Voter support for Trump remains a wildcard as Pa. approaches major election for governor
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. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Democrats feel confident they’ll prevail in next year’s gubernatorial race after recent election wins they believe...
FEMA acting chief David Richardson departs after 6 months on the job, officials say
SAN DIEGO — The acting chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency left his job Monday after just six months, according to the Department of Homeland Security, the latest disruption in a year of mass staff departures, program cuts and policy upheaval at the agency charged with managing federal disaster...
Trump says he will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia on eve of crown prince’s Washington visit
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday he will sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, as he praised the kingdom for its long partnership with the United States. “I will say that that we will be...
Judge scolds Justice Department for ‘profound investigative missteps’ in Comey case
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department engaged in a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps” in the process of securing an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, a federal judge ruled Monday in directing prosecutors to produce to defense lawyers all grand jury materials from the case. Those problems, wrote...
Bessent says new Trump child savings accounts are ‘back door for privatizing Social Security’
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the Trump administration was committed to protecting Social Security hours after he said in an interview that a new children’s savings program President Donald Trump signed into law “is a back door for privatizing Social Security.” Bessent said Wednesday evening that...
Trump revives the Presidential Fitness Test, a rite of passage for schoolchildren for decades
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children, a fixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people’s health and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching exercises. “This is a wonderful tradition, and we’re bringing it back,” Trump said of the...
Virginia Giuffre’s family expresses shock over Trump saying Epstein ‘stole’ her
The family of Virginia Giuffre, who was among Jeffrey Epstein’s most well-known sex trafficking accusers, said that it was shocking to hear President Donald Trump say the disgraced financier “stole” Giuffre from him and urged that Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell remain in prison. Giuffre, who had accused Britain’s Prince...
Heavy rain pummels East Coast and sparks isolated flash flooding
Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast on Thursday, delaying flights throughout the region and prompting emergency rescues of motorists trapped in deep water on busy highways from the Philadelphia area to New York City. In New York, flash flooding briefly closed sections of major roadways across the city just...
Childhood vaccination rates fall again as exemptions set another record
NEW YORK — U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data posted Thursday. The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements rose to 4.1%, up from 3.7% the year before. It’s the third...
Search for answers after Texas’ deadly floods brings lawmakers to devastated Hill Country
KERRVILLE, Texas — A rural Texas county needed but lacked an updated warning system, local officials testified Thursday, when flash flooding swept away homes and vehicles and left families begging for rescue on the roofs of their homes earlier this month. Texas lawmakers searched for answers during a hearing on...
Turbulence forces Delta flight to land, sends 25 people to hospitals
Serious turbulence on a Delta Airlines flight headed to Europe sent 25 people to hospitals and forced the plane into an emergency landing in Minneapolis, the airline said. Some aboard the flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam weren’t wearing seat belts and were thrown about the cabin, one passenger...
Teacher admits to fatally stabbing couple on a hike with their kids in a random attack in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK — A teacher admitted he fatally stabbed a couple he didn’t know who were hiking with two of their children in an Arkansas state park, authorities said Thursday, after a five-day search and hundreds of tips led to his arrest. State Police arrested 28-year-old Andrew James McGann on...
A new $200M White House ballroom to break ground in September, the first major upgrade since 1948
WASHINGTON — The White House on Thursday announced that construction on a new $200 million ballroom will begin in September and be ready before President Donald Trump ‘s term ends in early 2029. It will be the latest change introduced to what’s known as “The People’s House” since the Republican...
U.S. and NATO allies warn of increasing Iranian threats in Europe, North America
WASHINGTON — The United States and many of its NATO allies are accusing Iran of a growing number of threats throughout Europe and North America and demanding that it end its attempts to harm dissidents and others. “We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services...
China summons Nvidia over ‘backdoor safety risks’ in H20 chips
WASHINGTON — China’s cyberspace regulators on Thursday summoned Nvidia over security concerns that its H20 chips can be tracked and turned off remotely, the Cyberspace Administration of China said on its website. In the meeting, Chinese regulators demanded that the U.S. chip company provide explanations on “backdoor safety risks” of...
Tropical Storm Gil strengthens in the eastern Pacific but isn’t expected to threaten land
MEXICO CITY — Tropical Storm Gil was strengthening in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Thursday but wasn’t expected to threaten land, forecasters said. The storm is forecast to remain over open water and become a hurricane on Friday, the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said. It’s about 785 miles south-southwest...
Vatican strikes a solar deal that aims to make it the world’s 1st carbon-neutral state
ROME — Italy agreed Thursday to a Vatican plan to turn a 1,000-acre field north of Rome, once the source of controversy between the two, into a vast solar farm that will generate enough electricity to meet the needs of Vatican City and turn it into the world’s first carbon-neutral...
Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of trading partners that go into effect in 7 days
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that would have new tariffs on a wide swath of U.S. trading partners to go into effect in seven days — the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and alliances. The order was...
Campaign cash already flowing in Pa. ahead of pivotal 2026 midterms
Republican incumbents in Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation outraised their Democratic counterparts by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, on average, during the first half of the year, according to federal election filings. Chris Borick, a political science professor at Allentown’s Muhlenberg College, said the fundraising gap is less of a reflection of any...
Americans’ views of racial discrimination have shifted since 2021, new poll finds
WASHINGTON — Slightly less than half of U.S. adults believe that Black people face “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of discrimination in the United States, according to a new poll. That’s a decline from the solid majority, 60%, who thought Black Americans faced high levels of discrimination in...
Trump envoy arrives in Israel amid rising Gaza death toll of Palestinians seeking aid
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — President Donald Trump’s special envoy arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the disintegrating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as the death toll of Palestinians waiting for food and other aid continued to climb. At least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 wounded while...
Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 13 people and injures more than 130
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian missile and drone attacks overnight on Ukraine’s capital city killed at least 13 people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounded 132 others, authorities said Thursday. A 5-month-old girl was among 14 children wounded, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said. It was the highest number of children injured in...
Gallery: Photos from July 31, 2025
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Thursday, July 31, 2025. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....
All the ways Republicans want to honor Trump, from the $100 bill to Mount Rushmore
WASHINGTON — Imagine getting the day off work for Donald Trump’s birthday. Receiving a $100 bill with Trump’s portrait on it. Touching down at Donald J. Trump International Airport near the nation’s capital. And taking in a show at the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts. All would be...
Trump seeks to use Canada’s recognition of Palestinian state as leverage in trade talks
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Canada’s announcement it will recognize a Palestinian state “will make it very hard” for the U.S. to reach a trade agreement with its northern neighbor. Trump’s threat, posted in the early hours Thursday on his social media network, is the latest way he has...
