Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1590
Protesters call for Trump’s impeachment outside Conor Lamb’s office in Mt. LebanonVideo
Saying America’s democracy is at stake, more than 150 people rallied Tuesday night outside U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s office in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon, calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. “It’s the right time to do the right thing,” said Joe Shaughnessy, 52, a Mt. Lebanon...
Pittsburgh zoo mourns death of northern elephant seal
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium reported Tuesday that its northern elephant seal, Coolio, died during a veterinary procedure. According to zoo officials, gross necropsy results indicated that 7-year-old Coolio suffered from congenital abnormalities, including blood vessel abnormalities, which likely resulted in severe hypertension. “Our animals are like family and...
Pittsburgh residents voice concerns over proposed Shadyside development
Pittsburgh residents Tuesday criticized the proposed redevelopment of a Giant Eagle shopping plaza in Shadyside, saying it would add to traffic congestion and building density in an area that’s already overcrowded. Echo Realty, which owns the plaza at Penn and Shady avenues known as Shady Hill Center, has yet to...
3rd sentencing hearing postponed for woman convicted in Greensburg torture-murder
A third sentencing hearing for the youngest member of group of former Greensburg roommates convicted in the 2010 torture killing of a mental disabled woman has been delayed as state appeal courts continue to weigh the legality of life prison terms for juvenile offenders. Angela Marinucci, now 27, has been...
Giant Eagle to get rid of plastic grocery bags, straws by 2025Video
Giant Eagle announced plans to get rid of single-use plastics by 2025, aiming to keep flimsy shopping bags and fresh food containers from clogging oceans and rivers and piling up on land. The O’Hara-based retailer, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh, unveiled its plan Tuesday during...
White teacher sues Woodland Hills alleging racial discrimination
A Woodland Hills School District teacher who holds advanced degrees in administration and educational leadership is suing the district and alleging he wasn’t hired as an assistant principal because of his race. Charles Kost, of McDonald has been a teacher at Woodland Hills for 15 years. He has a master’s...
Westmoreland County tax hike, first in 15 years, on the table
Westmoreland County commissioners could vote Thursday to hike property taxes for the first time in 15 years. Commissioners Gina Cerilli and Charles Anderson said Tuesday they have yet to commit to the proposed 2.4% tax hike as part of a finance package that includes adoption of a 2020 budget and...
Pittsburgh’s $608 million budget includes no tax increase
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved Mayor Bill Peduto’s $608 million operating and $108 million capital spending plans for 2020 but noted the numbers could change, depending on the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations with the police union. The operating budget represents a $33 million increase in spending over this...
Trump angrily objects to impeachment, calls it ‘perversion’ and invokes ‘Salem Witch Trials’Video
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is angrily objecting to the House of Representatives’ articles of impeachment, accusing Democrats of “perversion of justice and abuse of power” in their effort to remove him from office. In a fiery letter Tuesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the eve of his expected...
300 kids have wishes come true at Shop With a Cop eventsVideo
The notebook state Trooper Tavin Davis typically uses during investigations served a different purpose Tuesday. He used it to jot down the cost of toys for two Youngstown children at the Unity Walmart store to make sure they stayed within budget. Daniel Wallace, 3, put a Play-Doh kit in the...
Attorney for Plum teacher accused of stealing neighbor’s suits uses ‘impeccable dresser’ defense
Police say the Plum teacher accused with his wife and a 17-year-old of stealing lawn equipment, sheets, a washing machine, five suits and a broom shared a driveway with the house they allegedly broke into. Michael R. Verrico, 47, was placed on leave from his teaching job at Plum Borough...
Pittsburgh ranks as 4th best city to celebrate Christmas
Merry Christmas, Pittsburgh. You’re apparently a stellar Yuletide spot. WalletHub evaluated the county’s 100 biggest cities in 33 key metrics and dropped Pittsburgh in the No. 4 slot, one notch better than we ranked last year. The site’s annual Best Places for Christmas Celebrations looked at things like traditions, observance,...
Woman accused of stabbing Terrelle Pryor to be released from jailVideo
Shalaya Briston, the girlfriend of Terrelle Pryor who is accused of stabbing the professional football player, will be released from jail as she awaits a hearing on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, a judge ordered Tuesday. Judge Jeffrey A. Manning released Briston, 24, to her parents’ home in...
Police: Erie teens covered cars, house in cheese slices
Pennsylvania State Police say three Erie-area teens are facing charges for throwing cheese slices all over a pair of cars and a house. ErieNewsNow reports state police say the incidents were reported between midnight and 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Investigators say a 18-year-old from Lake City and two 17-year-olds from Lake...
Once upon a time, malls transformed into Christmas wonderlands
When Debi Hall’s daughter, Kelly, saw the Christmas decorations at the former Greengate Mall in Hempfield years ago, she thought she was at the North Pole. Each year, the mall was decorated with a towering Christmas tree set up near the Lazarus department store, curtains of string lights flowing from...
2 Penn State fraternities may keep State College houses, Pa. court rules
State College cannot shutter two fraternity houses, even though Penn State revoked its recognition of the frats, a state appeals court ruled Thursday. Sigma Alpha Mu, 329 E. Prospect Ave., was suspended in April 2017 for violating nearly all of the university’s tighter alcohol rules that were imposed after the...
Police: Baby OK after being found on Brighton Heights porch
A baby was in good health after being found on a porch in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood early Tuesday morning. According to police, officers went to a residence in the 1900 block of Termon Avenue around 12:30 a.m. A woman told officers she heard knocking on her door for several...
Mon Wharf parking area expected to flood
The Mon Wharf parking area will be closed Wednesday because of flooding, the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh announced Tuesday. All vehicles will have to be removed from the lot by 7 p.m. Tuesday, the authority said. The wharf will be closed until further notice. A flood advisory for the...
Lyft offering free rides to the unemployed around Pittsburgh through February
Lyft will offer free rides for unemployed Pittsburghers to and from job interviews, job training programs and the first two weeks of a new job, company officials announced on Tuesday. Lyft’s Jobs Access Program aims to close short-term transportation gaps for unemployed people who need rides to jobs and job...
Steelers’ Joe Haden delivers Super Bowl tickets to Cornell coachVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden made a special visit Tuesday to Cornell High School in Coraopolis to present football coach Ed Dawson with Super Bowl LIV tickets courtesy of the NFL Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway Program. “Coach Dawson has worked his tail off to build the program,” Cornell School District...
Owner of pit bull killed by Pittsburgh police cited for not having dog on a leash
A Pittsburgh man whose pit bull was shot and killed by police was cited for not having a leash on his dog when it attacked a poodle in the North Side, officials said Monday. Trevaugh Brown, 24, was sent a summons in connection with the incident, which began with a...
Monessen man pleads guilty to helping run one of Western Pennsylvania’s largest cocaine rings
A Monessen man pleaded guilty to helping run a cross-country cocaine ring that was among the largest in Western Pennsylvania history, federal prosecutors said. Deaubre Lightfoot, 29, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams (about a pound) or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Scott...
Mayor Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent agree to work on school funding sourcesVideo
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto met with Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet on Monday, saying he wanted to “clear the air” and offer to help find alternative funding sources for the financially ailing district. It was their first meeting since Peduto criticized the district over a proposed property tax increase...
Free Wi-Fi coming to all Allegheny County Port Authority buses, light rail
Allegheny County Port Authority customers will be able to surf wherever they ride by early 2020. Port Authority will finish installing free, unlimited Wi-Fi on its fleet of more than 400 buses and on light rail cars in the coming months, the authority announced Monday. The signal will be strong...
Syria Shriners land $17K from Hypnosis Society of Pa., folding after 76 years
One nonprofit’s demise is another’s gain. After 76 years, the Hypnosis Society of Pennsylvania is dissolving and has donated its savings, about $17,000, to the Syria Shriners, headquartered in Harmar. “We consider that a large contribution, and we are very grateful for it,” said David Gardy of Mt. Washington, Syria...
