Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 590
Police: Quarry worker dies after becoming trapped in limestone hopper
State police are investigating the death of an Indiana County quarry worker who died after becoming trapped in a limestone hopper Friday morning. First responders were called just before 10:30 a.m. to rescue a man who had become trapped at Ridge Limestone, a quarry on Coleman Road in Young Township....
Latest sighting of fugitive killer in Pennsylvania spurs closure of popular botanical garden
WEST CHESTER, Pa. — One of the country’s top botanical gardens has been closed indefinitely after reports that an escaped murderer on the run in southeast Pennsylvania may have once again been spotted on the property. When Longwood Gardens closed Thursday night, people who remained on the property were told...
Investigators say cause of fatal Plum explosion came from inside the home
The point of origin for a deadly home explosion in Plum on Aug. 12 came from inside the house at 141 Rustic Ridge, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office said Friday. Officials continue to investigate the explosion that occurred just less than a month ago in Plum’s Rustic Ridge subdivision,...
Pelosi says she’ll run for reelection in 2024 as Democrats try to win back House majority
WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she will run for reelection to another term in Congress as Democrats work to win back the majority in 2024. Pelosi, 83, made the announcement before labor allies in the San Francisco area district she has represented for more than 35...
Lawsuit: Uber’s lax security practices led to Turtle Creek driver’s killing
The mother of an Uber driver who police said was killed by a passenger nearly two years ago filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging that the tech company should have been better able to protect her. “Despite Uber knowing that its drivers — essential players in the wildly profitable Uber...
Special grand jury recommended charges against Sen. Graham, 2 ex-senators, Michael Flynn
ATLANTA — A special grand jury that aided a Georgia election subversion probe that ultimately ended up indicting Donald Trump and 18 others had recommended charging many more people, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, two former senators from Georgia and Michael Flynn, according to a report released Friday. Parts...
Hurricane Lee barrels through open Atlantic waters as the season’s first Category 5 storm
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Lee on Friday charged through warm Atlantic waters as the season’s first Category 5 storm, threatening to unleash heavy swells across the northeast Caribbean. The hurricane is not expected to make landfall, but meteorologists warned it would generate dangerous waves of up to 15...
Morning Roundup: Woman fatally shot in Pittsburgh
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Sept. 8: 25-year-old Pittsburgh woman killed after shooting A woman died after being found shot in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights on Thursday night, police said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Danasia Lighty, 25, of Pittsburgh....
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 8-10
We’ve made it to the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Irish Festival The 32nd annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival is from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Rankin and...
Springdale mother accused of manslaughter in methadone death of 5-year-old daughter
A mother in Springdale is facing charges in the death of her 5-year-old daughter, who died in June of methadone toxicity. Samantha McMunn, 34, of Springdale was charged by Allegheny County Police on Thursday with felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children. McMunn surrendered to authorities...
Friday Football Footnotes: Tim Benz’s season predictions
If you work in the Pittsburgh sports media you are obligated — by law — to make a season prediction for the Steelers before their first game of the regular season. Seriously. If you don’t, you could get arrested. I’m pretty sure I signed some piece of paper requiring me...
Saint Vincent professor seeks public participation in spotted lanternfly research
Saint Vincent professor and entomologist Michelle Duennes was walking the lots at a Steelers tailgate last year near Heinz Field. But she wasn’t looking for the perfectly grilled kielbasa. She was looking for spotted lanternflies. “We were also looking at the license plates of people who came from out-of-state,” Duennes...
Survivors, advocates shine spotlight on suicide as cases rise in Westmoreland County
Sue Soltis of Derry Township can empathize with those who have been touched by the rising number of suicides in Westmoreland County, which accounted for a record number of 62 deaths last year. She found help with a Survivors of Suicide bereavement support group in Pittsburgh when her family was...
Police: Woman found shot in car in Wilkinsburg
A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot on Thursday afternoon while seated in her car in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County Police reported. Officers were dispatched around 4 p.m. for a shooting in the area of Pennwood Avenue and Rowland Connector. Police said the 65-year-old victim was found with...
Arrest made in Clairton homicide after standoff in McKeesport
A Clairton man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting Aug. 25 was arrested Thursday after a short standoff with law enforcement in McKeesport, the Allegheny County Police said. The suspect, Edwin Wiley-Biggs, 42, was arrested by the Allegheny County Police Department’s SWAT team when he peacefully came out of...
Kiski Township officials draft ordinance to end alligator ownership; police fear more gators are in Kiski River
Kiski Township officials are clamping down on alligator ownership in the township after two reported alligator sightings in recent weeks along the Kiski River. In light of the recent capture of a juvenile alligator some nicknamed Chomper in August and a rogue alligator named Neo that remains at large after...
Indiana man accused of threatening Homer-Center School District
An Indiana man was arrested Thursday after allegedly sending a threatening video to a Homer-Center student in which he was seen wielding a shotgun and indicating he was arriving at Homer-Center School District, state police at Indiana said. The suspect, Spencer T. Baker, 18, is accused of sending the video...
Nonmonetary bond questioned in multi-million dollar fentanyl, cocaine arrest
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is challenging the release of a New York City man accused of trafficking large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine after he was granted nonmonetary bond by a district judge. Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda, 27, is charged with two felony counts of possession with intent...
Tailgate turmoil: North Shore development cuts into game-day experience for Pitt, Steelers fans
Dustin Helm arrived on the North Shore 90 minutes before parking lots opened for the first University of Pittsburgh football game of the season, as he has done for the past seven-plus years. When the lots opened last weekend, Helm attempted to turn left in Lot 7C and make his...
Trump White House official Peter Navarro convicted of contempt after defying House Jan. 6 subpoenaVideo
WASHINGTON — Trump White House official Peter Navarro was convicted Thursday of contempt of Congress charges filed after he was accused of refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The verdict came after a short trial for Navarro, who served...
Officials, nurses hope new Pa. licensing program changes will help with staffing shortages
Amid ongoing nursing shortages, RNs and LPNs from other states will find it easier to begin working in Pennsylvania starting this week, as the state takes its first steps toward joining the Nurse Licensure Compact. The interstate agreement allows nurses to more easily take their licenses with them across state...
‘That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson gets 30 years to life in prison for rapes of 2 women
LOS ANGELES — A judge sentenced “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson to 30 years to life in prison Thursday for the rapes of two women two decades ago. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to the 47-year-old Masterson after hearing statements from the...
Downtown panhandler arrested for trying to throw woman onto Parkway East, police say
A Downtown panhandler tried to throw a woman off a bridge over the Parkway East on Wednesday night, police said. A criminal complaint filed against Jonathan Boyle, 42, said he was panhandling near Fort Pitt Boulevard and Smithfield Street around 7:40 p.m. when he attacked the woman and tried to...
Self-driving truck startup launches in Pittsburgh
Almost a year after Argo AI closed its doors in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, the founders of that autonomous automobile startup have embarked on a new venture focusing on self-driving trucks. Called Stack AV, the firm plans to use self-driving technology to improve efficiency and enhance safety in the trucking industry....
Edibles unsafe for Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, officials say
Officials tasked with monitoring the state’s medical marijuana program said this week edibles don’t belong in Pennsylvania’s marketplace. Concerns about safety, efficacy and legal enforcement gave members of the Medical Marijuana Advisory Program pause. Six abstained from voting on the recommendation at all during its Wednesday meeting. Only two members...
