Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 977
After Biden’s first year, the virus and disunity rage on
WASHINGTON — From the inaugural platform, President Joe Biden saw American sickness on two fronts — a disease of the national spirit and the one from the rampaging coronavirus — and he saw hope, because leaders always must see that. “End this uncivil war,” he implored Americans on Jan. 20,...
Winter storm to bring nearly a foot of snow to parts of Western Pennsylvania
Parts of Western Pennsylvania could see nearly a foot of snow in a winter storm getting underway Sunday afternoon and state officials urged citizens to stay home. Meteorologist Lee Hendricks at the National Weather Service in Moon said Sunday morning that the storm’s track shifted a bit and parts of...
ACLU report: Black defendants frequently assigned higher bail amounts than whites
District judges in Pennsylvania, including the 16 in Westmoreland County, imposed cash bail more frequently and in higher amounts for Black defendants in 2016 and 2017, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union. Common Pleas Court President Judge Rita Hathaway said she doesn’t think the color of...
Hostages safe after Texas synagogue standoff; captor dead
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Four hostages were spared and their captor was killed, ending an hourslong standoff at a Texas synagogue, where the man — a British national — could be heard ranting on a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill...
A digital divide haunts schools adapting to virus hurdles
When April Schneider’s children returned to in-person classrooms this year, she thought they were leaving behind the struggles from more than a year of remote learning. No more problems with borrowed tablets. No more days of missed lessons because her kids couldn’t connect to their virtual schooling. But coronavirus cases...
Parents, retirees teach class as omicron sidelines faculty across nation
Clark County, Nevada, was short nearly 2,000 teachers this week. The district had 400 substitutes to cover them. That simple math problem forced central-office staff into classrooms, students into auditoriums, and eventually led one of the largest districts in the U.S. to halt instruction. “It was putting a real strain...
Fast-moving fire damages Youngwood homeVideo
A fast-moving fire appears to have started on the back porch of a Youngwood home Saturday afternoon, according to Fire Chief Lloyd Crago. “It’s probably going to be a total loss,” he said. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were called to the blaze on South Seventh Street at 1:30 p.m....
Celine Dion cancels stop at PPG Paints Arena as health woes continue
Celine Dion has canceled the Pittsburgh stop of her “Courage World Tour,” the singer announced Saturday on her website. Dion was expected to perform at PPG Paints Arena on April 20. According to the post, the songstress is dealing with health issues and recovery is taking longer than expected. Dion...
More than 100 firefighters battle blaze in Kittanning
A massive fire early Saturday spanned multiple structures along Orr Avenue in Kittanning, displacing up to 10 residents and leaving a storage facility in a pile of rubble, fire officials said. No one was injured in the blaze, which began at about 1 a.m., said Kittanning Fire Department Chief Buzz...
Pedestrian identified who was fatally struck by Port Authority bus
A woman hit by a Port Authority bus on Tuesday died from her injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim was identified as Dal Rai, 64, of Whitehall. Rai was struck just after 6:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. She was taken...
Pa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessing
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 — In May, GOP lawmakers who control the state House and Senate hired the chair of the Republican Party of...
Latrobe’s City Brewery adds warehouse space, jobs at RIDC Westmoreland
City Brewery has signed a five-year lease for a warehouse and distribution site at RIDC Westmoreland, where it expects to add 50 to 60 jobs. Those positions will be in addition to 250 at the City Brewery plant in Latrobe, according to company officials. The move to the East Huntingdon...
Megan’s Law for nursing homes gaining traction in Harrisburg
A state lawmaker is making good on a promise to repair a flawed system that permits aging and ailing convicted sex offenders to quietly enter long-term care facilities — often unbeknownst to patients and staff — where some easily are finding their next victims. A bill set to be introduced...
Westmoreland Republicans disappointed with current redistricting proposal
If State Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, wants to continue representing the 54th Legislative District, he may have to move to southeastern Pennsylvania to do it. Under the proposal for redistricting House seats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Brooks’ hometown of Murrysville would be split in two. It would be absorbed...
Retired Fox Chapel surgeon puts down scalpel and picks up welding torchVideo
Robert Quinlin spent the better part of the past two pandemic years toiling away with sheet metal and geometric shapes. The retired bariatric surgeon from Fox Chapel handles a welding torch like a scalpel, cutting triangles, cubes, dodecahedrons — a circular-type structure with 12 flat faces — and other “golden...
Allegheny Health Network to require people wear surgical-type masks in all facilities
Allegheny Health Network officials announced changes late Friday to mask requirements for all facilities. AHN now requires all patients, visitors and care teams to wear a surgical-type, N95 or KN95 face mask. Such masks will be provided to those who do not have one. Officials said cloth face masks were...
UPMC insurance sets covid test reimbursement guidelines
UPMC Health Plan announced procedures Friday night for employers and individuals covered under UPMC insurance to get reimbursed for eligible home covid tests. The Pittsburgh-based health insurer said that it will take requests for reimbursement by mail and also is creating an online system. The health plan, associated with UPMC’s...
Rostraver animal shelter destroyed by fire; other groups step in to help
Animal lovers have come to the rescue of a Rostraver woman who lost about a dozen cats early Friday when her house, which also served as an animal shelter, was destroyed by fire. About two dozen of her cats and eight dogs survived the fire that destroyed Wendi Kraemer’s home...
Westmoreland jail inmate charged with making over 200 calls to victim demanding she drop charges
A New Kensington man awaiting trial on charges of ramming a car with two young children inside is now accused of making more than 200 calls from the county jail to the woman driving that car, asking her not to testify against him, according to county detectives. Jamar L. Freshley,...
Meteorologists say predicting this particular storm is tricky stuff
Preparing for a storm is tough, but predicting one is even harder. Just ask a meteorologist. But WPXI-TV ’s chief meteorologist, Stephen Cropper, isn’t complaining. In fact, he loves the challenge of predicting the kind of severe weather we’re expected to have this weekend. “We’re looking at the temperature, the...
Police: Baldwin man charged in connection with Stowe bar fight shooting
Allegheny County Police said a Baldwin man was responsible for a Thursday night shooting in Stowe that left another man hospitalized. Sedrick Riddick, 22, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and taken to the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh on Friday. Charges stem from a shooting around 7:30...
Allegheny County corrections officer suspended amid allegations of assault on inmate
An Allegheny County Jail corrections officer was escorted out of the building and suspended pending potential termination Friday following allegations that they assaulted an inmate. Warden Orlando Harper provided little other detail on the incident during a news conference Friday afternoon. Harper said a jail employee received a phone call...
National Weather Service issues winter storm warning for region
A major winter storm headed for Western Pennsylvania might dump 6 to 11 inches of snow from mid-afternoon Sunday into Monday afternoon, according to the latest prediction from the National Weather Service office in Moon Township. The National Weather Service in Moon issued a winter storm warning Saturday afternoon. Snow...
Experts say too soon to tell what drop in covid counts means for Western Pa.
As some countries and major U.S. cities emerge from suspected omicron peaks, experts and health officials in Southwestern Pennsylvania say it’s too soon to say whether this region also has passed the worst of omicron. Cases have flattened in New York City, according to The New York Times, as well...
Voters could be flooded with proposed changes to the Pa. Constitution in 2023
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 — Pennsylvania voters could face at least five ballot questions about changing the state constitution next year after House Republicans...
