News

Mortgage rates climb for 5th straight week

National News September 26, 2026

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week above 7% for the first time since January 2025, the latest affordability setback for prospective homebuyers following a five-week run of rate increases. The weekly average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate home loan rose to 7.03% from 6.95% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.30%. The average rate is now the highest it’s been since Jan. 16, 2025, when it was at 7.04%. “Beyond the immediate financial constraints, the 7% threshold is a foreboding psychological barrier,” said ...

Second Bookstore Crawl happens in October

Business September 26, 2026

The 2026 Fall Bookstore Crawl will take place 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 3. Scheduled participants are Bob’s Bookstore, 657 E. State St., Salem; Paperback Shack, 6058 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles; POP! Art Books Culture, 6949 Market St., Boardman; Once Upon a Bookstore, 351 Youngstown Kingsville Road, Vienna; The Book Nook, 222 E. Market St., Warren; and The Literary Escape, 436 W. Carolina Ave., Chester, W.Va. Participants will receive a stamp card at any of the participating bookstores and use that card to collect stamps from the other participating bookstores. After visiting the ...

Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed Missouri congressional map

National News September 26, 2026

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday turned away an attempt to use a new Missouri congressional map backed by President Donald Trump, putting an end to a long-running legal dispute as absentee voting is underway in the midterm elections. The justices halted a federal appeals court ruling that would have revived the Republican-friendly map for the November elections, which will determine control of Congress. There were no noted dissents. The Supreme Court instead let stand a decision by the Missouri Supreme Court, which ruled earlier this month that a citizen ...

Agenda

Community News September 26, 2026

•EAGLE JOINT FIRE DISTRICT will have a special meeting at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Hubbard Township administration building for an executive session on personnel matters and to discuss labor negotiations. Also on the agenda is accepting a bid on the Ferno Cot on govdeals.com and the approval of emergency repairs for Tanker 28. •GIRARD CITY COUNCIL will meet at 7 p.m. Monday for a regular meeting with caucus at 6 p.m. on Girard Lakes property and 6:30 p.m. on finances. •LIBERTY BOARD OF EDUCATION will meet at 5 p.m. Monday at the high school auditorium. •HOWLAND BOARD OF ...

Cheetah cubs at Prague Zoo are OK after storms and their mother’s illness

International News September 26, 2026

PRAGUE (AP) — Five cheetah cubs had to survive a weather scare and the illness of their mother after their birth at the Prague Zoo. But they are doing well now, the zoo said on Friday. The zoo said the quintuplets — four males and one female — that were born on June 18 had faced a tough time from the start. Their mother, Daenerys, opted to give birth in an outdoor enclosure with a period of strong storms hitting Prague soon after. Despite her inexperience, Daenerys took “exemplary” good care of her first cubs under such weather conditions. Daenerys protected the five ...