Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1107
Police: 92-year-old woman dies in vehicle/pedestrian crash in UPMC East garage in Monroeville
A woman was run over and killed by a vehicle inside the UPMC East parking garage in Monroeville on Wednesday afternoon. A Monroeville 911 dispatcher said the incident took place around 2:15 p.m. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Josephine Mayni, 92, of McKeesport. Mayni was transported...
Why a funding boost for the office that exposes Pa. puppy mills stalled again
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Partisan divides are stymying legislation to boost funding for the Pennsylvania bureau tasked with exposing puppy mills and handling...
Storms spur widespread power outages, downed trees across Western Pa.
Thousands of people remained without power Thursday morning after storms rolled through the region the day before. Duquesne Light reported at 8:15 a.m. that about 3,400 people were still without power, down from more than 25,000 about 12 hours earlier. “Severe storms moved through our region this afternoon, causing widespread...
Pittsburgh council, teachers’ union leader talk about ’emergency’ in school system
It’s been five months since Pittsburgh City Council declared a state of emergency in the public school system. The legislation was passed to begin a process by which the city’s leaders would work with Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders to address a racial achievement gap between white and Black students and...
With delta variant spreading, how worried should fully vaccinated people be?
If you’re fully vaccinated, how worried should you be about the delta variant of the coronavirus? There is widespread scientific consensus that fully vaccinated people have an excellent chance of being protected from severe illness or death from any coronavirus strain, including delta. In Los Angeles County, 99.8% of people...
State Sen. Doug Mastriano opens Pennsylvania election audit plan
HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania state lawmaker and ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump is launching a “forensic investigation” of the state’s 2020 presidential election, demanding cooperation from counties and mimicking a widely criticized partisan effort in Arizona. Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, issued letters to three counties Wednesday, giving officials...
R.K. Mellon Foundation announces $2.6 million grants to stimulate ‘new-economy’ jobs locally
The R.K. Mellon Foundation has a few goals aimed at helping people get jobs — and it’s got the money to get started. Targeting what foundation Director Sam Reiman calls “new-economy jobs,” the foundation is providing $2.6 million spread out over 16 grants. “With our new strategic plan, we are...
Cleveland zoo sues Pittsburgh zoo over Asian Lantern Festival name
The Cleveland zoo is suing the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for trademark infringement, claiming the Pittsburgh zoo’s upcoming Asian Lantern Festival is a ripoff of the Cleveland zoo’s annual event in place since 2018. Cleveland Metroparks alleged in the federal lawsuit filed last week that the zoo has held...
Pennsylvania’s covid cases remain low, despite slight uptick in positivity rates
Coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania continue to remain at low levels not seen since the very beginning of the pandemic in 2020. In the past week, according to reports from the state’s Department of Health, 1,250 new cases of the virus have been recorded. That number has not been so low...
Derry Township cruise to honor memory of classic car enthusiast
There’s no question Dan Quinn would have loved to attend a car cruise set for July 18 in Derry Township. Instead, members of his Latrobe family will represent him at the event, organized by a friend as a memorial to the classic car enthusiast who lost his battle with cancer...
Trump files suit against Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump has filed suit against three of the country’s biggest tech companies, claiming he and other conservatives have been wrongfully censored. Trump announced the action against Facebook, Twitter and Google’s YouTube, along with the companies’ CEOs, at a press conference Wednesday in New Jersey. He...
Tropical Storm Elsa kills 1 in Florida, hurts 10 at Georgia base
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A weakened but resilient Tropical Storm Elsa killed at least one person in Florida on Wednesday and injured several others when a possible tornado struck a Navy base in southeast Georgia. The National Hurricane Center said Elsa still packed 45 mph winds more than six hours...
Fake unemployment claims, real checks hit Western Pa. mailboxes; what to do if a fraudster targets you
Beware of fake unemployment claims hitting your mailbox as fraudsters continue to target Pennsylvania’s labor coffers at alarming rates. Scammers have been signing up unwitting — and still fully employed — residents for jobless benefits as part of a surge in sophisticated identity theft schemes to steal taxpayer money during...
United Steelworkers release summary of proposed ATI contract
The results of a ratification vote by United Steelworkers members at nine Allegheny Technology Inc. facilities are expected to be known by next Tuesday, the union said Tuesday. The union and ATI announced Friday they had reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract. If approved, the deal would end...
Lanterns to be released in memory of Plum high school student who died 2 years ago
Jody Dojonovic of Plum said her son, Thomas, had a warm smile that could light up a room. She hopes to once again light up a community in his memory. The second annual Thomas Jack Dojonovic Project Spread Positivity lantern release is set for July 21 at Larry Mills Park...
State police in Southwestern Pa. investigate 88 crashes over Fourth of July weekend, write 1,202 speeding tickets
State troopers in the region investigated 88 crashes during the four-day Fourth of July weekend, one of which was fatal, according to statistics released this week. There were 35 people hurt and alcohol was involved in 10 of the crashes, according to data for Troops A and B, which cover...
Former Westmoreland jail warden sues commissioner, alleges discrimination and emotional distress
The former longtime warden of the Westmoreland County Prison sued county Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher this week, claiming in the lawsuit that “relentless and baseless harassment, discrimination and retaliation” forced him to retire early. John Walton, 62, filed the federal lawsuit Monday, alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on sex,...
Pennsylvania Turnpike to hike tolls 5% next year
Drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will see a 5% rate hike in 2022, regardless of whether they are E-ZPass users or are billed through a toll-by-plate system. The increased rates will take effect Jan. 2 — except on the Southern Beltway, west of Pittsburgh. Turnpike officials note it’s the 14th...
Officials: Storm lashing Florida strengthens into hurricaneVideo
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A storm that has lashed the Caribbean and the Florida Keys with pounding rain and gusty winds and complicated the search for survivors in a deadly condominium collapse has strengthened into a hurricane. The National Weather Service said Tuesday that Hurricane Elsa was packing winds as...
Carnegie man charged in overdose death of 4-year-old son
A Carnegie toddler overdosed on fentanyl after a day spent with his father, who has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter, police said. Van Redding, 36, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of his 4-year-old earlier this year. The child died May 7 at St. Clair...
Churchill residents protest potential Amazon development
A large group of Churchill residents who oppose a potential Amazon distribution center in their community held a protest Tuesday evening. Hillwood Development — a Texas-based group that has acquired land for Amazon in the region before — is trying to purchase the former site of the George Westinghouse Research...
Family Dollar in West Deer robbed at gunpoint
An armed man robbed the Family Dollar store in West Deer’s Russellton area before it opened Monday morning, according to township police. Police Chief Robert Loper said an employee reported being approached from behind by a man with a handgun after arriving at the store around 7:40 a.m. The armed...
Clemente Bridge could close for 19 months; love locks coming down
Plans are being finalized for the refurbishing of the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh that could result in its closure for 19 months and removal of its popular love locks. Work on the bridge, adjacent to PNC Park, is expected to begin early next year and last until fall 2023....
Hi neighbor: Family moves into Mister Rogers’ former Pittsburgh home
There are new neighbors in Mister Rogers’ neighborhood. In fact, they are living in Mister Rogers’ former house. A family recently purchased the Squirrel Hill home on Northumberland Street for $866,000. It was once the home of Pittsburgh’s beloved Fred Rogers from WQED’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and his wife, Joanne....
Heinz launches campaign targeting hot dog, bun mismatched packaging
Heinz has had it. Tired of seeing hot dogs and buns sold in mismatched quantities — wieners in packages of 10, buns in packs of eight — the world-famous condiment maker launched a campaign Tuesday to encourage manufacturers to finally get on the same page. The ketchup king started a...
