Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 649
Police: Teen dead after 3 juveniles shot at New Castle playground
One of three three juveniles who were shot early Saturday morning at a playground in New Castle has died, according to authorities. The New Castle Police Department posted on its Facebook page that the shooting happened at Bollinger Playground “during a graduation celebration.” Police Chief Robert Salem confirmed to the...
Trump blasts federal indictment as ‘baseless’ at first events since charges were unsealed
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Former President Donald Trump blasted his historic federal indictment as “ridiculous” and “baseless” Saturday during his first public appearances since the charges were unsealed, painting the 37 felony counts as an attack on his supporters as he tried to turn dire legal peril to political advantage and...
Conneaut Lake Park owner wants to evict Hotel Conneaut operator
Conneaut Lake Park’s owner wants to oust the operator of its Hotel Conneaut for alleged lease violations. In a May 28 letter, Keldon Holdings LLC notified On the Lake Enterprises LLC to voluntarily vacate the Hotel Conneaut by June 12 or face formal eviction proceedings. Hotel Conneaut remains open and...
Horse safety, health the focus of racing community amid spate of thoroughbred deaths
Veteran sport horse trainer and harness race driver Mike Wilder respects the art of balance. After 38 years as a driver and more than 8,800 wins in his career, he scrutinizes many factors when it comes to taking care of his athletes — the horses expected to run at least...
After yearslong court battle, construction for electronic billboard in Tarentum begins
Construction of an electronic billboard near the Tarentum Bridge has begun, after a yearslong battle in court and before borough officials. America First Enterprises, doing business as Oliver Outdoor, sought to place the electronic billboard at the Tarentum end of the bridge, at 107 E. Fourth Ave. A representative for...
Police seek 2 suspects in Jeannette shooting that left 1 dead, 4 hospitalized
A 25-year-old Jeannette woman planning to find a better life in a rural setting outside of Uniontown was fatally shot Friday night at her friend’s residence in Jeannette and at least four others were wounded, authorities and family said. The victim, Brianna Lartz, was shot shortly before 9:30 p.m. at...
Pa. Turnpike to gradually eliminate paper towels at all 17 of its service plazas
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has a plan to become America’s First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040. “Protecting the environment through sustainability has been a guiding principle,” Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, said in a news release in April. As part of that plan, the turnpike plans to convert...
UPMC doctor steps aside as head of cardiothoracic surgery after false billing settlement
A cardiothoracic surgeon at UPMC who was at the center of a federal investigation is stepping aside as chair of the health system’s Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. James Luketich will continue to have a role within the health system, according to UPMC spokesman Paul Wood. Luketich will continue to...
Backlash prompts Bishop Zubik to cancel Mass planned in solidarity with LGBTQ+ community
A Sunday Mass at Duquesne University’s chapel that had been planned in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Catholics was canceled at the request of Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik because of an angry backlash including threats, officials confirmed Friday. The Mass on the Catholic campus was arranged by Catholics for Change in...
Air quality in Western Pa. continues to improve, could return to normal levels by Monday
With Canadian wildfires still burning and sending smoke into the Northeast, a government website has proved to be a valuable, easy-to-use resource for people looking for the latest information about air quality in their communities. The website AirNow.gov allows users to search for air quality data by city, state or...
Donald Trump stored, showed off and refused to return classified documents, indictment says
MIAMI — Donald Trump improperly stored in his Florida estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, repeatedly enlisted aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showed off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map, according to a sweeping felony indictment that paints a damning...
Most Pittsburgh city pools set to open June 17
The Pittsburgh public pools are set to open just in time for summer break. Officials announced Friday that 15 of the city’s 18 pools will open starting June 17. The pools planned to open are Ammon, Banksville, Highland, Jack Stack, Magee, McBride, Moore, Phillips, Ormsby, Ream, Riverview, Schenley, Sue Murray,...
Taylor Swift expert? This Carnegie Mellon class tests your knowledge
Taylor Swift isn’t just a music and pop culture icon. She’s also the subject of an elective three-credit course at Carnegie Mellon University. “Taylor Swift Through the Eras” was a spring semester offering through CMU’s Student College (StuCo), which allows students to develop and teach academic courses on topics of...
Pittsburgh, state officials say they aren’t canceling Juneteenth event at Point Park despite security questions
Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania officials said they don’t intend to cancel Juneteenth celebrations at Point State Park, though it’s unclear whether the event could move ahead if event organizers don’t meet the security requirements in place at the park. The annual Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth celebration has been held at Point State...
Trump faces unprecedented legal peril, but will it hurt his standing with Republican voters?
DES MOINES, Iowa — In March, when Donald Trump became the first former president in U.S. history indicted on criminal charges, his reelection campaign saw a huge surge in donations. Even political rivals rushed to support him. There was no dent in his front-runner status after the state charges in...
Chief suspect in Natalee Holloway disappearance pleads not guilty to extortion charges
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Joran van der Sloot, the chief suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges that he attempted to extort money from the missing teen’s mother. Van der Sloot was extradited to the United States on Thursday from Peru, where he...
Kiski Area alum killed in crash remembered for kindness, work ethic
Family and friends are mourning the sudden death of a standout student hockey player from Washington Township. Alex Presley Orange, a 2020 Kiski Area High School graduate and PennWest University California student, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a car crash. He was 21. His parents, Todd Orange and Leesa...
Penguins look to purchase Hunt Armory to continue using as skating rink
The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to purchase Hunt Armory in Shadyside, where they have been operating a public indoor ice rink since 2021. The Penguins are considering purchasing the Emerson Street site from Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority for $2 million plus costs, URA Chief Development Officer Thomas Link said. The...
Pine-Richland investigating after 2 middle school students took ‘racist photo’ in school bathroom
Pine-Richland School District officials said they are investigating after two middle school students took a “racist photo” in a school bathroom. District officials said the photo was taken during field day activities earlier this week. “The building administrators are conducting an investigation and will take appropriate next steps consistent with...
Arrest warrant issued for 14-year-old in connection to deadly Uniontown shooting
An arrest warrant was issued for a 14-year-old boy in connection with a fatal shooting in Uniontown Tuesday. Court records show Antonyo Owens, 14, is wanted for criminal homicide in connection to the shooting death of Anthony Jones, 38. He also is facing several firearms charges. Police are actively seeking...
Pittsburgh police officer on administrative duty after DUI charge
A Pittsburgh police officer was charged with DUI on Saturday. Arnold Willie, 35, of Pittsburgh has been detailed to an “administrative position” within the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, public safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 18....
A dam collapses and thousands face the deluge — often with no help — in Russian-occupied Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine — For days, the Ukrainian teenager has waited in the attic, just down the street from the cemetery of her flooded town, marking time with her 83-year-old grandfather and two other elderly people and hoping for help to escape the deluge of a catastrophic dam collapse. But help...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 9-11
We have made it to the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Garden party The Mattress Factory’s annual garden party, a signature-themed fundraiser for the North Side museum, is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday. The Trash Bash Garden Party is described as “an evening of...
Fern Hollow Bridge to close for construction work
The Fern Hollow Bridge is slated to close for about a month, beginning Monday, for more construction work. Forbes Avenue will be closed from South Dallas Avenue to Braddock Avenue for construction associated with the new span, Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced...
Deion Sanders snipes back at Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi for criticism of Colorado’s roster overhaul
Colorado Buffaloes football coach Deion Sanders is returning serve following some criticism from Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi. A few weeks ago, Narduzzi made some noteworthy comments about the transfer portal, obviously aimed at Sanders, who openly encouraged many of his Colorado players to leave the program so he could “bring...
