Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1233
Gov. Tom Wolf wants billions for workforce aid
HARRISBURG — Facing a deep, pandemic-inflicted budget deficit and a clock running down on his time in office, Gov. Tom Wolf will ask lawmakers for billions of dollars funded by higher taxes on Pennsylvania’s huge natural gas industry for workforce development and employment assistance to help the state recover. Wolf...
City cancels 2021 Pittsburgh Marathon; smaller regional races still on
The City of Pittsburgh has announced it will not grant a permit for the 2021 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, effectively canceling this year’s event. Officials decided that May, when the marathon has traditionally been held, was too early to host such an event in a year with an ongoing...
Frank Dermody lost state House election but lands $145,000/year gambling board job
What goes around comes around in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Former state Rep. Frank Dermody, who used to appoint members to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, on Thursday received an appointment of his own and the $145,000 annual salary it brings. Dermody, 69, the longtime House minority leader, in November lost...
Pennsylvania proposes more species for Sunday hunting in November
The Pennsylvania Game Commission proposed three Sundays in November when licensed hunters will be able to harvest permitted game, repeating the Sunday hunting schedule introduced last fall. New this year, the commission plans to expand the species that hunters can target on two of those dates. During its January meeting,...
Feds: Bridgeville man accused in Capitol riot said he would do it again
A Bridgeville man who is charged with participating in the U.S. Capitol riot said in messages recovered on his cell phone that he felt the need to kill people, including President Joe Biden, an FBI agent said Thursday. FBI Special Agent Mark Brundage also testified during a detention hearing that...
Wolf focuses on economic comeback, bipartisan progress, transparency in ’21 agenda
Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021 legislative agenda will focus heavily on rebuilding Pennsylvania’s economy from damage caused by the covid-19 pandemic, including targeted investments to businesses, schools and other infrastructure. “I think we need to talk about the barriers our fellow citizens face,” Wolf said. “It’s time to make plans to...
Covid deaths in Pennsylvania rise, cases remain level
Pennsylvania on Thursday added 198 coronavirus deaths, bringing its total number of deaths to 21,303 since the pandemic began in March. In latest report, 187 deaths are from January, 11 are from December. January (3,520) has surpassed April (3,395) to become the second deadliest month for covid. December has the...
2019 Monroeville Mall shooter apologizes, sentenced to up to 5 years
A man who pleaded guilty last year to firing more than a dozen shots into a Monroeville Mall entrance during a fight told an Allegheny County judge on Thursday he regretted his actions and he would do whatever he could to turn his life around. Brandon Noel, now 23, was...
Allegheny County reports 135 new covid deaths, points to state backlog for large increase
Allegheny County on Thursday reported 135 new coronavirus deaths, the highest number of deaths reported on a single day since the pandemic began last spring. The previous highest number was 74 deaths reported on Jan. 13. The county said in a release that a backlog at the state resulted in...
TV Talk: Weekend anchor Brittany Hoke leaves WTAE-TV
WTAE-TV weekend evening anchor/reporter Brittany Hoke announced on her Facebook page she chose to walk away from her “dream job” at Channel 4 in favor of “freedom.” In her lengthy post, Hoke wrote there are “a lot of” reasons for her departure — she does not name them — but...
N.Y. nursing home virus deaths were undercounted, AG says
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York may have undercounted covid-19 deaths of nursing home residents by as much as 50%, the state’s attorney general said in a report released Thursday. Attorney General Letitia James has, for months, been examining discrepancies between the number of deaths being reported by the state’s Department...
Robinhood app ‘restricting transactions’ for GameStop, AMC, Nokia stocks
Stock trading app Robinhood began restricting transactions on certain stocks Thursday, following days of recent surges from GameStop and others. “We continuously monitor the markets and make changes where necessary. In light of recent volatility, we are restricting transactions for certain securities to position closing only, including $AMC, $BB, $BBBY,...
Here’s why it’s hard to make coronavirus vaccines and boost supplies
With demand for covid-19 vaccines outpacing the world’s supplies, a frustrated public and policymakers want to know: How can we get more? A lot more. Right away. The problem: “It’s not like adding more water to the soup,” said vaccine specialist Maria Elena Bottazzi of Baylor College of Medicine. Makers...
U.S. jobless claims drop; still at 847,000 as pandemic rages
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell but remained at a historically high 847,000 last week, a sign that layoffs keep coming as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage. Last week’s claims dropped by 67,000, from 914,000 the week before, the Labor Department said Thursday. Before...
N.C. man hits 2 deer with new car, then he hits $2M in lottery
LELAND, N.C. — An unlucky start to a North Carolina man’s day turned upside down when he discovered he won a $2 million lottery prize hours after hitting two deer with his new car. Anthony Dowe, of Leland, had an accident on his way to work, the North Carolina Education...
Police deploy gas to get man barricaded inside East Liberty apartment building to surrender
Pittsburgh Police were able to safely evacuate residents from an East Liberty apartment building when an armed man threatened responding officers before barricading himself inside. Officers from the city’s Zone 5 station were dispatched to the 600 block of Collins Street shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday after receiving a...
19-year-old woman fatally shot in Hazelwood, man wounded
Pittsburgh police responding to a Shotspotter alert in the 300 block of Flowers Avenue in Hazelwood on Wednesday night were stopped on the way by a vehicle carrying two people suffering from gunshot wounds, according to authorities. Officers from the city’s Zone 4 station were alerted to the gunfire shortly...
Pittsburgh to honor local jazz musicians virtually for Black History Month
Pittsburgh jazz legend Roger Humphries marches to his own beat. The musician from Pittsburgh’s North Side began playing the drums at the age of 3. He wanted to be like his older brothers. “Music is in my blood,” said Humphries, who turns 77 on Saturday. “I recall lying on the...
State Rep. Frankel builds support for hate speech bill in wake of Capitol riots
When an angry mob of anti-government extremists carrying symbols of hate stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, it may have been a wake-up call for some — but not for state Rep. Dan Frankel, a Democrat from Squirrel Hill. Frankel is Jewish and represents a district that includes the...
Pittsburgh Public Schools delay returning to classrooms until April 6
Pittsburgh Public Schools has delayed the return to in-school instruction another two months, until April 6. The district targeted the return to classroom instruction at the end of February. One after the other, several board members spoke at their meeting Wednesday in support of continuing to teach classes online, though...
Pandemic concerns trigger postponement of Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Organizers are postponing this year’s Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade because of pandemic concerns regarding large gatherings. The decision to postpone the annual event, which would have been held on March 13, was made jointly with city officials. The parade committee is working with the city to identify a date...
Biden orders sweeping actions to pause drilling and fight climate changeVideo
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday a moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on public lands, one of a slate of executive actions he is taking to demonstrate his commitment to fighting climate change, despite opposition from the fossil fuel industry. The move effectively hit pause on the...
Hearing on Crack’d Egg restaurant closure orders focuses on mask efficacy
Allegheny County’s chief epidemiologist testified Wednesday that restaurants operating at full capacity and without mask requirements during the covid-19 pandemic “absolutely” pose a risk to the community. LuAnn Brink, who also serves as deputy director of the county health department, was the first witness called in a hearing involving the...
Former Allderdice coach, police academy cadet accused of selling cocaine from house
A former Pittsburgh Allderdice High School football coach who was going through a police academy is accused of selling cocaine out of his Squirrel Hill home, according to charges filed Wednesday by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Branndon Pezzelle, 36, allegedly had 1,252 grams – nearly 3 pounds – of...
Allegheny County officials expecting improvements to vaccine rolloutVideo
Allegheny County officials said Wednesday they are making plans to take vaccine doses into senior high rises and similar communities, setting up a phone registration and looking for ways to streamline the registration process. The steps take time, officials said, and take a larger and more reliable supply of vaccine....
