Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1543
Experts wonder if proposed scholarship requirements are realistic for recent grads
Gov. Tom Wolf has said his proposed Nellie Bly Scholarship could rescue schools in the State System and build the state’s workforce, but some experts doubt it is realistic — or even fair to students. For students to be eligible for a slice of the proposed $204 million scholarship fund...
Pennsylvania to repair ‘hazardous’ dams on 10 lakes across state
Three dams in Southwestern Pennsylvania are on a list of “hazardous” dams that qualify for special funds from the state. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday the release of $23.8 million in funding for a multi-year, $43.5 million plan to repair 10 hazardous dams managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat...
Jury acquits accused gunman nearly 4 years after Wilkinsburg backyard massacreVideo
As a man wept to his attorneys that he’d get to see his kids again, a woman left the Allegheny County Courthouse believing the person who killed hers was walking free. A jury on Friday acquitted Cheron Shelton of the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg that killed five adults and...
Tom Wolf’s scholarship proposal targets low- and middle-income students at Pa. state schools
It’s a far cry from “free college for all” — or even “tuition-free public college” — but Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed Nellie Bly Scholarship echoes facets of those proposals. The idea for the new scholarship is included in Wolf’s state budget proposal. He said it would help low- and middle-income...
Man forced woman to be getaway driver after he robbed a bank on their 1st date
A Massachusetts woman will have to wait five years on the off chance she wants a second date. Christopher Castillo, 33, was sentenced this week to three years in state prison and two years in county corrections after pleading guilty to robbery and tangling with police during a 2016 first...
Big Burrito details new Lower Lawrenceville pizza restaurant concept
The new Big Burrito Group restaurant coming to Lower Lawrenceville will be a sister to the group’s Italian restaurant concept, Alta Via, with a focus on pizza. The details of the restaurant, tentatively named Alta Via Pizza, were announced by Big Burrito’s president and chef, Bill Fuller, at a Lawrenceville...
Woman admits role in sham marriage with Nigerian man living in Pittsburgh
A New Jersey woman admitted in federal court Thursday to entering a sham marriage with a Nigerian man who was living in Pittsburgh so he could become a permanent resident, according to prosecutors. Ajia Strauss, 28, of Newark, pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh federal court to conspiracy to defraud the United...
Penguins’ Jason Zucker shares cute video of son learning to cheer for dad’s new teamVideo
Jason Zucker has played only one game as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. So you’ll have to forgive his son for not being up to date. On Monday, the Penguins acquired Zucker in a trade from the Minnesota Wild. But as of Thursday night, his son Hendrix was still...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Feb. 14-16Video
Happy Valentine’s Day. Maybe you’re wearing red, enjoying a bouquet of roses or a box of chocolates, or just looking forward to celebrating with your loved one (s). Here are 5 suggestions to make the weekend even sweeter. All things love The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Feb. 14-16
Valentine’s Day is Friday so make it a weekend to remember with the person you love. Some people might have three days off because Presidents Day is Monday. Here are some things to do in Pittsburgh. Sparkle and shine The Frick Pittsburgh in Point Breeze will present “Maker & Muse:...
Married in secret during WWII, this New Ken couple will celebrate 75th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s DayVideo
This Valentine’s Day, take a bit of advice from a New Kensington couple who will celebrate their 75th year together as husband and wife. Rich and Shirley Rosenberger met in high school and married in secret at their church while Rich was on leave during WWII. Their love story endures....
Primanti Bros. appeals to singles on Valentine’s Day with ‘Shred Your Ex’ special
Primanti Bros. is appealing to the singles crowd with lovers to scorn on Valentine’s Day, or at least those eager to move on with help from a french fry-slathered sandwich — and industrial-grade shredder. Dubbed the “Shred Your Ex” special, the regional chain’s timely marketing ploy will offer customers a...
The final cut: Brett Keisel’s Shear Da Beard shaves for charity one last timeVideo
It’s the end of a sh-era. For the 10th and final time, former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Brett Keisel sheared off his famous beard in support of cancer programs at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville. On Thursday, the former defensive end again endured the clippers, ending what he has...
Trump Fed nominee Judy Shelton faces skepticism at Senate hearingVideo
WASHINGTON — One of President Donald Trump’s nominees for the Federal Reserve came under sharp questioning Thursday from senators over her unorthodox economic views, including from two Republicans whose doubts about her nomination could imperil it. The nominee, Judy Shelton, sought to make her unconventional views an asset by promising...
Gisele Fetterman dressed in Carnival costume creates testy debate
A bit of a storm brewed across the Keystone State earlier this week — courtesy of Twitter — after Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman tweeted a photo of his wife, Gisele, suited-and-booted (not really) in a Carnival costume. “Waiting on confirmation from our PA Historian, gonna go out on a...
Let the nesting season begin: Pittsburgh Hays bald eagles lay first eggVideo
Such a power couple. The Pittsburgh Hays bald eagle couple — the first pair of the formerly endangered eagles to nest within the city limits in more than 150 years — have entered their eighth nesting season on the same bluff above the Monongahela River. A live webcam captured the...
Lower Burrell mayor names permanent police chief
Lower Burrell’s mayor has named acting chief John Marhefka the city’s police chief. “John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Mayor John Andrejcik said Thursday. “He was everyone’s best choice that I talked to including city police, employees and others.” Marhefka is Andrejcik’s brother-in-law. The State Ethics Commission has...
Republican commissioners nix labor pact for Westmoreland County projects
Nonunion firms no longer can say they are being frozen out of securing high-dollar construction contracts with Westmoreland County. Republican county Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew on Thursday terminated a controversial agreement with local trade unions. They said the Project Labor Agreement with the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction...
Defense repeats calls for mistrial in Wilkinsburg shooting case as jurors remain undecided on verdict
More testy court filings on Thursday in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case hurled more accusations at prosecutors as jurors wrapped up their third day of deliberations without rendering a verdict. The filing by defense attorney Randall McKinney, who represents homicide suspect Cheron Shelton, renewed calls for a mistrial in...
Greensburg auditions for starring role on HGTV
Greensburg is hoping a new TV show can bring some star power to the city’s efforts to eliminate blight. The city is one of many communities that applied for a shot to be featured on HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover,” which is set to premiere early next year. “Even though in...
Carnegie Science Center names new director
Jason Brown was named director of the Carnegie Science Center on Thursday. Brown has served as the interim director of the Science Center since December 2018. He took the position following the retirement of former co-directors Ann Metzger and Ron Baillie. Before then, he was senior director of science education....
Virus cases surge after China revises way count is tallied
BEIJING — China reported a surge in deaths and infections from a new virus Thursday after changing the way the count is tallied, further clouding an epidemic that has stirred fear as it spread to more than two dozen countries. The spike came after two days in which the number...
Pittsburgh police officers reject Peduto’s pay hike offer; another contract vote to happen Monday
Pittsburgh’s police union is throwing out a revised contract pitch by Mayor Bill Peduto’s office because it failed to generate enough votes, union officials said Thursday night. Just 32 police officers, or less than 5% of voters, supported the Peduto administration’s latest proposal — which offered a slightly higher pay...
Trump to transfer $3.8B from military to fund his wall
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is transferring $3.8 billion in recently passed military funding to finance construction of the president’s long-sought U.S.-Mexico border wall, angering not just Democrats but also GOP defense hawks. Thursday’s move by the Pentagon would transfer money from National Guard units, aircraft procurement and shipbuilding to...
No one injured in crash on northbound Route 28 near Aspinwall
Authorities responded to a crash that briefly snarled traffic Thursday afternoon in the northbound lanes of Route 28 just before the Aspinwall exit. No one was injured. Initial reports indicated the incident was a multi-vehicle crash shortly before 3 p.m. A school bus was spotted pulled over at the scene....
