Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1120
Donora man, 66, dies after jumping from Rostraver bridge
A man seen jumping from the Donora-Monessen bridge Friday afternoon died as a result of his injuries, according to the Washington County coroner. Thomas B. Matsick Jr., 66, of Donora was reportedle seen jumping from the eastbound side of the bridge, which carries traffic over the Monongahela River between Donora...
Pa. lawmakers threaten university funding over statute of limitations deadlock
A pair of state lawmakers who sponsored a bill to give adult survivors of child sexual abuse the right to sue their assailants beyond the statute of limitations say they will block state appropriations for Pennsylvania’s public research universities if Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward continues to stall a vote...
3 killed, 8 wounded in 9 shootings as the toll of Philadelphia’s bloody year grows
PHILADELPHIA — Three people were killed and eight others were wounded in nine shootings across the city Thursday, according to Philadelphia police, continuing a bloody year on pace to break records. The violence included a potential road rage killing in West Philadelphia, and it continued to push the city’s homicide...
Woman killed, husband injured by falling tree branch in Upper St. Clair park
A South Fayette woman died early Friday from injuries suffered when a tree branch fell on her in an Upper St. Clair park, officials said. Kara A. Leo, 40, was hiking with her husband Thursday evening in Boyce Mayview Park, according to officials and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. The...
Mystery note found in donated prom dress in Mt. Pleasant sparks viral TikTok search, new trend
As Jillian Nimick sorted through bags of prom dresses donated to Nimi Boutique in Mt. Pleasant, she didn’t expect to find anything out of the ordinary. But she did. Nimick, owner of the Main Street shop, has been accepting prom dress donations to give away since the spring. Sorting through...
U.S. Catholic bishops OK steps toward possible rebuke of Biden
U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights. The result of the vote — 168 in favor and 55 against — was announced Friday near...
Some vaccine experts having 2nd thoughts about rushing to inoculate kids
From the earliest days of the pandemic, doctors and public health officials have seen widespread vaccination as the most effective way to stop covid-19 in its tracks. But a growing contingent of medical experts is now questioning whether that conventional wisdom ought to apply to children. Their doubts are not...
Tight U.S. housing market uncoils with sellers ready to cash out
Prospective home sellers who sat tight as U.S. prices climbed higher and faster than ever during the pandemic are finally emerging to cash out, a step toward easing a dire shortage in the frenzied housing market. The number of U.S. homes for sale climbed 6.7% in early June from the...
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh to ordain 1 priest, 2 deacons in June
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will ordain Joseph S. Uzar Jr. as a priest on June 26, and two other men are joining the diocese as deacons this month. Uzar’s ceremony at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland will be the only ordination of a priest in the diocese this year....
Pitt to purchase 2 Oakland properties for $25 million, expanding campus footprint
The University of Pittsburgh is expanding its Oakland campus with the purchase of two properties for more than $25 million. The first property is at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Halket Street. The second consists of 12 parcels on Bates Street, the Boulevard of the Allies and Zulema Street...
‘Mask anxiety’ is a bare-faced fact for some people
It’s a common-enough dream — you’re at work, at school or in some other public place, when suddenly you realize you aren’t wearing any clothes. That doesn’t mean you’re a secret exhibitionist. Rather, dream analysts say, it hints at hidden insecurities and the fear of having them revealed to others....
Money, power, scandal: The Public School Employees’ Retirement System saga, explained
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. Pennsylvania’s largest pension fund is at the center of an equally large scandal, complete with an FBI investigation, a lawsuit, boardroom...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 18-20
Here are some happenings in Pittsburgh this weekend. Juneteenth WPA Juneteenth Pittsburgh-Allegheny Co. Freedom Days are Friday through Sunday at Point State Park. There will be food, vendors, and activities for children and live music. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, legendary hip-hop artist Rakimwill perform on the main stage. Other...
Back home: Biden has daunting to-do list after European tour
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is facing a formidable to-do list now that he’s back from his summit-filled trip to Europe, with pressing legislative challenges, foreign policy follow-up and a need to steer the country’s reopening as the coronavirus threat recedes. His overseas tour was meant to showcase the U.S....
GOP needs new health care target as ‘Obamacare’ survives again
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s latest rejection of a Republican effort to dismantle “Obamacare” signals anew that the GOP must look beyond repealing the law if it wants to hone the nation’s health care problems into a winning political issue. Thursday’s 7-2 ruling was the third time the court has...
Indiana County man’s body found in Kiski woods
A report of a suspicious vehicle at a Kiski car wash lead to the discovery of a man’s body Thursday afternoon, according to township police. Police said they got a call shortly after 7:30 a.m. about a vehicle left at the Apollo Car Wash on Route 56 just outside of...
Rivers Casino resumes construction of ‘Landing Hotel Pittsburgh’
It sat for a year, idled by the pandemic. But now, with an end to the covid-19 crisis seemingly in sight, construction on Rivers Casino Pittsburgh’s $60 million, “The Landing Hotel Pittsburgh” resumed this week. Cranes from local general contractor Massaro Corp. have returned to the site. Steel beam framing...
Brentwood woman charged in connection with shooting death of North Hills High graduate
A man wanted in connection with the murder of a North Hills honors student remained on the run Friday, but his girlfriend was charged Thursday with helping him escape the scene of the February shooting, according to police. Chayla Robinson, 40, is charged with hindering apprehension in the Feb. 21...
Lawsuit filed by protester who said they were struck by car on Veterans Bridge
A Hazelwood resident who was struck by a car on the Veterans Bridge in Pittsburgh last year during a peaceful march protesting the police killing of George Floyd is suing the driver that struck them. Victoria “Vic” Costikyan, 29, filed the complaint against Dylan Dietrich, listed as being from Jefferson...
Burrell School Board passes final budget with 3.5% real estate tax increase
The Burrell School Board unanimously approved its final budget of $32.7 million for 2021-22 on Tuesday, which includes a tax increase of 3.5%. For a home assessed at $22,900, the district’s average home tax assessment, the homeowner would pay an additional $80 in real estate tax for next school year,...
Democrats waiting for Conor Lamb as Pa.’s 2022 Senate race takes shape
PHILADELPHIA — When U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan decided she wouldn’t run for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat, moderate Democrats lost one of their big hopes for next year’s critical election. But they haven’t freaked out. That’s because in Democratic political circles, there’s widespread belief that U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, a Mt....
Ohio man dies in fall from roof of Neville Island pallet plant
An Ohio man died in a fall Thursday morning while making repairs to the roof of a Neville Island plant, according to police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Chris M. Byler, 19, of Andover. He was pronounced dead at the scene just before 9:30 a.m....
West Deer Police Chief Jon Lape set to retire, supervisors name Robert Loper to replace him
After 18 years, West Deer is getting a new chief of police. Chief Jonathan Lape is retiring at the end of June, and the township supervisors have appointed Sgt. Robert Loper as the new chief. “There are few people who will have as wide an impact as Chief Lape has,”...
Tropical storm warning issued for northern Gulf CoastVideo
MIAMI — A tropical storm warning was issued Thursday for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as a potential tropical cyclone advanced toward the northern Gulf Coast. The warning extends from Intracoastal City, La., to the Alabama-Florida border, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Heavy rainfall and flooding...
Tarentum’s revitalization kicks into gear with Depot groundbreaking
A long-awaited business broke ground Thursday in Tarentum. The Depot, owned by Faith Community Partners, has been in the works since the building’s purchase by Executive Director Dave Rankin in 2015. Construction on the building on the 300 block of Fifth Avenue officially began Monday. Developers of The Depot plan...
