Pakistan to ease restrictions on visas to promote tourism
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has announced plans to ease visa restrictions for tourists from 90 countries, including the U.S. and Europe, in a bid to revive its tourism sector, decimated by years of negligence and problems with militants. Cabinet minister Fahmida Mirza announces the plans on Friday in Islamabad. She pledged...
2 UN peacekeepers killed in attack in central Mali
BAMAKO, Mali — The spokeswoman for the United Nations mission in Mali says two Sri Lankan peacekeepers have been killed after their convoy struck an explosive device in the central Mopti region. Myriam Dessables says the blast occurred early Friday in the Douentza area. She says several other people were...
NATO chief says missile pact in danger after Russia talks
BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday that Russia shows no sign of respecting a major Cold War-era missile treaty and that the future of the pact is in danger as the United States readies to start pulling out of it next week. “The treaty is now in jeopardy...
4 dead in shootings at State College bar, home
STATE COLLEGE — A gunman opened fire at a hotel bar in State College, killing a man and wounding two other people, then broke into a home where he fatally shot another man before killing himself, authorities said. Authorities said a fourth victim died Friday, according to the Centre Daily...
Video shows brutal knife attack on helpless Ohio inmates
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A newly released video shows the brutality of an Ohio inmate’s knife attack on four prisoners who were handcuffed to a table and unable to defend themselves. The video obtained by the Associated Press reveals for the first time the extent of the victims’ injuries and raises...
Trump associate Stone arrested, faces obstruction charge
WASHINGTON — Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, was arrested Friday morning in the special counsel’s Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. The seven-count indictment against Stone, a self-proclaimed “dirty trickster,” is the first criminal case in months from special counsel...
Weekend snow, frigid temperatures coming to Pittsburgh region
More snow and chilly temperatures are on the way. Between 1 and 3 inches of snow is expected to fall in the Pittsburgh area through Sunday, with up to an inch expected on Sunday, National Weather Service Meteorologist Jared Rackley said Friday morning. “(We’re) not really looking at a whole...
Snow showers expected to blast parts of Western PA could affect Friday’s commute
More snow is on the way for Western Pennsylvania. And that snow could impact Friday morning driving conditions. A special weather statement issued early Friday morning by the National Weather Service said a band of moderate to heavy snow showers could affect visibility and cause hazardous conditions along some area...
Report forecasts continued robust growth in U.S. energy production, exports
For the first time in almost 70 years, the U.S. will export more energy than it imports in 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. The projection was part of the agency’s “Annual Energy Outlook 2019” report, released on Thursday. The report, which based its findings on a “reference case”...
12-year-old boy charged in slaying of South Texas boxer
UVALDE, Texas — Police say a 12-year-old boy has been charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of a boxer at the victim’s South Texas home. Uvalde police said Thursday that the boy is charged in the slaying of John Duane VanMeter and is being held at a juvenile...
Energy Department taps Penn State researchers to help modernize U.S. power grid
Penn State announced Thursday it is one of 10 universities selected nationwide to work on a project for the U.S. Department of Energy to modernize the nation’s power grid. The Penn State team of researchers chosen for the department’s Grid Optimization Competition’s first challenge is led by Uday V. Shanbhag,...
Deputy running for Westmoreland sheriff’s post
A Hempfield man who has served as a Westmoreland County deputy sheriff for eight years now wants to run the office. Sam Pilato, 56, announced he will be a Republican candidate in the May primary seeking the job as county sheriff. “If elected (my) mission is to return the sheriff’s...
Upper Burrell asks court to order voting redistricting
Upper Burrell officials on Friday filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order Westmoreland County to redraw the township’s two voting districts. Township supervisors filed the court action, along with a petition from 20 registered voters, contending that 75 percent of the town’s residents are forced to vote in one...
As shutdown ends, workers have little faith about future
Federal workers who have gone a month without getting paid during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history expressed relief Friday that a deal had been reached to end the impasse, but are worried they’ll be in the same spot in a few weeks. Ivan Tauler and his wife spent...
Pittsburgh area is getting its 2nd Wahlburgers restaurant
Wahlburgers, a restaurant founded by celebrity brothers Paul, Mark and Donnie Wahlberg, will soon open its second Pittsburgh area location. The new spot will be at the cafe entrance of the Mall at Robinson, 100 Robinson Centre Drive in Robinson Township. It’s expected to open this summer. The first Wahlburgers...
Hours weighed as rec board takes over Latrobe Farmers Market
The Latrobe Farmers Market will be under new management this summer, but patrons may not notice much change. Organizers intend to meet Monday to discuss dates and times for the market, now that Latrobe-Greater Latrobe Parks & Recreation has taken over operation of the popular event from the Latrobe Community...
White House grants S.C. foster care group waiver to deny gays, Jews
The Trump administration granted a waiver to South Carolina this week allowing the state to provide federal funding to a foster care agency that works only with Protestant foster parents. In its decision, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was approving the request from Gov. Henry...
Suspect in 4 slayings accused of selling victims’ jewelry
CARSON CITY, Nev. — A suspect in four fatal shootings in Nevada was accused in court Thursday of being in the U.S. illegally and possessing weapons and selling jewelry stolen from some of the dead. Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman, a 19-year-old immigrant from El Salvador, appeared before a judge in Carson...
Key to weed control — strategy and timing
Question: Need suggestions to how to get rid of weeds throughout my yard and garden — not using a herbicide. I see those propane flame throwers, but I wonder what they will do to my landscape fabric. What is your suggestion? I have koi ponds as well as many planted...
New Kensington-Arnold teachers show up en masse to remind board a contract isn’t done
With at least 70 teachers watching Thursday, the New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved a 2019-20 preliminary budget with the same teachers’ payroll number as this school year. Whether that number increases when the final budget is approved in June remains to be seen as negotiations between the district and the...
Landslide risk forces evacuations of several Squirrel Hill homes
The threat of landslides forced the evacuation of two homes in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood Thursday night, officials said. Police and fire crews responded about 7 p.m. to Rosemont Lane, said Public Safety spokeswoman Alicia George. She said the land shifted behind two of the homes. City engineers were called...
The Great Backyard Bird Count set for Feb. 15-18 worldwide
The 22nd Great Backyard Bird Count is set for Feb. 15- 18. Volunteers from around the world are invited to count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. Participating counters enter their bird checklists at birdcount.org. Anyone with internet access...
Jeannette woman passionate about volunteering, literacy
Gladys Peltier was a take-charge type of person, according to her family. It’s a good thing, too, because for many years she was in charge of both the annual Italian festival at Ascension Church in Jeannette and the weeklong High Park Jubilees in town. “She was always giving back,” said...
Tamburitzans will leave building but not Pittsburgh, official says
The Tamburitzans, Pittsburgh’s consummate Eastern European folk music and dance group, is making plans to leave its building, but will stay in the city. There is a pending sale for the Tamburitzans building in the city’s 1800 block of the Boulevard of Allies, said Pam Pleash Weigand, a former performer...
Official: Asylum seekers to wait in Mexico starting Friday
SAN DIEGO — The Trump administration on Friday will start forcing some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases wind through U.S. courts, an official said, launching what could become one of the more significant changes to the immigration system in years. The changes will be introduced at...
