Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1510
Lawmakers rip FAA for not disclosing documents on Boeing Max
The chairman of a Senate committee accused the Federal Aviation Administration of stonewalling lawmakers’ attempts to understand how the agency approved a Boeing jet that later suffered two deadly crashes and whether the FAA retaliates against whistle blowers in its ranks. Roger Wicker, a Republican senator from Mississippi, said Wednesday...
Allegheny County reports no new cases of covid-19, 3 deaths
Allegheny County health officials reported no new covid-19 cases, three new deaths and one new hospitalization on Wednesday. There have been 2,113 confirmed or probable cases of the disease, including 1,979 confirmed cases and 134 probable cases, county health officials said. The Allegheny County death toll from covid-19 is 177....
Peduto announces formation of Pittsburgh Community Task Force on Police Reform
A task force made up of community leaders and activists — some of whom have been at the forefront of recent Black Lives Matter protests — will work with Pittsburgh officials to examine and reshape police policies and ultimately put those plans into action. Mayor Bill Peduto on Wednesday announced...
J.C. Penney starts liquidation sales at closing stores, including Pittsburgh Mills, Monroeville Mall
Liquidation sales at 136 J.C. Penney stores slated to close, including several in Western Pennsylvania, began Wednesday. Stores at the Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer, Monroeville Mall, the Clearview Mall near Butler and the Beaver Valley Mall in Center Township are among the stores to close and are holding going-out-of-business sales....
Police: Greensburg man asked woman for glass of water before alleged rape
A Greensburg man who city police said asked a female resident for a glass of water Tuesday is accused of raping her while armed with a knife, according to court papers. Justin Owens Hall, 26, is being held without bail in the Westmoreland County Prison on charges of rape, burglary...
Cinemark set to reopen Pittsburgh-area theaters
Cinemark plans to reopen four theaters in the Pittsburgh area in early July. Cinemark’s website said the North Hills and Robinson locations will be among the first Cinemark theaters to open in Pennsylvania, on July 3. The move is part of the company’s phased reopening from the covid-19 shutdown. Theaters...
Aunt Jemima name, image to be dropped by Quaker Oats
Quaker Oats announced Wednesday it’s changing the name of Aunt Jemima syrup and pancake mix. “We recognize Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype,” Quaker vice president and chief marketing officer Kristin Kroepfl said in a statement. “As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several...
2 hurt in SUV, motorcycle crash in North Huntingdon
Two people were hurt in a crash involving a SUV and a motorcycle in North Huntingdon Monday night, according to township police. The crash happened around 11:30 p.m. on Route 30 at Norwin Avenue. Police said a man on the motorcycle and the driver of the SUV, a woman, were...
Visits to state parks grew by an average of 36% in region during pandemic
Visitation to state parks and forests skyrocketed in May compared to last year by an average of 36%, with the highest jump in the region at Laurel Summit State Park in Somerset County at 122%. “At the outset, outdoor activities were among the few things people could do,” said Terry...
McDonald’s franchises look to hire 1,700 in Western Pennsylvania
McDonald’s restaurants across Western Pennsylvania are looking for workers to fill at least 1,700 new full- and part-time jobs, the fast-food giant said in a statement. Franchisees who operate 112 restaurants in Western Pennsylvania began what McDonald’s called a quick-hire initiative to provide immediate crew and manager positions. “We are...
Gas well impact fees drop in 2019; Westmoreland County gets $1.16 million, Allegheny County $1.8 million
Derry Township is sitting on a gold mine of natural gas trapped in the Marcellus shale, which drillers have tapped to the great benefit of the municipality — to the tune of $2.4 million in gas well impact fees since 2012. The township will get almost $232,000 from the 2019...
Trump signs order on police reform, doesn’t mention racism
WASHINGTON — Following weeks of national protests since the death of George Floyd, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that he said would encourage better police practices. But he made no mention of the roiling national debate over racism spawned by police killings of black men and women....
Watchdogs say Trump administration limiting oversight of coronavirus aidVideo
WASHINGTON — Government watchdogs are warning that a legal determination by the Trump administration could severely limit their ability to oversee more than $1 trillion in spending related to the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to four congressional committees, a panel of inspectors general overseeing a sweeping economic rescue law...
Kennedy Township girl advances on ‘America’s Got Talent’ with musical tribute to dad
A 12-year-old Kennedy Township girl sang a song she wrote for her dad and won the hearts of the audience and judges to advance to the next round of “America’s Got Talent” during an audition episode of the TV show that aired Tuesday evening. Ashley Marina Yankello, who drops her...
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe reveals 5 articles of impeachment against Gov. Tom WolfVideo
A state Representative from Butler County and 24 co-sponsors filed articles of impeachment against Gov. Tom Wolf. Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, introduced House Resolution 915 on Tuesday afternoon, claiming Wolf should be removed from office for his actions during the coronavirus pandemic and referred to the governor as “Dictator Wolf.”...
Pedestrian struck by train in Forward Township
A person was struck by a train in Forward Township on Tuesday night. Allegheny County 911 said the incident occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m. on a CSX rail line near the intersection of Peach Street and Gallatin Tigers Road. The county medical examiner’s office has not been called to the...
County police: 3 young men shot Mt. Oliver, in critical condition
Three young men are listed in critical condition after being shot Tuesday evening in Mt. Oliver. Allegheny County police were dispatched to the 100 block of Stamm Avenue for a man who had been shot around 6:30 p.m. Officers and paramedics discovered a 20-year-old man shot in the head. Authorities...
Valley Dairy closes downtown Latrobe restaurant
After eight decades, Valley Dairy is no longer serving meals in downtown Latrobe. The Latrobe-based restaurant chain on Sunday closed its location at Jefferson and Chestnut streets. A company official said that store hasn’t performed up to expectations. Valley Dairy welcomed customers to return for dine-in meals at the Latrobe...
Editorial: The future of standardized tests
In July 2019, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale suggested the state’s Keystone exams — the tests taken by high school students to prove proficiency in required subjects and qualify for graduation — were too expensive and redundant. Rather than paying $18 million a year to test high school students with...
Pennsylvania to spread $157 million to help schools clean, get ready for classesVideo
Schools in the state — public and private — will get at least $120,000 to help pay for cleaning and sanitizing classrooms, cafeterias, gyms and offices in time for students to return for the resumption of in-person classes in August for the first time since mid-March. Gov. Tom Wolf announced...
Airlines suspend in-flight alcohol service during pandemic
If you’re expecting to have the chance to grab a cold one while in flight to your next destination, don’t. Airlines around the world, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, domestically, are halting alcoholic beverage service in response to the coronavirus. According to CNN, the move is part of...
Steelers cancel Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe
The Pittsburgh Steelers won’t come to the Latrobe area for training camp, and they also have canceled their annual summer practice in the city. Steelers director of communications Burt Lauten delivered the bad news for local fans in a tweet on Tuesday, confirming the Steelers “will not be hosting their...
Trump administration sues to block release of John Bolton bookVideo
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration sued former national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday to stop the publication of a book that the White House says contains classified information. The civil lawsuit in Washington’s federal court follows warnings from President Donald Trump that Bolton could face a “criminal problem” if...
Western Pa. police chiefs support some reforms in Trump executive order, question others
Police departments in parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania applauded some elements of President Trump’s executive order on police reform and expressed skepticism toward others, particularly those aimed at bringing social services into some police situations. Trump announced the executive order Tuesday in a Rose Garden press briefing after weeks of protests...
Former Speaker Mike Turzai starts as Peoples’ general counsel
Former Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai’s whirlwind week continued Tuesday, when he started his life in the private sector as general counsel of Peoples, the Pittsburgh-based gas utility. His last day in office as speaker Monday was spent advancing two bills out of committee that would change how police are...
