Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1852
Death penalty upheld for ‘Greensburg Six’ roommate Melvin Knight
A Westmoreland County judge has upheld the death penalty imposed against one of the six Greensburg roommates convicted in the 2010 torture slaying of a mentally disabled woman. Common Pleas Court Judge Rita Hathaway ruled evidence presented in a sentencing trial last November was sufficient to support a jury finding...
Western Pa. business owners finding right fit in downtown communitiesVideo
When considering where to open her new business several years ago, Jenifer Amundson says there was never any question on location. Greensburg is her hometown and where Amundson, 52, and her husband, Jon Amundson, 53, make their home. “We were looking for a building in downtown Greensburg. We were going...
Overnight snow blankets Pittsburgh region, but commuters spared headaches
Pittsburgh-area residents who woke up to a fresh blanket of snow today as they prepared for the morning commute were met with some good news. Between 2 and 5 inches of snow fell across the region between Thursday night and early Friday morning, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jason...
Victim of White Oak stabbing late Thursday in critical condition
A male victim was listed in critical condition at a local trauma center after suffering stab wounds Thursday night in White Oak, according to Allegheny County police. Allegheny County 911 was notified at about 9:50 p.m. of the stabbing in the 3600 block of Sherbine Way. First responders arrived and...
Penn Hills School District is in ‘the worst financial shape’ in Pennsylvania, auditor general says
The Penn Hills School District is confronting the most severe financial crisis of the 500 districts statewide, and it’ll be nearly impossible to turn around without the Gov. Tom Wolf administration and lawmakers stepping up to bail it out, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale told a packed auditorium Thursday night....
President ordered top clearance for Jared Kushner despite concerns of John Kelly, intel officials
WASHINGTON — President Trump early last year directed his then-chief of staff, John Kelly, to give presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner a top-secret security clearance — a move that made Kelly so uncomfortable that he documented the request in writing, according to current and former administration officials. After Kushner, a senior...
Several hundred power customers remain without electricity in wake of Sunday’s winds
About 700 West Penn Power customers remained without electricity late Thursday, four days after high winds left hundreds of thousands in the dark and cold. As of 11:40 p.m Thursday., just eight Duquesne Light customers were in a similar situation. Duquesne Light was reporting four customers were without power on...
YouTube suspends comments on videos of kids to curb pedophiles
SAN FRANCISCO — YouTube said Thursday it will turn off comments on nearly all videos featuring kids — potentially affecting millions of posts on the site — after reports last week that pedophiles were leaving inappropriate comments on innocuous videos of children. The change comes as YouTube grapples with moderating...
North Park bald eagles, watchers are waiting for an egg
Do they or don’t they? The North Park bald eagles are drawing crowds of watchers noting that the birds have been spending lots of time at their nest — but not enough time to confirm an egg just yet, according to North Park rangers on Thursday. The pair built the...
Allegheny County Health Department issues enforcement order against U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works facilities have violated local and federal air quality regulations and must get back in compliance, according to an order issued by the Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday. The order requires the facilities — which include Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Edgar Thomson Plant in...
Tarentum man indicted on federal bank fraud charge
A Tarentum man was indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of bank fraud. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said David Linder, 40, participated in a scheme to defraud S&T Bank by opening accounts with a false Social Security number, depositing fraudulent checks into those accounts, and then...
Andrew Wheeler, former energy lobbyist, confirmed as nation’s top environmental official
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to head the Environmental Protection Agency by a vote of 52 to 47, elevating a veteran of Washington political and industry circles who has advanced President Trump’s push to roll back Obama-era environmental regulations. Wheeler, who began his...
Rostraver man accused of faking drug test
A 45-year-old Rostraver man was accused this week of submitting an altered urine sample to the Westmoreland County Probation office after a probation officer noticed a white tube protruding from the man’s underwear as he was performing the court-mandated drug test. Brett Michael Toman was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge...
Allegheny County DA will not charge Pittsburgh police officers in Kopy’s brawl
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday said it will not pursue state criminal charges against the undercover Pittsburgh police officers involved in a brawl with members of the Pagans motorcycle club at a South Side bar last year. The news comes a day after the U.S. Attorney’s Office...
Attorney says former cop not responsible for Beechview girl’s overdose death
The attorney for a former Allegheny County police officer facing drug charges in connection to the overdose of his 15-year-old niece says his client should not be blamed for her death. Daniel Bondi was arrested and arraigned Wednesday for allegedly bringing fentanyl and heroin into a Beechview home where Isabella...
Picklesburgh takes lead for best specialty food festival
Voters have propelled Picklesburgh atop the leader board as the best specialty food festival in the country. USA Today in its series of travel guides chose the pickle celebration, held annually on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, as a finalist. At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Picklesburgh was ahead of the Bacon and...
Woman testifies in sexual assault trial against former Istanbul Sofra owner
The lawyer for a former Pittsburgh restaurant owner accused of sexual assault tried Thursday afternoon to undermine the testimony of the alleged victim while she recounted the terror of finding a stranger in her bed. Lee Rothman asked the woman if, once she went to her bedroom shortly after 1...
Former Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conductor André Previn dies at age 89
André Previn, one-time music director and principal conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, has died in Manhattan at age 89. His manager, Linda Petrikova, confirmed Previn’s death to the Associated Press. Beyond his conducting talents, Previn also brought to the symphony his “virtuosity at the piano and a musical sensibility...
Officials probe why so little of $4.3M Westmoreland firefighter grant has been used
Hardly any of a $4.3 million firefighter grant aimed at benefiting Westmoreland County fire departments has been spent since it was awarded in 2017. Awarded Sept. 1, 2017, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant gives departments the ability to...
Mercer County among first in state to implement new post-election audits
A Western Pennsylvania county will be among the first in the state to have an enhanced audit of its election results. Mercer and Philadelphia counties both bought new voting systems that will be used for the first time in November. With concerns over election security increasing in recent years, the...
Where, when, how to watch WPIAL championship coverage on Trib HSSN
WPIAL championships are up for grabs Thursday, and the TribLive High School Sports Network has the coverage. The two-day WPIAL Class AAA and AA swimming championships get underway at Pitt’s Trees Pool. The Class AAA meet is being held from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and the Class AA championships are from...
J.C. Penney closes more stores as sales deteriorate
NEW YORK — J.C. Penney is closing more stores after a weak holiday sales season. Net income tumbled nearly 70 percent and revenue slid 8 percent in the fourth-quarter, the most crucial period of the year for retailers who bank on a surge in holiday sales. The company did beat...
Luke Perry suffers ‘massive’ stroke
Luke Perry suffered a massive stroke Wednesday at his Sherman Oaks, Calif., home. His publicist Arnold Robinson told the Associated Press the “Beverly Hills, 90210” actor is currently in the hospital and “currently under observation.” Paramedics were called to the 52-year-old actor’s home about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. They transported him...
‘The Masked Singer’: T-Pain flies under the radar to grab Golden Mask
And “The Masked Singer” is … T-Pain?! Much to everyone’s surprise, the rapper was revealed to be the voice behind the Monster mask on last night’s season finale on the Fox singing competition in which celebrity contestants concealed their identities under elaborate costumes. Nobody was more surprised than the Florida-born...
Woman escapes carjacker after attack in Leetsdale parking lot
Police are commending a woman for taking action when a man allegedly forced himself into her car and drove away with her inside. Leetsdale Borough police Chief Daniel Raible said the woman was struck in the head with a hammer by John Matheny, 38, of Darlington, after he approached her...
