Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 976
Norwin board delays vote on CNN 10 newscast
After about an hour of debate over whether Norwin’s middle school students should be permitted to watch a morning newscast produced for students by CNN, the Norwin School Board on Monday narrowly decided to delay a vote on the issue. By a 5-4 decision, the school board decided to vote...
Pittsburgh Public Schools closes all schools, cancels activities Tuesday
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials announced all schools will be closed and activities, including grab and go meals, are canceled Tuesday. Three schools will also transition to remote teaching and learning when students return Wednesday as part of covid mitigation efforts, according to the district. Officials said Pittsburgh Allderdice High School,...
Irwin’s Ruth Shuster, 100-year-old McDonald’s employee, remembered fondlyVideo
If Ruth Shuster spent any time standing still, it came as a surprise to her family. From nearly three decades of working at McDonald’s Big Mac Museum in North Huntingdon, to hosting holidays well into her 90s, to twice-weekly square dances, the 100-year-old never seemed to slow down. As a...
Detectives: ‘Anonymous’ note left for guards results in discovery of shank at Westmoreland Prison
An anonymous note left in a message box to guards at the Westmoreland County Prison led to the discovery of a makeshift weapon beneath a cell mattress, according to county detectives. Inmate Anthony A. Bittinger, 22, of Jeannette was charged last week with possessing instruments of crime, illegally making an...
Experts back CDC guidance recommending N95, KN95 masks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its mask guidance to recommend higher-quality N95 and KN95 masks over cloth and surgical ones that many people have worn throughout the pandemic. Cloth masks can keep 30% to 60% of particles from coming in and potentially infecting the person wearing...
Judge orders North Allegheny School District to reinstate universal masking
A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order sought by pro-mask parents in North Allegheny School District, meaning all students, staffers and visitors in district buildings must wear masks when classes resume Tuesday. The restraining order was requested last week by parents seeking to overturn the district’s mask-optional...
Out of this world: 555.55-carat black diamond lands in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Auction house Sotheby’s Dubai has unveiled a diamond that’s literally from out of this world. Sotheby’s calls the 555.55-carat black diamond — believed to have come from outer space — “The Enigma.” The rare gem was shown off on Monday to journalists as part of...
Pittsburgh officials say they expect to have streets cleared for Tuesday commute
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s office said Monday that officials hope to have roads cleared in time for Tuesday’s morning commute, as crews continued cleaning up after Sunday’s heavy snow. A major winter storm hit the area with several inches of snow Sunday night into Monday, leaving roads slick for Monday’s...
Pa. GOP answered Wolf vetoes with constitution changes in strategy that’s here to stay
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed more than 50 bills as he begins his final year in office, a number...
Martin Luther King Jr.’s ties to Pittsburgh, region remembered
Though not as memorable as some of the other iconic moments during his life, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did have several connections to Pittsburgh and the region. Here is a brief look at some of the local ties to the civil rights leader and minister. EARLY VISITS TO...
Pa. state police seize $72 million in illegal drugs in 2021
Cocaine’s comeback made a big leap in 2021, with Pennsylvania State Police confiscating nearly 1,000 pounds of the illegal drug. The 986 pounds seized by troopers last year, valued at $21.7 million, was more than the combined amount in 2020 (300 pounds) and 2019 (425 pounds.) In all, state police...
Tragedy impacts, but does not define, New Kensington native Brian Jacob’s life
The first time Brian Jacob tries to answer the question raised by his memoir, “Is Life Fair,” he is remembering an unpleasant experience attending a play with his wife. Brian and Jamie Jacob were at a Pittsburgh Public Theater performance when an employee approached Brian, who is quadriplegic and uses...
Western Pennsylvania hit with biggest snowfall of seasonVideo
The humming of gasoline-powered snowblowers roared in unison with the scraping of shovels across asphalt Monday as Western Pennsylvania dug out from a significant winter storm that, for snow lovers, did not disappoint. The storm dumped between 4 and 12 inches of snow across the region, according to the National...
Ben Roethlisberger ready for next chapter after Steelers’ career ends with playoff loss to Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ben Roethlisberger tried to motivate his teammates by downplaying their chances against the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC wild-card game. He labeled the Steelers the worst of the 14 teams that extended their season into mid-January. He talked of wanting to keep the game against...
Extra covid tests from feds unlikely to make much difference in Western Pa. schools
A White House plan to deliver millions of covid-19 tests to schools by the end of the month likely won’t change much in Western Pennsylvania. Those already using the tests appreciate the extra resources. The rest have no plans to change course. Burrell School District “is not interested in testing...
Projecting Hope to host free film festival at Pittsburgh Mills Cinemas
The Projecting Hope Film Festival, a showcase of faith-focused movies with uplifting themes, will be held at the GQT Pittsburgh Mills Cinema from Jan. 21 to 23. Admission to all seven of the films is free — with free popcorn, too. It will be the 18th Projecting Hope festival, which...
Steelers unable to extend Roethlisberger’s final season as Chiefs roll to victory
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dreams of the Pittsburgh Steelers delaying Ben Roethlisberger’s farewell for another week were alive and well early in the second quarter Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Then, reality set in and the fairytale finish to his 18-year NFL career turned into a nightmare. Patrick Mahomes upstaged...
Snowstorm’s effects felt throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond
When Latrobe wrestling coach Mark Mears flew with his team to Colorado to take on the 20th-ranked team in the nation, he figured they’d be back in time to watch the Steelers game Sunday night. In a thrilling upset, the Wildcats beat the powerhouse Pomona Panthers, 34-33. But now they’re...
Snow, ice blasts through South with powerful winter stormVideo
ATLANTA — A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice swept through parts of the U.S. Southeast on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees and fences and coating roads with a treacherous, frigid glaze. Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and...
Mehmet Oz is spending millions on TV to boost his Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. He’s not alone in an ultra-wealthy GOP fieldVideo
PHILADELPHIA — If you live in Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance you’ve been seeing Mehmet Oz on your television — and not like you used to. The celebrity surgeon and former talk show host known as “Dr. Oz” is pouring millions of dollars into campaign ads as he runs for...
St. Vladimir unveils initial plans to rebuild as bishop visits for Divine Liturgy
Just six weeks after a massive fire caused more than $4 million in damage to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, parishioners gathered for Divine Liturgy in the church social hall and devised a plan to move forward. “You can’t stop this church,” said Susan Podolski, 68, a lifelong member of...
For Oath Keepers and founder, Jan. 6 was weeks in the making
WILMINGTON, Del. — Two days after the presidential election on Nov. 2, 2020, the Oath Keepers were already convinced that victory had been stolen from President Donald Trump and members of the far-right militia group were making plans to march on the U.S. Capitol. “We aren’t getting through this without...
Texas rabbi: Captor grew ‘belligerent’ late in standoffVideo
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — A rabbi who was among four people held hostage at a Texas synagogue said Sunday that their armed captor grew “increasingly belligerent and threatening” toward the end of the 10-hour standoff, which ended with an FBI SWAT team rushing into the building and the captor’s death. Authorities...
3 minor injuries reported after car crashes into Murrysville home
Three people had minor injuries after a car crashed into a home Sunday morning, according to Pat O’Mahony, fire chief of Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. The crash happened at 7:45 a.m. on Pleasant Valley Road. O’Mahony said the driver of a Buick LaCrosse reported falling asleep before leaving...
Covid deaths and cases are rising again at U.S. nursing homes
Covid-19 infections are soaring again at U.S. nursing homes because of the omicron wave, and deaths are climbing too, leading to new restrictions on family visits and a renewed push to get more residents and staff members vaccinated and boosted. Nursing homes were the lethal epicenter of the pandemic early...
