Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1441
Westmoreland Fair officially canceled because of coronavirus restrictions
For the first time in 65 years, the Westmoreland Fair has been canceled, said fair President Craig Lash. Restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic made it “impossible” to host the event, Lash said. The restrictions would have included limiting the number of guests...
Support grows to toughen penalties in Pennsylvania for boating while under the influence
Those who are boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face penalties similar to those for people who are caught driving under the influence as measures to stiffen the law are gaining support in the Pennsylvania Legislature. The state House and a state Senate committee overwhelmingly passed...
9th day of protests in Pittsburgh as marchers call for police reform
The ninth straight day of demonstrations in Pittsburgh came to a close in Market Square on Sunday with protesters calling on city officials to meet with them to discuss police department reforms. “Chief of police, we’re asking you for a sit down,” said Kyna James, one of four leaders of...
As White House’s strong-arm tactics get pushback, Trump takes credit for peaceful protestsVideo
WASHINGTON — Asserting that “everything is under perfect control,” President Donald Trump claimed credit Sunday after a national wave of demonstrations against police abuses turned calmer, even as the White House faced fresh pushback over strong-arm tactics used against peaceful protesters. Protests appeared peaceful Sunday, a day after riot police...
Minneapolis council majority backs disbanding police force
MINNEAPOLIS — A majority of the members of the Minneapolis City Council said Sunday they support disbanding the city’s police department, an aggressive stance that comes just as the state has launched a civil rights investigation after George Floyd’s death. Nine of the council’s 12 members appeared with activists at...
Masses to resume at Shrines of Pittsburgh churches after covid-19 scare
In-person Masses that had been canceled over the weekend at some of Pittsburgh historic churches will resume Monday. Masses at the Shrines of Pittsburgh grouping in the diocese had been canceled because the spouse of an employee thought the had covid-19. But the test came back negative, the pastor of...
Virginia officer charged in use of stun gun on black manVideo
FAIRFAX, Va. — A white Virginia police officer was charged with assault and battery in connection with the use of a stun gun on a black man, authorities announced. Fairfax County police Officer Tyler Timberlake arrived on scene and fired his stun gun at the man after other officers had...
Man found shot to death in Wilkinsburg, police say
Allegheny County Police are investigating after they said a man was found shot to death Sunday in Wilkinsburg. The shooting was reported just before 4:40 p.m. in the 1600 block of Laketon Road. Police said the man was dead when they arrived. The man was standing near a set of...
Pittsburgh police chief explains why he took a knee during Beechview protest
Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert explained in a Facebook post Sunday why he participated in a Friday protest in the city’s Beechview neighborhood. Schubert didn’t plan on participating, but said being there helps him gauge how police can best respond to protests, he wrote in a Facebook post. He was...
Strong wind, rain as tropical storm makes Louisiana landfallVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Cristobal made landfall Sunday on the Louisiana coast, packing 50 mph wind and spinning dangerous weather as far east as northern Florida, where it spawned a tornado that uprooted trees and downed power lines. The lopsided storm moved ashore between the mouth of the Mississippi...
Philadelphia mural of controversial ex-mayor Rizzo removed amid protests
PHILADELPHIA — The image of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo was removed from the side of a building in south Philadelphia amid large protests in the city on the issue of police brutality. Mural Arts Philadelphia said Sunday morning that the mural was being painted over with the consent of...
Medics, firefighters revive girl, 5, found unresponsive in Mt. Pleasant Township pool
A 5-year-old girl was recovering Monday after being found unresponsive in a Mt. Pleasant Township pool Sunday afternoon, according to Hecla Fire Chief Steve Howell. The girl was revived at about 2:45 p.m. when CPR was performed by firefighters and medics. She was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Children’s...
Lower Burrell officials criticized for not closing roads for high school senior parade
The former mayor of Lower Burrell and some city residents are criticizing a social media post made by city officials regarding a celebratory parade for Burrell High School seniors on Sunday. City officials informed residents about the parade on the city’s official Facebook page shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. The...
Only surviving injured calf from turnpike crash heads to Beaver County rescue ranchVideo
It’s a good thing cows can’t speak English. If they did, Ribeye the calf might be a lot more worried about what his name means for his future. But the 3-month-old Holstein — one of 135 bull calves involved in a March 3 truck crash on the turnpike — has...
Westmoreland County adds 2 new covid-19 cases, no new deaths
Westmoreland County on Sunday reported two new covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases to 459, according to Pennsylvania health officials. No new deaths from the virus were reported. Westmoreland County is one of the counties that shifted into the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s phased reopening...
Pennsylvania reports 506 more coronavirus cases, 12 deaths
Pennsylvania on Sunday reported 12 more covid-19 deaths and 506 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 75,592, according to state health officials. A total of 5,943 people have died from the virus. More than 444,000 people have tested negative. Of the total cases, 71% have recovered....
Allegheny County adds 14 new covid cases, no deaths
Allegheny County Health Department officials reported 14 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths Sunday. The total number of deaths countywide remained at 168, while the total number of confirmed and probable cases rose to 2,003, according to the county. The first cases were reported in Allegheny County on March...
Police: Sewickley Township man killed in South Huntingdon shootout, 1 hurtVideo
A bonfire get-together in South Huntingdon on Saturday night turned into a shootout that killed a Sewickley Township man early Sunday, according to state police. David J. Hoffman, 44, was fatally shot in the 200 block of Mendon Road around 3 a.m. Sunday. He had multiple gunshot wounds and an...
Many school leaders say they won’t be able to resume normal operations by July 1
The Pennsylvania Department of Education said Wednesday that school districts are allowed to resume in-person teaching and other activities July 1, but local school leaders say it’s unlikely they’ll be able to resume normal operations by then. Before schools can open, districts are required to create their own health and...
Western Pa. churches split along denominational lines on reopening
The Rev. Tom Burke has been a priest for nearly two decades. But the St. Mary Magdalene Parish pastor would have a hard time remembering a moment during his tenure quite like the one he experienced Monday — the first day since mid-March he was able to welcome people into...
Protesters flood U.S. streets in huge, peaceful push for change
WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of protesters streamed into the nation’s capital and other major cities Saturday in another huge mobilization against police brutality and racial injustice, while George Floyd was remembered in his North Carolina hometown by mourners who waited hours for a glimpse of his golden coffin. Wearing...
Peaceful crowd shuts down Bakery Square during 8th day of Pittsburgh protests
Protesters took to the streets of Pittsburgh for the eighth day in a row Saturday, blocking streets in Larimer, East Liberty and Shadyside for much of the afternoon. Hundreds of people started to gather at the Bakery Square shopping center in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood around 3 p.m., blocking Penn Avenue...
Pittsburgh police ask public’s help identifying bombing suspect
Investigators are looking for a man suspected of tossing a homemade bomb at a Pittsburgh police officer near Mellon Square last Saturday , May 30. A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeman said the device exploded on the ground and caused a nearby officer to suffer concussion-like symptoms. Police ask anyone who...
Fox News apologizes for stock graphic referencing Floyd, MLK deaths
NEW YORK — One day after Fox News aired a graphic correlating stock market gains following notable tragic events involving black Americans, it offered an apology. The contrite concession came Saturday after outraged viewers howled over the insensitive chart shown during Friday’s broadcast of “Special Report With Bret Baier.” The...
Zuckerberg-funded scientists: Rein in Trump on Facebook
BOSTON — Dozens of scientists doing research funded by Mark Zuckerberg say Facebook should not be letting President Trump use the social media platform to “spread both misinformation and incendiary statements.” The researchers, including 60 professors at leading U.S. research institutions, wrote the Facebook CEO on Saturday asking Zuckerberg to...
