Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1199
GOP struggles to define Biden, turns to culture wars instead
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and the Democrats were on the brink of pushing through sprawling legislation with an eyepopping, $1.9 trillion price tag. But many Republican politicians and conservative commentators had other priorities in recent days. A passionate defense of Dr. Seuss. Serious questions about the future of Mr....
Peduto to face 3 challengers in Pittsburgh mayoral race, Will Parker out
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will likely face a challenge from three other Democratic candidates in his bid for a third and final term as leader of the city. Peduto, along with a slew of other candidates seeking municipal, school board, judicial and Allegheny County council seats, filed nominating petitions Tuesday...
Trial for Greensburg man charged with robbery, murder of Vandergrift woman set for June
The murder trial for a Greensburg man charged with the 2017 bludgeoning and strangulation death of a Vandergrift woman is set to begin in June. Prosecutors contend that Walter Cable, 28, is one of two men who robbed 34-year-old Ronny Cable. They are not related. She was beaten with a...
Without St. Patrick’s Day parade, groups produce virtual Irish celebration in Pittsburgh
For the second consecutive year, there is no luck of the Irish for an in-person St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittsburgh. But there will be a virtual party to recognize the upcoming celebration. The “Virtual Shamrock Shindig Celebrates Everything Irish” takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 12. The...
Hempfield couple, among the 1st to get covid-19, glad they shared their recovery story
Michael Duffy had some reservations when his wife Lisa decided to go public a year ago after they became the second and third Westmoreland County residents to test positive for covid-19. The Duffys, of Hempfield, contracted the virus during a Caribbean cruise in March 2020, when the world was just...
WQED, Western Pa. groups to host youth mental health virtual event
In addition to all the other problems it has caused, the covid-19 pandemic has given rise to mental health issues for 11- to- 17-year-olds. The disruption of in-person classes, as well as extracurricular and social activities, has left a significant number of young people depressed and worried about their futures....
House to vote Wednesday on massive coronavirus aid billVideo
WASHINGTON — The House will vote to clear the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package for President Joe Biden’s signature on Wednesday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. House lawmakers received the paperwork on Tuesday from the Senate after that chamber’s marathon “vote-a-rama” that ended Saturday afternoon, resulting in numerous changes...
U.S. aid to Pa. draws GOP warning to use it for 1-time costs
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania state government is expected to receive more than $7 billion from the $1.9 trillion covid-19 rescue package making its way through Congress, or almost one-fifth of its operating costs this year, with some warning that the one-time aid should be used only for one-time costs. Many across...
Police: 3 people shot in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood, 2 are critical
Multiple people were shot in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood, Public Safety officials reported Tuesday night. Allegheny County 911 dispatch confirmed police were called to Suismon and James streets around 9:20 p.m. Officials said three men were taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds, two in critical condition and one...
House approves pro-union bill despite dim Senate oddsVideo
WASHINGTON — The Democratic-led House on Tuesday approved legislation that would invigorate workers’ unions, following decades of court defeats and legislative setbacks that have kneecapped the labor movement’s once formidable ability to organize. The measure, which union leaders and labor allies have presented as a cure for decades of working-class...
Buffalo Township man with dementia found after search died of hypothermia
A Buffalo Township man who was found by searchers late Tuesday after going missing earlier in the evening died of of hypothermia, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dennis Fester, 74, who suffered from dementia, went missing Tuesday. His wife, Sally Fester, said her husband went for a...
Looking for a covid-19 vaccine? This site can help find spares — but you’ll need patienceVideo
In an attempt to rid Americans of the tedious task of refreshing websites for hours on end, a team of 21 medical advisers, technology experts and business people are running a site that matches covid-19 vaccine providers with leftover doses to people who want one. The free service, coined Dr....
Couple sues Penn Hills police over broken arm during wrongful arrest
A Penn Hills husband and wife are suing the police department there, alleging that an officer responding to a domestic disturbance wrongfully arrested the woman and, in doing so, broke her arm. Barbara Ann Thompkins, 61, and her husband, Eric Klavon, filed the civil rights complaint in federal court on...
Giant Eagle to offer covid vaccine clinic for Pittsburgh Public Schools teachers, staff
Giant Eagle will offer a two-day covid-19 vaccination clinic for Pittsburgh Public School employees at Heinz Field this week, Giant Eagle and school officials said Wednesday. Officials said there will be enough vaccine for as many as 3,000 PPS employees at the Thursday and Friday clinics on Pittsburgh’s North Shore....
Page Dairy Mart on Pittsburgh’s South Side celebrating 70 years of sweet treats
At 10 years old, Chuck Page began working for the family business. He cleaned milkshake collars — stainless steel attachments used to keep ice cream from splattering from the top of a paper cup when blending ingredients. Fifty-seven years later, he’s still at the milkshake machine. “I love ice cream,”...
Pittsburgh officials add their support to national $15 minimum wage
Pittsburgh City Council is formally asking federal and state officials to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. The action, passed unanimously by council Tuesday, is symbolic, and has been taken before. But council members said they did so to stand up for more than 2,000 home care workers...
AHN, Highmark Health outfit first responders with more personal protective gearVideo
For about a dozen ambulance services that received free boxes of personal protective equipment Tuesday during a distribution of masks, gowns and face shields at AHN Hempfield Neighborhood Hospital, the initiative was a lifesaver — literally and financially, recipients said. “This will really help out. (PPE is) in really short...
As food insecurity continues for millions, Pa. now taking SNAP applications by phone
Pennsylvanians can now apply for food assistance via phone, state officials said Tuesday. Applications to the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are now taken on 1-866-550-4355, in addition to the established methods of mailing in a paper form or going online. The state has seen an uptick in applications...
Ex-Mt. Pleasant Township church treasurer accused of stealing $150K, spending funds on porn site
The longtime treasurer of a Mt. Pleasant Township church was arrested this week after admitting to state troopers he stole at least $150,000 from church coffers and spent a large portion of the money on a pornographic website, according to court records. Glenn E. Yothers, 56, of Unity, is charged...
White House: States get 900K more covid vaccine doses this week
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is making an additional 900,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available to states and pharmacy partners this week. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced that states and territories will receive 15.8 million doses of the two-shot vaccines, up from 15.2 million last week. Another...
Ashley Lynn Priore: A chess strategy may help unify Pa.
I’m a proud Pittsburgher. How could I not be? I was born and raised in the Steel City and attended the University of Pittsburgh down the street from my home. In 2014, I founded a nonprofit organization, Queen’s Gambit Chess Institute. I have taught chess in Pittsburgh’s nine districts ever...
Thousands receive covid-19 vaccine at Monroeville Convention CenterVideo
Jeannie Hall-Harris did a lot of praying going into Tuesday’s mass-vaccination event in Monroeville. “I was hesitant at first,” she said, moments after receiving her first dose of Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine. She was one of 5,100 people who received the shot at the Monroeville Convention Center, which partnered with Allegheny...
Allegheny, Westmoreland counties see largest increase in covid cases in month
Allegheny and Westmoreland counties on Tuesday saw the most additional covid cases in about a month, according to state and local health departments. There were 348 additional covid-19 cases (166 confirmed, 182 probable) reported in Allegheny County, the first time there were more than 300 additional cases reported this month....
2,500 Westmoreland teachers, school-related employees to get coronavirus vaccineVideo
Nearly 2,500 Westmoreland County teachers and other school employees will get coronavirus vaccinations starting this weekend. Registration emails should be sent shortly to those whose identities and employment were verified by schools, said Jason Conway, executive director of the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit. Clinics will be held over several days. “It...
McCandless residents caught feeding deer could face fines, jail time
Finding ways to keep deer from devouring expensive landscape, causing vehicle crashes and spreading disease received overwhelming support from McCandless residents who were surveyed about the town’s growing deer population. On Monday, council took the first step toward fixing the problem. McCandless residents who put food out for deer could...
