Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1049
Hempfield family celebrates Apple Fest with friends
When Pete and Linda Hillis built an apple press at least 25 years ago, it became a drawing point for their family. Now it’s the main attraction at the Hempfield couple’s home every October. “Everybody’s so busy, but they take time to come to the Apple Fest,” said daughter Timi...
Major oil spill off Southern California fouls beachesVideo
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. At least 126,000 gallons of oil spilled into the waters off Orange County, according...
Virus surge hits New England despite high vaccination rates
Despite having the highest vaccination rates in the country, there are constant reminders for most New England states of just how vicious the delta variant of covid-19 is. Hospitals across the region are seeing full intensive care units and staff shortages are starting to affect care. Public officials are pleading...
Alaska allows hospitals to ration care amid covid spike
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska on Saturday activated emergency crisis protocols that allow 20 medical facilities to ration care if needed as the state recorded the nation’s worst covid-19 diagnosis rates in recent days, straining the state’s limited health care system. The declaration covers three facilities that had already announced...
No winner: Biggest Powerball jackpot in months grows larger
DES MOINES, Iowa — The biggest lottery prize in months grew larger after no ticket matched all five numbers and the Powerball drawn on Saturday night. The estimated jackpot for the next drawing on Monday is $670 million. Saturday night’s numbers were 28, 38, 42, 47 and 52. The Powerball...
Westmoreland Democrats prepare for last stand as Republicans seek full government takeover
It’s a last stand of sorts for Democrats in Westmoreland County. The once-dominant political party in November will try to hold on to its last vestiges of power as Republicans seek to claim every elected office at the courthouse. Four row office seats are up for grabs Nov. 2, including...
Boy, 2, missing from Braddock found safe, police say
A 2-year-old boy who was reported missing Sunday morning has been found safe, according to state police. Investigators were seeking the child who was last seen with a 36-year-old man. Braddock police said the pair were last seen on Saturday at 11 a.m. and state police issued a missing person...
Clues about how society emerges from covid-19 can be gleaned by looking back on 1918 Spanish flu, experts say
Karen Baldridge rolled up her sleeve to get her covid-19 booster vaccine. “I’m trying to baby myself and (am) doing everything that I can to keep healthy,” she said this past week while at Excela Square at Norwin. “I feel there’s about a 90% chance I wouldn’t get (covid), but...
‘Everybody is frustrated,’ Biden says as his agenda stalls
WASHINGTON — President Biden on Saturday acknowledged frustrations as Democrats strain to rescue a scaled-back version of his $3.5 trillion government-overhaul plan and salvage a related public works bill after frantic negotiations failed to produce a deal. “Everybody’s frustrated, it’s part of being in government, being frustrated,” Biden told reporters...
TV Talk: WTAE-TV adds Kasey Reigner as 5th meteorologist
Kasey Reigner will join WTAE-TV this month as the ABC affiliate’s fifth meteorologist, giving the station bragging rights in a market where four weathercasters is the norm. (Currently WPXI-TV is down to three meteorologists since the May departure of Danielle Dozier, a position that has yet to be filled.) Reigner,...
Southmoreland’s female running back, Lilly Wasmund, scores TD in win over Derry
The play simply was called, “Lilly.” Southmoreland put it in place Thursday at practice, running it once as a rehearsal in case junior Lilly Wasmund had the opportunity to run it in Friday night’s home game against Derry. Wasmund was up to the task when her number was called with...
ScareHouse, at Pittsburgh Mills, brings back crowd-favorite characters to celebrate 20 years of scares
ScareHouse is holding a reunion with its original characters this year in celebration of providing 20 years of scares in Western Pennsylvania. Longtime ScareHouse visitors will be able to take a trip down memory lane as all-time favorite characters, including the original ScareHouse bunny and Creepo the Clown, make an...
West Newton postal clerk gets special send-off at funeral
This postal route didn’t have a mailbox or package to deliver. Instead, the mail truck, with black bows fluttering from their perches on the side mirrors, turned into the West Newton Cemetery on Saturday, leading a funeral procession of those mourning Edmund Minkus, a longtime employee of the West Newton...
Pharmacies face 1st trial over role in opioid crisis
CLEVELAND — So many prescription painkillers were dispensed in Lake County, Ohio, between 2012 and 2016 that the amount equaled 265 pills for every resident. Just to the south, the flood of prescription opioids during the same period equated to 400 pills for every resident of Trumbull County. Attorneys say...
Powerball jackpot is biggest lottery prize in over 8 months
DES MOINES, Iowa — The biggest lottery prize in more than eight months will be up for grabs in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing. The Powerball jackpot has slowly climbed to an estimated $635 million thanks to 39 consecutive drawings without a grand prize winner, a record streak for the game...
Sullivan’s Steakhouse to open in Downtown Pittsburgh’s U.S. Steel Tower
It’s about the sizzle at Sullivan’s Steakhouse. Steaks are hand-cut and served juicy and tender. The French onion soup overflows the bowl with cheese. Crisp salads are topped with homemade blue cheese dressing A generous side of mashed potatoes is creamy from the buttermilk and garlic. An old fashioned cocktail...
Rolling Stones paint red logo black in honor of Charlie Watts
Fans going to the Rolling Stones concert Monday night at Heinz Field will see a different looking tongue and lips logo for the group. The Stones are taking their iconic red logo and painting it black in honor of their late drummer Charlie Watts. British tabloid The Sun reported that...
Duquesne man arrested after seizure of suspected fentanyl, ‘ghost gun’ from his home
Allegheny County Police arrested a Duquesne man Friday after seizing 33 bricks of suspected fentanyl from his residence. Rashaad Fitzgerald, 29, is charged with possession of a controlled substanceand possession with intent to deliver. Police also charged him with endangering the welfare of children, tampering with evidence and firearms violations....
Lower premiums, more perks for seniors shopping 2022 Medicare Advantage plans
Still-growing demand among Western Pennsylvania seniors for Medicare Advantage plans has spurred a slew of new health coverage options featuring lower costs and better perks as insurers compete to grow their market shares. “This is a ripe market in Western Pa., and we’re able to take those dollars and invest...
Local doctors cautiously optimistic about potential pill to treat covid-19
Local doctors said a pill to treat covid-19 could help keep patients healthy and ease the burden on overstrained hospitals, though they’re eyeing the drug with cautious optimism while awaiting final data. Merck & Co. on Friday announced its experimental pill cut hospitalizations and deaths in half for people recently...
‘He was larger than life’: Friends, family pay tribute to Dr. Freddie Fu in Pittsburgh
Family, friends and colleagues gathered on Friday at Heinz Memorial Chapel in Oakland to memorialize renowned orthopedist and sports medicine pioneer Dr. Freddie Fu. His daughter, Joyce Lok-See Fu, called the days leading up to her father’s Sept. 24 death surreal as she watched so many people share their stories...
U.S. hits 700,000 covid deaths just as cases begin to fall
MINNEAPOLIS — The United States reached its latest heartbreaking pandemic milestone Friday, eclipsing 700,000 deaths from covid-19 just as the surge from the delta variant is starting to slow down. It took 3 ½ months for the U.S. to go from 600,000 to 700,000 deaths, driven by the variant’s rampant...
Homicide suspect dead after standoff with Pittsburgh, county police
A five-hour standoff shut down streets in Pittsburgh’s Hill District on Friday as police tried to get a homicide suspect out of the home near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Manilla Avenue. The man exchanged gunfire with officers, and Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV reported the man, identified as Khalil...
Escaped Steller’s sea eagle, Kody, spotted near Pittsburgh’s North Park
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh said Friday that it is getting closer to capturing Kody, the Steller’s sea eagle that escaped from an outdoor enclosure last week. Kody, short for Kodiak, was spotted Thursday in the North Park area. Aviary staff, including the executive director and animal care experts, camped...
‘They are literally taking our future away from us’: Family seeks leads in North Versailles hayride killing
Shantel Pizaro wonders how her daughter will be able to get through a birthday without her twin brother by her side. After 15 years of birthdays together, 16 will be bittersweet. “How can she have a birthday every year with her twin, and now one of the biggest birthdays they...
