Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1231
U.S. unemployment claims fall to a pandemic low of 498,000
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to 498,000, the lowest point since the viral pandemic struck 14 months ago and a sign of the job market’s growing strength as businesses reopen and consumers step up spending. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that...
Suspect in Frazer Walmart thefts had drugs in car, police say
A Pittsburgh man was arrested by Frazer police last Saturday for five separate thefts of Walmart items valued at about $2,500, according to Police Chief Terry Kuhns. Albert Swoope, 48, of Pittsburgh, was taken to Allegheny County Jail after failing to post $10,000 bond. He is charged with retail theft,...
Duquesne-McKeesport Bridge reopens after possible strike by barge
The Duquesne-McKeesport Bridge reopened early Thursday after possibly being struck by a runaway barge, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. The bridge was closed for about six hours after authorities said a barge broke free just after midnight on the Monongahela River. BREAKING NEWS: After a Possible Barge Strike, the...
Federal judge strikes down CDC’s national moratorium on evictions
A federal judge in Washington blocked a nationwide eviction moratorium the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established as the covid-19 lockdowns put millions of renters out of work during the past year. In a ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich said the agency exceeded its authority by...
Police: Teen shot outside his Penn Hills home
A 17-year-old boy was shot during the evening hours May 5 as he walked out of his Penn Hills home, police reported. Chief Howard Burton said the shooting took place around 6:30 p.m. along the 200 block of Pelone Drive. Shots were fired from a vehicle outside the home. Burton...
Knives out: GOP leaders turn on Liz CheneyVideo
WASHINGTON — Key Republicans continue to signal their support for dumping House GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney from her leadership spot, with momentum building as Cheney has held former President Donald Trump to account for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and stood firm that the...
2 men sentenced for distributing drugs in Pittsburgh’s South Side as part of DS44 gang
Two Pittsburgh men who police say were high-ranking members of a street gang that sold drugs in Pittsburgh’s South Side have been sentenced in federal court to long prison terms. Christopher Highsmith, 28, and Anthony Jetter, 32, pleaded guilty to related drug charges and were sentenced by U.S. District Judge...
Jobless want state to end backlog, pay benefits now
Jobless workers upset over the state’s delay in ruling on their unemployment compensation claim are expected to join forces with a group of state legislators in a protest Thursday in downtown Pittsburgh. They will gather outside the governor’s regional office to demand they get benefits while awaiting a decision on...
Sen. Toomey pledges in Pittsburgh to find out why U.S. Steel nixed $1B Mon Valley projectVideo
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said Wednesday that he wants to get to the bottom of why U.S. Steel nixed its planned $1.2 billion Mon Valley Works project last week, even as indicators point to the pandemic-battered economy “roaring back” and bipartisan support builds for a nationwide infrastructure infusion. “Steel prices...
Republican Sen. Kim Ward endorses covid vaccine for return to normalcyVideo
State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward is encouraging constituents to get the covid-19 vaccine. The Hempfield Republican, who has been at odds with Democratic leaders over the covid-19 shutdown for the past year, went public with her endorsement in a radio interview with 90.5 WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR news station. “It’s...
Allegheny County officials cite equity and hesitancy as barriers to vaccinations
Vaccine hesitancy, equity and general access remain barriers to getting Allegheny County residents inoculated against covid-19, Dr. Debra Bogen, health director, said at a Board of Health meeting Wednesday. State data shows that 445,578 people in Allegheny County are fully vaccinated, but with around 1.2 million residents, Bogen said there...
Ex-West Penn employee pleads guilty to secretly recording patients, coworkers
A Canonsburg man pleaded guilty Wednesday to hiding video cameras inside West Penn Hospital and filming dozens of employees and female patients. Guy Caley, 53, will be sentenced by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Beemer on Aug. 16. He pleaded guilty to 89 criminal counts. Caley was charged last...
Allegheny County officials support lifting of restrictions, tackle covid vaccine mythsVideo
A day after Gov. Tom Wolf announced the imminent removal of covid restrictions in Pennsylvania, Allegheny County officials said it was right move. “That’s really good news as we start to get back to normal,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said at a virtual news conference. “Everybody has been eligible for...
U.S. to back waiver of vaccine intellectual property protections at WTO
WASHINGTON — The U.S. will support a proposal to waive intellectual property protections for covid-19 vaccines, joining an effort to increase global supply and access to the life-saving shots as the gap between rich and poor nations widens. “We are for the waiver at the WTO, we are for what...
Prantl’s hit with health citations for opening Squirrel Hill bakery without permit
The Allegheny County Health Department has shut down and cited Prantl’s Bakery for opening a new location in Squirrel Hill without a health permit, department records show. The bakery’s new location on Forbes Avenue was shut down by health inspectors April 28 for operating with a health permit, failing to...
Activists call for Pittsburgh to cancel bid for supplies of less-lethal weapons
Activists on Wednesday called on Pittsburgh officials to cancel a bid seeking supplies of “less-lethal” weapons like the ones deployed against protesters in Pittsburgh and other cities during civil unrest. “These munitions are turned on people fighting for the rights of Black and brown community members,” said Joshua Friedman, of...
In visit to Mexican restaurant, Biden touts $28.6B covid-relief grants for eateriesVideo
WASHINGTON — Setting foot in a restaurant for his first time as president, Joe Biden made a Cinco de Mayo taco and enchilada run to highlight his administration’s $28.6 billion program to help eateries that lost business because of the coronavirus pandemic. The president went to Taqueria Las Gemelas in...
Coronavirus vaccine bills sent in error to some Excela Health patients
Several hundred people who got vaccinated against the coronavirus through Excela Health were erroneously billed, a mistake being blamed on a quick effort to get clinics up and running, according to Tom Albanesi, the hospital system’s chief financial officer. Health system officials tried to contact those who got a bill...
Irwin man gets 15 years for role as ringleader of gang’s drug operation
An Irwin man who led a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Western Pennsylvania will serve 15 years in prison. Christopher Highsmith, who was responsible for the distribution of 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, pleaded guilty to a single count of drug conspiracy in September before U.S. District...
Irwin woman accused of falsifying police documents, claiming to be male officer in insurance claim investigation
An Irwin woman was arrested Wednesday after authorities said she claimed to be a male police officer to an insurance investigator and falsified several documents relating to a claim, according to court papers. Sharon K. Powell, 49, is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft, criminal use of a communication facility,...
Site near Monroeville Mall eyed for new $91 million VA outpatient clinic
Veterans in the eastern suburbs could soon have easier access to health care. Milwaukee-based Summit Smith Development was recently awarded a contract to develop a 64,000-square-foot outpatient clinic near the Monroeville Mall for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. JLL, the real estate firm that brokered the deal, said in...
60 years since 1st American in space: Tourists lining up
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Sixty years after Alan Shepard became the first American in space, everyday people are on the verge of following in his cosmic footsteps. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company used Wednesday’s anniversary to announce an auction for a seat on the company’s first crew spaceflight, launched by...
Allegheny County reports 2nd-lowest covid case total in past month
The Allegheny County Health Department on Wednesday reported its second-lowest covid-19 case total in the past month. The county added 158 new cases Wednesday. Only the 94 cases reported April 26 was lower. It’s also the second-lowest total dating back to March 15, when 124 were reported. The county’s coronavirus...
Woman who contracted covid, missed work sues nursing home for race and age discrimination
A 76-year-old nurse who had to miss work for more than three months after she contracted covid-19 is suing the Wilkinsburg nursing home that employed her for race and age discrimination. Yvonne Manns, who began working at Pennwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on West Street in 2013, said in the...
Poll workers needed in some Allegheny County precincts as primary election prep continues
Election clerks are still needed in six municipalities and three of Pittsburgh’s wards, but most positions at polling places are filled and workers have been trained, Allegheny County Administrative Services Deputy Director Jessica Garofolo told the elections board Tuesday. Allegheny County Councilman Sam DeMarco said Tuesday he is concerned that...
