Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1294
FAA clears Boeing 737 Max to fly again
After nearly two years and a pair of deadly crashes, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is clearing Boeing’s 737 Max for flight. The nation’s air safety agency announced the move early Wednesday, saying it was done after a comprehensive and methodical 20-month review process. Regulators around the world grounded the Max...
Almost 7 pounds of suspected cocaine seized during Pa. Turnpike traffic stop in Hempfield
A Detroit man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after state police said they found almost seven pounds of suspected cocaine hidden in his car, according to court papers. Kenneth Johnson, 36, is charged with two drug offenses. A trooper was patrolling the Pennsylvania Turnpike Monday afternoon in...
Pfizer says covid-19 shot 95% effective, seeking clearance soon
Pfizer said Wednesday that new test results show its coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, is safe and also protects older people most at risk of dying — the last data needed to seek emergency use of limited shot supplies as the catastrophic outbreak worsens across the globe. The announcement from...
Pitt chosen to lead NIH trials in covid-19 care for patients with blood clots
One of the many ways in which covid-19 wreaks havoc on the human body is by helping to cause abnormal blood clotting. A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes covid-19, seems to release mysterious antibodies that mistakenly attack the...
Oakmont Bakery closes its indoor dining, modifies hours due to rising covid cases
Oakmont Bakery officials have closed the bakery’s indoor dining areas and reduced operational hours due to rising covid-19 cases, according to the shop’s website. The bakery will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The cafe will be...
Live! Casino holds ribbon-cutting ceremonyVideo
VIPs got a glitzy first look of the new Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall at an invite-only ribbon-cutting party Tuesday ahead of the full opening next week. The guest list included state and local lawmakers along with their family and friends, who were among the first to gamble...
Federal judge to consider whether to dismiss case filed by Trump campaign in Pa.
A federal judge said he will take under advisement whether to grant a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by Trump for President against the Pennsylvania secretary of state and seven individual counties. Argument before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann lasted about four hours Tuesday and featured the newest Trump...
Detroit-area county certifies vote after initially blocking itVideo
DETROIT — Michigan’s largest county reversed course and unanimously certified its presidential election results Tuesday night after Republicans first blocked the move in a party-line vote that threatened to temporarily stall official approval of Democrat Joe Biden’s win in the state. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers acted after the...
Trump fires Chris Krebs, head of DHS election security agency
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the director of the federal agency that vouched for the reliability of the 2020 election. Trump fired Christopher Krebs in a tweet, saying his recent statement defending the security of the election was “highly inaccurate.” The firing of Krebs, a Trump appointee...
Allegheny County Judge Tranquilli resigns before misconduct trial
On the eve of his misconduct trial, Allegheny County Judge Mark V. Tranquilli has resigned, his attorney said Tuesday. Tranquilli had been accused of making racist remarks about a juror. The judge, who won a seat on the court in 2013, was accused of six separate misconduct counts from his...
Shoppers stock up on supplies as covid-19 cases climb againVideo
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the area in the spring, there was a mad dash to grocery stores to stockpile on essential supplies — and as cases spike, it may be happening again. In the early days of the pandemic, baking supplies, paper products and cleaning staples were in short...
About 100 Pittsburgh police officers in quarantine over covid-19 concerns
At least 100 Pittsburgh police officers are in quarantine because of possible covid-19 exposures, and one Public Safety employee has been hospitalized, officials said Tuesday. Nine officers, nine firefighters and three EMS employees are currently positive for the virus, spokesman Chris Togneri said in a statement. He said others –...
Trump cuts troop levels to 2,500 in Iraq and Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Tuesday the U.S. will reduce troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January, asserting that the decision fulfills President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring forces home from America’s long wars even as Republicans and U.S. allies warn of the dangers of withdrawing...
Pennsylvania expands mask mandate as coronavirus cases rise
New orders from Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health expand on an April order mandating masks be worn in public, extending the conditions under which one must be worn to include indoors when with anyone outside their household. The orders, which also give further guidance to hospitals and colleges, are meant to...
Twitter, Facebook CEOs defend election actions, promise more
WASHINGTON — The CEOs of Twitter and Facebook on Tuesday defended their safeguards against disinformation in the presidential election, and promised Congress they would take vigorous action for two special elections in Georgia that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark...
Pa. Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign claim that Republicans lacked access to Philly vote count
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Republican monitors observing vote counting in Philadelphia were given sufficient access under state law to view the proceedings. In a 5-2 decision, the court overturned a lower court decision that ordered monitors with President Donald Trump’s campaign be allowed within 6 feet of...
Pennsylvania sets another record for new covid-19 cases, nearly 6,000 cases reported
Pennsylvania reported 5,900 new covid-19 cases Tuesday, the new high for daily cases in the state. With the new cases, the seven-day case total stands at 36,856 for the period of Nov. 11 through Tuesday. The seven-day case average is 5,265. Both figures are new records in Pennsylvania. There were...
Westmoreland County sees highest 7-day total of new covid-19 cases
With Tuesday’s figures, Westmoreland County set new highs for the seven-day covid-19 case total and seven-day case average. Cases from Nov. 11 to Tuesday are 1,128 and average new daily cases are 161 over that time. There were 155 new covid-19 cases and two deaths reported Tuesday. Total cases and...
Allegheny County reports 288 new covid-19 cases
After record-setting case counts over the past week in Allegheny County, new covid-19 cases have come down a bit. The Allegheny County Health Department reported 288 additional cases Tuesday. The new cases are a near split, with 145 confirmed and 143 probable. In November, Allegheny County has seen a 30%...
Allegheny County judge to weigh mail-in ballot issue in Nicole Zicarelli challenge
An Allegheny County judge said that he’ll make a decision on Wednesday whether to count undated mail-in ballots that could impact the race for the 45th state Senate District race between incumbent Democratic Sen. Jim Brewster and Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli. Ziccarelli filed a petition against the county Election Board...
‘Marshall Plan for Middle America’ calls for billions to be spent to help Western Pa. go greenVideo
More than a year ago, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called for a massive investment in middle America the likes of which hasn’t been seen in recent memory. He testified before the U.S. Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis and called for what he called a “Marshall Plan for...
Levine to announce ‘targeted efforts’ to control covid cases
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine is set to announce “targeted efforts” to control the spread of covid-19 as case counts across the state continue to rise. The announcement, set for 1 p.m., comes a day after Levine told members of the media there were no plans to shut...
Freeport Area School District announces remote instruction after covid-19 spike
Freeport Area School District has moved middle and high school students to online-only learning this week after a spike in covid-19 cases, both in the district and Armstrong County. Freeport Area said it has 116 students in quarantine, including 103 from the middle school and high school, according to information...
Wreck slowing traffic along westbound Pa. Turnpike near New Stanton
Traffic is snarled along the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Donegal and New Stanton because of an crash. According to PennDOT, the the right lane in the westbound direction is closed near mile marker 85 along Interstate 76. The wreck occurred at around 7 a.m. There were no...
Wexford pastor appointed as next bishop of Youngstown
Pope Francis has named the pastor of a church in Wexford as the next bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. The Rev. David J. Bonnar, 58, who serves as pastor of St. Aidan Parish, will be installed as the sixth bishop of Youngstown during an episcopal ordination Jan. 12...
