Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1260
Pitt issues shelter-in-place order amid covid surge
The University of Pittsburgh will increase public health restrictions to its Oakland campus today at 9 p.m., following several days of high covid-19 case numbers. In posts on social media, the university instituted a shelter-in-place period beginning at 9 p.m., which will remain in place “until the (Covid-19 Medical Response...
Allegheny County surpasses 1,000 covid deaths linked to nursing homes
Allegheny County surpassed 1,000 covid deaths associated with long-term care facilities, according to data updated Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Data shows three additional deaths in nursing homes or personal care homes, bringing the county’s total to 1,002 since the pandemic began last March. Allegheny County has the...
Tarentum Bridge, Route 28 projects could cause headaches for motorists
Motorists using the Tarentum Bridge can expect 15-minute rolling closures later this spring and a 16-day closure of the bridge in the summer as part of a $3.2 million project to improve the intersection with Freeport Road, PennDOT officials said Wednesday. PennDOT is working with local officials to ease the...
Pandemic increased pace of I-579 cap project in Pittsburgh, officials say
Building a cap on top of a highway in Downtown Pittsburgh presented its own set of challenges, PennDOT officials said Wednesday. But the $30 million cap project over Interstate 579, commonly called the Crosstown Expressway, that will link the Hill District to Downtown Pittsburgh actually benefited from the decreased traffic...
Pennsylvania reports 4,000+ covid cases for 4th time in a week
Pennsylvania on Wednesday reported its fourth day in the past week with covid-19 case totals above 4,000. The state health department reported 4,557 cases, bringing the state’s total to 1,024,857. Allegheny County added 418 newly reported cases to climb to 85,680, while Westmoreland’s 126 additional cases bumped its total to...
All Pennsylvania residents can schedule covid vaccines in April
All Pennsylvania residents will be eligible to schedule covid vaccination appointments beginning April 19, two weeks ahead of President Biden’s directive of May 1, state health officials said Wednesday. The state Department of Health also launched a new initiative to expand vaccine eligibility to front line workers, including those in...
Man pleads guilty in Pittsburgh to role in Darknet conspiracy
An Israeli man who helped facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit sales on the dark web pleaded guilty Wednesday to his role in the conspiracy in federal court in Pittsburgh. Tal Prihar, 39, entered the plea to a single count of conspiracy to commit money laundering that was...
Holy days arrive for the faithful as pandemic eases in U.S.
For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. Even if still observing restrictions, many churches may draw the largest numbers of in-person worshippers in months. It’s a season of major...
Hempfield man sentenced in car sales scheme
A Hempfield man will spend a year on house arrest for claiming to be a licensed car dealer when selling vehicles on Facebook and forging a family member’s name on some of the transactions, according to court papers. Christopher Alan Post, 39, previously of Lower Burrell, was sentenced this week...
Some Capitol riot suspects apologize as consequences sink in
PHOENIX — The helmet-wearing Idaho man photographed dangling by one hand from the Senate’s balcony during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol turned himself in six days later. While buckled in the vehicle delivering him to the Boise jail, Josiah Colt made a video apologizing and expressing shame...
Hunter Biden says he wouldn’t repeat work for Ukrainian firm
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter says his service on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, which Republicans tried to turn into a negative during the 2020 presidential campaign, wasn’t unethical and didn’t represent a lack of judgment on his part. But the younger Biden wouldn’t do it...
NCAA, former athletes head to Supreme Court over how football, basketball players are rewarded
WASHINGTON — The NCAA and former college athletes are getting ready to play ball at the Supreme Court. With the March Madness basketball tournament ongoing, the high court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case about how colleges can reward athletes who play Division I basketball and football. The NCAA...
Pfizer says its covid-19 vaccine protects younger teens
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its covid-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall. Most covid-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy announces Earth Day Events in April
Since 1970, April 22 has meant Earth Day to 1 billion people in nearly 200 countries across the globe. But the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is not waiting until then to begin hosting Earth Day events. On Tuesday the nonprofit announced a comprehensive schedule of both in-person and virtual Earth Day...
Aliquippa woman charged in connection with stabbing death of husband
An Aliquippa woman is accused of stabbing her husband to death late Tuesday, according to state police in Beaver County. Police said Angela Hunt, 37, told 911 dispatchers she assaulted her husband, Chad Hunt, 40, and was “unsure if he was still alive.” Aliquippa officers responded to the home along...
Utility shut-off ban ends Thursday; Western Pennsylvania companies say help is available
Utility companies in the region have a unified message for delinquent customers who are in danger of having their service turned off beginning Thursday: Call now. The state Public Utility Commission’s ban on service shut-offs during the pandemic ends Thursday, and utility companies are urging eligible customers who are behind...
Biden heads to Pittsburgh region to unveil major infrastructure plan
Moments before boarding a plane at the Allegheny County Airport in late August, then-Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden paused to talk directly to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. While masked up and keeping 6 feet back, “He looked me in the eye and said, ‘I’ll be back when we...
Victim identified in South Side motorcycle crash
A male motorcyclist was killed following a crash Tuesday night on Pittsburgh’s South Side, according to city public safety officials. The victim was identified as Brandon Lamar Nixon, 32, of Penn Hills, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Emergency responders were called to East Carson and 11th streets just...
Audit: Penn Hills School District closing reserve fund deficit
Hard work, bond refinancing and covid pandemic-related savings have helped Penn Hills School District cut an estimated $18 million deficit to nearly zero in five years, according to a newly released audit report. Auditor Mark Turnley said he is “guardedly optimistic” about the district’s financial future. “When you look at...
2 families displaced by Brackenridge fireVideo
Two families were displaced by a Tuesday evening fire that left a Brackenridge residence heavily damaged. Fire crews were called to the intersection of Stieren Avenue and Hathaway Lane around 6 p.m. Pioneer Hose Company Assistant Chief Corey Jones said the rear of the building was already engulfed by the...
G. Gordon Liddy, unrepentant Watergate burglar who became talk show host, dies at 90
G. Gordon Liddy, the tough-guy Watergate operative who went to prison rather than testify and later turned his Nixon-era infamy into a successful television and talk show career, has died at age 90. Liddy died Tuesday at his daugher’s house in Virginia, his son Thomas P. Liddy told The Washington...
Turtle Creek man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for narcotics trafficking
A Turtle Creek man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted of narcotics trafficking. Jerry Coker, 30, of Turtle Creek was sentenced to 10 years in imprisonment and eight years supervised release, according to an announcement Tuesday from Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman....
Attempt to override Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s veto of paid sick leave law fails by 1 vote
Allegheny County Council on Tuesday failed to override a March 16 veto by county Executive Rich Fitzgerald to enact a law to mandate that county businesses provide paid sick leave. It means the process to require paid sick leave will start with action from the county Health Department, as required...
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz investigated over alleged sexual relationship with underage girl
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a prominent conservative in Congress and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, said Tuesday he is being investigated by the Justice Department over a former relationship but denied any criminal wrongdoing. Gaetz, who represents parts of western Florida, told Axios that his...
Pitt students join crowd of hundreds for covid vaccines in Oakland
Hundreds of people, including many University of Pittsburgh students, lined up Tuesday afternoon to receive their first dose of the covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination event in Oakland. The vaccine clinic was hosted outside at the Oak Hill Apartments, where the line stretched several blocks. Among the group waiting for...
