Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1342
Checkpoint shields installed to boost covid-19 protection at Arnold Palmer airport
Acrylic shields are in place at the security checkpoint at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as an added measure to help prevent the spread of covid-19. Installed the week of Dec. 18, the shields are meant to provide enhanced protection for passengers boarding Spirit Airlines flights and Transportation Security Administration officers...
Allegheny County seeing nearly 20% fewer new covid cases than a week ago
Despite a steady day-to-day increase in new covid-19 cases this week, Allegheny County is still seeing 19% fewer new cases than at this time last week. On the day before Christmas, the Health Department reported 912 new cases — 630 confirmed through 1,958 PCR tests, conducted from Nov. 30 through...
Cue the bald eagles: Webcams are streaming live for breeding season
Anticipating visits and “nestorations” by bald eagle couples at the beginning of their breeding season, two webcams have gone live and are ready for the action. The Pittsburgh bald eagle webcam in Pittsburgh’s Hays section has been live all year with sporadic reports and a recent uptick of the birds’...
House Republicans block $2,000 virus checks despite Trump demand
WASHINGTON — House Republicans shot down a Democratic bid on Thursday to pass President Donald Trump’s longshot, end-of-session demand for $2,000 direct payments to most Americans before signing a long-overdue covid-19 relief bill. The made-for-TV clash came as the Democratic-controlled chamber convened for a pro forma session scheduled in anticipation...
Bettis and others say Steelers can still pull out of their funk, but it won’t be easy
Just a few weeks ago, Steelers fans were wondering if their undefeated team would lose a game this season. Now, the question is, will the Steelers win another game this season? After three straight losses following its 11-0 start, this team is looking like it has forgotten how to play...
U.K., EU reach post-Brexit trade deal
BRUSSELS — Britain and the European Union have struck a provisional free-trade agreement that should avert New Year’s chaos for cross-border commerce and bring a measure of certainty to businesses after years of Brexit turmoil. The breakthrough came Thursday with just over a week to go until the U.K.’s split...
Christmas Eve sermons will be different this year
It’s a challenge pastors often face, but it never has been more conspicuous than after a year like 2020. What inspiring words can church leaders possibly say during Christmas Eve services after so much death and disappointment? Even though the long-awaited end of 2020 is coming, what about the beginning...
White Christmas is coming, but so is freezing rain
Consider Thursday’s mild temperatures the calm before the storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of Western Pennsylvania with a forecast of snow and plunging temperatures. The advisory runs from 7 p.m. through 1 p.m. Friday and calls for temperatures to drop from today’s...
Power restored after wreck shears pole, closes road in Penn Hills
A multi-vehicle crash sheared a utility pole and brought down wires Wednesday night, closing a section of Universal Road in Penn Hills. The wreck was reported at about 8:45 p.m. and closed Universal between Stotler Road and North Joslyn Drive, according to Allegheny County officials. Penn Hills: Multi-vehicle crash with...
‘Historic milestone’: 1 million Americans have received a covid vaccine, CDC saysVideo
More than 1 million Americans have received their first doses of a covid-19 shot across the country since federal officials authorized two vaccines for emergency use, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. CDC Director Robert Redfield called it an “early but important milestone” in a media statement. “With...
Police: McKeesport man accused of robbing, shooting motorist on Pittsburgh’s South Side
Pittsburgh police have arrested a man on charges that include attempted homicide stemming from a Dec. 15 vehicle crash and shooting on East Carson Street. Ralph Omar Williams, 36, of McKeesport, also is charged with aggravated assault, robbery, reckless endangerment and gun violations. He’s awaiting a preliminary hearing. According to...
Trump pardons former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Roger Stone
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued pardons and sentence commutations for 29 people, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law, in the latest burst of clemency in his final weeks at the White House. The actions bring to nearly 50 the...
Rewards for suspect in McKeesport police shooting total $15K
A combined $15,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to the apprehension of Koby Lee Francis, the man wanted in the Sunday afternoon shooting of a McKeesport police officer. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced Wednesday it is offering a $10,000 reward for...
Christmas display vandals make difficult year even worse for Harrison woman, neighborVideo
The holiday season is a little less bright for two neighbors in Harrison. “I was vandalized,” said Maryann Farr, 65, of Burtner Road. “They ruined everything that I worked so hard for.” Farr’s illuminated front lawn decorations were destroyed on Monday. Her backyard bird feeders and other items were damaged,...
As elderly Greensburg couple battles covid in hospital, family asks public to ‘be smart’
Jim Kuhns had 30 cupcakes for his 91st birthday on Monday. He had balloons, gifts, cards and his favorite: scratch-off lottery tickets. But something was missing — his family. That’s because the Greensburg man celebrated in Westmoreland Hospital while battling covid. Betty Kuhns, his wife of 66 years, wasn’t by...
Allegheny County Health Department receives vaccine, finalizing distribution planVideo
About 4,000 Allegheny County residents have received their first dose of covid-19 vaccine so far, Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said Wednesday – the same day the health department received its first allocation of the vaccines. “Thousands more will receive it in the coming weeks or months,” Bogen said. Bogen...
Southmoreland grad killed in crash ‘brought a different kind of energy to the room’
No matter who is talking about him, one thing is clear about Brandon Peterson — he knew how to brighten anyone’s day. “As soon as he’d walk into a room, he put a smile on everyone’s face,” said Mason Neiderhiser, 16, of Mt. Pleasant. “He was such a good guy.”...
Wagging tails join ringing bells for Salvation Army kettle drive in HempfieldVideo
Area owners let the dogs out Wednesday to help attract attention to the Greensburg Salvation Army’s annual red kettle donation drive. Members of the Youngwood Dog Club, accompanied by their public-friendly therapy dogs, volunteered to augment the efforts of kettle bell-ringers at several Hempfield retail locations including Walmart and Macy’s...
Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up possible override voteVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed the annual defense policy bill, following through on threats to veto a measure that has broad bipartisan support in Congress and potentially setting up the first override vote of his presidency. The bill affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes...
As he seeks to overturn Pa.’s election, Trump invites state’s GOP senators to White House lunch
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan 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. HARRISBURG — As he seeks to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results in the courts, President Donald Trump invited Republican members of the...
Officials: 41K Pa. health care workers vaccinated; long-term care facilities up next week
About 41,400 health care workers have received covid-19 vaccinations since last week, Heath Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Wednesday. Levine said hospitals are vaccinating their own workers, and are also responsible for administering doses to health care workers in their communities that are not affiliated with hospitals – including emergency...
Postal Service struggles with record demands as Christmas draws near
First it was the election and questions about whether the Post Office could be relied upon to deliver millions of mail-in ballots. Now, barely six weeks later, an unprecedented uptick in packages from online shoppers and staff shortages exacerbated by a rash of covid-19 outbreaks are combining to strain the...
Church services move to nontraditional measures for Christmas
Pastor Dan Borchert of the New Stanton Alliance Church knew he had to get creative if he wanted to include everybody in this year’s Christmas Eve service. Before Thursday’s traditional service, Borchert is hosting a drive-in service where people can pull up to the church, sing Christmas carols and discuss...
Pennsylvania reports 9,605 new coronavirus cases, 230 deaths
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported 9,605 new coronavirus cases and 230 deaths in the state. The new positive tests bring the state’s total to 581,156 and the newly added deaths raise the state’s total to 14,442. Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of new cases dropped to 8,827 after hitting...
4 Allegheny County restaurants defy orders to close for violating covid restrictions
Four Allegheny County restaurants were ordered to close Tuesday for violating Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest covid-19 pandemic restrictions. As of Wednesday morning, none of them had shut their doors. David’s Diner in Springdale Township, Al’s Café in Bethel Park, Gianna Via’s in Whitehall and Il Pizzaiolo in Mt. Lebanon were...
