Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1227
House GOP keeps Liz Cheney as No. 3 leader, stands by Marjorie Taylor GreeneVideo
WASHINGTON — House Republicans decided Wednesday to stand by two GOP lawmakers who have polarized the party, voting to retain Rep. Liz Cheney as their No. 3 leader and saying they’d fight a Democratic push to kick Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene off her committees. In a 145-61 vote by secret...
Public education advocates hail Wolf’s school budget; Republicans balk at tax proposal
Public education advocates applauded the proposed 21% boost to K-12 funding in Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 budget Wednesday calling it bold and overdue, even as members of the Republican-controlled Legislature savaged it. “It is long overdue and very, very necessary,” said Ron Cowell, the former Allegheny County lawmaker and founder...
Western Pa. lawmakers sound off on Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal
Local lawmakers’ early reactions to Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget fell along party lines Wednesday, with Republicans condemning the proposed personal income tax increase, while Democrats praised the increase in school funding and proposed minimum wage hike. Here’s what they had to say: Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny): “I’m happy that...
Defense Secretary orders military leaders to address extremism in ranks
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is ordering military leaders to spend time talking to their troops about extremism in the ranks, after a number of former and current military members took part in the riot at the U.S. Capitol last month. Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Austin met...
Feds: ‘Sergeant of Arms’ of Proud Boys arrested in Washington state
SEATTLE — Federal authorities on Wednesday arrested a man who describes himself as the “Sergeant of Arms” of the Seattle chapter of the far-right group Proud Boys, after he was charged in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol last month. Ethan Nordean, who is also known as Rufio...
Westmoreland group weighs in on lack of local input, challenges in vaccine rollout
Members of the Voice of Westmoreland, a local grassroots organizing group, raised a call for the county to establish a health department during an online town hall forum on the vaccine rollout in the region. The online town hall brought together representatives from Service Employees International Union, the United Food...
Pa. officials hope direct shipment of covid vaccine to pharmacies will ease supply woes
Pennsylvania health officials hope additional covid-19 vaccines going directly from the federal government to some pharmacies will begin to chip away at their massive waitlists as millions remain to be vaccinated. The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it would begin sending vaccines directly to states’ retail pharmacy partnership locations. In...
‘New chance at life’: New Jersey man gets face, hands in rare transplant surgeryVideo
NEW YORK — Almost six months after a rare face and hands transplant, Joe DiMeo is relearning how to smile, blink, pinch and squeeze. The 22-year-old New Jersey resident had the operation last August, two years after being badly burned in a car crash. “I knew it would be baby...
Allegheny Co. officials ask for ‘common sense’ during Super Bowl viewingVideo
Allegheny County officials encouraged residents to exercise caution over Super Bowl weekend – refraining from gathering with people outside of family members and sticking to public health guidelines. “We ask people, again, use good common sense,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Social distance, wear your mask, avoid Super Bowl parties.” The...
Federal grand jury investigating Brighton Rehab in Beaver County
A federal grand jury is investigating Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and its corporate ownership, the Tribune-Review has confirmed. The privately owned Beaver County nursing home is the site of one of the nation’s deadliest covid-19 outbreaks and continues to confront legal challenges on multiple fronts. At least 76 Brighton...
Congress honors Officer Brian Sicknick’s heroic defense of the CapitolVideo
WASHINGTON — Members of Congress, top military brass, President Joe Biden and hundreds of Capitol Police officers paid their respects to officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered fatal injuries when defending the Capitol from the violent insurrection on Jan. 6. A wooden box with Sicknick’s remains was carried up the illuminated...
Judge orders Crack’d Egg to follow covid rules or closeVideo
An Allegheny County judge ruled Wednesday that a Brentwood restaurant must adhere to state and county covid-19 restrictions or close immediately. An attorney for the Crack’d Egg said they will request a stay on the order while the decision is appealed to state Commonwealth Court. If no stay is granted,...
Pa.’s lagging vaccine rollout takes center stage in Harrisburg
Pennsylvania’s lagging coronavirus vaccine distribution came under fire Wednesday as health leaders cited poor communication and disorganization as reasons for the slow rollout and lawmakers questioned the state’s efficiency in inoculating residents. The three-hour hearing, conducted by the House Health Committee, addressed concerns with vaccine accessibility, racial disparities, the pace...
Jeannette man accused in Hempfield rape case
A Jeannette man was arraigned Wednesday after state police said he broke into a Hempfield home in November and raped a woman, according to court papers. Asa Duane Busato, 22, is charged with rape of an unconscious person, burglary, aggravated indecent assault and criminal trespass. He was being held at...
Canada designates the Proud Boys as a terrorist entity
TORONTO — The Canadian government designated the Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity on Wednesday, noting they played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The Proud Boys have faced increased scrutiny after seizing on the former Trump administration’s policies and was a...
Commonwealth Charter Academy purchases former Macy’s space at Waterfront
A former Macy’s department store now known as the Waterfront Technology Center has been bought by one of its current tenants. Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA), an online education platform, has finalized a deal to purchase the redeveloped office complex from M&J Wilkow and BIG Shopping Centers, which bought the 140,000-square-foot...
Detectives charge Westmoreland prison inmate with trying to smuggle anxiety, opioid pills into lockup
A woman arrested after skipping hearings in a 2019 DUI case is charged with trying to smuggle anxiety and Oxycontin pills into the the Westmoreland County Prison, according to county detectives. Julie Lea Thomas, 22, of Connellsville overdosed Jan. 21 after being placed in an intake holding cell as she...
Wolf asks for tax increase on Pa.’s top earners amid pandemic; GOP pans proposal as ‘irresponsible’
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan 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 — In one of his boldest budget proposals since taking office, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is asking the legislature to...
Fish fry sponsors reminded of covid guidelines, need for health permit
Health officials in Allegheny County reminded Lenten fish fry sponsors they must have a health permit and follow the state’s covid-19 mitigation guidelines. Health permits are required for all facilities serving food, including temporary fish fries. Allegheny County Health Department spokesman Aaron Aupperlee said sponsors should submit their temporary permit...
Covid hospitalizations continue to drop in Pennsylvania
Covid hospitalizations in Pennsylvania are on a downward trend, decreasing more than 500 in a week. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health shows the number of coronavirus patients dropped 544 from 3,768 a week ago to 3,224 Wednesday. The number also shrunk by 57 from Tuesday’s 3,281. There are...
Westmoreland County shows signs of covid cases dropping
Westmoreland County’s seven-day average of new coronavirus cases (90) remained in double digits for the fourth straight day after averaging triple-digit new cases every day from Nov. 12 through Jan. 30. The county on Wednesday reported 115 additional covid-19 cases, as well as four deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department...
Dick’s Sporting Goods sues Baseball Reference over GameChanger trademark infringement
A Dick’s Sporting Goods subsidiary is suing the company that operates the popular Baseball Reference website, alleging trademark infringement. GameChanger, which is owned by Dick’s, is a software application for youth baseball and softball. The app provides statistics tracking, as well as the ability to live stream games. According to...
Allegheny County adds 33 covid-19 deaths to total
Allegheny County reported 33 more covid-19 deaths Wednesday, according to the county’s Health Department. The newly reported deaths range from Dec. 19 to Monday, with four of the deaths occurring in December. The county attributed some of the new deaths to data imported by the state from the Electronic Death...
Here’s how Pa. ranks in vaccination rollout nationwide
If it feels like the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Pennsylvania is among the worst in the country, you’re not wrong. According to data compiled by the Associated Press, Pennsylvania is tied for 39th among the 50 states in terms of the percentage of the population that has received at least...
Pittsburgh School Board postpones discussion of building closures
Pittsburgh Public School Board members voted on Tuesday to table discussions on closing or reconfiguring several district buildings. Officials had proposed major changes to the district’s footprint Monday evening. District officials said the changes, which consisted of closing seven schools and six buildings, as well as opening two new schools...
