Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 546
Unity mother reflects on ‘the worst 4 months of my life’ as probe into daughter’s killing stalls
Bruna Vesco Leonard had a few video chats with her 25-year-old daughter on the evening of June 9. Brianna Lartz was visiting a friend in Jeannette, and they were getting ready to eat dinner. Hours later, Leonard was panicked to hear about a shooting at the friend’s home. Leonard said...
Butler Health System losses nearly doubled in 2023, according to financial statements
Butler Health System’s losses almost doubled in the fiscal year ending June 30, according to newly released financial documents. The system, which in January merged with Excela Health to create Independence Health System, lost $43.3 million in fiscal year 2023. Butler Health reported $22.8 million in losses in the fiscal...
Union workers at West View Water Authority poised to strike as contract negotiations drag on more than a year
Members of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 416 at West View Water Authority could go on strike at any time. Union president John Witheral said members voted in May to authorize a strike after negotiations with the authority stalled but have held off. Their last contract, a five-year...
GOP presidential candidates unified on Israel but divided on China as they debate without TrumpVideo
MIAMI — In their first debate since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Republican presidential candidates all declared hawkish support for Israel but squabbled over China and Ukraine as they faced growing pressure to try to catch Donald Trump — who was again absent. At center stage were Ron...
SAG-AFTRA committee approves deal with studios to end historic strike
LOS ANGELES — SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee has approved a a tentative deal with the major studios that would end a nearly four-month-long strike that has sidelined thousands of workers. The tentative contract — which still must be ratified by the union’s board and members — would boost minimum pay for...
Westmoreland political leaders take contrasting view of election results
Westmoreland County Democratic leaders had high hopes but few expectations with regards the handful of county races on Tuesday’s ballot. While Republicans maintained control of county government, the more than 31,000 votes received by an underfunded and untested candidate who was on the campaign trail for just two months signaled...
How Steve Zappala was reelected as Allegheny County DA running on the GOP ticket
Ben Wren parked himself Tuesday night in the back of Cupka’s Cafe II on the South Side, the “war station” of Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala’s reelection effort. Politicians, supporters and reporters flowed like koi past Wren’s table. He constantly checked information on two tablets and a laptop....
U.S. launches airstrike on Syrian site in response to attacks by Iranian-backed militias
WASHINGTON — The U.S. launched an airstrike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in the region for the past several weeks, the Pentagon said. Wednesday’s strike by two U.S. F-15...
Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund officials visit Flight 93 memorial, meet with community
“You are not forgotten.” That was the message Allison Turkel wanted to make clear for anyone who responded to the Flight 93 crash site in Stonycreek on Sept. 11, 2001. Turkel, who was appointed in March as special master of the federal Sept. 11th Victim Compensation Fund, was joined by...
First lady Jill Biden highlights Western Pa. workforce development efforts during Pittsburgh stop
First lady Jill Biden visited Pittsburgh on Wednesday and praised the region’s efforts in expanding workforce development programs and other career training initiatives. Pittsburgh was designated a “workforce hub” in May. That provided federal funding and other assistance to existing workforce training programs in the region. Pittsburgh is one of...
Nearly half of all Westmoreland write-in votes came from Greater Latrobe school board races
When John Petrarca saw the number of write-in votes in the Greater Latrobe school board election for four-year seats, he said it was “hard to believe.” Nearly half of the 22,259 total write-in votes cast in Tuesday’s election in Westmoreland County were done so in the two races for Latrobe...
Bipartisan Norwin School Board victors say they hope to promote respect, avoid polarization
Members of the bipartisan “We aRe Norwin” slate of candidates will form a majority on Norwin School Board, according to unofficial election results. All five members of the slate were leading in unofficial vote tallies from Tuesday’s election. Tim Kotch Sr. led with 11.2%, and Nina Totin came in second...
Ohio just legalized recreational marijuana. What does that mean for Pennsylvania?
On Tuesday, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana after having a medical-only program in place. Now all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors, except West Virginia, allow recreational marijuana use. Pennsylvania passed medical marijuana laws in 2016. Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients must now be diagnosed with at least...
Innamorato’s win caps a wave of women’s political victories in Allegheny County
Sara Innamorato’s victory Tuesday night means that Allegheny County will see a woman as its top elected official for the first time in history. Only men have served as Allegheny County executive since the position was created more than 20 years ago. “I stand on the shoulders of so many...
Suspect in custody in recent fatal stabbing of Detroit synagogue leader
DETROIT — Police said a suspect was in custody Wednesday in the fatal stabbing of a Detroit synagogue leader whose recent death had raised questions about whether it was motivated by antisemitism. “It does not represent the conclusion of our work in this case,” police Chief James White said. “The...
Sweeney wins seat on Allegheny County Common Pleas bench, 6 judges retained for new terms
Democrat Patrick A. Sweeney on Tuesday won this year’s only open seat on the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court bench, collecting nearly 59% of the votes cast to defeat Republican nominee Anthony DeLuca, according to unofficial results. “Allegheny County voted for reform, for a justice system where systemic biases and...
House Republicans subpoena Hunter and James Biden as their impeachment inquiry ramps back up
WASHINGTON — House Republicans issued subpoenas Wednesday to members of President Joe Biden’s family, taking their most aggressive step yet in an impeachment inquiry bitterly opposed by Democrats that is testing the reach of congressional oversight powers. The long-awaited move by Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight...
2 Pittsburgh students hospitalized after eating ‘unknown edible candy’
Two students at Brashear High School in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood were hospitalized Wednesday after they ingested “am unknown edible candy,” a school spokeswoman said. Four students were involved in the incident. Two fell ill after eating the candy, Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said. School officials are investigating to...
Searchers come up empty in search for man believed to have jumped from Hulton Bridge
Sonar was used to search the Allegheny River on Wednesday for a man witnesses say jumped off the Hulton Bridge after crashing his car on the bridge Tuesday evening. The man, believed to be 42 years old and from the Verona area, has not been found, Harmar police Chief Jason...
Pittsburgh City Council incumbents win easily, 2 new members to replace outgoing councilmen
Pittsburgh City Council incumbents running for reelection Tuesday cruised to easy victories, and two newcomers won seats replacing outgoing councilmen, according to unofficial results. Council members Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, and Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, did not face Republican challengers in their reelection bids, while Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, collected 79.4%...
Wilkinsburg tries to demolish ‘deplorable’ buildings, avoid gentrification
Sunlight pours into the shattered roof of a four-unit Hill Avenue rowhouse — bricks and shingles fall onto neighboring properties. An abandoned Glenn Avenue home sits with its glass windows broken out. Weeds snake up toward its second floor. A 2,900-square-foot shell of a home on North Avenue has its...
Mark Madden: Just another example of Steelers’ flawed culture under Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ culture, at least the portion created by coach Mike Tomlin, is uneven and flawed. Chuks Okorafor lost the starting job at right tackle because he “acted out” during the Oct. 29 loss to Jacksonville. Okorafor said or did something Tomlin didn’t like. This switch was past due...
Iron City taps into region’s history with 1870s-style rye whiskey at East Deer distillery
Pittsburgh has long been known as a shot-and-a-beer town. And for more than 160 years, much of the beer consumed here was made by Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Now the iconic company is making the shots to go with its beer. After years of sitting in oak barrels until just the...
It was a night of firsts amid local, national election results
History was made around the U.S. — and in Western Pennsylvania — on Tuesday as several newly elected candidates earned firsts for their respective offices. In Allegheny County, Democrat Sara Innamorato became the first woman to win the county executive seat after she defeated Republican Joe Rockey. On the other...
Morning Roundup: Police say Shadyside restaurant worker injured in assault; 2 winners in record Pa. jackpot
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 8: Police say Shadyside restaurant worker injured in assault A Shadyside restaurant employee was treated for a cut on the head after three masked men reportedly robbed and assaulted him Tuesday night, according to Pittsburgh police. The...
