Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1092
Transportation panel to issue plan on Pa. gas tax elimination
HARRISBURG — A transportation funding commission set up by Gov. Tom Wolf to find ways to end Pennsylvania’s reliance on its gas tax will issue a $15.6 billion package of recommendations, which lean heavily on shifting to a vehicle-miles-traveled fee that numerous states are exploring. The Transportation Revenue Options Commission...
AstraZeneca to seek U.S. approval of covid vaccine later this year
LONDON — AstraZeneca said Thursday that it intends to seek U.S. approval for its covid-19 vaccine later this year, further delaying the application even as the company announced it had already delivered more than 1 billion doses to other countries. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said the application has been delayed because...
Severe thunderstorm watch issued as storms approach Pittsburgh region
Damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes are possible with storms expected to reach southwestern Pennsylvania this afternoon, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. The service issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 3:30 p.m. that runs until 10 p.m., meteorologist Lee Hendricks said. The watch covers a swath from Indiana through...
Allegheny Township ice cream stand is up for sale
A popular ice cream business in Allegheny Township is on the market. Sweetie’s Ice Cream, at 6273 Leechburg Road, is listed for $339,000 with Jason Mazzei of Keller Williams Realty. Co-owner Edward Spix, who has owned it for almost a decade, said, “It’s time to move on.” Mazzei said he...
Allegheny County Police arrest suspect in fatal North Braddock shooting
A North Braddock man is accused of the fatal shooting of a Swissvale man in North Braddock early Thursday morning, Allegheny County Police said. The suspect, Robert Lawson-Johnson, is charged with homicide and firearms violations in the shooting death of Benjamin Dixon, 33, in the 1200 block of Rebecca Avenue...
Ohio man killed, driver injured in tractor-trailer crash on Pa. Turnpike near Donegal
A Columbus, Ohio, man was killed and another person was injured in a crash early Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to state police. Crews were dispatched to the eastbound lanes at mile marker 91, about one mile east of the Donegal interchange at 3:55 a.m. Thursday for reports of...
‘So unbelievable’: Police say Mt. Lebanon man killed parents, fatally shot himself
Neighbors heard at least a dozen gunshots early Thursday before police and SWAT officers swarmed a quiet stretch of Gilkeson Road in Mt. Lebanon, where police say a man killed his parents and then opened fire on police. “We were trying to go to sleep when we were awakened by,...
Police: Man in critical condition, 2 others taken to hospital, after shooting in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood
A man is in critical condition, and two others were taken to the hospital, following a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood Wednesday night, police said. Pittsburgh police and EMS responded to the 1600 block of Brownsville Road around 11 p.m. where they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, according...
Pa. fish commission considers statewide opening day for trout
The head of the region’s Trout Unlimited chapter supports having a single opening day for trout season in the state — the first Saturday in April — as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is considering. “I would support an earlier opening day because of the impact of climate change...
Diocese: 2 Catholic churches in Penn Hills, as well as 1 in Monroeville and Pitcairn to close in August
Two Catholic churches in Penn Hills will soon close their doors for good. Diocese of Pittsburgh officials said St. Bartholomew Church, at 111 Erhardt Drive, and St. Gerard Majella Church, at 121 Dawn Drive, are in poor physical condition. A recent decree from Bishop David Zubik cited both roofs, as...
2 hospitalized after Route 30 crash in North Huntingdon
Two people were taken by ambulance after being injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday night in North Huntingdon, according to county emergency officials. Eastbound Route 30 was partially closed for just under an hour after the crash, which was reported at 8:48 p.m. A Westmoreland County 911 supervisor said two...
Whitehall man who threatened to ‘blow up’ Treasury Dept., attack CIA pleads guilty to explosives charges
A Whitehall man who made threats online to blow up government buildings in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. using homemade bombs has pleaded guilty to gun and explosives charges. Kurt Cofano, 32, was convicted of three counts of five counts brought by a grand jury indictment in connection to his arrest...
Pittsburgh man caught with child sex videos gets 1 year, 9 months in prison
A federal judge sentenced a Pittsburgh man caught with videos depicting children younger than 12 years old engaged in sexual acts to serve a year and nine months behind bars. Philip Wagner, 44, will must also spend at least eight years on probation following his release from federal prison, Acting...
Body of missing Stowe woman found
The death of a 64-year-old Stowe Township woman, reported missing July 28 after family members had not seen or heard from her in three days, is under investigation by the county coroner. Allegheny County Police were seeking information last week on the whereabouts of Patricia Moran, 64. She was last...
Brackenridge man pleads guilty to $101,000 federal credit union robbery
A Brackenridge man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a July 2019 robbery of more than $100,000 from the Allegheny-Ludlum Brackenridge Federal Credit Union. Thomas George, 66, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery, according to acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman. According to court records, on July 10, 2019,...
Rep. Conor Lamb preparing to launch Senate run in August
WASHINGTON — Rep. Conor Lamb is expected to launch a Senate campaign in August, according to three sources familiar with the Pennsylvania Democrat’s decision. Two sources said Lamb is planning a campaign event Aug. 6 at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall in Pittsburgh, with one source noting...
Allegheny County officials won’t rule out local mask mandate
Covid-19 cases in Allegheny County remain below the threshold that would trigger the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated mask guidance, but county leaders did not rule out the need for a countywide mask mandate. “We’re not there yet but, again, stay tuned,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, noting...
Infrastructure deal: Senate votes to start work on $1T billVideo
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan after President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators reached agreement on major provisions of the package that is a key part of his presidential agenda. Biden welcomed the accord as...
Lawsuit against Sewickley Academy alleges race discrimination
The former director of admissions and financial aid at Sewickley Academy is suing the private school in federal court alleging race discrimination in a recent purge of administrators there. Douglas Leek, who holds a doctoral degree in education and is Black, said that, despite a strong performance evaluation earlier this...
Pa. Turnpike Commission makes last $450M payment to PennDOT
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Wednesday made its last $450 million payment to PennDOT for transit systems around the state, bringing the total amount paid out over the past 15 years to $7.9 billion, the commission announced. However, that doesn’t mean there will be a drop in tolls or an...
Why masks are again advised for everyone indoors
NEW YORK — Wait, we’re supposed to wear masks again? Even if we are vaccinated? For a large part of the U.S., that’s the latest advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC this week revisited and revised its guidance for wearing masks indoors to stop the...
Weekend night restrictions coming to busy East Carson Street on South Side
Traffic and other restrictions are coming to the South Side on weekend nights, Pittsburgh officials said Wednesday. The move is meant to curb pedestrian and traffic congestion after weeks of overflowing sidewalks, gridlock and violence. Between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, East Carson Street will allow only...
Pfizer: Vaccine protective for at least 6 months
WASHINGTON — The effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released Wednesday. The findings are one piece of evidence that U.S. health authorities will consider in deciding if and when...
How UPMC’s new CEO Leslie Davis plans to lead the health giant
Forward motion is the ultimate goal for Leslie Davis as she takes over as chief executive of health care giant UPMC, whether it be in patient services, insurance or academics. Davis, 62, becomes the first woman to head the multibillion-dollar operation. She takes over officially on Sunday, though outgoing CEO...
Tarentum burglary suspect arrested after bitten by police dog
A burglary suspect was arrested in Tarentum after being tracked down and bitten by a police dog, police said. Tarentum police charged David Weston, 34, with flight to avoid apprehension and loitering and prowling at nighttime. In a criminal complaint against Weston, police said they were dispatched to a Negley...
