Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1429
Allegheny County officials pleased with covid numbers
Allegheny County officials said Wednesday they are pleased with the covid-19 case levels at the moment. “Optimistically, while we’ve seen the numbers stabilize or are maybe a little bit up,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, “with all the activities that are occurring, I think we’re very pleased at where the...
Head of Pittsburgh area gambling ring, son, plead guilty to running numbers
The 90-year-old patriarch of a Pittsburgh family connected to gambling operations in Western Pennsylvania for more than a half century agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve charges the family operated a sports betting and numbers running business dating back to 1994. Robert “Bobby I” Iannelli, of Pittsburgh, along with his...
USW lights up iconic Pittsburgh landmarks with Biden-Harris message without permission
Corey Barsky was more than a little miffed Tuesday night when he saw a giant Biden-Harris logo projected on the façade of the towering Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus. Barsky, who is vice chair of the Pitt College Republicans, said the projection that included the...
CoGo’s to become Coen Markets as part of rebranding
People accustomed to buying gas and coffee at one of the 38 CoGo’s locations in the region will soon see a new logo, as Canonsburg-based Coen Markets Inc. moves forward with rebranding its stores. The gas will carry the Amoco brand and the stores will be known as Coen Markets....
Police: Sutersville man jailed on $75K bond for puncturing tires with arrow, threatening neighbor
A Sutersville man allegedly used a crossbow arrow to puncture tires on two vehicles parked near his apartment on Tuesday and then threatened to stab one person who confronted him about it, police said. Rickie Linn Case, 58, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment,...
Pittsburgh council debates proposed restrictions on facial recognition programVideo
A debate over whether Pittsburgh police should be allowed to use facial recognition software and predictive policing techniques is part of the overall process of police reform in the city, the sponsor of legislation restricting use of the technology said Wednesday. “I think that it’s a good sign for public...
Archery hunters targeting deer in Ross Township woods in controlled hunt
A team of about a dozen archery hunters will take to the woods in Ross Township early Saturday morning for the first day an organized effort to trim the deer population. But one of the owners of the company coordinating the hunt says it is unlikely residents will even know...
Federal Reserve sees rates near zero at least through 2023Video
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve expects to keep its benchmark interest rate pegged near zero at least through 2023 as it strives to accelerate economic growth and drive down the unemployment rate. The central bank also said Wednesday that it will seek to push inflation above 2% annually. The Fed...
Top Pa. Republican’s campaign sues journalists over public records costs
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 weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG — The campaign committee of the state Senate’s top Republican is suing a publication of LNP Media Group and...
Who is Alwyn Cashe and why did Alejandro Villanueva choose to honor him?
Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva is being both criticized and praised for taping the name Alwyn Cashe — an Army sergeant who died from injuries he received fighting in Iraq in 2005 — over the name of Antwon Rose Jr. on the back of his helmet for Monday night’s...
Westmoreland County surpasses 2,000 coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County on Wednesday surpassed 2,000 total coronavirus cases. The county saw 10 new confirmed cases added, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, bringing the total to 2,003 since the first cases were recorded in the county in March. The county’s death toll remained at 49, where it’s been...
Allegheny County adds 73 new coronavirus cases, 36 new hospitalizations
Allegheny County reported 73 new coronavirus cases, 36 new hospitalizations and no new deaths Wednesday. The county’s case total grew to 11,431, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. The state is reporting 341 deaths in Allegheny County, which differs from the county health department’s report of 363 deaths. The...
Hempfield band sub sales on hold as officials weed through pandemic ordersVideo
A popular fundraiser in the Hempfield community and a major fundraiser for the high school marching band is on hold, waiting for approval from school leaders. Sub sales have been suspended after Hempfield Area officials said proposed health and safety plans to make the subs did not adhere to Gov....
State lawmakers urge Gov. Wolf to sign bill, let schools set spectator limits for sports
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers gathered Wednesday and urged Gov. Tom Wolf to sign House Bill 2787, legislation that lets individual schools set spectator limits for sports. The governor received the bill Friday. “You’ve said at press conferences that you want to work with the Legislature. Here’s a golden...
Cam Heyward, Ben Roethlisberger unaware that Alejandro Villanueva chose not to honor Antwon Rose
Cameron Heyward, a team captain and a leader on the Pittsburgh Steelers social justice committee, was “surprised” that tackle Alejandro Villanueva did not display Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on the back of his helmet like the rest of his teammates in the season opener Monday night. Steelers players voted to...
Big Ten changes course, aims for October start to football
The Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all. Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the covid-19 pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday and said it plans to begin its season the...
Greenfield Bridge to close for a month, starting Monday
The Greenfield Bridge will be closed for a month for maintenance and repair, the Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announced. The bridge, which spans the Parkway East to link the city’s Greenfield neighborhood to Schenley Park, will close at 7 a.m. Monday. The contractor that built the bridge, Mosites...
U.S. introduces broad vaccine plan — but no quick rolloutVideo
WASHINGTON — The government outlined a sweeping plan Wednesday to make vaccines for covid-19 available for free to all Americans when proven safe and effective, though a top public health official made clear that widespread vaccination of millions of Americans couldn’t come until well into next year. In a report...
Hurricane Sally unleashes flooding, hundreds rescuedVideo
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Hurricane Sally lumbered ashore near the Florida-Alabama line Wednesday with 105 mph wind and rain measured in feet, not inches, swamping homes and forcing the rescue of hundreds of people as it pushed inland for what could be a slow and disastrous drenching across the Deep South....
Man hospitalized after Point Breeze shooting
A man was transported to a local hospital in stable condition following a shooting in Point Breeze Tuesday, Pittsburgh police said. Officers and medics responded to the 7300 block of Penn Avenue around 12:20 p.m.. On scene, officers found a man with a gunshot wound to the upper thigh. Police...
Pittsburgh police arrest 3rd suspect in shooting of 1-year-old Zykier Young
Pittsburgh police have arrested Devon Thompson, 37, of McKees Rocks in connection with last months’ shooting death of 1-year-old Zykier Young. Thompson was one of three men allegedly involved in the Aug. 24 shootout on Rhine Place in the city’s Spring Hill neighborhood. He turned himself into police Tuesday on...
Penn State adds more than 450 covid-19 cases since Friday, as in-person instruction continues
Penn State’s total number of covid-19 cases at University Park increased by 458 on Tuesday, boosting the total number of positives to 1,146. According to data from the university’s dashboard, 100 students tested positive between Friday and Monday while another 358 students tested positive from pending results that were updated...
McKees Rocks man paralyzed in 2016 Wilkinsburg massacre dies of complications
A McKees Rocks man paralyzed ever since he became one of the victims of a 2016 massacre in Wilkinsburg that left six people dead died Tuesday from complications of his condition, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. John Ellis, 51, was pronounced dead at UPMC Mercy hospital in...
Smoke from Western wildfires intensifies in the region
The first plumes of smoke from the massive wildfires burning on the West Coast began reaching Pittsburgh on Aug. 25, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. But Tuesday was the day people began to notice, as the massive smoke plume from some of California’s largest-ever wildfires, along with...
State House votes to bar shutting down churches in disasters
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House on Tuesday passed a bill that would prevent governors from applying their disease control powers to shut down gatherings at churches or other houses of worship. The chamber voted 149 to 53 for the proposal, which the Democratic leader called a solution in search of...
