Top Stories category, Page 18
Sellers in other countries struggle to maintain U.S. customers as holiday shopping season starts
NEW YORK — At Fleece & Harmony, a woolen mill and yarn shop in bucolic Belfast, Prince Edward Island, in Canada, owner Kim Doherty used to be able to send yarn skeins to U.S. customers across the border with little fanfare. The yarn orders usually met an import tax exemption...
13 employees furloughed from PennWest University
Thirteen union employees at Pennsylvania Western University’s California and Clarion campuses were furloughed last week, a university spokeswoman confirmed. “Thirteen AFSCME employees were furloughed,” said Wendy Mackall, a spokeswoman for PennWest. “PennWest is proud to support 1,571 employees across our campuses and to serve as a significant economic driver for...
Morning Roundup: Shooting in Mt. Oliver; tractor-trailer overturns on I-70; patrol stats released
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 26: Police investigate Mt. Oliver shooting Allegheny County Police have opened an investigation after being called to the scene of a shooting early Wednesday morning. Police said the were called to the 300 block of Onyx Avenue...
Grassroots efforts grow to help families in need
Amy Bocceri is no stranger to helping others. During the covid-19 pandemic, she helped deliver meals to local students who couldn’t attend school in-person. Now, she’s part of a growing trend of grassroots efforts that emerged across the region this year — not only for help with the holidays, but...
Springdale data center developers hopeful ahead of vote, close on property with Charah
Brian Regli, a consultant for the company seeking to construct a large data center in Springdale, says he’s optimistic the project will be approved by borough council next month. Land developer Allegheny DC Property Co. wrapped up its testimony during a five-hour meeting Monday night. That came a week after...
Pittsburgh Public Schools rejects school closure plan
A reconfiguration plan that called to shutter nine Pittsburgh Public School buildings was defeated by a 6-3 vote Tuesday night. The “Future-Ready” plan called for the closure of the Student Achievement Center (Baxter School); Friendship; Schiller, Manchester; Fulton; McKelvy (Miller PreK-5); Woolslair; Spring Hill and Morrow. Grade structures would have...
Report: U.S. envoy coached Putin aide on how Russian leader should pitch Trump on Ukraine peace plan
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s chief interlocutor with the Russian government last month advised a senior aide to Vladimir Putin on how the Russian leader should go about pitching the U.S. president on a peace plan aimed at bringing an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a transcript...
21 new police officers graduate from WCCC’s Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy
Twenty-one cadets graduated from Westmoreland County Community College’s Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy during a ceremony Tuesday. Graduates are Jordan Brasile and Grace Revitsky, both of Latrobe; Damiyan Davis of West Newton; Andrew Evans of North Huntingdon; Bradey Jackson of Allegheny Township; Jonathan Preece of White Oak; Charles Sciore of...
Westmoreland judge considers new trial for convicted murderer of mother, sister and aunt
A New Kensington man who was a juror in the trial of a man accused of a triple murder in Loyalhanna testified Tuesday in Westmoreland County Court that he heard a fellow juror comment on why the suspect did not join the judge, attorneys and jurors when they toured the...
White House denies Trump considering ouster of FBI Director Kash Patel
WASHINGTON — The White House denied that Donald Trump was considering removing FBI Director Kash Patel following a report that the president is weighing his ouster amid a string of controversies. MS NOW reported Tuesday that Trump was considering replacing Patel with FBI co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey, as concerns swirled...
Gas odor causes evacuation at Murrysville shopping plaza
An odor of gas caused an evacuation Tuesday afternoon at a Murrysville shopping plaza and sickened several people. Six people were taken to a local hospital as a precaution when they reported feeling ill at the Walnut Hollow plaza on Route 22, TribLive news partner WTAE reported. An official told...
PennDOT opens all lanes of ‘diverging diamond’ interchange along I-70 in Rostraver
PennDOT on Tuesday completed work to fully open a new “diverging diamond” interchange at the junction of Interstate 70 and Route 51 in Rostraver. The newly formatted interchange and nearby improvements on the two roadways have been under construction for three years. The I-70/51 diamond configuration has replaced a previous...
FBI wants to question Deluzio, other lawmakers who made video on ignoring illegal orders
The FBI wants to question U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio and five other Democratic members of Congress who released a video last week telling service members and intelligence officials they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders. Deluzio, of Fox Chapel, said the FBI contacted the House and Senate sergeants at...
Prosecutor’s errors under scrutiny as defense seeks to toss case in 2022 Taco Bell killing
The veteran Allegheny County prosecutor whose conduct led to a first-degree murder conviction being overturned this summer had never before tried a homicide case and hadn’t tried any case for nine years prior to the one in question. Chief Deputy District Attorney Jarrod Caruso was the only witness to testify...
‘I know what it’s like to be hungry’: Greensburg church to donate 400 Thanksgiving dinners to local families
Kim Colosimo remembers what it’s like to be hungry. “I went through a divorce many, many years ago,” said Colosimo, who moved to Latrobe from Johnstown two years ago. “I had two small children. I was ‘this close’ from not having a home.” The church she attended in Johnstown is...
Trump EPA moves to abandon rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is seeking to abandon a rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution, arguing that the Biden administration did not have authority to set the tighter standard on pollution from tailpipes, smokestacks and other industrial sources. The action follows moves by the administration last...
Ex-Leet fire chief, wife charged in misconduct case involving junior firefighter
A former Leet Township fire chief and his wife were arrested Nov. 24 after investigators said she exposed herself to a teenage fire department volunteer and told him she was eager to have sex with him once he turned 18, according to Allegheny County Police. Nathan Turner, 40, texted his...
Pittsburgh airport T. rex absent from new terminal as officials weigh its future
Wondering where Pittsburgh International Airport’s iconic Tyrannosaurus rex ended up in the new terminal? It hasn’t reappeared. Its next chapter is still undecided, though it’s on the airport’s radar. In a collaborative Instagram post Monday with the airport, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History says they are discussing the exact...
Duquesne Light rates climb 10% as statewide electric price hikes begin
Pennsylvania residents should brace for higher electric bills next month as temperatures drop and energy supply prices rise. Beginning Dec. 1, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will adjust energy supply rates for all state-regulated electric utilities. Duquesne Light services will increase by 10.6% and West Penn Power services will increase...
Hempfield supervisors buy land for new fire station despite response time warnings
A majority of Hempfield supervisors approved a conditional sales agreement for a new fire station in the western part of the township this week over concerns from firefighters in that area who said the location would impact their response time. Adamsburg Volunteer Fire Department President Ken Wees said the current...
New strain of flu invades Western Pa. amid concerns over vaccine efficacy
A new flu virus variant has been sweeping across the United States, raising questions about the efficacy of this year’s flu vaccines. Medical professionals in Western Pennsylvania say even though they’re seeing the new flu strain permeate the region, this year’s flu vaccines can still help. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a...
Zelenskyy says peace talks with U.S. continue after deal report
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said talks with the U.S. about a peace plan were continuing following a report suggesting that Kyiv agreed to the terms of a potential deal to end Russia’s full-scale invasion. “Communication with the American side continues,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X following a phone...
Thanksgiving weather in Western Pennsylvania expected to be cold, windy
This week’s weather forecast calls for a windy, but snow-free Thanksgiving. WTAE meteorologist Jill Szwed said rain is expected through Tuesday evening until mid-day Wednesday before drying up. According to Jason Frazier, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, temperatures on turkey day are expected to reach a high of...
A guide to Thanksgiving travel after the government shutdown
The turbulence caused by the longest U.S. government shutdown may still be fresh on the minds of travelers this Thanksgiving, but experts say preparing for the usual holiday crush of winter weather, heavy traffic and crowded airports can help ease the jitters. “I think the shutdown at this point is...
Morning Roundup: Road closures for Pittsburgh Turkey Trot; 21 people treated at Light Up Night
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Nov. 25: Road closures for Pittsburgh Turkey Trot P3R is expecting to host more than 8,000 participants from all over the country and world during its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. According to the P3R app, this week’s YMCA...
