Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 935
What’s the origin of Fern Hollow’s name? Even Pittsburgh historians say it’s a mystery
Since the collapse of Fern Hollow Bridge in Frick Park, many Pittsburghers have been asking: What exactly is Fern Hollow? For one, it’s a ravine in Pittsburgh’s East End that has a creek running through its center. The ravine also partially marks the border between Squirrel Hill and Regent Square....
Are Western Pa. gas prices headed toward $5 a gallon?
Rising gas prices have been causing headaches for drivers across the region and the country. In early March, gas prices hit a record average of $4.21 a gallon in Pittsburgh, slightly above the national average of about $4 a gallon. At some old-school gas stations in the region, such as...
Diesel price rise a pain at pump and consumer’s pockets
If the sight of over $4.30 a gallon for regular gasoline is cringeworthy, imagine $5.50 — or more — and having to fill a 150-gallon tank. Warren Horton has faced such a dilemma recently, including Tuesday when he stopped in Western Pennsylvania to fuel his big rig hauling a stacked...
Westmoreland’s clout in Harrisburg cut through redistricting
For the past decade, state Rep. George Dunbar’s 56th District local office has operated in a building just south of Clay Pike, near the Circleville Volunteer Fire Hall in North Huntingdon. For a while last week it was unclear whether the veteran state lawmaker would be able keep his office...
From big to small, local governments expect to feel the pinch of high gas prices
Some local governments are running over budget on their fuel costs as gasoline prices surge and remain volatile. Many are looking to juggle that expense with other items in their budgets. While most say it’s too early to know exactly what the impact of high fuel prices will be on...
Police: Harrison robbery suspect held gun to man’s head because he wanted money for snacks
A 17-year-old from Sheldon Park told police he attacked a man outside a pizza shop in Harrison early Friday because he needed money for snacks. He is charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, drug and gun charges. Bail was denied, and he remains in the Allegheny County Jail...
Pittsburgh man charged with 4 robberies, including at Fox’s Pizza in Oakmont that left owner shot
A Pittsburgh man was arrested Saturday in connection with four armed robberies this month, including two in which people were shot, according to police. One of the cases took place at the Fox’s Pizza Den in Oakmont. Allegheny County Police identified the suspect in the robbery spree as Eric Jones,...
Judge: Same-sex marriage license denials violated rights
A federal judge has ruled that a former Kentucky clerk violated the constitutional rights of two same-sex couples who were among those she wouldn’t issue marriage licenses — a refusal that sparked international attention and briefly landed her in jail in 2015. U.S. District Judge David Bunning in Ashland issued...
Pitt professor remembers her brother who died in Ukraine aiding people in need
The way Jimmy Hill lived his life is a complete contrast to the way he lost it — amid Russian bombing in a weeks-long invasion of Ukraine. Katya Hill, a University of Pittsburgh professor, on Saturday said her brother had befriended a woman with four children who lived near the...
Tom Hanks takes break from filming in Ambridge to wave hello to a mom and her boyVideo
Ashley Glass of Ambridge had a surprise celebrity encounter Thursday morning. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks took a break from filming on Merchant Street to wave to Glass and her 2-year-old son, Charles. Glass, 35, a homemaker and mother of five, said the actor spotted them while filming scenes for...
New owners of Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain optimistic about futureVideo
As the ski season at Seven Springs begins to wind down, all indications are that the three most well-known Western Pennsylvania ski resorts — Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain— bounced back after the covid-19 pandemic. Although the resorts’ new owner, Vail Resorts Inc., does not disclose resort-specific visitor...
Pa. sports betting slips, but March Madness may bring recovery
Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry took a hit last month, seemingly contributing to a downward trend in revenues recorded at casinos across the state in February, officials said. In all, casinos generated more than $375.6 million in revenues last month, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That’s...
State aid combats sexual assault, harassment by raising awareness
State-funded programs to combat sexual harassment and violence on campus through education is paying dividends, state education officials were told Friday at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. The programs are raising awareness through plays, speakers, activities, workshops and frank discussions, according to Seton Hill officials. In a 45-minute roundtable discussion,...
NCAA fans enjoy March Madness in Pittsburgh, except a few from Cleveland
It was one of those scenes that can make a person yearn for the carefree days of youth — when a few cold ones, some tunes, and tickets to a couple of NCAA Tournament games are enough to make your day. And so it was for a couple of guys...
Cranberry man charged in Jan. 6 Capitol attack
A Cranberry man with a military background faces federal charges in connection with the U.S. Capitol insurrection last year in Washington, D.C., federal officials said. Jordan Bonenberger, 26, is charged with disorderly conduct in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; entering and remaining in a restricted building;...
Amazon’s withdrawal from Churchill development met with mixed reactions
News that Amazon will not forge ahead with its plans to build a massive warehouse in Churchill was met with mixed reactions Friday. Amazon’s decision to nix the proposed 2.6-million square-foot warehouse, which was to be developed at the former site of the George Westinghouse Research Park, came after more...
Study identifies potential east suburb path to connect Westmoreland, Allegheny trails
Allegheny County officials on Friday released a feasibility study for a project connecting the Westmoreland Heritage Trail to the Great Allegheny Passage by way of the Turtle Creek Valley, which runs through Pittsburgh’s east suburbs. Several proposed routes could serve to link the Westmoreland Heritage Trail from its western terminus...
Port Authority workers protest vaccine mandate, cite religious exemptionsVideo
Dozens of unvaccinated Port Authority of Allegheny County employees and their supporters gathered Downtown Friday morning to protest the agency’s vaccine mandate, even as officials said more than 140 workers have returned to work this week after getting fully vaccinated. Many of the employees protesting Friday outside of the Port...
Woman rescued after jumping from New Kensington Bridge
A woman was rescued from the Allegheny River after jumping from the New Kensington Bridge on Friday morning. The incident was reported shortly before 10 a.m., a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. The woman was sedated when she was taken from the scene by ambulance, according to officials at the...
Police: Raid of Pittsburgh bar turned up drugs, stolen guns
A raid at a Pittsburgh bar this week turned up drugs and stolen guns, according to police. Members of the state police nuisance bar task force raided Ace’s & Deuce’s Lounge on Wednesday in the city’s Hill District. The compliance check at the Fifth Avenue bar showed several violations, including...
New Kensington police say DNA test on discarded beer can helped ID burglary suspect
New Kensington police say they used a DNA test on saliva from a discarded beer can to help identity a man they charged with stealing cash from his neighbor’s apartment. Don Levon Graves, 57, of the 300 block of Main Street in New Kensington, was charged with a felony count...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: March 18-20
March Madness arrives in Pittsburgh weekend. Here are some ways to spend it between games. Penguin Palooza The National Aviary on the North Side is hosting Penguin Palooza from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Learn what makes penguins unique through interactive activities and special talks and trivia....
Here are 8 Pittsburgh sports bars to check out during NCAA Tourney
As NCAA basketball fans from Philadelphia and Chicago to Chattanooga and Houston and points in between descend upon the Steel City for four days of tournament action, many will be looking for sports bars to celebrate wins or watch games on off days. In many cases, fans will be on...
Amazon drops plans for Churchill warehouse
After more than 50 hours of public hearings and debate lasting some eight months last year, Amazon announced Thursday it was pulling out of its proposed massive warehouse project at the former George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park in Churchill. Amazon said in a statement that it has decided not...
Pittsburgh has plenty of sights for NCAA tourney visitors
National Geographic Traveler got it right by naming Pittsburgh to its “19 for 2019 Cool List” of trending travel destinations. The only U.S. city to make the list, the Steel City ranked third among the coolest places to travel in the coming year. It’s still pretty cool in 2022. Pittsburghers...
