Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1205
For the first time, Idlewild park to offer beer during summer season
Idlewild & SoakZone will sell beer during its regular summer season for the first time, beginning this weekend. Beer will be available for patrons to purchase in one location initially 一 Mineshaft Kitchen in Hootin’ Holler 一 where it will “pair nicely” with Idlewild’s famous Potato Patch fries, said Jeff...
Penn State ex-president reports to jail in Sandusky scandal
BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Former Penn State president Graham Spanier has reported to jail early to begin serving his sentence for child endangerment in a case stemming from the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal. Spanier reported to Centre County Correctional Facility, several miles from the Penn State campus, on Monday...
Brackenridge man charged with abusing, neglecting dog that died in his care
A Brackenridge man has been charged with abusing and neglecting a dog that died in his care earlier this year. Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh charged Nicholas A. Rose, 19, on Tuesday with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals as well as misdemeanor and summary counts of cruelty...
Bethel Park woman charged with endangering the welfare of children, DUI
A Bethel Park woman faces multiple charges for allegedly trying to run over juveniles in a middle school parking lot. Haley Jankowski, 18, is charged with endangering the welfare of children, ethnic intimidation, driving under the influence, criminal mischief, reckless driving, corruption of minors, drivers required to be licensed and...
Paint is source of high lead levels in Wilkinsburg homes, report finds
Concerned Wilkinsburg residents and community leaders met Wednesday to sift through a report on the high level of lead exposure in the borough and what to do about it. The report, “Get the Lead Out, Wilkinsburg” was compiled by Get the Lead Out, Pittsburgh and Women for a Healthy Environment....
Man who died after falling into Allegheny River in Downtown Pittsburgh identified
A man who died after falling into the Allegheny River near the Seventh Street Bridge on Tuesday afternoon has been identified. According to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, Lewis Mills, 37, was found unresponsive in the river and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Pittsburgh...
Fire chief: 1 person died, 7 others homeless in New Kensington apartment fire
One person died and seven others were left homeless in a fire Wednesday evening at an apartment house in New Kensington. Firefighters from New Kensington, Arnold, Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell and Plum responded to 1350 Kenneth Ave. shortly after 7:10 p.m. for reports of a fire at the three-story converted...
Own an Echo? Amazon may be helping itself to your bandwidth
Do you own an Amazon smart device? If so, odds are good that the company is already sharing your internet connection with your neighbors unless you’ve specifically told it not to. On Tuesday, the company launched a program that forces users of many Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras...
Keystone XL pipeline nixed after Biden stands firm on permit
The sponsor of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline pulled the plug on the contentious project Wednesday after Canadian officials failed to persuade President Joe Biden to reverse his cancellation of its permit on the day he took office. Calgary-based TC Energy said it would work with government agencies “to...
Jury deliberations to continue in Greensburg man’s murder trial
A jury will resume deliberations Thursday morning in the trial of a Greensburg man charged with the murder of a Vandergrift woman whose charred remains were found at a secluded Derry Township campsite four years ago. Jurors deliberated about four hours Wednesday and did not reach a verdict in the...
North Huntingdon man accused in double murder ordered to stand trial for allegedly shooting at 3 homes
Tensions were high and tempers flared in the courtroom Wednesday as accused killer Victor Steban of North Huntingdon was ordered to stand trial on charges that he shot at three occupied homes as part of what investigators say was a retaliation crime spree culminating in a double murder last month....
Home health aides protest at Reschenthaler’s Greensburg officeVideo
A group of about two dozen home care workers and community activists converged on U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler’s office in Greensburg on Wednesday to rally support for the American Jobs Act and speak to the role low-paid caregivers play in the nation’s health system. The group — led by United...
Girl, 1, not in a car seat when ejected in Adamsburg crash, police say
A child was flown by medical helicopter and three adults were taken to hospitals following a crash in Adamsburg Wednesday, officials with the Hempfield Township Fire Department said. The 1-year-old girl was not in a car seat at the time of the crash, according to state police. A GMC Sierra...
Peduto says Juneteenth bill sent without his knowledge; organizers alarmed at $130K price tag
Pittsburgh officials and the organizers of the WPA Juneteenth celebration say they are working out a misunderstanding prompted by an itemized preliminary bill for more than $130,000 the city was going to charge for its part in the event. “We had a positive conversation and I’m hoping they’ll do some...
Rookie Westmoreland County election director suspended with pay
The Westmoreland County commissioners suspended with pay the woman they hired less than a year ago to run the county election bureau. Records obtained Wednesday by the Tribune-Review indicate bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani was suspended Tuesday and will continue to be off the job through Friday. No reason was given...
Pittsburgh struggles to staff its pools, can’t open all of them
With only eight of the city’s 18 pools set to open next week, Pittsburgh City Council members Wednesday are wondering what they can do to get more pools open as coronavirus restrictions are eased and people try to enjoy summer. “The support, the concern, is appreciated,” Pittsburgh Parks and Recreation...
Amid covid pandemic, U.S. deaths from heart disease and diabetes spiked to highest level in 20 years
NEW YORK — The U.S. saw remarkable increases in the death rates for heart disease, diabetes and some other common killers in 2020, and experts believe a big reason may be that many people with dangerous symptoms made the lethal mistake of staying away from the hospital for fear of...
Allegheny, Westmoreland see rapid drops in new covid cases
New covid-19 cases continued their rapid declines in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Allegheny County recorded 183 cases in the past week — including just 15 on Wednesday — for a seven-day daily average of 26. It hasn’t been that low since hitting 24 on June 24, 2020. For perspective, the...
Black attorney demands apology from DA Zappala, calls Allegheny Co. courthouse ‘cesspool of white privilege’Video
Black defense attorney Milton Raiford refused Wednesday to participate in his client’s nonjury trial until Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. meets with him, resigns or recuses himself from all of Raiford’s cases. A spokesman for Zappala said the office is aware of Raiford’s comments and has ordered...
Greensburg police accuse man of using slur, starting street brawl
A slur demeaning mentally challenged persons allegedly shouted inside a downtown Greensburg bar early Wednesday triggered a street fight among 20 people, sent a woman to the hospital and led to the arrest of a Scottdale man, city police said. Tyler J. Griffiths, 24, was being held in the county...
Former Somerset woman gets probation in faked pregnancy, death of newborn
A former Somerset County woman will spend two years on probation for faking a pregnancy and then the death of a newborn baby, prompting donations for funeral costs and baby shower gifts. Kaycee Lang, 25, of Johnstown, was ordered to pay restitution during a sentencing hearing June 2, according to...
7-Eleven, customers robbed in Castle Shannon
Police in Castle Shannon are investigating an armed robbery Wednesday at the 7-Eleven/Marathon station along Mt. Lebanon Boulevard. Officers were called at about 3:15 a.m. to the convenience store/gas station after a suspect brandished a handgun and took money from several people inside the store, as well as cash from...
Aspinwall Police encounter coyote pup in borough, offer tips for residents
Aspinwall Police are offering wildlife safety tips after officers encountered a coyote pup in the borough on Monday. Police posted to Facebook after spotting the animal walking near a home in upper Aspinwall. “Although the Borough of Aspinwall welcomes all types of animals, some can be aggressive or dangerous,” the...
Vaccine hesitancy is topic of Carnegie Science Center discussion
In spite of all the scientific evidence indicating that vaccination is the key to fighting the spread of covid-19, a significant segment of the American population remains hesitant to get inoculated. Vaccine hesitancy is part of the impetus for the second panel in Carnegie Science Center’s Vaccine Speaker Series, a...
3 condos merge into 1 unforgettable unit atop Fairmont Hotel for $5.25 million
Temperatures are rising, but Matt Spaeth — yes, that Matt Spaeth — could not help but think of winter as he guided a tour of a condo in Downtown Pittsburgh, on the market for $5.25 million. “The owner said that when he sits on the couch at Christmas time with...
