Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 430
Final jurors seated for Trump’s hush money case, with opening statements set for Monday
NEW YORK — The final jurors were seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, and an appellate judge rejected the former president’s latest bid to halt the case as a hectic day in court set the stage for opening statements to begin Monday. The panel of New Yorkers who...
Bitcoin’s latest ‘halving’ has arrived. Here’s what you need to know
NEW YORK — The “miners” who chisel bitcoins out of complex mathematics are taking a 50% pay cut — effectively reducing new production of the world’s largest cryptocurrency, again. Bitcoin’s latest “halving” appeared to occur Friday night. Soon after the highly anticipated event, the price of bitcoin held steady at...
Luxury Sewickley Village condominium hits market
“For those looking to downsize, that doesn’t have to mean downgrade,” Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty associate broker and real estate advisor Kathe Barge said of a Centennial Avenue condo in Sewickley Village. That’s apparent from the get-go — a governor’s drive winds in front of the red brick and cast...
FAFSA mess leads to deadline extension for students to apply for state grants
Students hoping for a Pennsylvania state grant to help pay for college have an extra month — until June 1 — to submit the federal form that is needed to be considered for financial aid. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) on Thursday announced that it has pushed back...
Rostraver man killed in crash on I-70
A Rostraver man was killed Friday morning when his car crashed along Interstate 70 in Rostraver. State police said Joseph E. Troyer, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene after the eastbound Ford Focus he was driving struck a tree with its passenger side and flipped onto its roof, trapping...
Morning Roundup: Human remains found in Aliquippa; Pittsburgh Zoo collects electronics
Here are some of the latest news items from Friday, April 19. Human remains found in Aliquippa Human remains were found in a building in Aliquippa Thursday, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The remains were located in the area of 5th Avenue in the city. The scene has been secured...
Springdale students capture 1st place, valuable skills in stock market game
Before entering Nick Spehar’s economics class at Springdale High School, Casey Sprinkle wasn’t sure what the difference was between the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Now, at the end of the year, he and two of his peers, Shane Parsons Jr. and Owen Scheuring, are budding stock market experts....
5 things to do in Pittsburgh: April 19-21
We’ve made it to another weekend. Here are some ways to get out of the house and enjoy it. Kennywood’s open! Kennywood Park will open for the season this Saturday. Visiting the amusement park has been a tradition for families in the Pittsburgh region for generations. The park boasts new...
Sewickley Bridge set to close for 10 days
PennDOT officials remind drivers that the Sewickley Bridge, which connects Moon Township and Sewickley across the Ohio River, will close for 10 days starting Friday night. The closure is slated to begin at 7 p.m. and continue through 6 a.m. April 29, weather permitting. Officials said the closing is necessary...
Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear siteVideo
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel. No Iranian official...
Federal investigators in Pittsburgh help shut down Russian-linked online scams that affected over 1 million people
Federal officials in Pittsburgh announced Thursday they’ve seized four web domains with Russian ties that were used to steal the personal information of more than 1 million victims in spoofing scams. Among the victims were two elderly Pittsburgh-area residents. According to court documents, one of those victims lost a total...
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announces its new superintendent of schools
Seton LaSalle Catholic High School Principal Lauren Martin will have a new job next school year. Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Bishop David Zubik has appointed her superintendent of Catholic Schools effective July 1. The superintendent search began in January after Michelle Peduto announced her retirement after five years as superintendent...
Shapiro says Pennsylvania will move all school standardized testing online in 2026
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday that his administration will move all standardized school assessment tests online in an effort to save more classroom time for instruction, create a user-friendly exam for students and relieve a burden from teachers and administrators. Shapiro, in a news conference at Northgate Middle School...
Preteen girl testifies during preliminary hearing for New Kensington man accused of raping her
A New Kensington man will remain in jail as he awaits trial on charges of sexually assaulting and raping a preteen girl two years ago. District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. held for trial Thomas Lee Burruss, 48, after a preliminary hearing Thursday that featured the testimony of the alleged...
Kiski Area School District hires familiar face as new superintendent
Kiski Area’s school directors didn’t look far to find their choice as the best qualified person to be superintendent. That turned out to be Assistant Superintendent Jason Lohr, whom they unanimously voted to succeed Misty Slavic. Board President Todd Sterlitz said after the news about Slavic’s sudden resignation broke in...
Scottdale contractor ordered to serve extra prison term for home improvement thefts
Scottdale contractor Jason Pirl said life just got away from him after he suffered two heart attacks in October 2020. His health crisis in the midst of the raging coronavirus pandemic left his home repair business in tatters. Then ongoing alcohol and gambling addictions made his problems worse, Pirl said....
TV Talk: Emily Giangreco exits WTAE
Emily Giangreco, who joined WTAE as a sports reporter/anchor in the summer of 2022 from a station in Austin, Texas, left her job working for the station Wednesday in what she characterized as a mutual decision. “I’m not really at liberty to discuss leaving WTAE right now,” she said by...
Who killed Deborah Waggoner? Police seek info on 1990 homicide at Hempfield car wash
State police have evidence that might help them solve a 1990 homicide at a Hempfield car wash, but they need some leads. The possibility that troopers can crack the case still exists, especially with the technological advances since Deborah June Waggoner’s death 34 years ago, Trooper Steve Limani said. But...
Irwin veteran finds balance through martial arts, wants to help other vetsVideo
After nine years as a member of the Marine Corps infantry, Jeric Fry of Irwin felt he was fully prepared to enter civilian life when his oldest son was born. “I got out in 2014, and I kind of assumed I’d be in a good place,” said Fry, 37. “I...
Sheetz hit with discrimination lawsuit
The Sheetz convenience store chain has been hit with a lawsuit by federal officials who allege the company discriminated against minority job applicants. Sheetz Inc., which operates more than 700 stores in six states, discriminated against Black, Native American and multiracial job seekers by automatically weeding out applicants whom the...
Pittsburgh company accused of illegally inflating tow costs, charging $300K
A Pittsburgh-based towing company owner is charged with inflating tow costs and billing more than $300,000 in fraudulent fees, officials said Thursday. Vincent G. Fannick, 56, of Vince’s Towing was charged Thursday with 27 counts each of insurance fraud, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and securing execution of...
Riders react to Kennywood’s Steel Curtain closure
Nathan Hough loves going with his two children to Kennywood, but, with the Steel Curtain coaster out of commission this season, he fears the lines for other rides will be even longer. “It was very disappointing to see the Steel Curtain closed for the majority of last season,” Hough said....
High winds, storms cause only moderate damage in Western Pa.; power largely restored
Emergency responders reported minimal damage from high winds and storms that swept through the region Wednesday night, though some communities fared worse than others. Mary Queen of Apostles School in New Kensington lost a portion of its roof around 8 p.m. That forced the elementary school to switch to a...
12 jurors picked for Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Selection of alternates ongoing
NEW YORK — A jury of 12 people was seated Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York, and the court quickly turned to selecting alternate jurors. The rapid progress Thursday afternoon propelled the case closer to opening statements and weeks of testimony in a case...
UPMC pharmacy employee arrested in theft of $425K in hospital funds
A pharmacy employee at UPMC Presbyterian was charged Thursday in connection with the theft of more than $425,000 from the health care giant. Chante Cantave, 28, of Penn Hills is accused of using more than $410,000 of UPMC’s funds for her own benefit and submitting about $15,000 in fraudulent reimbursement...
