Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1262
Year in Pictures: Trib photographers document a tumultuous 2020 in Western Pennsylvania
The year 2020 is likely to be a benchmark in history for the upheaval of human lives around the globe. A pandemic virus, a loud call for social justice and an American election unlike any other have left an indelible imprint on the world. Western Pennsylvania made frequent appearances in...
Canada records 1st cases of new coronavirus variant
TORONTO — Officials in Canada’s most populous province have confirmed the first two known Canadian cases of of a more contagious variant of covid-19 that was first identified in the United Kingdom. The province’s associate chief medical officer says that the cases are a couple from Durham Region, just east...
In wake of election, Republican leaders seek vote restrictions
ATLANTA — Changes to the way millions of Americans voted this year contributed to record turnout, but that’s no guarantee the measures making it easier to cast ballots will stick around for future elections. Republicans in key states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden already are pushing for new restrictions,...
Unemployment benefits expire for millions as Trump stands pat
WEST PALM BEACH, — Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to sign an end-of-year covid relief and spending bill that had been considered a done deal before his sudden objections. The fate of the bipartisan package remained in...
Hempfield couple joyful at arrival of Christmas ‘surprise’
You couldn’t name your first child after a character from the Batman comic book series and not expect any surprises. For first time parents, Tammy Maharaj, and Brandon Kalp of Hempfield, the surprise from their daughter, Harley Quinn Kalp, was born at 2:13 p.m. Christmas Day at Excela Health Westmoreland...
Trump’s court appointments will leave decades-long imprint
WASHINGTON — On this, even President Donald Trump’s most fevered critics agree: He has left an imprint on federal courts that will outlast his one term in office for decades to come. He used the promise of conservative judicial appointments to win over Republican skeptics as a candidate. Then as...
Vaccination rate in W.V. surges, as pandemic claims more lives
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice reported that nearly half of his state’s stock of covid-19 vaccines has been administered. But the promising news was tempered by the governor’s announcement on Christmas Day that 55 more West Virginians had died from the disease. During a press briefing Friday, the governor described,...
Q&A: Knowing when to get the coronavirus vaccine — and if pregnant women should get it
SEATTLE — Federal approval of the second coronavirus vaccine means more doses are coming to Washington and with them a growing interest about the distribution of vaccines. This week, Washington was set to receive 130,000 doses of Moderna’s vaccine, which was approved by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup...
Jeannette woman ticketed for driving over 130 mph on Route 119
A woman who led police on a brief chase at speeds exceeding 130 mph along Route 119 in East Huntingdon this month has a hearing on multiple criminal and traffic citations tentatively scheduled next month. Roxanna L. Varriano, 44, of Jeannette was charged this week by state police with illegally...
Nashville explosion investigation prompts FBI to search home
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Federal agents converged Saturday on the home of a possible person of interest in the explosion that rocked downtown Nashville as investigators scoured hundreds of tips and leads in the blast that damaged dozens of buildings on Christmas morning. More than 24 hours after the explosion,...
In other white Christmas news, 74 pounds of cocaine found floating off the Florida Keys
MIAMI — The Keys sheriff’s office came across some white stuff Christmas week. But it wasn’t the usual kind of snow. About 74 pounds of cocaine was spotted floating off the Lower Keys by a fisherman Wednesday afternoon. The fisherman, who was boating south of Sugarloaf Key, notified a Monroe...
Pennsylvania passes 600,000 coronavirus cases; adds 165 deaths
Pennsylvania on Saturday reported 14,755 new coronavirus cases over the past 48 hours, as the Keystone State jumped over the 600,000-case mark. Officials said 7,581 additional cases were reported Christmas Day, while 7,174 were reported the day after. The new data bring the total cases to 605,141. That’s a jump...
Westmoreland County posts 357 covid-19 cases; 5 more deaths
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 357 new cases of the coronavirus in Westmoreland County during the past 48 hours, as cases continue to dip in the area. The numbers represent 215 new cases reported Christmas Day and 142 the day after. Westmoreland County has remained below 400...
Allegheny County surpasses 50,000 coronavirus cases, 850 deaths
Allegheny County on Saturday recorded a 48-hour total of 1,209 new coronavirus cases. Officials reported 657 cases on Christmas Day and 552 cases the day after. The report shows two days of dramatic dips from Thursday’s total of 912. On Wednesday, 830 cases were reported. The county has reported eight...
Thousands of ballots will be audited as part of Pa.’s post-election review
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. This article is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. HARRISBURG — At least 64 counties in Pennsylvania have...
Despite smooth election, GOP leaders seek vote restrictions
ATLANTA — Changes to the way millions of Americans voted this year contributed to record turnout, but that’s no guarantee the measures making it easier to cast ballots will stick around for future elections. Republicans in key states that voted for President-elect Joe Biden already are pushing for new restrictions,...
Downtown Nashville explosion knocks communications offline
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A recreational vehicle parked in the deserted streets of downtown Nashville exploded early Christmas morning, causing widespread communications outages that took down police emergency systems and grounded holiday travel at the city’s airport. Police were responding to a report of shots fired Friday when they encountered the...
Fire marshals to investigate cause of fire that destroyed West Deer metals firm
Fire marshals from Allegheny County and West Deer Township will attempt to determine the cause of a fire Saturday morning that destroyed a metal fabricating and recycling plant. West Deer Company 3 fire Chief Josh Wiegand said the fire destroyed the TNT Metals plant at 22 Frontier Drive. It was...
Scottdale man on covid battle: ‘I did not think I was going to make it’
Wayne Grabiak had encouragement coming from all angles. There were the FaceTime calls with his wife and text messages from family, friends and his cardiologist. Plus, the staff at AHN Jefferson Hospital loudly repeating a mantra through a glass window separating his room from the rest of the intensive care...
Lower Burrell woman spent months battling covid long-haul syndrome
When Kristin Giron Stewart was discharged from UPMC St. Margaret hospital after a 13-day battle with covid-19 over the summer, she thought she was well on her way to recovery. The 47-year-old Lower Burrell woman grew frustrated and frightened as the days wore on, and she continued to struggle with...
Santa side gig spreads joy to Leechburg residentsVideo
Steve Kovalchik has a festive side gig. Kovalchik, 65, is a volunteer Santa. He suited up on Christmas Day, complete in his custom embroidered red velvet suit, spreading holiday cheer to residents in Leechburg. Originally from Allegheny Township, Kovalchik resides in Maryland but visits Leechburg annually. “I feel joyous and...
More than 1,000 pounds of food donated to Westmoreland food bank from new casino
As the facility sits dark in compliance with mitigation orders aimed at stopping a surge of covid-19 cases across the state, officials with Live! Casino Pittsburgh took time to donate food, along with volunteer hours, to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. “Just because we’re closed doesn’t mean we can’t help...
Sounding off: Families have right to visit nursing home residents
I am writing to all families who have loved ones residing in nursing facilities in Pennsylvania. If your loved one is terminally ill or emotionally struggling, you have the right to in-person visits. On Sept. 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released memorandum QSO-20-39-NH to provide new...
Police: Suspicious blast wounds 3 in Nashville on Christmas
An explosion shook the largely deserted streets of downtown Nashville early Christmas morning, shattering windows, damaging buildings and wounding three people. Authorities said they believed the blast was intentional. Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said police were responding to a report of shots fired when they encountered a recreational...
Pittsburgh region enjoys snowiest Christmas ever
Southwestern Pennsylvania woke up Friday to the whitest Christmas it has ever seen. “This is very Bing Crosby-ish, I guess you could say,” said Shannon Hefferan, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Moon. Between midnight and 1 p.m., 3.9 inches of snow had fallen at the NWS office,...
