Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1138
Pennsylvania’s looming dementia care crisis, by the numbers
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. Pennsylvania is headed for a profound eldercare crisis, experts warn, as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rates continue to climb, the state’s...
Cheswick Eagle Scout opens dog park in Agan Park in honor of dadVideo
A Cheswick Boy Scout fulfilled his mission of helping the community and honoring his dad through opening a dog park for his Eagle Scout project. Residents can bring their dogs for a fun time at the new Daniel R. Tabacheck Memorial Dog Park at Agan Park in Springdale Township. Dogs...
Westmoreland, Allegheny covid cases reach totals not seen since January
Newly reported covid-19 cases in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties on Saturday reached highs that haven’t been seen since January. Westmoreland County added 269 covid-19 cases, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health released Saturday. It hadn’t been that high since hitting 277 on Jan. 13. For comparison’s sake,...
Heavy police presence as protesters trickle in for DC rally
WASHINGTON — In the shadow of a fortified Capitol, a few hundred demonstrators turned up Saturday for a rally to support those charged in January’s riot, but were vastly outnumbered by the media and a heavy police presence. U.S. Capitol Police were taking no chances, with hundreds of officers brought...
Millvale police seek men who stole American flags
Millvale police are seeking two men who tore down “multiple American flags” and destroyed the mounting brackets and parts of the buildings in the borough last week and vowed to make them “famous” with posting of videos of the crime if they don’t turn themselves into authorities. Chief Tim Komoroski...
Duplexes, single-family homes proposed for 2nd phase of Hempfield development
A mix of duplexes and single-family homes could be coming to Hempfield, if a second phase of development is approved for the Grandview Estates neighborhood. Proposed plans show 53 total units would be built off Zoe Lane, which connects to Fosterville Road. Of those, 26 would be duplexes and the...
Civilian Conservation Corps legacy lives on in state parks
America’s 20th-century “tree army” brought generations of citizens closer to nature’s wonders while enduring the nation’s greatest economic plight. If the political winds are favorable, new recruits might get the chance to repeat that effort during the current health crisis. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and the National Wildlife Federation...
Pennsylvania Democrats sue over GOP election ‘investigation’
HARRISBURG — Democrats in Pennsylvania’s state Senate sued Friday evening in a state court to block a Republican-approved subpoena seeking voter information and to put a stop to what Republicans call a “forensic investigation” of last year’s presidential election. Democrats had said they would sue within days after the Republican-controlled...
Former Mylan executive from McDonald pleads guilty to insider trading
A former Mylan executive pleaded guilty Friday to insider trading that netted him more than $4 million. Dayakar Mallu, 51, now of Orlando, will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy on Jan. 24. According to the plea agreement, Mallu faces a sentencing guideline range of 57 to...
Pittsburgh sinkhole bus passenger sues PWSA
The sole passenger on what has become known as the Downtown sinkhole bus filed a lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority on Friday, alleging that the entity should have been aware of the potential danger there from previous flooding. Michelle Goodlow, of Washington, is suing the authority for...
FDA advisory panel rejects widespread Pfizer booster shots
WASHINGTON — An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan Friday to offer Pfizer booster shots against covid-19 to most Americans, dealing a heavy blow to the Biden administration’s effort to shore up people’s protection amid the highly contagious delta variant. The vote by the committee of outside experts...
Pentagon reverses itself, calls deadly Kabul drone strike an error
The Pentagon retreated from its defense of a drone strike that killed multiple civilians in Afghanistan last month, announcing Friday that a review revealed that only civilians were killed in the attack, not an Islamic State extremist as first believed. “The strike was a tragic mistake,” Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie,...
Pittsburgh director of mobility and infrastructure to join Biden administration
Pittsburgh’s director of mobility and infrastructure is leaving the city to take a role in Washington, D.C., with the Federal Transit Administration. Karina Ricks, who joined the city administration in February 2017, was the first to lead the then-newly created department. “As the very first Director of DOMI, Karina has...
Pa. liquor stores to ration some products because of supply issues
If you had your heart set on serving exclusively Dom Perignon at your champagne party this weekend, you might want to consider mixing in some other brands. As of Friday, Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor stores are starting to ration sales of some products. It’s a response to what is being described...
Organizer of Capitol rally this weekend looks to rewrite Jan. 6 history
WASHINGTON — The architect of a Washington protest planned for Saturday that aims to rewrite history about the violent January assault on the U.S. Capitol is hardly a household name. Matt Braynard worked as an analyst for the Republican Party, crunched data for a small election firm and later started...
Haunted Hills Hayride in North Versailles to remain closed this weekend
The Haunted Hills Hayride will be closed this weekend, following a fatal shooting at the North Versailles attraction’s opening night on Saturday. Initially, the operators of the Hayride said they would be open this weekend, but they reversed course following a team meeting on Thursday, they said in a Facebook...
Body found in Northmoreland Park, cross country invitational canceled
Authorities closed a section of Park Road in Allegheny Township’s Northmoreland Park on Friday morning after a body was discovered in the park. Gregory McCloskey, the Westmoreland County public works director, said the road remained closed while a deputy coroner investigated. McCloskey said the scene was cleared around 11:30 a.m....
Biden angers France, EU with new Australia, UK initiative
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s decision to form a strategic Indo-Pacific alliance with Australia and Britain to counter China is angering France and the European Union. They’re feeling left out and seeing it as a return to the Trump era. The security initiative, unveiled this week, appears to have brought...
Fact check: Biden’s shaky claims on jobs, gasoline
WASHINGTON — Boasting that government policies can make a difference in improving the economy, President Joe Biden went too far Thursday in taking credit for job growth since taking office. He also made a dubious suggestion that wrongdoing is behind higher gasoline prices — something that his administration will seek...
Outdoor medical tent up at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has expanded its emergency department care capacity by setting up an outside medical tent. Officials said the Lawrenceville hospital plans to begin utilizing the space along 44th Street by Friday afternoon. “UPMC Children’s has set up a medical tent to expand care capability for those...
Milley: Calls to China were ‘perfectly’ within scope of job
ATHENS, Greece — The top U.S. military officer said Friday that calls he made to his Chinese counterpart in the final stormy months of Donald Trump’s presidency were “perfectly within the duties and responsibilities” of his job. In his first public comments on the conversations, Gen. Mark Milley such said...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 17-19
Hello, it’s the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Jazz it up with Chaka Khan The 11th annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is Sept. 17-19 at the Benedum Center, Downtown, and Highmark Stadium on the South Side. Grammy-award winning singer Chaka Khan will perform at 8 p.m. Friday...
Things to know before attending Steelers/Pitt games at Heinz Field
It’s not just a new home season kicking off for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sunday marks the first time in almost two years for a full capacity crowd at Heinz Field on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Here are some refreshers for fans planning to attend the game at 1 p.m. Sunday, when...
5 things to watch in WPIAL football Week 3: Coaches like nonconference tune-ups
The sprint to the WPIAL playoffs starts now. The nonconference portion of the football schedule is over for many WPIAL teams, meaning every week matters from here on out. But for the first time in years, all teams were able to ease into conference play with a preseason-like experience where...
Fox News’ vaccine criticism focuses attention on its own policy
NEW YORK — A steady criticism of covid vaccine mandates by figures on Fox News has drawn attention to its own company’s stringent rules on the topic — even from President Joe Biden. The president was denounced as an “authoritarian” and “divider-in-chief” on Fox last week after announcing new efforts...
