Tarentum working to fix garbage collection problems
Tarentum officials say they are working to fix problems with garbage collection in the borough. On its Facebook page, the borough on Monday said it knows there have been a number of missed pick-ups in recent weeks. “The holiday collection schedule, in conjunction with staffing changes at Waste Management have...
Chesapeake Bay health grade falls to ‘D-plus’
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — An annual report on the Chesapeake Bay says pollution from unusually heavy rains last year contributed to the first decline in a decade in the overall health of the nation’s largest estuary. Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Will Baker said Monday the bay “suffered a massive assault last...
Paczki offer a sweet way to ring in the new yearVideo
It’s the polish pastry that causes a confectionery commotion. January 6 is always a sweet day at Oakmont Bakery — it’s Paczki Day for the iconic family owned and operated bakery. Customers can’t get enough of paczki (pronounced pohnch-kee), the popular filled crispy fried treat that is richer than a...
Apparent suicide of Nevada death-row inmate spurs questions
LAS VEGAS — The apparent suicide of a Nevada death-row inmate who said he wanted to die and tried several times to kill himself amid court fights and postponements of his execution has renewed a debate over his treatment and the death penalty itself. Attorneys for Scott Raymond Dozier, who...
Elizabeth Warren fights Trumpism without dropping names during Iowa visit
ANKENY, Iowa — Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s first presidential campaign foray to this early voting state merged the economic views she has honed for years and the lesson learned by successful Democratic candidates in the midterm elections two months ago. She aimed directly at voters tempted by President Trump’s angry populism...
Michigan family of 5 killed in wrong-way crash in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A suspected drunken driver heading the wrong way on Interstate 75 in Kentucky struck a vehicle carrying five family members from Michigan early Sunday, killing all six people, authorities said. The southbound pickup truck being driven in the northbound lanes struck the family’s sport utility vehicle at...
For Orthodox Christians, Christmas Day is a solemn, religious observance
For Homer Kline, there’s a meaningful advantage to observing Christmas on Jan. 7 instead of Dec. 25. “The 7th is strictly religion,” said Kline, 85, of Murrysville, a member of Holy Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arnold since he was married there in 1954. “It’s easier to concentrate on the birth of...
California highway closed by mudslides, more rain coming
LOS ANGELES — A powerful winter storm unleashed mudslides in Southern California wildfire burn areas and trapped motorists on a major highway, and the northern part of the state braced for more wet weather Sunday. Saturday’s deluge loosened hillsides where a major blaze burned last year in and around Malibu,...
China upbeat ahead of U.S. trade talks, but differences large
BEIJING — China has sounded a positive note ahead of trade talks this week with Washington, but the two sides face potentially lengthy wrangling over technology and the future of their economic relationship. Both sides have expressed an interest in settling their tariff fight over Beijing’s technology ambitions. Yet neither...
Arizona woman sent 159K texts to man she met on dating site
PHOENIX — A Phoenix woman accused of stalking a man met on a dating site and sending him more than 65,000 text messages apparently sent more than twice that many. The Arizona Republic reported that Jacqueline Ades sent a man more than 159,000 text messages — some of which were...
Mac Miller tribute fund raises more than $370K for youth programs, community-building
A charitable fund created in honor of Mac Miller — the late Pittsburgh-born rapper who sought to invest in youth programs and safe playgrounds in his hometown — has raised more than $370,000 in donations, fund managers confirmed Sunday. Miller, who rose to international fame after growing up in Pittsburgh’s...
Analysis: Trump’s dealmaking faces test in shutdown standoff
WASHINGTON — The partial government shutdown is spotlighting the limitations of President Trump’s erratic negotiating style. With the impasse over Trump’s demand for border-wall funding dragging into a third week, the president’s zigzag tactics and messaging have angered Democrats and frustrated even some of the Republicans struggling to help find...
Manor Public Library plans programs this month for youngsters
The Manor Public Library on Main Street, Manor, is conducting free several programs for youngsters this month. A storytime for children age 2 and younger, “Tuesday Tales,” will be held on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., beginning Tuesday, Jan. 8 and continuing until Feb. 12. A Tuesday Tales program at 1...
Parishioners ‘blessing waters’ at Twin Lakes
On a sun-drenched day that was at least 35 degrees warmer than last year’s event, about 40 parishioners of St. Michael’s Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in South Greensburg gathered Sunday for the Blessing of the Waters, the annual tradition in which parishioners throw ice crosses into the upper lake at...
Pelosi and other Democratic leaders tread carefully on impeachment
WASHINGTON —— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top lieutenants said Sunday that he time isn’t right for the new Democratic-led House to pursue impeachment of President Trump, despite a push in their party’s ranks for such action. But they didn’t rule it out, either. “If and when the time...
Arkansas sheriff’s deputy fired after shooting small dog
CONWAY, Ark. — A sheriff’s office in central Arkansas has fired a deputy who was captured on video shooting and wounding a small dog while on duty. Faulkner County Sheriff Tim Ryals said on the office’s Facebook page Saturday that Deputy Keenan Wallace was “relieved of his duties” one day...
Connellsville pair arrested in connection with East Huntingdon robbery last month
A Connellsville man and woman have been jailed on accusations they were involved in the armed robbery of an East Huntingdon Township store last month. William Nathan Lint, 35, and Melissa Ann Youler, 40, allegedly were in the getaway car when a third person robbed the Dollar General store at...
Count finds sharp drop in monarch butterflies in California
SAN FRANCISCO — Researchers with an environmental group have labeled as “disturbingly low” the number of western monarch butterflies that migrate along the California coast. A recent count by the Xerces Society recorded fewer than 30,000 butterflies, which it said is an 86 percent decline since 2017. By comparison, the...
1 hospitalized after ATV accident near Fawn, Harrison border
One man was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison on Sunday afternoon after an ATV accident. The accident was reported to Allegheny County 911 shortly after 1:30 p.m., a dispatcher said. It happened near the southbound Route 28 exit at Natrona Heights (Exit 15), near the border of Fawn...
Soulja Boy’s car among those trapped by California mudslide
LOS ANGELES — Rapper Soulja Boy was among motorists whose cars were trapped by mudslides caused by a powerful storm that shut down Southern California’s Pacific Coast Highway. The 28-year-old retweeted a photo of the mudslides in Malibu on Saturday. He said: “My car got stuck too almost went into...
Body of Pittsburgh man found below I-79 overpass in Collier
Police found a man’s body Sunday next to Chartiers Creek below an Interstate 79 overpass in Collier Township, officials said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Stuart Hayman Hunt, 36, of Pittsburgh. Shortly after 9 a.m., police received a report of an unresponsive man found by...
Christians celebrate Epiphany across Europe
SOFIA, Bulgaria — Christians across Europe celebrated Epiphany on Sunday, with worshippers plunging into icy waters and parades being held in Poland and elsewhere. At the Vatican, Pope Francis marked the Epiphany feast day by urging people to follow the path of “humble love” and care for those who can...
Husband dies while trying to rescue wife from burning Pa. home
UPPER DARBY — A man who tried to rescue his wife from their burning Pennsylvania home died after he was overcome by smoke, unaware that she had safely fled the residence. Authorities say the fire broke out around 1:45 p.m. Saturday in the garage of a home in Upper Darby,...
Pacific Northwest storm cuts power for at least 218,000
SEATTLE — Windstorms that pummeled parts of Washington state and Oregon over the weekend have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity, officials said Sunday. The storm brought winds that registered gusts of about 60 mph at Sea-Tac Airport in Washington, the National Weather Service in Seattle said. Puget...
South Philly dog walker killed after getting punched in park
A South Philadelphia dog walker was killed in front of his fiancee Saturday night after a dispute with another dog walker at Gold Star Park. Police were called shortly after 9 p.m. to Sixth and Wharton Streets to respond to a “person screaming.” When they arrived, officers found a 38-year-old...
