RIP landline phones? If you don’t have one now, you may not be able to get one
When Andy Brady had his cable television service installed, a landline telephone number was part of the package deal. He’s never hooked a phone to it, though. That probably says something about the bleak future for landline phones, considering Brady is the market president for the Verizon Consumer Group’s Great...
Democrats have excelled in special elections — what does that mean for the midterms?
Out of power since President Donald Trump took office and deeply unpopular in opinion polls, Democrats are clinging to a glimmer of hope ahead of the 2026 midterm elections: a string of impressive finishes this year in more than three dozen special elections. In 42 state legislative and U.S. congressional...
Who’s to blame for the shutdown? All of the above, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
WASHINGTON — Americans blame both Republicans and Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown and are worried services could falter as a third of the federal workforce sits on unpaid leave, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The five-day poll, completed on Tuesday, asked Americans nationwide how much blame Democrats, Republicans...
What do we know about Trump’s Gaza deal?
WASHINGTON — Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, a ceasefire and hostage deal that could be a first step toward ending a two-year-old war that has roiled the Middle East. Here are some details of what is known and not...
Celebrations erupt in Gaza, Israel on news of deal to end 2-year war
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza/TEL AVIV — Palestinians and the families of Israeli hostages broke into wild celebrations Thursday after news of a pact between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza and return home all the Israeli hostages, both living and dead. In Gaza, where most of the more...
Senate blocks debate on ending military action against Venezuelan vessels; Fetterman breaks with Dems
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday blocked a preliminary move to terminate President Donald Trump’s use of the military to destroy boats carrying alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, unless he gets authorization from Congress. The effort, spearheaded by Democratic Senators Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia — and...
2 state troopers in critical condition, suspect dead after shootout in Franklin County
Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers are in critical condition and a suspect is dead after a retail theft in Franklin County led to a 15-mile car chase on I-81 that ended in a shootout Wednesday evening, according to officials. Around 6:15 p.m., state police were dispatched to the Dicks Sporting...
Covid shot led to less severe illness, fewer hospitalizations last year, U.S. study finds
Last year’s updated covid-19 vaccines helped prevent severe outcomes including hospitalizations and deaths, according to data from a large study of U.S. military veterans published on Wednesday. Vaccinated veterans who developed covid after receiving the 2024-2025 boosters from Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech were also less likely to visit the emergency room...
Trump says Israel, Hamas reach agreement on 1st phase of Gaza deal
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says that Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a White House peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza and Israeli hostages will soon be released. Trump said in an Oct. 8 statement that Israel would also withdraw its...
Trump says he ‘took the freedom of speech away’ on flag burningVideo
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration “took the freedom of speech away” as it relates to flag burnings, an activity that the Supreme Court has ruled is protected under the First Amendment. “We took the freedom of speech away, because that’s been through the courts, and the courts...
FAA delays flights for 3rd day as government shutdown continues
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights for a third straight day on Wednesday at airports including Reagan Washington National and Newark Liberty International Airport as the agency continued to face higher-than-normal staffing shortages. There were nearly 3,000 flight delays by 5:30 p.m. after 10,000 delays in total on...
Colombia’s Petro suggests last vessel bombed by U.S. was Colombian
BOGOTA — Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday suggested the latest vessel in the Caribbean bombed by the United States may have been Colombian with Colombian citizens aboard, a statement denied by the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced the latest in a series of military strikes...
29-year-old man arrested in connection with Palisades Fire that ravaged Los AngelesVideo
Authorities have made an arrest in connection with the deadly, devastating Palisades Fire that ravaged part of Los Angeles earlier this year, now believed to have been caused by arson, officials said on Oct. 8. The fire, along with the Eaton Fire in another part of Los Angeles County, erupted...
Joan Bennett Kennedy, first wife of late Sen. Ted Kennedy, dies at 89
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the first wife of the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy, has died. She was 89. Kennedy died in her sleep at her Boston home on Oct. 8, according to a family statement provided to the Cape Cod Times, part of the USA Today Network. “Besides being...
Pope Leo tells U.S. bishops to address Trump’s immigration crackdown
VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo told U.S. bishops visiting him at the Vatican on Wednesday that they should firmly address how immigrants are being treated by President Donald Trump’s hardline policies, attendees said, in the latest push by the pontiff on the issue. Leo, the first U.S. pope, was handed...
Airlines brace for 3rd day of flight delays as shutdown persists
BALTIMORE - Major U.S. airlines are bracing for a third straight day of delays on Wednesday as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration faces higher-than-normal staffing issues for air traffic controllers as the stalemate over funding the government continues. There were nearly 10,000 flight delays in total on Monday and Tuesday,...
Trump threatens jail for Chicago mayor, Illinois gov. amid ICE, National Guard tension
President Donald Trump called for the arrests of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as hundreds of National Guard troops seemed poised to enter the city where tensions are boiling over the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing...
Gallery: Photos from Oct. 8, 2025
Take a trip through Western Pennsylvania — and beyond! Join TribLive’s photo adventure, where every snapshot tells a story. From the rolling hills and rustic charm of Western Pa. to far-flung corners of the world, this collection captures the little sparks of humanity that connect us all. Think of it...
Germany to allow police to shoot down drones
BERLIN — Germany will grant police the power to shoot down rogue drones like those that have disrupted airports across Europe and that some European leaders have attributed to a hybrid war being waged by Russia. The new law, agreed by the cabinet on Wednesday and awaiting parliamentary approval, explicitly...
Pope Leo tells U.S. bishops to address Trump’s immigration crackdown
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo told U.S. bishops visiting him at the Vatican on Wednesday that they should firmly address how immigrants are being treated by President Donald Trump’s hardline policies, attendees said, in the latest push by the pontiff on the issue. Leo, the first U.S. pope, was handed...
Former FBI Director James Comey pleads not guilty to making false statementsVideo
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded guilty to charges he lied to Congress, with his lawyer blasting the Trump-backed case against him as “vindictive” and selective prosecution The nearly 7-foot tall Comey, long considered a nemesis of Trump, was surrounded by his family as he offered his...
Most Americans don’t want troops deployed without an external threat, new poll finds
WASHINGTON — Some 58% of Americans — including seven in 10 Democrats and half of Republicans — think the president should send armed troops only to face external threats, a sign of unease as President Donald Trump increasingly deploys National Guard troops to police American cities, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found....
Pa. House again passes bill to give unemployment benefits to striking workers
The state House has again passed a bill that would give unemployment benefits to striking workers in Pennsylvania, a wedge issue that has seen effectively no movement over the past two years. The bill cleared the House of Representatives on Tuesday on a 106-to-97 vote, with all Democrats and four...
Erie Coke fined $700,000 in sentence that ends environmental case, divides courtroom
The environmental fraud prosecution of the Erie Coke Corp. ended with the neighbors upset and even the judge and the prosecutor saying they wish they could have done more. U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter adhered to Erie Coke’s plea agreement and fined the Buffalo-area corporation $700,000 on Oct. 7...
Air traffic control staffing hit for 2nd day, delaying flights
WASHINGTON — Air traffic control staffing issues are delaying flights for a second straight day at numerous U.S. airports as the government shutdown reaches its seventh day, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice on Tuesday. The FAA said many flights were being delayed at Nashville and Newark airports,...
