Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1160
Unity’s Victory Brinker, 9, ready to sing in ‘America’s Got Talent’ quarterfinal roundVideo
Victory Brinker could see the iconic “Hollywood” sign from her hotel window. The 9-year-old singing sensation from Westmoreland County was in California prepping for her appearance in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Victory was taking the sights and the situation in stride, said her mother, Christine, in...
Alligator found, unharmed, after days of wandering West Mifflin’s streets
Police have found the small alligator that’s been spotted roaming the streets of West Mifflin for nearly a week, officials said. The alligator, which stretches about 3 feet long, could be seen with its mouth duct-taped shut being carried in the arms of a gloved police officer on Saturday in...
The world may never reach herd immunity against covid-19, experts say
As covid-19 surged last year, governments worldwide touted the hope of “herd immunity,” a promised land where the virus stopped spreading exponentially because enough people were protected against it. That’s now looking like a fantasy. The thinking was that the pandemic would ebb and then mostly fade once a chunk...
The Taliban won. Here’s what that could meanVideo
Now that the Taliban has regained power after nearly two decades in the Afghan hinterlands, the average Afghan will face a radically different government, and lifestyle, than the one they have known since the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001. How will the Taliban rule? Have they changed? When the Islamist...
USDA to permanently boost food stamp benefits by 25%
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families—the largest single increase in the program’s history. Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps (officially known as the SNAP program) will rise more than 25 percent...
Marlin Woods drops out of Pittsburgh mayoral race a week after Democrats contest his nomination papers
Independent challenger Marlin Woods has dropped out of the race for Pittsburgh mayor. Woods, a 48-year-old benefits consultant from East Liberty, said that he’s leaving the race regrettably because he does not have sufficient time to defend petition signatures that were challenged by a “few Democrats” last week. The law...
Greensburg Hose Company’s car cruise draws a crowdVideo
For Brian Hixson, attending the Greensburg Hose Company No. 1’s first car and bike cruise Sunday afternoon had ties back to his father. “My father, he introduced me to the hobby, and I’ve been going to car shows every since,” Hixson said. Hixson was displaying his 1972 Morgan at the...
Trudeau triggers Canadian election, voting day Sept. 20
TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered an election Sunday as he seeks to capitalize on Canada being one of the most fully vaccinated countries in the world. Trudeau announced the election would be held on Sept. 20 after visiting the governor general, who holds a mostly ceremonial position representing...
Death toll of powerful earthquake in Haiti soars to 1,297Video
LES CAYES, Haiti — The death toll from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Haiti climbed to 1,297 on Sunday, a day after the powerful temblor turned thousands of structures into rubble and set off frantic rescue efforts ahead of a potential deluge from an approaching tropical storm. Saturday’s earthquake also left...
Rural population losses add to farm and ranch labor shortage
OMAHA, Neb. — Rural America lost more population in the latest census, highlighting an already severe worker shortage in the nation’s farming and ranching regions and drawing calls from those industries for immigration reform to help ease the problem. The census data released last week showed that population gains in...
Fred strengthens to tropical storm as it heads to U.S. coast
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center said Fred regained its tropical storm status in the Gulf of Mexico early Sunday as parts of the Caribbean were gearing up for impacts from Tropical Storm Grace. Fred was forecast to move across the Gulf before reaching the coast Monday night...
Longest war: Were America’s decades in Afghanistan worth it?
Here’s what 19-year-old Lance Cpl. William Bee felt flying into southern Afghanistan on Christmas Day 2001: purely lucky. The U.S. was hitting back at the al-Qaida plotters who had brought down the World Trade Center, and Bee found himself among the first Marines on the ground. “Excitement,” Bee says these...
Taliban sweep into Afghan capital after government collapses
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital Sunday after the government collapsed and the embattled president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade U.S. campaign to remake the country. Heavily armed Taliban fighters fanned out across the capital, and...
Police: Man injured during shooting in Stowe
One person was injured during a shooting in Stowe Saturday night, police said. Allegheny County dispatchers were notified of a shooting in the 800 block of Woodward Avenue around 8:20 p.m. On scene, first responders found a man with a gunshot wound to the leg, according to a release from...
Police: Man dead after shooting in Beltzhoover
One person died after a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood Saturday night, police said. Police responded around 11:45 p.m. to a ShotSpotter notification, followed by a 911 call, for a vehicle into a house in the 800 block of Bernd Street. First responders found a man in the vehicle with...
Dozens of steel jobs coming to Alle-Kiski Valley in new venture at old Hyde Park FoundryVideo
A vacant warehouse in a historic Hyde Park foundry is about to get busy. Three Alle-Kiski residents with almost a century of combined mill experience working in the Valley’s steel industry have partnered to open a new metal toll processing business in the former hot metal section of the former...
Body of 3-year-old boy recovered from Allegheny River in Armstrong County
The body of a 3-year-old boy was found Saturday afternoon by dive teams in the Allegheny River in Armstrong County. Dwight Lee Dinsmore, 3, of Yatesboro was recovered from the water about 2:40 p.m., about a mile south of Lock No. 6 in Bethel, Armstrong County Coroner Brian K. Myers...
At least 304 dead, 1,800 hurt as powerful quake slams Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southwestern Haiti on Saturday, killing at least 304 people and injuring at least 1,800 others as buildings tumbled into rubble. Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he was rushing aid to areas where towns were destroyed and hospitals overwhelmed with incoming patients....
U.S. Senate bill calls for beefing up federal regulations on nursing homes
Nearly 18 months after covid-19 began to cut a broad swath through the nation’s nursing homes — killing 184,000 elderly and disabled residents and care workers — the U.S. Senate is weighing a bill to update federal policies and oversight of such facilities. The bill, dubbed the Nursing Home Improvement...
Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days to return with food, bocce and safety in mind
Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield will once again be filled with Italian food, music and, of course, bocce. The 19th annual Little Italy Days returns after being canceled last year because of the pandemic. Known as the region’s largest heritage festival, it will take place this year from Aug. 19 through...
Limited options hamstring vaccine status verification, leaving it up to honor system
Providing — and verifying — proof of covid-19 vaccine status largely comes down to the honor system. And this could prove problematic with calls for proof of vaccination status growing among employers, entertainment venues, restaurants and colleges. There is no national database of vaccine recipients. Record keeping varies from state...
Interest in covid rent aid up in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties as eviction ban limps onVideo
The Monday after a nationwide eviction moratorium expired, there were 1,200 voicemails to sift through at Action Housing , the nonprofit administering $80 million in emergency rent relief for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Workers fielded another 1,000 phone calls that day, Aug. 2, said Action’s general counsel, Kyle Webster. They...
Storm forces evacuation of Jason Aldean concert at Star Lake
Fans of musician Jason Aldean were evacuated before his concert at The Pavilion At Star Lake near Burgettstown early Friday evening because of severe thunderstorms in the area, according to Star Lake’s Twitter account. Just after 7 p.m., fans were instructed to “calmly proceed to the nearest exit and seek...
Charity event in Vandergrift to offer free back-to-school haircuts for kids
A new charity event in Vandergrift is making the cut with area students. The Kiski Valley Lancers & Ramsey’s Place Cuts 4 Kids will offer free back-to-school haircuts to any student in prekindergarten through 12th grade at the borough’s Kennedy Park on Aug. 23. “There’s a lot of underprivileged people...
Lower Burrell solicitor says city needs rules for backyard chickens on small lots
Lower Burrell Council could consider making rules for residents living on small residential lots who want to keep backyard chickens. Solicitor Steve Yakopec advised council at Monday’s meeting that he believes the city needs an ordinance to set down regulations. Council did not immediately move to advance the issue. Farm...
