Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1778
Allegheny County Jail inmate found dead in cell died of drug overdose
A Pittsburgh woman who was found dead in her jail cell in November died from a drug overdose, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Jeanna Rosenberger, 39, died accidentally from combined drug toxicity of fentanyl, bupropion, promethazine and diazepam, the medical examiner ruled. Rosenberger was found unresponsive at the...
Johnstown church commemorates 130th anniversary of deadly flood
Behind the altar of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in downtown Johnstown are engraved the words, “Many waters cannot quench love.” The verse from the Song of Solomon is a perpetual reminder of the Locust Street church’s role in the 1889 Johnstown Flood and its aftermath. “I think that we here...
Police: Indiana County nursery worker foils attempted holdup
An employee disarmed a man who attempted to hold up an Indiana County nursery with an unloaded gun that the man stole from a nearby home, state police said. Justin S. Ludwig, 37, of Warren, is charged with robbery, attempted theft and terroristic threats in the confrontation Wednesday afternoon at...
Tomi Lahren shunts conservative views, attacks Alabama abortion law
Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren backed away from mainstream Republican views Thursday. One day after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed the nation’s most-restrictive abortion bill into law, Lahren spoke out. In an afternoon tweet, Lahren asserted that banning abortion in nearly every case is “too restrictive.” “It doesn’t save life,...
‘Big Bang Theory’ exits TV airwaves with emotional episode
LOS ANGELES — “The Big Bang Theory” closed out its run as television’s top-rated comedy with an emotional final episode that saw some big changes for the show’s group of geeky misfits. The long-running series on CBS concluded with two final episodes, “The Change Constant” and “The Stockholm Syndrome,” in...
I.M. Pei, architect who designed Louvre Pyramid, dies at 102
I.M. Pei, the versatile, globe-trotting architect who revived the Louvre with a giant glass pyramid and captured the spirit of rebellion at the multi-shaped Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has died at age 102. Pei’s death was confirmed Thursday by Marc Diamond, a spokesman for Pei’s New York architectural...
Cops: 19-year-old wearing ear buds hit by train in Mt. PleasantVideo
Miranda Cook is lucky to be alive after being hit Thursday afternoon by a slow-moving freight train engine in Mt. Pleasant, authorities said. “She was under the train. It was a matter of inches or it would have been a lot worse,” Mt. Pleasant Patrolman Tim Ferree said of the...
U.S.: Michael Flynn described efforts to interfere with cooperationVideo
WASHINGTON — Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn told the special counsel’s office that people connected to the Trump administration and Congress sought to influence his cooperation with the Russia investigation, and he provided a voicemail recording of one such communication, prosecutors said in a court filing made...
Appeals court upholds decision to let Belle Vernon students attend prom
Eight Belle Vernon Area High School students cited this month for underage drinking can attend the prom Friday night, a state appeals court ruled. The state’s Commonwealth Court issued that order late Thursday afternoon as school district lawyers challenged a county judge’s ruling from earlier this week that halted the...
Ukraine prosecutor says no evidence of wrongdoing by Bidens
KIEV — Ukraine’s prosecutor general said in an interview that he had no evidence of wrongdoing by U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden or his son, despite a swirl of allegations by President Trump’s lawyer. The controversy stems from diplomatic actions by Biden while his son, Hunter Biden, sat on...
Sheetz in Bethel Park hosts a tasting of Coffee Hopz beer
Bill Helzlsouer of Dravosburg was the first person to try the new Coffee Hopz on Thursday at the Sheetz on Library Road in Bethel Park. “I really like it,” said Helzlsouer, who has a beer blog, and has written about 472 brews. “It’s crisp, with a nice coffee taste at...
Pirates owner Bob Nutting visits bankrupt Reading Eagle newspaper
Word swept through the Reading Eagle last Friday that newspaper baron and Pittsburgh Pirates owner Robert Nutting was touring the presses and offices, triggering speculation that his Ogden Newspapers could bid on the distressed 230-employee Pennsylvania newspaper. Nutting could not be reached in several attempts to contact him at Ogden...
New Kensington-Arnold teachers union reports ‘setback’ in contract talks
New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union failed to reach an agreement on a new contract during a bargaining session Wednesday night. The two sides can’t even agree on who was involved in the latest negotiations. “No school board members attended the scheduled bargaining session,” New Kensington-Arnold Education Association...
NTSB: Autopilot was in use before Tesla hit semitrailer
DETROIT — A Tesla Model 3 involved in a fatal crash with a semitrailer in Florida March 1 was operating on the company’s semi-autonomous Autopilot system, federal investigators have determined. The car drove beneath the trailer, killing the driver, in a crash that is strikingly similar to one that happened...
New Trump immigration plan would overhaul green card system
WASHINGTON — Setting aside some of his hard-line rhetoric on illegal immigration, President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wanted to recruit “top talent” to the nation as he unveiled his latest efforts to reform residency laws after years of setbacks and stalemates. “We discriminate against genius,” Trump said of...
UPMC, Attorney General’s legal teams face off before state Supreme CourtVideo
HARRISBURG — UPMC’s looming prepayment rule for out-of-network patients demonstrates the health giant’s efforts to serve the public have “deteriorated” in the past five years, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office argued Thursday before the state Supreme Court. Bart DeLone, chief attorney general, told justices that the controversial prepay rule —...
Wrestling legend Ric Flair reportedly suffers ‘very serious’ medical issue
Wrestling legend Ric Flair was rushed to an Atlanta-area hospital after suffering what TMZ Sports reported was a “very serious” medical emergency. TMZ said the 70-year-old WWE Hall of Famer was in the Atlanta area when “something went wrong,” and he was taken to the emergency room to be treated....
How does start to Josh Bell’s career compare to other Pirates greats?
Here’s a concept to ponder Friday night while watching the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres and wondering what additional damage Josh Bell can inflict on a baseball: Compared to the five greatest Pirates hitters of the past 71 years — Ralph Kiner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker and...
Centre District new name of Penguins development in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill
The Centre District is the official name of the Penguins’ planned $750 million development of Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District, but not everyone was thrilled with the new moniker, a team official said Thursday. Kevin Acklin, the Penguins’ senior vice president and general counsel, said he heard some griping when the...
Unity couple reaches rare milestone with 75th wedding anniversary
A thin, rectangular box collects dust in Harry and Velma Smith’s closet. It’s inscribed with the date May 17, 1944. Inside are the delicate lace remains of the dress and veil Velma Smith scrambled to find for her wedding amid World War II. There also is a message written by...
Gov. Tom Wolf on anti-abortion bills: ‘I would veto it’
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday he will never allow an anti-abortion bill to make it into law while he’s governor. Wolf, in a video statement posted on social media, referenced other states that have recently passed antiabortion bills including Alabama and Georgia, where they have already been signed into law....
Cops: West Newton woman cut man because she didn’t get birthday present, cake
Georgia M. Zowacki’s 55th birthday was not what she expected, according to court papers. The West Newton woman was unhappy and turned violent Wednesday because she didn’t get a birthday present, card or cake, police said. She drank vodka throughout the day to celebrate, but by 3 p.m. started threatening...
5 arrests made in connection to Monroeville Mall shooting
Five men are in jail and one remains at large in connection with a fight and shooting last month at Monroeville Mall, authorities said Thursday. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said the shooting grew out of a fight between two gangs from McKeesport. “Consider this matter ongoing,”...
Garth Brooks appeals to the ‘every man, every woman’ among fans
The history of country music really could be chronicled as B.G. (Before Garth) and A.G. (After Garth). That’s about the best way to note the difference in the genre before Garth Brooks arrived on the scene. He’s made millions by bringing a rock ’n’ roll sensibility to the sound and...
Pittsburgh chef Justin Severino plans cafe near North Park
Renowned Pittsburgh chef Justin Severino is taking on another challenge. By summer’s end, he hopes to open a yet-to-be-named casual, California-inspired cafe in McCandless near North Park. Severino closed his popular Cure restaurant in Lawrenceville a few months ago and already had announced plans to open another venture, Larder of...
