Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1437
Tractor-trailer driver dies in I-70 crash in Washington County
A tractor-trailer driver from Indiana died in a Friday morning crash on Interstate 70 in Washington County, according to the coroner’s office. Phillip A. Keesling, 59, of Straughn, Ind. was headed east near the I-79 junction in South Strabane Township around 1:05 a.m. before losing control, driving down an embankment...
Peaceful anti-racism rally draws about 500 people to O’Hara park
The Fox Chapel Area School District needs to equip students for a post-George Floyd world, one that is evolving and answering cries for change, recent district graduate William Generett III told a crowd of protesters on Thursday night. “It’s not OK to talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and call...
Bishop Zubik to ordain 8 deacons in Diocese of Pittsburgh on Saturday
Bishop David Zubik will ordain eight men as permanent deacons for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on Saturday. The ordination will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland. “Their ministry is needed more than ever during this challenging time for the Church,” Zubik said in a...
Man dies after being pulled from backyard pool in South Huntingdon
A 51-year-old Sewickley Township man died after being pulled from a backyard swimming pool in South Huntingdon on Thursday afternoon, state police said. The victim, Jason Kukonik, died Thursday at Monongahela Valley Hospital, Washington County, said Trooper Robert Schmid of the Belle Vernon station. Schmid said an autopsy would be...
412 Food Rescue to distribute food in Clairton on Friday, Pittsburgh’s North Shore on Saturday
412 Food Rescue will distribute free food on Friday and Saturday at different locations. Friday’s distribution will serve Clairton residents, and Saturday’s distribution will be held on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Each household will receive a box of fresh dairy and produce from local donors. “Our strategy at 412 Food Rescue...
Penn Hills man sentenced to 7 years of prison for possessing heroin and firearms
A former Penn Hills resident has been sentenced to seven years in prison for federal narcotics and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. Antwon Shamar Bonner, 21, formerly of Penn Hills, pleaded guilty in January to a two-count indictment charging him with possessing heroin with the intent to distribute and...
North Side man sentenced to prison for possessing drugs near public housing
A former Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to more than four years in prison for dealing heroin in the area of a city public housing development. The 50-month sentence was handed down against William Thomas, 38, of Forsythe Street. Federal prosecutors said Thomas was convicted of possession...
URA, Citizens Bank donate $15,000 to Pittsburgh Black Business Relief Fund
A local consulting agency that seeks to advance black businesses in the Pittsburgh area has secured a $15,000 grant via a joint effort from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and Citizens Bank. Cocoapreneur has started the Pittsburgh Black Business Relief Fund to alleviate the financial burden for black-owned businesses...
Lower Burrell man to be ordained a priest by Greensburg Diocese
Mark Dunmire is preparing for a rather unusual ordination to the priesthood. Dunmire, a deacon, will be ordained as a priest by Bishop Edward C. Malesic at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg at 10 a.m. Saturday. The church will be mostly empty. Because of covid-19 concerns, only his family will...
Peduto gives statement on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter movement
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto released a statement Thursday on the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police officers, and the protests that have erupted in Pittsburgh and across the country in response. In a lengthy message, published on the mayor’s official website,...
Feds to fine Brighton nursing home at least $62K for coronavirus response
Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center is facing more than $62,000 in fines related to a federal investigation into how the Beaver County facility handled the coronavirus pandemic. The fines are related to infection control issues at the facility. “Some of the deficiencies we found was that PPE (protective personal equipment)...
Many Westmoreland taxpayers not noticing extended discount period
Many Westmoreland County residents aren’t taking advantage of this year’s extended discount period for property taxes, and it’s causing headaches for local tax collectors. Earlier this spring, the county commissioners extended the deadline for the 2% property tax discount — which usually ends in April 30 — through Aug. 31...
‘We are never going to be tired’: South Hills protest organizer vows continued fight over racial injusticeVideo
In less than a week’s time, Camille Redman has become one of the faces of a movement — a movement that has not lost momentum in the weeks since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police and a movement that has been working its way outward from Pittsburgh and into...
New Kensington protest to recognize slain city officer before demanding end to police brutality
A Black Lives Matter protest being held Saturday in New Kensington will start with demonstrators placing a wreath at a memorial honoring a city police officer who was killed three years ago, an organizer said. “This is not an anti-police event. This is a pro-black lives event,” said Jon McCabe,...
Dottie the penguin returns to National Aviary after recovering from pneumoniaVideo
Dottie, a National Aviary penguin, has fully recovered from a near fatal bout with pneumonia. She spent more than seven months in the Pittsburgh facility’s avian hospital. This week, she rejoined her “husband” Stan and 16 other penguin friends in the aviary’s Penguin Point, said Pilar Fish, senior director of...
Reserve man charged with threatening to shoot entire Millvale police force
A Reserve Township man with alleged access to firearms and previous run-ins with law enforcement has been charged with threatening to shoot every member of the Millvale Police Department. Tyler Allison, 23, was charged with four counts each of making terroristic threats and harassment following a June 4 medical call...
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to reopen with new precautions
CLEVELAND — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is reopening, but fans better practice social distancing by staying at least “two Stratocasters apart” and bring their credit cards, officials announced Thursday. Rock’s shrine will reopen on June 15 after closing on March 14 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Visitors...
Pennsylvania adds 467 additional covid-19 cases, 51 more deaths
Pennsylvania officials on Thursday reported 51 more covid-19 deaths and 467 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 77,313, according to health officials. A total of 6,113 people have died from the virus. Approximately 5,888 of the total cases are from health care workers. There are 630...
Tanisha Long is building a Black Lives Matter movement for all of Southwestern Pa.
Tanisha Long’s voice was still hoarse two days after leading and organizing a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally at Point State Park on June 7. “It’s my protesty voice. Just part of it, I guess,” she said. She then moved on to the topic of the day: how and why...
Unity businessman plans Fourth of July fireworks at Westmoreland FairgroundsVideo
Fireworks will light up the night sky to celebrate the Fourth of July in Mt. Pleasant Township as a way for a local businessowner to give back to the community. Marcus Wisneski is planning a “drive-in fireworks show” to celebrate Independence Day at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. It is one of...
Dow sinks 1,800 as virus cases rise, deflating optimismVideo
The Dow Jones industrials lost more than 1,800 points, nearly 7%, as increases in coronavirus cases deflated optimism that the economy could recover quickly from its worst crisis in decades. The pullback Thursday comes after the market has been screeching higher for more than two months at a pace that...
Allegheny County reports 21 new coronavirus cases, 1 more death
Allegheny County health officials Thursday reported 21 new covid-19 cases and one new death. County data show that of the 2,055 cases, 1,923 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 of...
Pittsburgh Public Schools axes drive-in commencements because of planned protests
Pittsburgh Public Schools has canceled a drive-in style graduation ceremony planned for Downtown this weekend because of planned protests, according to school officials. A short statement from the district said the cancellation was at the request of law enforcement. The district had initially planned virtual graduations that would be live-streamed...
1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits – Jun. 11, 2020Video
WASHINGTON — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening. The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline...
First large covid-19 vaccine test in U.S. on track for JulyVideo
The first experimental covid-19 vaccine in the United States is on track to begin a huge study next month to prove if it really can fend off the coronavirus, its manufacturer announced Thursday — a long-awaited step in the global vaccine race. The vaccine, developed by the U.S. National Institutes...
