Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1628
Preliminary NTSB report released in deadly Turnpike crashVideo
The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report about a deadly tour bus crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but the investigation has a long way to go. The report adds little new information about what caused the bus to lose control when driving around a curve in Westmoreland County....
Suspect in Greensburg convenience store robbery apprehended
A Greensburg man accused of a convenience store robbery was arrested Wednesday, according to police. Tywone McClain Jr., 21, was arrested in Duquesne in connection with the robbery at Sheetz on Harvey Avenue, said Greensburg Police Detective Sgt. John Swank. McClain was arraigned Wednesday afternoon and lodged in the Westmoreland...
Monster Jam a family tradition for Grave Digger driver Krysten AndersonVideo
Monster Jam is a family tradition for Krysten Anderson. As the only daughter of Dennis Anderson, professional driver and creator of the iconic Grave Digger monster truck, Krysten is following in her father’s footsteps. The 22-year-old will be behind the wheel of Grave Digger when Monster Jam Triple Threat Series...
Voluntary fishing permits sell better than hoped; plans for funds revealedVideo
This worked out about as well as could have been expected. And maybe better. Late in 2018, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials created four voluntary permits meant to raise funds for fish habitat work, research, angler surveys and more. They started marketing them earnestly early in 2019. One permit,...
Asia stocks surge after Trump acquitted, China virus aid
Asian stock markets surged Thursday after President Donald Trump was acquitted in an impeachment trial and China promised tax cuts and other help to businesses reeling from a virus outbreak. Tokyo’s market benchmark rose more than 2% and indexes in Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong also advanced. Oil prices gained....
Buttigieg clings to narrow lead as Iowa results trickle in
NEW YORK — Pete Buttigieg clung to a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in a new batch of vote totals released by the Iowa Democratic Party on Wednesday, two days after the state hosted its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. But the race remained too early to call with 96% of precincts...
Pittsburgh police: Cab passenger shot in Bedford Dwellings
A passenger on a Z-Trip ride was taken to the hospital in critical condition Wednesday evening after a shooting, according to Pittsburgh police spokesman Maurice Matthews. Officers responded to the 3900 block of Bigelow Boulevard shortly after 7 p.m. after receiving 911 calls that a man had been shot. According...
Saltsburg man guilty of selling fatal batch of fentanyl-laced heroin
A Westmoreland County jury on Wednesday convicted the Indiana County man prosecutors said sold fentanyl-laced heroin that killed a 38-year-old mother in December 2016. After more than five hours of deliberations jurors found Dylan Blair, 23, of Saltsburg guilty of a felony count of drug delivery resulting in death and...
Kirk Douglas, ‘Spartacus’ star who helped end Hollywood blacklist, dead at 103Video
LOS ANGELES — Kirk Douglas, the dimple-chinned screen icon who was known for bringing an explosive, clenched-jawed intensity to a memorable array of heroes and heels in films such as “Spartacus” and “Champion” and for playing an off-screen role as a maverick independent producer who helped end the Hollywood blacklist,...
Pa. Republicans rejoice in President Trump’s acquittal on impeachment charges, ‘failed political hit job’
Pennsylvania’s Republican congressmen rejoiced following Wednesday’s acquittal of President Trump on both impeachment charges. U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the sole Republican to join Democrats in finding Trump guilty of abusing his powers, a charge that was rejected, 48-52. On obstructing Congress, all 53 Republicans voted not guilty....
Officials investigating shots fired at undercover officers in New Kensington
At least one person in a group of five or six people opened fire on undercover police officers Tuesday night in New Kensington, just a couple of blocks from where a city officer was shot and killed more than two years ago, according to Westmoreland County detectives. County detectives said...
Runners in their Undies to close down Clemente Bridge for 2 hours
The Roberto Clemente Bridge will close for two hours Saturday — from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — as part of a mile run through Pittsburgh. The Department of Public Works announced Wednesday that Cupid’s Charity was granted a permit to close the bridge for the Cupid’s Undies Run. The runners...
New Kensington man arrested in connection with Valley Royal Court shooting in December
A New Kensington man charged with four counts of attempted homicide in connection with shots that were fired at an occupied car in December in New Kensington has been arrested. Letresse Tareke Williams, 29, was arrested late Tuesday night or early Wednesday by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Warrant Team and...
Even on cloudy days, Green Tree nonprofit will be powered by solarVideo
It isn’t always sunny in Pittsburgh. But there’s enough sunshine to cover at least 82% of the power needs of the Global Links’ building in Green Tree, its executive director said. “Despite Pittsburghers thinking it’s cloudy and solar doesn’t make sense, it does,” Global Links executive director Angela Garcia said,...
New ‘Cops’ episodes to feature Pittsburgh police in action
The long-running TV show “Cops” will use footage filmed last summer in Pittsburgh in upcoming episodes, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz. Promotion for the Pittsburgh-based episodes started Tuesday on Twitter, when the show tweeted, “Pittsburgh we have arrived.” Pittsburgh, we have arrived ? ? episode Monday, Feb.10...
Local officials say paying for state police would be tough pill to swallow
Gov. Tom Wolf wants to charge Pennsylvania communities a fee for state police coverage, regardless of whether the municipality has its own police force, according to his 2020-21 state budget proposal. Under the proposal, Hempfield and Unity townships would pay $76 per resident, according to state data. Neither township has...
Not Guilty: Split Senate acquits Trump of impeachmentVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, bringing to a close only the third presidential trial in American history with votes that split the country, tested civic norms and fed the tumultuous 2020 race for the White House. A majority of senators expressed unease...
Mother of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto dies at 92
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s mother died Wednesday morning, the mayor said. Eva Maria (Zarroli) Peduto was 92 and lived in Scott Township. “This morning I lost the most inspirational person of my life, my mom,” Peduto posted to his Twitter account shortly before 8 p.m. This morning I lost the...
Mitt Romney breaks with GOP, will vote to convict Trump
WASHINGTON — Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said Wednesday he will vote to convict President Donald Trump, becoming the first and likely only Republican to break ranks during the Senate’s impeachment trial and favor removing Trump from office. Romney announced his decision during an eight-minute speech on the Senate floor, as...
Howlers moving from Bloomfield to East Liberty
Howlers, a mainstay of the Pittsburgh music scene, is ending its 19-year run in Bloomfield. The club will close its Liberty Avenue location on Aug. 30 and reopen at a new location in East Liberty in September, according to owner Susan Coe. “We got a new landlord and he was...
Jailhouse letters from accused killer read aloud during Day 3 of Wilkinsburg mass shooting trialVideo
Cheron Shelton told “Pops” he had been working on getting rid of something before police picked him up on a probation violation and a charge of receiving stolen property. It was at “Bubby’s house round the corner,” and it was “next to the lawn mowers, wrapped and ready to be...
Pittsburgh restaurant makes OpenTable’s 100 most romantic
Eight Pennsylvania eateries made OpenTable’s list of most romantic dining spots in the country. One of them is in Pittsburgh. Altius, perched atop Mt. Washington, was included in the restaurant booking service’s 100 recommended places to dine with your date. But if you’re thinking of trying Altius on Valentine’s Day,...
Pirates’ pitcher Steven Brault takes center stage with Pittsburgh SymphonyVideo
Which is more nerve-wracking: taking the mound at PNC Park or the stage in Heinz Hall? For Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steven Brault, both are more exciting than anxiety-producing. A vocal performance major in college, Brault will sing two numbers with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during “Blockbuster Broadway!” performances Feb. 7-9...
Shaler man sentenced to federal prison in child porn case
A Shaler man was sentenced to more than five years in a federal penitentiary in connection with child pornography images and videos found on three of his devices. Brian R. Reddinger, 37, was ordered Tuesday to spend five years on supervised release after the 63-month prison term, according to federal...
Pennsylvania lawmakers laud, slam Trump’s State of the Union speech along party lines
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey credited President Donald Trump with setting “an optimistic and ambitious agenda for the future” in Tuesday night’s State of the Union speech, which cited goals such as eradicating the AIDS epidemic, curing childhood cancer and planting the first flag on Mars. Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican,...
