Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1400
Task force issues recommendations for reforming Pittsburgh police
A task force charged with coming up with avenues for meaningful change in the way Pittsburgh polices its residents released a slew of recommendations Monday, choosing eight main topics and offering dozens of pages worth of ideas and data to back them up. “There were a lot of different ideas...
At Oakmont Bakery, the presidential ‘cookie poll’ tradition continues (just for fun)
In what might be the most appetizing part of the 2020 presidential election, Oakmont Bakery is producing patriotic cookies emblazoned with portraits of candidates Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. A dozen runs $24. The sugar cookies are iced with an image of either Biden surrounded by blue stars or...
Federal lawsuit challenges Pa. age requirement to be 21 to obtain a license to carry
Three young adults, including one from Verona, are suing the Pennsylvania State Police commissioner because they say state statutes prevent them from legally carrying and transporting firearms. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Pittsburgh with the support of two national nonprofits, asks that statutes requiring a person to...
Covid resurgence is here, Pa. officials say after 14 days of new cases topping 1,000
Pennsylvania’s statewide percentage of positive covid-19 cases has risen to 4.3%, the highest it’s been since August, state officials said Monday, and nearly a third of the state’s 67 counties have a percent positivity of more than 5%. “We all knew there was … going to be an upsurge in...
6 Russian intelligence officers indicted by U.S. for alleged cyber attacksVideo
The Justice Department on Monday indicted six Russian intelligence agency officers for their alleged roles in what prosecutors called some of the most destructive cyber attacks in history. One attack targeting more than 300 victims worldwide impacted the Sewickley-based Heritage Valley Health System, while others targeted the Ukrainian power grid...
Orionid meteor shower peaks Tuesday night — probably behind clouds
One of autumn’s best meteor showers will reach its peak Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The annual Orionid meteor shower will light the night sky with around 20 meteors per hour visible across much of the globe, from after midnight until daybreak, according to AccuWeather. Don’t plan to stay...
Trump goes after Dr. Fauci, tries to buck up his campaign teamVideo
PRESCOTT, Ariz. — President Donald Trump came out swinging Monday against Dr. Anthony Fauci and polls that show Trump trailing Democrat Joe Biden in key battleground states, as he tried to buck up his campaign team two weeks out from Election Day. Back on the trail after his covid-19 infection,...
Westmoreland County gets respite from triple-digit new covid cases
Westmoreland County added 63 new covid-19 cases on Monday, according to a report by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In addition, 73 new cases were added on Sunday. It’s the first time since Wednesday the county has not had consecutive days of triple-digit new cases. Compared with other counties, the...
Allegheny County adds 215 new covid cases over 2 days, no new deaths
The Allegheny County Health Department announced 99 new cases of covid-19 on Monday. In addition, the department said 116 cases were added Sunday. The latest cases, which come from tests conducted between Oct. 12-18, range in age from 3 to 99 years old, with a median age of 41 years....
Allegheny County election phone lines jammed with more than 7,000 calls a day
If you have a question about voting in Allegheny County and want to talk to someone on the phone, be prepared to get a busy signal or wait a while. “We have expanded phone lines, are utilizing a call center and a queue, but the demand is still greater. We...
Hempfield casino ready for Nov. 24 opening
The $150 million casino under construction at Westmoreland Mall is slated to open Nov. 24, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, officials announced Monday. The casino, located in the former Bon-Ton department store at the Hempfield facility, will feature 750 slot machines and 30 table games along with...
Emergency plans fail to consider complexity of Mariner East pipelines, and those most at risk in an accident
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan 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 weekly newsletter. Editor’s note: This story is Part 2 of a two-part series about the Mariner East pipeline system. Just after 7:30...
As virus flares globally, new strategies target hot spots
NEW YORK — After entire nations were shut down during the first surge of the coronavirus earlier this year, some countries and U.S. states are trying more targeted measures as cases rise again around the world, especially in Europe and the Americas. New York’s new round of virus shutdowns zeroes...
Eastbound lanes of I-70 in Washington County reopen following crash
Eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Washington County were closed Monday morning for more than two hours following a crash involving a tractor trailer. Crews responded to the incident around 6:30 a.m. in South Strabane near the Interstate 79 South Junction, according to a Washington 911 dispatcher. Tribune-Review news partners...
Hempfield Area High School to remain closed early this week
Hempfield Area High School will remain closed early this week after two more students tested positive for covid-19, officials said. Students who were originally scheduled to return to in-person classes Monday following a five day closure after three students tested positive for the virus last week will now continue with...
Editorial: Registered to vote? Today’s the day
This is your last chance. If you want to vote in the November general election, Monday is the last day to register. Pennsylvania is not one of the handful of states that allow you to just decide that you want to participate in your government with five minutes to spare...
$462.8 million in bets made in Pennsylvania in September
Pennsylvania’s online and retail sportsbook generated a record $462.8 million in bets in September but failed to bring in record taxable revenue. The commonwealth joins New Jersey and Nevada in surpassing $450 million in wagers in a single month, according to PlayPennsylvania. However, because of heavy promotion and some “unlucky...
Steelers’ Devin Bush suffers serious knee injury, putting his season in doubtVideo
Devin Bush had played every single defensive snap over the first five-plus games of the Pittsburgh Steelers season until a second-quarter pass defense knocked him out of Sunday’s win against the Cleveland Browns. Indications are that was his final snap of the season. Bush did not return because of an...
Police: Harrison officers arrest fugitive trying to swim away in Allegheny River
A Harrison police officer took a dip in the Allegheny River last week, having to chase a warrant suspect into the water to make an arrest, according to a criminal complaint. Police arrested Curtis Sims, 30, of Harrison’s Natrona section, on Oct. 13. He faces charges of flight to avoid...
Many homes likely lost in north-central Colorado firesVideo
BOULDER, Colo. — Nearly 3,000 people were forced to flee from a fast-moving fire in north-central Colorado and authorities believe a large number of homes were destroyed. The CalWood Fire started around noon Saturday near the Cal-Wood Education Center, which is about 17 miles from downtown Boulder. It was pushed...
Boy rescued by firefighters after falling into well in Unity
A game of hide-and-seek Sunday almost turned tragic for a boy in Unity after he fell into a 20-foot-deep water well and had to be rescued. The boy was extricated by firefighters from Youngstown and Whitney-Hostetter Volunteer departments who responded to the scene “within minutes” in personal vehicles, according to...
Unbeaten Steelers rout Browns behind dominant defense
The Cleveland Browns thought this game would be different. That they were equipped to end the Pittsburgh Steelers’ domination at Heinz Field. That they no longer were going to be pushed around in this AFC North rivalry. Instead, their trip back up the Pennsylvania Turnpike ended up being another lonely...
Michigan governor pushes back against Trump rally chantsVideo
DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday that President Donald Trump is inciting “domestic terrorism” following “lock her up” chants at his rally in the state the night before. Whitmer told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the rhetoric is “incredibly disturbing” a little more than a week after authorities...
Trump, Biden go on offense in states they’re trying to flip
LAS VEGAS — President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden went on offense Sunday, as both campaigned in states they are trying to flip during the Nov. 3 election that is just over two weeks away. Trump began his day in Nevada, making a rare visit to church before...
Alta Via reopens in Fox Chapel Plaza
Alta Via, part of the Big Burrito Restaurant Group, reopened Oct. 6 Located in Fox Chapel Plaza in O’Hara Township, the upscale Italian-influenced eatery closed in June as pandemic restrictions tightened, along with Big Burrito’s five other specialty restaurants: Casbah, Eleven, Kaya, Soba and Umi. Those five have all reopened...
