Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1450
Pennsylvania House virus notification dispute mirrors growing divide in state politics
The growing divide in the Pennsylvania Legislature loomed large this week with the news that a Republican House member’s coronavirus diagnosis was not shared with Democrats. House Democrats say they were stunned to learn Wednesday that state Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin County, was diagnosed with covid-19 on May 20. Political...
Suspended Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez also faces child porn charges in St. Louis
St. Louis authorities on Thursday confirmed that suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez is charged with sending pornographic pictures of himself to a minor last summer. Documents provided by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office said Vazquez was charged in February with one count of furnishing pornographic materials to a...
Western Pa. restaurants prepare for expanded dining options, cope with losses
On Thursday morning, restaurateur Erin Connelly prepared for her most important staff meeting in months. After being limited to takeout options during the coronavirus shutdown, the Cornerstone Restaurant and Bar in Aspinwall soon can commence limited dining options. Connelly was hesitantly excited. “People are scrambling,” she said. “It’s hard to...
Allegheny County Health Department issues $361K fine against U.S. Steel
The Allegheny County Health Department has issued $361,400 in fines against U.S. Steel for air pollution and permit violations during the fourth quarter of 2019 and first quarter of 2020. The health department announced the fine in a statement Thursday. Of that total, $325,260, or 90%, will be paid to...
Flood of mail-in ballots spurs fight to change deadlines for Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG — Some county and state officials are warning that a flood of mailed-in ballots in Pennsylvania — fueled by fears of in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic — will create problems in the primary election on Tuesday that must be fixed before they cause a disaster in this battleground...
Trump escalating war on Twitter, social media protectionsVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump escalated his war on social media companies Thursday, signing an executive order challenging the liability protections that have served as a bedrock for unfettered speech on the internet. Still, the move appears to be more about politics than substance, as the president aims to rally...
60 more Pennsylvania liquor stores resuming in-store public access
Sixty more Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in counties in Pennsylvania’s yellow phase of covid-19 mitigation will resume limited in-store public access on Friday, the state Liquor Control Board announced Thursday. When that happens, a total of 349 stores in 56 counties will be allowing limited in-store public access....
Westmoreland County reports 1 new coronavirus case, no new deaths
One new covid-19 case was reported in Westmoreland County on Thursday, bringing the countywide total to 443. No new deaths were reported. The countywide total was unchanged at 38. The number of confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus in Allegheny County increased by 23 to 1,851. No new deaths...
Pennsylvania adds 625 coronavirus cases; total passes 70,000
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday reported 108 new deaths and 625 additional cases of the coronavirus. The state has now had 70,042 total cases and 5,373 deaths. Deaths have been recorded in 54 of the state’s 67 counties, and every county has had a positive case. More than...
KDKA-TV anchors Rick Dayton, Susan Koeppen let go
Longtime news anchors Rick Dayton and Susan Koeppen are no longer employed by KDKA-TV, the station’s vice president and general manager confirmed Thursday. Chris Cotungo referred the Tribune-Review to a statement from CBS. “We are restructuring various operations at CBS as part our ongoing integration with Viacom, and to adapt...
PETA wants Mark Cuban to turn ‘The O’ into vegan hot dog spot
PETA has an idea for Mark Cuban, should he go through with a big Pittsburgh purchase. The animal rights organization Thursday sent a letter to Cuban, the “Shark Tank” star and Mt. Lebanon native, that suggested turning the now-closed Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland into a “vegan hot dog...
Allegheny County reports 23 coronavirus cases, no new deaths
Allegheny County reported 23 additional cases of the coronavirus Thursday, bringing the total number of cases countywide to 1,851. No new deaths were reported, leaving the total at 151. The county earlier this week reported three consecutive days with no new deaths. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 161 deaths...
Pennsylvania Supreme Court ends judicial emergency
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued an order to end the statewide judicial emergency on June 1. Local president judges, however, may keep restrictions in place where they deem necessary. The order means that district, county and appeals courts mostly closed to the public and operating on a limited basis...
Election HQ: Information on primary races in Western Pa.
Primary election day in Western Pennsylvania is Tuesday, June 2. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing inside polling places because of the coronavirus pandemic. In Allegheny County, your polling place might not be where it...
Pennsylvania pools are allowed to open, but some may choose to stay closed
The water is being filled. Come next week, splashing and fun — socially distanced, of course — should return to Youngwood Park N Pool. “Once the chemicals are balanced, we’ll be ready to open,” said Ed Christofano, president of the Westmoreland County pool. “We’re excited.” The Youngwood pool will be...
Fires, looting rock Minneapolis after man’s death in police custody; 1 deadVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Fires burned and looters struck Thursday after violent protests over the death of a black man in police custody rocked a Minneapolis neighborhood for a second straight night, with damage stretching for miles across the city and Mayor Jacob Frey appealing to the governor to activate the National...
41 million Americans have lost jobs since coronavirus hit, but layoffs slowVideo
WASHINGTON — The coronavirus crisis threw at least 2.1 million Americans out of work last week despite the gradual reopening of businesses around the country, stoking fears Thursday that the scourge is doing deep and potentially long-lasting damage to the U.S. economy. Amid a few glimmers of hope, most of...
11-year-old Pittsburgh boy killed in Parkway crash
An 11-year-old Pittsburgh boy who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash along the Parkway East — Interstate 376 — Thursday morning has been identified. Jaiden Childs, 11, was pronounced dead at a hospital after the vehicle he was a passenger in was stuck by a truck shortly before 6:30 a.m.,...
Animal Friends resuming public services suspended during statewide shutdown
A local animal shelter that was forced to suspend most of its operations in late March to comply with the state-mandated shutdown order to help slow the spread of coronavirus is resuming operations with some restrictions. Animal Friends in Ohio Township announced that while patrons cannot “drop in” as they...
North Shore police memorial vandalized for 2nd time this spring
The word “deceit” was spray painted on a police memorial on Pittsburgh’s North Shore Wednesday night, police said. Officers found the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on North Shore Drive near Heinz Field defaced with white spray paint around 9:45 p.m., according to Maurice Matthews, spokesman for the Pittsburgh Public Safety...
Police say Latrobe man fled after car chase without clothes on
State police are seeking a Latrobe man they say led them on a chase and then fled the scene without his clothes on. State policein at Greensburg are seeking John Mekic, 34, of Latrobe in connection with a report of a man undressing in his car on Andrew Lane in...
Gateway’s 2020 grads mark their day in Monroeville Mall parking lotVideo
Gateway High School graduates made history Wednesday as they graduated from a mall parking lot during a “hybrid commencement ceremony,” as the school’s principal put it. Traditionally, the high school graduation ceremony marks finality – a last hurrah before parting ways. But this year their last day was effectively March...
College student wanted in 2 Connecticut slayings is capturedVideo
HARTFORD, Conn. — A college student sought by police as a suspect in a crime spree including two slayings in Connecticut has been captured, Connecticut State Police said Wednesday night. Peter Manfredonia, 23, had been the subject of a six-day search involving several police agencies and the FBI. He was...
Cal U student from Greensburg sues over online learning
A California University of Pennsylvania student from Greensburg has sued the university for failing to refund pro-rated tuition for the online instruction she and thousands of other students received for the last part of the spring semester because covid-19 restrictions forced colleges to close. Ashleigh Coffman claimed that the online...
Pa. Dems accuse GOP of keeping Rep. Lewis’ coronavirus diagnosis a ‘secret’
Western Pennsylvania Democrats are accusing Republican lawmakers of keeping the status of a GOP colleague who tested positve for the coronavirus a “secret.” Rep. Andrew Lewis issued a statement on Wednesday making it known that he tested positive for covid-19 and has fully recovered. The freshman lawmaker from Dauphin County,...
