Megan Swift stories, Page 23
Labor Day travel could be busiest ever at Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport experienced its busiest July in almost 20 years — and the high numbers are expected to carry over into travel during Labor Day weekend, the Transportation Security Administration said. This July, the airport saw over 962,000 travelers flying in and out, which was the highest number since...
Modern gold rush: Gold price hits all time highVideo
The price of gold hit an all time high last week — and it has continued to stay close to that record Monday. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $2,518.47 per Troy ounce at 1:45 p.m. Monday, which is just shy of the record high of $2,531.60 hit last week, Reuters...
Pa.-born Sabrina Carpenter’s new album ‘Short n’ Sweet’ garners praise on social media
Friday marked the release of Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, “Short n’ Sweet,” which includes her famous single “Espresso” alongside 11 other tunes. Though Carpenter, 25, released her first album in 2015, “Eyes Wide Open,” she skyrocketed in popularity with the release of “Espresso” in April, which many in the music...
Mpox, formerly monkeypox, declared a global health emergency by World Health Organization
Mpox, which is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. The WHO said on Aug. 14 the emergency was declared due to the “ongoing upsurge” of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in a...
‘Pommel horse guy’ Stephen Nedoroscik will compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Penn State University grad Stephen Nedoroscik, now known as the “pommel horse guy” following his performance at the Paris Olympic Games, is headed for a new stage — “Dancing with the Stars.” Nedoroscik, 25, from Massachusetts, was the first celebrity announced for Season 33 of the reality competition show, NBC...
Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise leaves Pittsburgh fans in awe
“Pink Pony Club” fans have been around since the pandemic in Pittsburgh, but the release of “Good Luck, Babe!” in April started an international Femininomenon — and singer Chappell Roan became a household name. Roan, a 26-year-old singer from Missouri, released her first EP titled “School Nights” in 2017, followed...
Michael Keaton returns to big screen with ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel
Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton is set to reprise his role as Beetlejuice in the sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which will be released Sept. 6. Warner Bros. Pictures released the official trailer for the new movie in July. Keaton, 72, is also known for his portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton’s...
Suri Cruise moves into Carnegie Mellon dorm with help from mom Katie Holmes
Suri Cruise, daughter of actress Katie Holmes and actor Tom Cruise, has officially moved into her dorm at Carnegie Mellon University in Oakland, Daily Mail reported. Suri, 18, moved in with Holmes’ help over the weekend, according to photos on the Daily Mail site. Holmes, 45, starred as Joey Potter...
Rob’s Pizza to close after 40 years in Murrysville
After 40 years in business, Rob’s Pizza in Murrysville will shut its doors this fall. Owner Rob Peterson, who has been running the business by himself since the beginning of the pandemic, said he’s decided not to renew his lease when it ends on Oct. 1. Rent is increasing, and...
Are you demure? The latest viral TikTok trend explained
The word “demure” is listed in the dictionary as meaning reserved or modest. But in the past week, the word has taken on a new meaning — and a life of its own on social media. Beauty influencer Jools Lebron started the viral trend on TikTok in early August when...
Western Pa. covid cases are on the rise ahead of school season
Western Pennsylvania is seeing an uptick in covid-19 cases just as the new school year is about to start. Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer for Independence Health System, said the system’s five hospitals have seen a slightly higher number of patients who are being hospitalized because of covid compared...
Road shut down on Mount Washington after truck crashes into railroad bridge
A portion of Crane Avenue closed Friday after a privately owned dump truck ran into a railway trestle bridge on Mount Washington in Pittsburgh. Crane Avenue was to traffic between Route 51 and Dagmar Avenue as of Friday afternoon, the City of Pittsburgh said. The truck hit the bridge overnight,...
Pap smear alternative on the way for women
Women will have an alternative Pap smear option starting this fall, the New York Times reported. The new option is a swab to screen for cervical cancer, rather than the speculum, which has been the norm during Pap smear examinations. The Times said a Pap smear requires a patient’s legs...
Detroit judge handcuffs teen who fell asleep in his courtroom during field trip
A Detroit judge thought he was making an example of 15-year-old Eva Goodman by threatening her with jail time for falling asleep in his courtroom. Turns out, she doesn’t have a permanent home, the Detroit Free Press reported. The teenager, who was on a field trip to the court this...
TikTok candy melting trend sends Fayette County boy to hospital
When a 9-year-old Fayette County boy attempted to follow a TikTok trend, creating what is known as a Jolly Rancher Grape, he tripped while carrying a bowl of molten candy liquid and suffered severe burns. “He tripped, and that’s when the boiling hot candy coated his whole hand and his...
Dunkin’ Spiked Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte is chain’s new boozy beverage
Dunkin’ Spiked’s first-ever limited edition seasonal drink — a boozy Pumpkin Spice Iced Latte — will be available at Pittsburgh retailers starting this month. The drink will feature sweet, pumpkin, vanilla and fall spice flavors, the same taste as Dunkin’ Donuts signature fall drink without alcohol. The Dunkin’ Spiced PSL...
Registration to open for 2025 Pittsburgh marathon weekend
Runners can register for the 2025 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend on Wednesday. Registration opens at 10 a.m. online for the races, which will take place from May 2-4. The marathon takes place on Sunday, May 4. New this year, P3R is hosting an Opening Day Block Party on...
Northern lights return to Western Pa.
The northern lights made another appearance in Western Pennsylvania on Monday, raising questions about future visibility. Bill Modzelewski, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said it’s possible that they’ll return. “Right now, as far as what we’re seeing from the Space Weather Prediction Center, it doesn’t look too...
Needle-free EpiPen alternative approved by FDA
A needle-free nasal spray has been approved for serious allergic reactions to food, medications and insect stings — an alternative to the well-known EpiPen, the Washington Post reported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the alternative 2-milligram spray, which is called Neffy, on Friday, and it’s the first needle-free...
Deer and drought kill Schwirian Farm Sunflower Festival
Days before the popular Schwirian Farm Sunflower Festival was set to begin, deer ate about a half-million sunflower blossoms at the farm, which gave organizers no choice but to cancel. Leslee Schwirian, who owns the Forward Township farm alongside her husband, Jay, said there were only about 10 flowers left...
Police investigate fatal single vehicle crash in Wilkinsburg
Allegheny County Police are investigating a fatal vehicle crash on Sunday morning in Wilkinsburg. The crash happened in the intersection of Swissvale and Wallace avenues, and police were called at 7:24 a.m. Two unidentified juvenile males were in the vehicle. Police said the driver was found dead in the vehicle,...
200 monarch butterflies released during annual Greensburg Garden Center event
Kylynn Kelsey, who is 6, said she started liking butterflies Saturday following the annual monarch butterfly release at the LeFevre Butterfly Garden behind the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center. Her favorite part was getting them to land on her wand made of flowers, made available at the event hosted by...
Attempted Allegheny County Jail break-in sends man to hospital
A man attempted to break into the visitors’ lobby of the Allegheny County Jail on Saturday morning, police said. Pittsburgh police detained the man, who police said was suffering from a minor injury. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Police said detectives that the man attempted to...
Motorcyclist in critical condition following crash in Hays
A motorcyclist was in critical condition Friday following a vehicle collision in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood. Initial investigation indicated that the driver of the other vehicle ran a red light while under the influence, Pittsburgh police said, and charges are forthcoming. Police, fire and EMS were dispatched at about 9:45 p.m....
Man fatally shot in Pittsburgh’s Homewood
Pittsburgh police are investigating a homicide that occurred early Saturday in the city’s Homewood neighborhood. Following a two-round ShotSpotter alert, city police were dispatched just after 3:30 a.m. to the 7400 block of Idlewild Street. A man who had been shot in the head was found dead on the sidewalk...

