Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1599
Officials: U.S. strikes Iran-backed group that hit Iraq base
WASHINGTON — The U.S. launched airstrikes Thursday in Iraq, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad. One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside...
PSO and Cultural Trust set to go on this weekend, while some theaters pull back
Editor’s note: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pittsburgh Symphony announced Friday morning it is postponing concerts scheduled for the next two weekends. There is an old saying in show business: “The show must go on.” And that’s what is happening in parts of Pittsburgh, at least for now. With...
Steelers RT Matt Feiler receives $600K in bonus compensation from 2019
Right tackle Matt Feiler was the lowest-paid starter on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line in 2019, but he nearly matched his compensation in performance-based pay, according to figures released by the NFL on Thursday. Feiler earned $387,578 in performance-based pay for his play last season, but he also was awarded...
Patrons keep gambling as casinos prepare for coronavirus pandemic
Editor’s note: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Rivers Casino Pittsburgh announced it will temporarily suspend operations effective Sunday. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh regular Sandra Painter has little concern about the coronavirus. Painter said she gambles at the casino about three times a week. The Mt. Washington resident will continue to visit...
Allegheny County officials disclose ‘bottleneck’ in coronavirus testingVideo
There is a “bottleneck” in testing Allegheny County residents for the novel coronavirus because of strict guidelines, Allegheny County health officials said Thursday, at the same time working to quell panic among the public. There are still no known cases of covid-19 in the county, officials said, noting that because...
Wilkinsburg closing 2 schools because of potential coronavirus exposure
Wilkinsburg School District announced Thursday it is closing Kelly Primary School and Turner Intermediate School on Friday and Monday due to a potential exposure to covid-19. Wilkinsburg Superintendent Linda J. Iverson said the district became aware that a staff member was in contact with a staff member at Colfax K-8...
Spreading coronavirus prompts Catholic bishops to suspend obligation to attend Mass
Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops said Thursday they are suspending the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice. “Following a joint conference call with all the bishops of Pennsylvania, effective immediately and until further notice, I wish to share with you that in union with all my brother bishops I am...
Food banks continue distributions, prepare to reach vulnerable populations in light of coronavirus
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Empty Bowls dinner is the latest casualty in the fight to stop the spread of coronavirus. The food bank and Just Harvest, the other sponsor of the event, announced the cancellation Thursday. The event was to be held Sunday at Rodef Shalom, but organizers...
Coronavirus fears spark panic-buying in Western Pa.Video
As the novel coronavirus shuts down schools, sporting events and concerts, locals were stocking up Thursday on essentials — especially toilet paper. There were a few stray items in the toilet paper section at the Walmart near Pittsburgh Mills mall, and even those disappeared by late morning. The shelves where...
Homeless man charged with homicide in connection with dead woman found in Homewood
A homeless Pittsburgh man was charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found early Thursday morning in Homewood. City police said James Wilson, 34, was charged and taken to the Allegheny County Jail. Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said police found the...
Stock market endures biggest drop since crash of 1987
NEW YORK — The stock market had its biggest drop since the Black Monday crash of 1987 Thursday as fears of economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis deepened. The sell-off, which sent the Dow industrials down 10%, came despite supportive steps from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank....
Duquesne Light pulls workers from Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show exhibit over coronavirus fears
Duquesne Light, the title sponsor of the Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show, is pulling its employees from the event to limit potential exposure to the coronavirus. “We support the decisions of city officials to cancel large events and believe this is the best course of action for us to ensure...
24-year-old man shot at Plum apartment complex
A 24-year-old man was shot Thursday morning at an apartment complex in Plum. Police responded to Plum Park Apartments on Deborah Jane Drive near Universal Road in Plum’s Regency Park neighborhood around 7:30 a.m. The man was shot as he came out of his apartment to get into his car,...
Woodland Hills shuts down intermediate school to disinfect building after potential coronavirus contact
The Woodland Hills School District closed the intermediate school because of a potential exposure to the coronavirus, district officials announced Thursday. In an alert posted on the district website, officials said the decision to close the school so it can be disinfected was made “out of an overabundance of caution”...
Latest on coronavirus: Pennsylvania up to 22 cases; March Madness called off; Wolf closes eastern Pa. schools
The eastern part of Pennsylvania continues to see an increase in presumed coronavirus cases, according to the state Department of Health. Pennsylvania has 20 presumed positive cases of the virus and two confirmed cases as of Thursday. The highest number of cases — 13 — is in Montgomery County, a...
Move to online classes continues as colleges across the region shutter classrooms
The move to online education at colleges and universities across Western Pennsylvania was nearly universal by the end of Thursday. Residential colleges and universities concerned about the potential for the spread of coronavirus as students returned from spring break were among the first institutions in the nation to react to...
Lawrence County man accused of hiding in woods to shoot at passing school van
A Lawrence County man has been charged with shooting at a van full of elementary-age children Tuesday morning in Shenango Township. Township police arrested Bryon John Benetas, 41, for allegedly dressing in camouflage and hiding in the woods off Route 65 and firing several shots at the van transporting seven...
Alleged racial comments by Allegheny County Judge Tranquilli could complicate past, future cases
Some defendants sentenced by embattled Allegheny County Judge Mark Tranquilli have already begun seeking post-conviction relief in their cases, something legal experts believe could continue as more of the judge’s questionable remarks come to light. Tranquilli has been sidelined for more than a month after written complaints surfaced alleging he...
East Hills woman charged with child endangerment for allegedly letting 2 toddlers wander neighborhood
Pittsburgh police charged an East Hills woman with child endangerment after investigators observed a video on social media of her two toddlers wandering the neighborhood unattended and improperly clothed. Tevanna Keith, 22, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the incident Tuesday....
Colfax Elementary, Brookline K-8 and St. Bede schools close after possible coronavirus exposures
Potential exposures to the coronavirus have prompted Pittsburgh Public Schools to take steps to prevent it from being spread to other people. Colfax Elementary School in Squirrel Hill was closed Thursday after officials learned that a student may have been exposed to the coronavirus from a relative outside the school....
NBA suspends season until further notice, over coronavirus
MIAMI — The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice” after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus, a move that came only hours after the majority of the league’s owners were leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas. Now there will be no games...
Tom Hanks says he and his wife have coronavirus
Tom Hanks says he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have contracted the coronavirus. In a Wednesday night tweet, Hanks, 63, explained that while in Australia, the couple experienced symptoms of the epidemic. “We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that...
Washington Township man accused of raping teen girl turns himself in to police
A Washington Township man accused of raping an unconscious 13-year-old girl last summer was arrested Wednesday. Jarod David Altman, 18, turned himself in to authorities around 6 p.m., according to Allegheny Township police Sgt. Dan Uncapher. He faces charges of raping an unconscious victim, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, indecent...
Trump suspends travel from Europe to U.S. for 30 daysVideo
WASHINGTON — Taking drastic action Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced he is cutting off travel from Europe to the U.S. and moving to ease the economic cost of a viral pandemic that is roiling global financial markets and disrupting the daily lives of Americans. Trump made the announcement that he...
Fired Tarentum laborer pleads guilty to harassment in alleged attack on teen worker
A former Tarentum public works laborer charged with attacking and threatening a teenage summer worker in 2019 has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Borough police charged Tim Dzugan, 56, on July 30 with strangulation, simple assault and harassment in connection with the alleged incident last July. According to court...
