Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 885
Court says Zappala erred in ignoring criminal complaints on gun legislation
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court on Tuesday ruled that Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. did not follow the law when he dismissed private criminal complaints submitted against Pittsburgh’s former mayor and city council over gun control legislation they approved three years ago. Zappala should have investigated the complaints, the...
Gov. Wolf tests positive for coronavirus — for 2nd time
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted that he tested positive for covid-19 on Monday. The 73-year-old governor said in the tweet he has mild symptoms. He said he tested positive in the evening. “I’m grateful that I recently got my second vaccine booster,” Wolf said in his tweet. This...
Mike Holden to leave WPXI for job closer to family in Cleveland
Popular WPXI-TV news reporter Mike Holden announced Tuesday morning on social media he will be leaving Pittsburgh this month to take a television news reporting job closer to his native home in Cleveland. “Personal News: June 24th marks my last day reporting here at WPXI,” Holden wrote in his post....
PBS series ‘Start Up’ to highlight New Kensington revitalization effort
New Kensington will be featured in the 10th season of a PBS series highlighting small businesses across the nation. Gary Bredow, host of “Start Up,” and a small crew were in the city Monday filming an episode focused on Olde Towne Overhaul and its efforts to revitalize downtown New Kensington...
Senate Republicans revive election bill over 2020 complaints
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate approved a bill Monday that orders a number of changes to state laws over partisan election observers in polling places and election offices, a throwback to complaints in 2020 by former President Donald Trump that the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia needed to be watched closely...
Westmoreland issues final certification of results for the May primary
Results from most races in last month’s primary election were certified Monday afternoon by the Westmoreland County Elections Board. County commissioners, who serve as members of the board, signed off on the final official results from the key ballot races that saw Republicans and Democrats nominate candidates for governor, U.S....
Freeport Road in Harmar reopens to traffic
After being closed for about a week and a half, Freeport Road reopened shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday. Allegheny Valley Regional Emergency Management Agency coordinator Bruno Moretti said the road is restricted to one lane in each direction. Moretti said there is still work to be done with removing the...
Acquitted in cop’s death, Ray Shetler eager for trial in assault case
A New Florence man previously acquitted of killing a police officer and now charged with assaults against law enforcement officials insisted in court on Monday he had no interest in delaying his upcoming trial. Ray A. Shetler Jr. 37, issued instructions to push ahead with his scheduled trial in June...
Despite 2 injuries, Westmoreland rodeo deemed a success
Forty bulls and 30 horses drew more than 4,000 people to a makeshift rodeo at the Westmoreland Mall parking lot over the weekend. “Up and all it was pretty doggone successful,” said Sean Sullivan, general manager at Live! Casino Pittsburgh, coordinator of the event. But two men were hurt during...
Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy in Capitol riot
The former top leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group and other members have been charged with seditious conspiracy for what federal prosecutors say was a coordinated attack on the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory, authorities said Monday. Henry “Enrique” Tarrio,...
Pennsylvania Turnpike adds new payment network for drivers to pay cash
The Pennsylvania Turnpike has added a new payment option for customers who want to use cash to pay Toll By Plate invoices or add money to their E-ZPass accounts. The Turnpike Commission said it has partnered with Kubra Cash Payment Network, which will allow drivers to pay their invoices at...
Penn Hills man gets state prison for fatal hit-and-run crash
A Penn Hills man who struck a pedestrian with a vehicle, killing him, will serve at least four years in prison. Surron Burch, 25, was ordered to serve four to eight years in prison followed by three years probation on Monday by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski....
PLCB offers whiskey connoisseurs 2nd chance at Van Winkle releases
If you missed out on the opportunity to purchase bottles of rare Van Winkle whiskeys earlier this year, you have another chance. This week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is awarding lottery registrants the opportunity to purchase 183 bottles of rare whiskeys, including the coveted 2021 Van Winkle releases, through...
Retiring Pittsburgh Chief Schubert headed for position with FBI
Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, set to retire next month, will take a job with the FBI, a police spokeswoman said Monday. Schubert, 55, will move to a position within the bureau’s Criminal Justice Information Services headquarters in Clarksburg, West Virginia, said spokeswoman Cara Cruz. He will serve as the...
Vandergrift man dies after being pinned against loading dock in Harmar
Authorities say a Vandergrift man was the person who died Monday when he was pinned against a loading dock at a business in Harmar. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Samuel Plazio, 64, of Vandergrift. Allegheny County homicide detectives asked for the public’s help Monday in...
North Huntingdon police accuse man of intentionally striking pedestrian with SUV
An Allegheny County man accused of intentionally striking a man with his SUV in the parking lot of a North Huntingdon Sheetz was arrested by police. Alan B. Israel, 45, of White Oak was charged after the incident at 8:19 a.m. Sunday outside the store at 13700 Route 30. The...
$65K stolen from Derry Township home
A man is accused of stealing $65,000 during a burglary at a Derry Township home last month, according to court papers. Tyrus Martin, 21, who has addresses in Johnstown and Whitehall, on Monday was ordered held without bail after state police said he was illegally in possession of a gun...
Southwestern Pennsylvania counties to reach $5-per-gallon gas price within week or 2, analyst says
Average gasoline prices in several southeast and northeast Pennsylvania counties already have exceeded $5 per gallon, and the rest of the state isn’t far behind, according to industry analysts. The state’s average price of a gallon of gas Monday was $4.95, AAA reported. That’s up 19 cents from last week,...
Penn State adjusts covid-19 masking policy at University Park, New Kensington, 4 other campuses
Penn State is no longer requiring indoor masking on the University Park campus. The change, which was announced Friday, comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved Centre County to the medium covid-19 community level. The county had been at the high level the previous week. The mask...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to host Juneteenth celebration this weekend
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will celebrate the Juneteenth holiday this weekend with a concert and garden tour at Frick Park. Local artists Sierra Sellers and Chandra Rhyme will perform on the lawn of the Frick Park Environmental Center from 6 p.m. till 8 p.m. on Friday. Guests are also invited...
Fudge Farm closes South Side location amid surge in violence
Fudge Farm is closing its location on East Carson Street on Pittsburgh’s South Side amid a spike in violence that the owners said makes them worry for employee safety. The gourmet fudge, chocolate and ice cream shop announced on social media that Sunday would mark the last day for their...
Bidding war for Spirit Airlines heats up ahead of vote
The bidding war over Spirit Airlines is ramping up again with JetBlue boosting its offer for the discount carrier just days after rival Frontier upped its own bid for Spirit. Spirit shareholders are also scheduled to vote Friday on Frontier’s offer. JetBlue said Monday that it will now provide a...
Woman rescued from house fire in Bethel Park
Firefighters from Bethel Park responded to a house fire early Monday. A female occupant reportedly had to be rescued from the burning house located on the 2800 block of Oak Street, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. Bethel Park police reported in a tweet that sections of Main and Cedar...
TSA finds loaded gun in West Virginia man’s carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport
Transportation Security Administration officials at Pittsburgh International Airport confiscated a loaded handgun Sunday from a West Virginia man. The .22 caliber handgun, which was loaded was five bullets, was the 10th gun detected this year at the airport’s security checkpoints. When the TSA officer spotted the gun in the Wheeling...
Homestead man accused by police of stabbing foster mother in Whitaker
An 18-year-old Homestead man is being held without bail after state police said he stabbed a woman who described the suspect as her foster child in Whitaker Friday and fled from authorities. Elrades Wright is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, theft and related offenses. Troopers said they were called...
