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Putin decree lets Russia take control of infrastructure damaged in Ukrainian drone attacks

International News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decreed that the state can temporarily seize control of critical infrastructure facilities if private owners fail to protect them from Ukrainian drone attacks or rebuild them after the strikes. The move came Monday amid growing economic pressure and public frustration being felt in Russia after months of escalating Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and e-commerce hubs that have caused nationwide disruptions. Ukraine also is reeling from relentless aerial attacks that have smashed its power grid ahead of winter and heavily damaged homes as ...

Man killed 8 relatives, including four kids

National News

BILLINGS, Mont. — A man killed eight of his relatives, including four children, as they gathered for Sunday dinner at a home in Billings, Montana, just weeks after his parents forced him to move out, a family member told The Associated Press. Brad Ireland, whose former wife and two children were among the dead, identified the shooter as 44-year-old Alan Smith. Smith’s parents, who were also killed, had asked him to move out, but he returned on Sunday and opened fire, Ireland said. The victims represented four generations of the blended family, ranging from a great-grandmother in ...

Nothing changes with order of elections

National News

The Supreme Court’s decision giving preliminary approval for President Donald Trump’s order restricting mail voting may not lead to a single election procedure changing during the November midterms, but it has already thrown into uncertainty the method that nearly one-third of the country uses to vote. Rather than saying that Trump’s order is legal, the high court said Monday it was too early for Democratic-run states to challenge it in June, when they convinced a federal judge in Boston to freeze the order for November’s election. That effectively restarts the legal fight over ...

Altoona Parking Authority tables removal of parking meters

Local News

Members of the Altoona Parking Authority tabled the removal of downtown parking meters at Tuesday’s meeting as they wait for a parking timeframe approval. According to Parking Authority Executive Director David Curtis, they can collect change from seven of the 22 meters located in the city. The keys for the remaining 15 meters don’t work. For now, City Council is considering changing the signage for parking time regulations, he said. Until the council decides on a particular time frame, the parking authority can’t move forward by posting signs and removing the meters. City ...

Van Zandt VA Medical Center holding virtual Tele-Town Hall

Local News

The Van Zandt VA Medical Center is holding a virtual, live Tele-Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, Aug. 26, to help veterans learn about health care eligibility. Participants can listen to VA staff, ask questions and obtain personalized guidance on applying for benefits. The session is intended to explain the scope of potential benefits and to debunk the common myths and misconceptions about eligibility, income and private insurance that sometimes lead veterans to delay seeking help, according to a Van Zandt news release. More than 93% of VA patients report that they trust their ...

Iran, Oman hold talks on Strait of Hormuz

International News

The top diplomats of Iran and Oman met on Tuesday to discuss a phased approach to managing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains largely shut down nearly six months after the Iran war began. The talks came after an oil tanker was disabled in an attack off the coast of Oman, underscoring the ongoing dangers for shipping companies attempting to use the waterway while it’s under Iranian control. Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Iran and Oman issue statement on Strait ...