Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1594
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey will vote against Trump’s new trade deal; here’s why
President Trump and House Democrats managed to bridge their differences on a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada, but Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said he’ll vote against the deal. Even though many Republicans have embraced the deal, Toomey, R-Pa., said the new agreement is going to hurt free...
Beyond the hearings: What to watch on Trump impeachment
WASHINGTON — Impeachment is moving beyond the hearing room. House committee members are debating and voting on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Thursday. But the political battle over Trump’s fate is sweeping across the Capitol, the White House and Washington on the cusp of the 2020 election...
Police searching for man accused of Downtown robbery
Pittsburgh police are searching for a man who is accused of robbing a woman in a Downtown parking garage, officials said. The incident occured about 5 p.m. Dec. 6 in a garage in the 600 block of Smithfield Street. Police said the suspect changed clothes and was caught on camera....
Police: Officer shoots, kills pit bull after dog attacks poodle in North Side
A pit bull was shot and killed by Pittsburgh police in what started as a report of two dogs fighting, according to a release from the bureau of police. Officers were called to the intersection of Viola Street and Catoctin Way in the Perry North section of Pittsburgh’s North Side...
Greensburg man taking his battle against rare cancer to AustraliaVideo
Back in 2011, while Matt Burnsworth was undergoing what he calls the “mother of all surgeries,” a doctor left the operating room to tell his mother that the cancer was worse than anyone had thought. Each time the doctor came out, he said another organ would have to be removed....
Judiciary panel takes first steps toward impeachment voteVideo
WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee took the first steps Wednesday evening toward voting on articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, beginning a marathon two-day session to consider the historic charges with a lively prime-time hearing at the Capitol. Democrats and Republicans used the otherwise procedural meeting to deliver...
Chevron hints at selling or reducing natural gas production in Appalachia
Chevron, one of the largest producers of natural gas in the region, may begin divesting in its gas operations in Appalachia, the company announced Tuesday. In Chevron’s exploratory budget for 2020, the company announced a flat spending budget of $20 billion. Domestic projects include the Permian Basin, which spans much...
Lyft driver from Harrison accused of exposing himself, groping passenger
A Harrison man accused of exposing himself to a woman and groping her last month while driving for the ride-sharing service Lyft was ordered Wednesday to stand trial. Indiana Township police said Douglas Timothy Moore, 53, picked up a woman who requested a ride to West Deer and then drove...
GOP senators leaning toward short impeachment trial for TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans say there is an early consensus building within their ranks for a short impeachment trial that could see the GOP-led chamber vote on a likely acquittal of President Donald Trump without hearing from any witnesses. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said a growing number of...
Settlement over bad air in Clairton calls for U.S. Steel to cough up $2 million
U.S. Steel will pay residents $2 million and invest $6.5 million to upgrade equipment at its Clairton Coke Works facility, according to a tentative settlement struck with residents in a 2017 class-action lawsuit. The proposed settlement was outlined in court documents signed by an Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas...
Fugitive wanted for ‘numerous’ car chases found in Homewood
A Pittsburgh man who has led police on a multitude of car chases recently is in Allegheny County Jail after sheriff’s deputies made a concerted effort to arrest him while he wasn’t behind the wheel, authorities said. Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said 19-year-old Michael Stuvaints was wanted for fleeing Stowe...
Penn Hills couple loses home, 2 cats to fire
A Penn Hills couple was receiving help from the Red Cross Wednesday after a fire claimed their two cats and Ross Road home. Penn Hills Fire Marshal Chuck Miller said firefighters responded to the blaze at a modular home across from Ross Park around 10:10 a.m. A preliminary investigation indicated...
Former Munhall firefighter who set porch fires could spend 3 years in prison
A former Munhall firefighter who told police he set two porches on fire in December 2018 because he was bored will spend between 18 months and three years in prison and then serve seven years probation. Allegheny County Judge Randal Todd sentenced Ryan Laubham, 19, on Wednesday. A former volunteer...
Pittsburgh councilwoman Darlene Harris sues city over campaign finance ordinance
Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Darlene Harris on Wednesday sued the city, Mayor Bill Peduto and the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board, contending the city illegally fined her for failing to file campaign finance reports with the ethics board during the spring primary. The board in September fined Harris, 66, of Spring Hill...
Carnegie Science Center adds 20 exhibits
Just in time for the holidays, the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh is opening over 20 new exhibits. They are part of two overarching exhibitions: Bricksburgh, an art- and engineering-themed experience stocked with thousands of building bricks, and USS Requin Gateway, a series of artifacts and interactive exhibits connected to...
Police: Former Collier cop asked teenage girls for nude pictures
A former Collier police officer was arrested after two teenage girls told authorities that he requested nude pictures while he was still employed as a police officer, authorities said. Cory Hurka, 29, of Collier, was charged Tuesday with two counts each of unlawful contact with minors, criminal solicitation and corruption...
Woman killed in Hampton Route 8 crash identified
A woman killed in a two-car crash on Route 8 in Hampton Wednesday afternoon has been identified. Rebecca Lynn Koorsen, 28, of Glenshaw was pronounced dead at the scene around 3:30 p.m. along the 5000 block of William Flynn Highway (Route 8), the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office reported. Authorities...
Military leaders consider leaving smaller number of troops in AfghanistanVideo
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is considering several options to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan, including one that would shift to a narrower counterterrorism mission, the top U.S. military officer told Congress on Wednesday. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not disclose any potential...
Pittsburgh council kills proposal to name soccer field after former Mayor Ravenstahl and family
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday effectively killed a resolution seeking to name a North Side soccer field after former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and his family. North Side Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who has long sought to dedicate the field in Riverview Park after the former mayor, proposed the resolution in the...
Pittsburgh council can nix park tax, but members expect it to pass
Pittsburgh City Council can nullify the November ballot referendum that called for a 0.5 mill property tax increase to fund city park improvements, but members polled on Wednesday said they would likely approve the levy early next year. Council must approve the tax in order for it to go into...
Bailey the therapy dog helps Deer Lakes 3rd graders readVideo
As Kayla Paschel read to Bailey, a 14-year old Yorkshire terrier Maltese mix, she felt like the dog could understand her. “I could feel him listening to me,” said Kayla, 9, of West Deer, who read one of her favorite books, “Michelle the Winter Wonderland Fairy.” “It was really fun...
Police respond to suspicious box at Pittsburgh Goodwill store
A suspicious box at the Goodwill on Banksville Road prompted a large police response to the store at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Pittsburgh police said. The building was evacuated by the staff of the Goodwill and police closed Banksville Road between Potomac and Wenzell avenues as authorities including the bomb...
Police release photos of suspect in Nov. 29 Downtown robbery
Pittsburgh police released photos of a man suspected in a Nov. 29 robbery and assault on Strawberry Way near Smithfield Street in Downtown. A group of men pushed a man to the ground and stole items from his pockets, Pittsburgh police said in a Facebook post. In the post, police...
Fed leaves low rates alone and foresees no moves in 2020
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate alone Wednesday and signaled that it expects to keep low rates unchanged through next year. The Fed’s decision follows three rate cuts earlier this year. It reflects its view that the U.S. economy has so far withstood the U.S.-China trade...
Trio accused of selling methamphetamine from Salem Township house
Informants helped break up an alleged crystal methamphetamine distribution network operating out of a Salem Township home, according to court documents. Brian D. Dumnich, 35, his girlfriend, Heidi J. Altman, 32, and Victoria Nave, 34, all of the Forbes Road section of Salem, are charged with drug-related counts after agents...
