Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1793
Mt. Pleasant driver arrested in connection with South Greensburg fatal hit-and-run
A stroke of luck led investigators to an East Huntingdon car dealership last week where they stumbled upon a car they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run of an elderly man in South Greensburg last month, according to police But Lauren Gerritsen thinks her grandfather, Clarence Wolff, had something...
‘Beloved by thousands,’ William Penn doorman made people feel special
Jon-Paul Malezi, doorman at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh for 25 years, had a way of making people feel special, and they loved him for that. If a guest showed up in a rain storm, Malezi was out in the street with an umbrella to make sure...
Shrimp test positive for cocaine in U.K. waters
How fresh is that shrimp? But, perhaps a better question would be how high is that shrimp? If it comes from the waterways in Britain, it’s a concern. A new study, published today in Environment International, found all freshwater shrimp tested positive for cocaine. King’s College London and the University...
Three-eyed snake found on highway in Australia
Two-headed snakes are so old-school. Now, a three-eyed snake, that’s something worth looking into. Well, as luck would have it, one was discovered recently in Australia. The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service posted the find on its Facebook page. The service said its rangers found the juvenile carpet python,...
78-year-old pizza delivery driver assaulted, carjacked in Regent Square
A 78-year-old pizza delivery driver refused medical treatment after he was assaulted and carjacked in Pittsburgh’s Regent Square neighborhood early Thursday morning, according to city police. Officers responded to the 600 block of East End Avenue around 12:45 a.m., a Pittsburgh police spokeswoman said. According to initial reports, the driver...
Romanian pleads guilty in Washington County ATM skimming scheme
A Romanian pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to him and others installing skimming devices on ATM machines in Washington County. Elvis E. Roman withdrew his November not guilty plea to conspiracy and bank fraud and entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, according to court documents....
State police arrest wanted East Brady man after pursuit
State police arrested an East Brady man after a vehicle and foot pursuit early Thursday in East Franklin. The man’s name and age were not immediately released. State police said they stopped the man for traffic violations at 12:05 a.m. at Hilltop Plaza. They found he was wanted on three...
Report of attempted child luring in Arnold under investigation
New Kensington and Arnold police are investigating a report of a child-luring attempt. Authorities said they are looking for an older, white man with a gray beard and a tan car. He is suspected to have attempted to lure children into his vehicle in Arnold on Wednesday. New Kensington police...
Portion of Coxcomb Hill Road (Route 909) in Plum reopens after wires had fallen
Allegheny County dispatchers said the 100 block of Coxcomb Hill Road in Plum was closed for a time Wednesday night due to a tree that fell and knocked down power lines. The incident took place around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday near Blair Auto Sales. By 9 p.m, an Allegheny County 911...
Police offer $12K reward in Penn Hills fatal hit-and-run case
Police announced on Wednesday a $12,000 reward for tips that lead to the prosecution of individuals wanted in connection to a hit-and-run incident that killed a Pittsburgh man earlier this week. Joseph Morris, 51, was found dead by police along Universal Road in Penn Hills after Allegheny County 911 received...
Police hunt for East End fugitive brothers linked to burglary, drug charges
Police are seeking the public’s help to find a pair of fugitive brothers from Pittsburgh’s East End accused of burglary and drug charges, officials said Wednesday. Dasonte White, 23, faces charges of receiving stolen property and is wanted for several burglaries, according to Allegheny County Police. He is 6 feet...
Kristen Laney O’Toole: My MS worsened while waiting for MRI authorization
I was living a healthy, active life as a communications consultant in Pittsburgh. That changed suddenly and dramatically in 2014 when I began experiencing back pain. As the pain intensified, I realized that something was seriously wrong. My doctor wanted to do an MRI to officially diagnose what he suspected...
Police: Wilkinsburg teen shot, killed intruder in fear of his family’s safety
A 17-year-old boy feared for the safety of his family when he shot and killed an unarmed 19-year-old man trying to force his way into their Wilkinsburg home early Wednesday, police said. Jakeem Booker, 19, of Braddock was pronounced dead soon after police found him with a gunshot wound to...
UPMC defends controversial prepay rule for seniors
UPMC is imposing a controversial prepay rule on Highmark-insured Medicare Advantage patients this summer because its leaders have no trust in Highmark to pay bills or honor contracts, UPMC’s attorneys said Wednesday in state Supreme Court. Starting July 1 — when UPMC and Highmark’s insurance networks are set to officially...
Don’t spare the blood: Apollo-Ridge looks to realism for mock DUI crashVideo
A mock car crash that included a drunken driver, a dead passenger and other injured parties was the lesson of the day Wednesday at Apollo-Ridge High School. Although mock accident scenes are nothing new, the high school decided to add flair or, rather, blood and make-up for students to look...
Westmoreland County prosecutors dispute defense claims in 30-year-old rape case
Westmoreland County prosecutors said defense arguments to dismiss a nearly 30-year-old rape case should be rejected because they are based on misrepresented facts. In court documents filed Wednesday, prosecutors said there is sufficient evidence to convict John Kunco, 53, of Harrison of the brutal rape of a woman in her...
Editorial: Metcalfe’s vaccine bill quarantines free speech
We can vaccinate against many things. We can take a shot to prevent smallpox, and that worked so well the disease only exists in little vials. We can inoculate ourselves against everything from the tetanus we could get from a bad cut to the chicken pox that spreads like fire...
PennDOT inspects Fort Duquesne Bridge after concrete chunks fall
PennDOT officials conducted an emergency inspection on the Fort Duquesne Bridge after pieces of concrete fell to the ground on the North Shore on Tuesday. The pieces, measuring between 6 and 10 inches in diameter, did not damage anything. PennDOT District 11 Executive Cheryl Moon-Sirianni said the bridge is safe....
Dairy Queen’s new Mini Blizzard Treat Flights let you try 3 flavors at once
If picking a Blizzard flavor is too much of a commitment, Dairy Queen has a sweet solution. The Mini Blizzard Treat Flights combine three different flavors of the blended ice cream treats in a handy tray. The flights are available only for the month of May but these six flavors...
Search continues for cows roaming southern Murrysville
The search for a group of black Angus cows roaming southern Murrysville continued Wednesday. “We’ve been getting one or two calls per day,” said Officer Christer Smith of the Murrysville Police Department. “It’s been ongoing for about the past week.” On Wednesday, the Westmoreland County Animal Response Team, or CART,...
Pa. state police increasing patrols at places of worship
Over the weekend, Pennsylvania state police in Indiana County checked on nearly five dozen churches and houses of worship. The visits, spurred in part by Saturday’s synagogue shooting in California, are part of an expanding effort to increase state police presence at places of worship around the region. “We’re doing...
AG Josh Shapiro vows to appeal ruling that spared Graham Spanier from jail
PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro vowed Wednesday to appeal what he described as a “last-minute and highly unusual” ruling that overturned Graham B. Spanier’s child endangerment conviction just hours before the former Pennsylvania State University president was scheduled to report to jail. In a statement, the state’s top...
White House wants $4.5 billion in emergency border funding
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday asked Congress for an additional $4.5 billion in emergency funds for the U.S.-Mexico border as the administration contends with a surge of Central American migrant families, with the bulk of the money for shelter and care. The number of families and children arriving...
Carnegie Mellon student convicted of sex assault in 2018 case
A jury on Wednesday convicted a Carnegie Mellon University student of sexual assault for his attack on a University of Pittsburgh student last in year in an Oakland apartment. The jury convicted Joon Woo Baik, 24, of the second-degree felony charge after about a day and a half of deliberations....
Can’t get to Fallingwater? Experience it in 3D
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is arguably only one of the most incredible architectural achievements of all time. And Western Pennsylvania is home to it. Bravo, for us. There’s no substitute for visiting the iconic site, built in 1935 for the Kaufmann family. And if you haven’t been there — we...
