Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1729
AP Sources: Jeffrey Epstein arrested in NY on sex charges
NEW YORK — Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was arrested Saturday in New York on sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the 2000s, according to law enforcement officials. Epstein, a wealthy hedge fund manager who once counted as friends former President Bill Clinton, Great Britain’s Prince...
Stevie Wonder says he’s getting a kidney transplant
LONDON — Stevie Wonder surprised concertgoers in London on Saturday night by announcing that he will take a break from performing so that he can receive a kidney transplant this fall. The 69-year-old music legend made the announcement after performing “Superstition” at the end of a packed British Summer Time...
Furries parade in Pittsburgh
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of participants in the annual Anthrocon Convention gathered for the parade through the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Here are some sights from the event....
Rain can’t dampen spirits at New Kensington Fireworks Festival
Erika Plunkett remembers watching fireworks with her mother, Kathie Males, on her grandfather’s house boat. “It was always very near and dear to my mom’s heart,” Plunkett said. For many years, Males brought fireworks to all of New Kensington, until she died in 2014. Now, her daughter has taken over,...
Westmoreland municipalities count on windfall from natural gas impact fee
For communities across Westmoreland County, Act 13 is the gift that keeps on giving. “I don’t know where we’d be without it,” Sewickley Township Supervisor Brian Merdian said. Of the 65 municipalities in Westmoreland County, Sewickley enjoyed the biggest increase in natural gas impact fee windfall this year — from...
Dozens of classic tractor-trailers gather in New Stanton for annual show
Tim Hoover has 15 antique tractor-trailers at his Saltsburg home, but he brought only two to this year’s Steel Valleys Antique Truck Historical Society’s classic truck show. “The truck shows, there’s no competition here,” said Hoover, 61. “Everybody’s equal. It doesn’t matter what you bring, how you bring it. It...
Flooding follows storms, heavy rain in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties
Flooding followed heavy rain across parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties after storms moved through the region Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service warned of the storm around 4 p.m. It contained heavy rain, frequent lightning and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Rainfall amounts of up to an inch...
Civil War weekend slated at Historic Hanna’s Town
Historic Hanna’s Town, a recreation of Westmoreland County’s original 18th century county seat, will experience a time shift in late July as Civil War armies take over the Hempfield site. Visitors will discover the history of the War Between the States as reenactors settle in for a weekend encampment representing...
Staycation destination: Polymath Park in Mt. Pleasant Township
Need a break? Looking for new adventure? There’s no reason to leave Western Pennsylvania. In this occasional series, we highlight “staycation” ideas found in our own backyard. Imagine being able to tour a Frank Lloyd Wright home — it’s easy if you try because Fallingwater is only an hour’s drive...
3 hurt in 3-vehicle Allegheny Township crash
One person was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital and two others also were hurt in a three-vehicle crash Saturday in Allegheny Township. The crash happened around 10:45 a.m. at the intersection of routes 56 and 356. According to township police Sgt. Dan Uncapher, Daniel Hoffman, 50, of Vandergrift was taken...
At least 20 hurt as explosion rocks South Florida shopping center
PLANTATION, Fla. — An explosion at a Plantation shopping center injured 15 to 20 people, before noon Saturday, in a loud blast that could be felt for miles around. “We did find a ruptured gas line under the rubble but I can’t tell you exactly where it came from,” Plantation...
Flash flood watch issued ahead of thunderstorms in Western Pa.
Westmoreland, Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and surrounding counties are under a flash flood watch, according to the National Weather Service. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to bring over 2 inches of rain per hour. Soil that is already wet from recent rainfall could create flash flooding around streams, creeks and roads,...
Help sought with funeral for ex-Greensburg woman whose remains were found in suitcase
Family members of a former Greensburg woman whose remains were discovered in a suitcase in Georgia are seeking help in preparing a service to remember their loved one. Brother Dylan Caldwell has set up a GoFundMe page seeking donations for a funeral service for Jessica Ashley Manchini, who authorities say...
Suspect surrenders in North Versailles Walmart shooting
A Penn Hills woman surrendered to police Saturday after being accused of shooting another woman Friday night in the Walmart in North Versailles. Rojanai Alston of Penn Hills turned herself in to Allegheny County Police, authorities reported. Alston was transported to the Allegheny County Jail to await arraignment on her...
Police: Pittsburgh man wanted for 2 bank robberies captured
A Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with two bank robberies in the city was apprehended by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies. Law enforcement officials said Jaymar Henderson, 58, of the Hill District was arrested on a warrant around 2:45 p.m. Friday. He was wanted by Pittsburgh police for allegedly robbing the...
Man who served 17 years for trying to make Pittsburgh teen his sex slave could return behind bars
A man infamous for kidnapping a 13-year-old Pittsburgh girl with the intent of making her a sex slave 17 years ago must stand before a federal judge next week and demonstrate why he should not return behind bars, court documents filed Friday show. Scott Tyree, 55, originally from Fairfax County,...
Record number of July 4 babies born at West Penn Hospital
Fourth of July fireworks came early for 40 Pittsburgh area families. The staff at West Penn Hospital delivered 40 babies in 36 hours — a West Penn Hospital record. One of the newborns belonged to KDKA-TV’s Pittsburgh Today Live host Heather Abraham, who appeared on live TV from the hospital...
Gov. Tom Wolf nixes $90M voting machines bill tied to nixing straight-ticket button
Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a bill Friday that would have provided $90 million to help counties statewide upgrade voting machines because Republican Senate leaders tacked on a last-minute provision that would have nixed straight-ticket voting in Pennsylvania. Wolf further said that Senate Bill 48, “while purporting to secure elections, binds...
8 arrested in Pittsburgh prostitution crackdown
Undercover detectives arrested at least eight people in a crackdown on prostitution in Pittsburgh this week, according to criminal complaints filed in Pittsburgh Municipal Court. Part of the operation involved the website Escort Babylon, which instructs potential clients to call a number to arrange for an appointment for sexual acts....
Police: Pittsburgh woman jailed after stabbing man
A Pittsburgh woman accused of stabbing a man is in jail. Rhonda Powell, 57, is charged with aggravated assault in connection with an incident 12:20 a.m. Friday along the 2500 block of Park Hill Drive in East Hills. Zone 5 officers responded to reports of a stabbing and found a...
Mark Madden: Penguins power play set for reshaping
The acquisition of Alex Galchenyuk in exchange for Phil Kessel puts the Penguins’ No. 1 power play in line for a major realignment. More deals might be made, but all the components for the man-advantage unit are currently in place. Kessel had 36 points on the PP last season. As...
Police seek 2 suspects after Unity armed robbery
State police are seeking two men accused of being involved in an armed robbery at a mobile home in Unity. Troopers obtained arrest warrants for John G. Struble IV, 20, of Youngstown, and Andrew Tyrell Washington, 21, of Greensburg, charging the pair with burglary, robbery, making terroristic threats, theft by...
Furries feel the love from Pittsburghers as Anthrocon beginsVideo
A 6-foot-8-inch Asian Black Bear was spotted in Downtown Pittsburgh on Friday, which is not considered unusual in early July. Similar animal sightings will be predominant all weekend long as the annual Anthrocon Convention invades Pittsburgh through Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The adult costumed furries have...
Flash flood warnings issued for parts of Western Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued flash flood warnings for parts of Western Pennsylvania until Friday afternoon. Central Allegheny County is expected to receive around an inch of rain and up to a half inch of additional rainfall, the weather service said. The flash flood warning remains in...
4-vehicle wreck in Allegheny Township sends 5 to hospitalsVideo
Five people were rushed to hospitals after police said an SUV driver drove through a red light on Route 56 at Hyde Park Road in Allegheny Township about noon Friday. Township police said John Burkett, 68, of Indiana Hill Road in the township was driving alone on Route 56 toward...
