Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1597
Pittsburgh ranked as 6th-best large college city, report says
Pittsburgh is ranked sixth among the top 10 large college cities in America by the personal-finance website WalletHub. The website says it compared more than 400 U.S. cities based on “31 key indicators of academic, social and economic growth potential” for its report on the best college towns and cities....
Pittsburgh activists call for budget transparency during hearingVideo
Pittsburgh activists turned out in force Monday for a public hearing on the city’s 2020 budgets, calling for more transparency and community participation in the budgeting process and additional funding for such things as affordable housing. About 40 representatives of the Economic Justice Circle, a coalition of at least 14...
Deputies say they found pound of pot in Liberty Bridge traffic stop
A North Side man is facing felony drug charges after Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies said they found a pound of suspected marijuana in his vehicle after a traffic stop Sunday afternoon on the Liberty Bridge. Craig Nash, 31, of Pittsburgh’s Central North Side, was stopped on suspicion of reckless driving...
New Kensington police say runaway girl returned home
A girl missing since Friday has returned home, New Kensington police said Tuesday. Police said Monae Matthews is safe and was not injured when she returned home. In a post on the department’s Facebook page, police said Monae was a runaway who was last seen on Friday....
FBI was justified in probing Trump-Russia, fed watchdog saysVideo
WASHINGTON — The FBI was justified in opening its investigation into ties between the Trump presidential campaign and Russia and did not act with political bias, the Justice Department’s internal watchdog declared Monday, undercutting President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he has been the target of a “witch hunt.” The...
Wildwood Highlands in Hampton abruptly closes
A long-standing sports complex in the North Hills has closed, according to an announcement published on its website and Facebook page. Wildwood Highlands Entertainment Complex, after more than 30 years of “Great Food. Fast Karts. Wild Times,” shuttered its doors Dec. 9. “We did not make this decision lightly and...
‘MasterChef Junior Live!’ coming to Greensburg’s Palace Theatre
The “MasterChef Junior Live!” cooking competition is coming to The Palace Theatre on March 20. After a 16-city 2019 debut tour based on the Fox cooking show featuring kids ages 8-13, the extended seven-week tour will kick off March 3 in Rochester, N.Y., and visit 40 U.S. cities. “The stage...
‘Sophie’ biography explores struggles, success of Pittsburgh’s Mayor Masloff
For historian Barbara Burstin, researching the life of Sophie Masloff, Pittsburgh’s first female and Jewish mayor, was a fascinating and rewarding project. She sees Masloff’s story of overcoming poverty, sexism and anti-Semitism as inspiring to everyone. Masloff served as mayor from 1988 to 1994. “Her story is a reflection of...
Marigold the potbellied pig found wandering in Indiana TownshipVideo
A pig found wandering along Dorseyville Road last week in Indiana Township remains unclaimed. The female adult mini-sized potbellied pig was found without any identifying tags on Dec. 5, reported to Indiana Township Police and later transported by volunteers to a pig rescue facility. The pig remains under the care...
New ‘Ghostbusters’ trailer debuts onlineVideo
“Ghostbusters” fans are beaming as the first full trailer for Jason Reitman’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” landed online Monday morning. And it looks pretty impressive. The story follows a mom and her two kids as they inherit an old farm in a small town. Strange happenings begin occurring around the town. Meanwhile,...
5 things we learned in Steelers’ win over CardinalsVideo
Five things we learned from Steelers 23, Cardinals 17: 1. Picky defense With three more takeaways — all coming on second-half interceptions — the Steelers increased their season total to 33, tops in the NFL. It’s the most for the Steelers over the first 13 games since 1996 when they...
Tom Hanks lands Golden Globe nomination for Mister Rogers roleVideo
NEW YORK — Tom Hanks’ role as Mister Rogers in the Pittsburgh-filmed “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” has landed him a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor. It could be a winning night at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards for Hanks, who also will be recognized for...
5 dead, many more missing in eruption of New Zealand volcanoVideo
WHAKATANE, New Zealand — A volcano on a New Zealand island erupted Monday with a towering blast of ash and scalding steam as tourists were exploring the moon-like surface, killing five people and leaving perhaps two dozen others missing. Police said the site was still too dangerous hours later for...
Jeannette revamps junior firefighter program
Isaiah Derry remembers his first fire. The adrenaline started pumping when the Jeannette boy heard the call over his pager. He got to go inside a North Second Street home after flames were extinguished and then help his fellow firefighters clean up. Derry, 14, is one of three teenagers recently...
Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History leaving for new position
The director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is leaving his position after almost four years for a job in North Carolina. Eric Dorfman, who became director of the museum and the Powdermill Nature Reserve in Cook Township in 2015, has accepted a position as director of the North...
Russia gets 4-year ban in doping scandal, including 2020 Tokyo Olympics
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The Russian flag and national anthem were banned from next year’s Tokyo Olympics and other major sports events for four years on Monday. Russia’s hosting of world championships in Olympic sports also face being stripped after the World Anti-Doping Agency executive committee approved a full slate of...
Community rallies around St. Joseph High School senior Eli Swierczewski as he battles Ewing’s sarcoma
It’s easy to see why St. Joseph High School is rallying around Eli Swierczewski and his second battle with cancer. Classmates, teachers and friends describe the senior with a broad infectious smile as a great person. He’s an A-student who plays soccer, basketball and his favorite, baseball, and is also...
Twisted Thistle eatery in Leechburg staying put with new menuVideo
The Twisted Thistle in Leechburg is here to stay. The historic eatery on Market Street is no longer on the market after being listed for $1.5 million in 2018. “Linda (Alworth, the owner) was interested in selling last year due to her desire to focus on other projects such as...
Elite athlete from Greensburg never thought she’d end up running for her lifeVideo
In the beginning, Cheryl Collins Gatons began running for fun. It was a great way to blow off stress after work. She never imagined she would end up as a two-time qualifier for the Olympic marathon trials, or that years later she would start running for her life. The 52-year-old...
Police: Over 3,000 bags of heroin seized from Lawrenceville apartment
Officials seized more than $9,000 and 3,000 bags of heroin after serving a search warrant at an apartment in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood where two children were staying. Officers for the state Attorney General’s Office issued the warrant at the Doughboy Square Apartments at 3459 Butler St. shortly after noon Friday,...
Watchdog expected to find Russia probe valid, despite flawsVideo
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s internal watchdog will release a highly anticipated report Monday that is expected to reject President Donald Trump’s claims that the Russia investigation was illegitimate and tainted by political bias from FBI leaders. But it is also expected to document errors during the investigation that may...
‘End of an era:’ Retiring buses take riders on historic Downtown Pittsburgh route
Generations of public transit enthusiasts visited Downtown Pittsburgh on Sunday to “loop the loop” in honor of two retiring Port Authority of Allegheny County buses. The commemorative Downtown loop route, which has been out of service for the past 30 years, was reinstated Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the last...
Fans don costumes, get 1-on-1 access with celebrities at Steel City ConVideo
Steel City Con at the Monroeville Convention Center allowed pop culture fans to interact with celebrities and express themselves through costumes all weekend long. The convention celebrated it’s 30th anniversary a few months ago and is one of the largest comic conventions in the nation, according to its organizers. “The...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Diontae Johnson’s breathtaking game leads Steelers past Cardinals
In a season of hold-your-breath finishes, the Pittsburgh Steelers got a breathtaking performance from rookie Diontae Johnson and another heart-stopping ending Sunday. Johnson had a breakout game, returning a punt 85 yards for one touchdown and catching another touchdown to compile 163 total yards on nine touches. And Devlin Hodges...
Devlin Hodges, Steelers surge past CardinalsVideo
GLENDALE, Ariz. — As the Pittsburgh Steelers discovered Sunday, a duck can survive — if not thrive — when playing in the desert. Then again, maybe Devlin “Duck” Hodges felt right at home when it rained for much of the weekend in the Valley of the Sun. Backed by thousands...
