Joe Biden grabbed a bullhorn on the picket line Tuesday and urged striking auto workers to “stick with it” in an unparalleled show of support for organized labor by a modern president. Donning a union ballcap and exchanging fist bumps, Biden told United Auto...
Charges dismissed against Philadelphia officer in fatal traffic-stop shooting of Eddie Irizarry
PHILADELPHIA — A judge dismissed murder and other charges Tuesday against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver through a rolled-up window — a confrontation police initially described as the officer shooting the driver after he lunged at him with a knife outside the car. Municipal Judge...
Judge rules Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers as he built real estate empire
NEW YORK — A judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House. Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his...
Jailbreaks in Pa. are not as common as recent events imply
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania correctional institutions have been the subject of public scrutiny after two high-profile escapes this summer. But how frequent are these kinds...
Sen. Bob Casey joins chorus calling for indicted Sen. Menendez to resign
Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, joined a growing group of senators Tuesday in calling for embattled New Jersey U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez to resign. Menendez, a Democrat, and his wife were indicted Friday on charges that they took bribes including a luxury car, $480,000 in cash and $100,000 worth...
Hunter Biden sues Rudy Giuliani and another lawyer over accessing and sharing of his personal data
WASHINGTON — Hunter Biden sued Rudy Giuliani and another attorney Tuesday, saying the two wrongly accessed and shared his personal data after obtaining it from the owner of a Delaware computer repair shop. The lawsuit was the latest in a new strategy by Hunter Biden to strike back against Republican...
Judge dismisses charges against Philadelphia police officer in fatal traffic-stop shooting
PHILADELPHIA — A judge dismissed all charges, including a murder count, against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver who had a knife, agreeing with defense lawyers who said the officer could have feared for his life. The municipal judge ruled after a courtroom packed with police...
Striking Hollywood actors vote to authorize new walkout against video game makers
LOS ANGELES — Striking actors have voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and...
Democrat sees abortion, extremism as wedge issues in bid to unseat GOP Pennsylvania state treasurerVideo
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Democratic Pennsylvania state lawmaker announced Tuesday that he will run for treasurer in 2024, positioning himself as an ideological opposite to the Republican incumbent regarding abortion access and the 2020 election. Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, 37, announced his party primary candidacy for the seat held by incumbent...
JPMorgan to pay $75M on claims it enabled Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operations
NEW YORK — JPMorgan Chase agreed Tuesday to pay $75 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to settle claims that the bank enabled the sex trafficking acts committed by financier Jeffrey Epstein. JPMorgan said that $55 million of the settlement will go toward local charities and assistance for victims. Another...
Woman dies after falling from a cliff at a scenic overlook in North Carolina
BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — A South Carolina woman died after falling from a scenic overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina, according to the National Park Service. Park service dispatchers received a report of a woman who fell down a steep cliff at Glassmine Falls Overlook on...
U.S. consumer confidence tumbles in September as American anxiety about the future grows
WASHINGTON — The confidence of American consumers slipped this month, particularly about the future, as expectations persist that interest rates will remain elevated for an extended period. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell to 103 in September from 108.7 in August....
Supreme Court will let Alabama’s congressional map be redrawn to better represent Black voters
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the drawing of a new Alabama congressional map with greater representation for Black voters to proceed. The new districts also could help Democrats trying to flip control of the House of Representatives. The justices, without any noted dissent, rejected the state’s plea...
Musk’s X is the biggest purveyor of disinformation, EU official says
LONDON — A top European Union official said Tuesday that the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, is the biggest source of fake news and urged owner Elon Musk to comply with the bloc’s laws aimed at combating disinformation. Ahead of upcoming elections, Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Meta also...
7 candidates have qualified for 2nd Republican presidential debate. Here’s who missed the cut
The field for the second Republican presidential debate will be smaller than the first. Seven candidates have qualified for Wednesday night’s debate at Ronald Reagan’s presidential library in California, the Republican National Committee said, confirming that former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not make the cut this time. Former President...
2 explosions rip through dwellings in Sweden, at least 1 reportedly connected to gang feud
STOCKHOLM — Two powerful explosions ripped through dwellings in central Sweden overnight, injuring at least three people and damaging buildings, with bricks and window sections left spread outside. Late on Monday, an explosion occurred in Hasselby, a suburb of the capital, Stockholm. In the early hours of Tuesday, a blast...
New cars are supposed to be getting safer. So why are fatalities on the rise?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alyssa Milligan was someone who intuitively knew when another person needed help, encouragement or a kind word. Although she was new to Tennessee, the 23-year old physical therapy student, whose mother called her “Sweet Alyssa,” had already made many close connections, especially within the tight-knit cycling community...
Powerball jackpot climbs to $835 million after no one overcomes awful odds to win top prize
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $835 million after no one beat the immense odds Monday night and won the top prize. The winning numbers were: 10, 12, 22, 36, 50 and 4. With the latest bit of lottery losing, there now have been 29...
With a government shutdown just days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode
WASHINGTON — With a government shutdown five days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode as Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means curtailing federal services for millions of Americans. There’s no clear path ahead as lawmakers return with tensions...
