Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1436
William Sessions, FBI head fired by President Clinton, dies
SAN ANTONIO — William S. Sessions, a former federal judge appointed by President Ronald Reagan to head the FBI and fired years later by President Bill Clinton, died Friday at his San Antonio home. He was 90. Sessions died of natural causes not related to the novel coronavirus, said his...
Fallingwater to reopen, partially, with outdoor tours
While the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy works on its plans for tours inside the Fallingwater house in Mill Run, Fayette County, the grounds will reopen Saturday with self-guided and guided private tours. The iconic Frank Lloyd Wright home has been closed since March 15 because of covid-19 restrictions. However, the Conservancy...
Vice President Pence visits Oberg Industries in Buffalo Twp., addresses pandemic shutdown, ‘law and order’
Vice President Mike Pence held an Alle-Kiski Valley manufacturing company up as an example to be followed as the nation reopens from the covid-19 pandemic. Pence spoke for about a half-hour before a crowd of 100 to 110 employees and apprentices at Oberg Industries in Buffalo Township, which the conservative...
Editorial: Turzai’s goodbye is premature
There is no surprise to when an elected official’s term is due to start and stop. If you are hired to be an accountant or a lawyer or a grocery store clerk, you may face questions about that hiring date. Did you pass your background check in time to start...
Murrysville Black Lives Matter protest set for Sunday
Aryanna Hunter of Murrysville wasn’t able to attend Pittsburgh protests against police brutality over the past week. An Army veteran, Hunter works as head of the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Veteran Services, and wanted to rally support in her hometown as well. She’ll get to do it this weekend...
Feds charge Philadelphia woman with possession of almost 2 pounds of heroin
A Philadelphia woman who police said was headed to Wilkinsburg was instead in federal court Friday, charged with possession of about 80,000 stamp bags of heroin. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Fiordaliza Rodriguez Reyes, 32, of Philadelphia was stopped on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Thursday by troopers from the...
Route 28 restrictions in Pittsburgh set for next week
There will be lane restrictions on Route 28 in Pittsburgh next week, PennDOT announced Friday. Crews from Larson Design Group will inspect the bridge that carries Chestnut Street over Route 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 15 and 16. Single-lane restrictions will occur in each...
Blessed Sacrament school in Natrona Heights to be closed by Pittsburgh Diocese
Families, students and teachers at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament School in Natrona Heights on Friday reacted with sadness and disappointment upon hearing that the 66-year-old Catholic elementary school is shutting its doors. “It’s hard for my brain to even function right now,” said Alyssa Imler, a teacher...
Vice President Pence grabs a bite at David’s Diner in Springdale Township
Vice President Mike Pence visited David’s Diner in Springdale Township today for a classic Reuben sandwich and some good company. Owners David and Lisa Speer they learned Sunday that the vice president was planning a visit. Pence found the restaurant online and wanted to support a business with their ideals,...
Police reform measures to get hearing in Pennsylvania Senate
A bill that called for sweeping reforms in police hiring and training following the 2018 police shooting of 17 year-old Antwon Rose II in East Pittsburgh is among police reform measures that will go before a joint hearing of the state Senate Law and Justice and Judiciary committees Tuesday. Senate...
Pittsburgh to create Office of Community Health and Safety
Pittsburgh is planning to create an Office of Community Health and Safety that will provide social service experts to deal with problems, including homelessness, suicide prevention and mental illness, now handled by city police. The Mayor’s Office announced that the city would “redirect city resources” to meet community needs with...
Pence visit to Wilkinsburg church draws supporters, opponents
America’s political divide was on stark display Friday in Wilkinsburg. Two groups showed up near the Convenant Church of Pittsburgh’s worship center to see Vice President Mike Pence’s arrival there. One group wore masks. The other didn’t. One group described President Trump and Pence as representative of the “American dream.”...
Police disciplinary records are largely kept secret in U.S.
PHILADELPHIA — Officer Derek Chauvin had more than a dozen misconduct complaints against him before he put his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Daniel Pantaleo, the New York City officer who seized Eric Garner in a deadly chokehold, had eight. Ryan Pownall, a Philadelphia officer facing murder charges in the...
Range Resources to pay $50,000 in fines and $100,000 in contributions for Washington County well violations
Range Resources, a major driller in the region’s Marcellus Shale industry, pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of negligent oversight of Washington County well sites and will pay $50,000 in fines and $100,000 in contributions to the Washington County watershed funds, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Friday. The...
Scott Township commissioner faces backlash for comment about Pa. health secretary
A letter is being drafted by a group of Scott Township residents calling for the resignation of a township commissioner who made remarks about the state health secretary’s gender during a public meeting. The comments were made during the June 9 meeting, held on Zoom, about reopening the municipal swimming...
Police: Highland Park man left cash, 6 pounds of pot in loaner vehicle
Police say a Highland Park man left drugs and cash in a loaner Lexus SUV he used while his own vehicle was receiving service, leading Pittsburgh police to a drug bust that netted hundreds of stamp bags of heroin and 6 pounds of marijuana, authorities said. Patrick Kim, 34, faces...
12-year-old Pittsburgh-area singer gets her shot on ‘America’s Got Talent’Video
Another young Pittsburgh-area singer is getting ready to show the country what she’s got. Ashley Marina, 12, of Kennedy Township will perform on “America’s Got Talent,” airing 8 p.m. Tuesday on NBC. She is a two-time finalist in the Williams SING-OFF Competition, through which area students are chosen to perform...
Police arrest Whitehall man accused of setting Pittsburgh police SUV on fire during protest
A Whitehall man police say attended multiple protests in the past weeks faces riot and other charges for his alleged role in setting a Pittsburgh police SUV on fire last month. Police say Shaheed Hatch, 26, was among those who helped start the fire that destroyed an unmarked police cruiser...
Pennsylvania reports 686 more covid-19 cases, 49 more deaths
Pennsylvania officials on Friday reported 49 more covid-19 deaths and 686 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 77,999, according to health officials. A total of 6,162 people have died from the virus. Approximately 5,931 of the total cases are in health care workers. There are 629...
North Huntingdon singer hits No. 1 on country radio chart
When Ashley Puckett of North Huntingdon released her debut album, “Never Say Never,” this past Valentine’s Day, she didn’t expect recognition to come so quickly. The 28-year-old’s single, “Bulletproof,” secured the No. 1 spot on the country radio chart in the June 12 issue of New Music Weekly magazine. The...
Libraries experiment with opening strategies as they resume services
Area libraries are slowly resuming services as they figure out how to operate in the age of coronavirus. “People are so excited. Many of them are just grateful to see their librarians in person,” said Marilyn Jenkins, executive director of the Allegheny County Library Network. The State Library of Pennsylvania...
Allegheny County reports 10 new coronavirus cases, expands race data
Allegheny County health officials on Friday reported 10 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths. County data show that of the 2,065 cases, 1,933 are confirmed and 132 are probable. Of the country’s 173 deaths, 161 are confirmed and 12 are probable. All deaths occurred in people between the ages...
Outer Banks rental company sued over virus-related refunds
AVON, N.C. — A class-action lawsuit has been filed against a real estate company on North Carolina’s Outer Banks after it allegedly refused to issue refunds for people who couldn’t visit because of coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that the suit was filed against Surf or Sound Realty....
Flag Day building light-up in Pittsburgh will recognize covid-19 workers, losses
The Gulf Tower is among Pittsburgh landmarks that will be turning red, white and blue Sunday as part of a National Day of Unity event remembering lives lost to the covid-19 pandemic and honoring those working on the front line to keep America advancing during the crisis. One Oxford Centre,...
9 file lawsuit against Pittsburgh diocese over alleged sexual abuse
Nine people have filed a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh alleging sexual abuse by seven priests and years of cover-up by diocesan officials. The seven priests named in the lawsuit had already appeared and had allegations leveled against them in the August 2018 grand jury report blasting the...
