Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1389
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese OKs Christmas Eve Masses starting early due to pandemic
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has granted permission for Christmas Vigil Masses to begin as early as 2 p.m. on Dec. 24. Christmas Eve Masses are usually required to be celebrated in the evening. But due to the global pandemic, Bishop David Zubik has decided an earlier Mass is permissable...
Study: 1 to 2 million tons of U.S. plastic trash going astray in rivers, lakes, oceans or on land
More than a million tons a year of America’s plastic trash isn’t ending up where it should. The equivalent of as many as 1,300 plastic grocery bags per person is landing in places such as oceans and roadways, according to a new study of U.S. plastic trash. In 2016 —...
What you need to know about Trump threatening to withhold aid from Pa.
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 — In a precarious position in the polls and with his focus fixed on the swing state of Pennsylvania, President...
KDKA’s century of radio is filled with broadcasting firsts and iconic personalitiesVideo
Frank Conrad was never one to think small. An assistant chief engineer at Westinghouse Electric’s East Pittsburgh Works, Conrad had taken the unprecedented step of putting a microphone next to a phonograph so listeners of his home-built station, 8KX, could hear music. Then he brought an even bigger idea to...
Westmoreland County surpasses 100 covid-19 deaths
Westmoreland County has now seen more than 100 deaths attributed to the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic in March. The Pennsylvania Department of Health added two new covid-related deaths to the county’s total Friday, making 101 deaths since the first death was announced April 8. The county has...
Steven Albert: Policies to promote ‘herd immunity’ will not achieve population health (or immunity)
In the current covid-19 pandemic, the first goal is to get control of the virus. This can be achieved with masks, handwashing and limiting contact with others. When these measures are implemented effectively, people can get back to work and school. Once spread is contained, smaller outbreaks can be controlled...
Judge asks sides to work out dispute on Columbus statue in Schenley Park
In a powerfully worded order filed Friday, an Allegheny County judge asked the two sides fighting over the removal of the Columbus statue at Schenley Park to try to reach consensus. “Open mindedness as a community requires that we listen to each other and weigh the concerns expressed collectively with...
Basement democracy: Residents open homes as polling places in Westmoreland County
Democracy happens in Betty Tokarcik’s Wyano basement. Voting rights have been exercised in Kathleen Slomiany’s living room in Van Meter. The two women, who live about 8 miles apart in southwestern Westmoreland County, have opened the doors of their homes twice a year for decades to the voters in their...
Pittsburgh arcade Games N’ At to permanently close
A popular Pittsburgh arcade is set to close for good on Nov. 8. Games N’ At, a bring-your-own-beer-style arcade that’s been running at 2010 Josephine St. in the South Side for at least 17 years, posted an announcement on Facebook on Thursday. “We will be going out of business,” the...
Time for a change to America, on our clocks and watches
WASHINGTON — It’s time for a change for most of the United States. The clock is running out once more for daylight saving time. Standard time begins at 2 a.m. local time Sunday. Until almost next spring, in states red and blue and in between, it’ll be lighter earlier in...
Allegheny County adds 173 new covid cases, 7 new deaths
Allegheny County announced 173 new cases of covid-19 on Friday, according to the Health Department. Officials said of those new cases, 110 have been confirmed, based on 1,376 PCR tests conducted from Oct. 16-29. There were 63 probable cases, of which 37 came from positive antigen tests. The new cases...
Police seek information on woman who likely threw rocks at Trump House
State police were called to the Trump House in Unity on Thursday night after a woman apparently threw objects at a metal sign, according to Trooper Steve Limani. Police said the noises just before 10 p.m. sounded like gunshots, but investigators determined the noise was likely caused by rocks being...
Blue dot of Joe Biden supporters stand strong in red Somerset CountyVideo
There’s a pulsing blue dot in the middle of screaming red Trump Country these days. Just southeast of the Westmoreland County line where the Laurel Highlands soar, Somerset County was the reddest of Western Pennsylvania’s rural counties that pushed then-candidate Donald Trump to a narrow win in Pennsylvania in 2016...
Trump, Biden campaigns zero in on Pennsylvania in final days before election
President Donald Trump, Democratic candidate Joe Biden and their campaigns are expected to make appearances across Pennsylvania, including in the Pittsburgh area, in the final days before the Nov. 3 election. With 20 Electoral College votes, Pennsylvania is a key battleground in the presidential race. Trump and Vice President Mike...
Latrobe man charged with terroristic threats after Hempfield search, school delay
A Latrobe man is being held without bond after state police said he made threats Friday with a shotgun and holed up in his mother’s house, prompting the delay of a Hempfield elementary school. Dale Owen Smith Jr., 32, is charged with two counts of terroristic threats. Troopers said in...
A welcoming sign from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy wants people to know trails, playgrounds and lawns are for everyone. The conservancy invites people to enjoy the outdoors. The conservancy said Friday it will place “All Are Welcome” signs throughout Pittsburgh parks. It is part of a mission “to promote equity throughout the city’s shared...
Pittsburgh artist creates scene with replica of President Trump head
Yes, that indeed is a 7-foot gold replica of President Donald Trump’s head one might see, strapped to the bed of a U-Haul pickup truck driving around Pittsburgh. Arjen van Lith, a Dutch artist and writer living in Shadyside, designed and created the piece. It’s comprised of 3 millimeter coroplast,...
Pitt joins initiative to develop more diversity among faculty in STEM fields
The University of Pittsburgh is joining an initiative to develop a more diverse and inclusive STEM faculty. Pitt is one of 19 universities joining a three-year program to develop inclusive faculty recruitment, hiring and retention. The Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty program is facilitated by...
Voters in 11 Allegheny County precincts receive incorrect polling place information
Voters in 11 different precincts across Allegheny County will receive letters in the next few days updating their polling places after a mistake was made in the statewide database. The affected communities include Bethel Park, Braddock Hills, Brentwood, Green Tree, McCandless, Plum, West Mifflin and West View. County communications Director...
Leechburg Area to hold classes online for next 2 Wednesdays
Leechburg Area School District students will receive instruction remotely for the next two Wednesdays so custodians can thoroughly clean the district’s buildings on those days. The district has been holding classes in person all five days each week. The move, approved by the school board on Wednesday, was prompted by...
Trump doled out billions to drugmakers and hospitals with few strings attached
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has pumped billions of dollars into the health care industry during the covid-19 crisis, padding bottom lines at some of the country’s most profitable businesses even as millions of Americans have been left struggling with mounting medical bills. And although taxpayer money has poured into...
Moon Area High School, middle school closed until Nov. 5 due to covid-19 cases
Moon Area High School and middle school will be closed for about a week after someone from the high school tested positive for covid-19, Superintendent Barry J. Balaski announced Thursday. Balaski posted the message on the front page of the district’s website, moonarea.net. Students from both schools will continue learning...
Behind the scenes at the Allegheny County elections warehouseVideo
A combination of high-tech machinery and old-fashioned paper pushing will be used to process and tabulate election results on Election Day in Allegheny County. Workers from the county’s election division will be joined by scores of others from 17 other county departments to process votes this year at the warehouse...
Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvania prepared for Nov. 3 election
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday the state is ready for Election Day. “Pennsylvania is prepared. We are protected for this election and voters can cast their ballots with confidence. We are going to have a fair election where everyone can vote without interference,” Wolf said. State election officials said...
Westmoreland commissioner claims county pay raises result of political threat
Westmoreland Commissioner Gina Cerilli on Thursday accused her Republican colleagues of buckling under a threat from the county controller when they granted a series of raises to his staff of auditors. “They should be ashamed,” Cerilli said about a reorganization of the auditing department that included $130,000 in raises handed...
