Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1640
Leechburg man accused of assaulting girl at Westmoreland MallVideo
A 16-year-old girl from the Greensburg area told state police a man “grabbed her by the throat, picked her up and threw her to the floor” at Westmoreland Mall last month after she replied to an off-hand comment her assailant and two juvenile companions made about her appearance. State police...
Baldwin Borough considers ordinance over publicly slaughtering animals
Baldwin Borough leaders are considering new rules that would require residents who are sacrificing animals for religious purposes to do so out of the view of the public. The amended ordinance, which is working its way through borough council, would address an issue that sprung up in Baldwin last year,...
China shuts down more cities in bid to contain deadly virus
BEIJING — China decided Thursday to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush....
Fire marshal to investigate cause of East Deer house fire
An East Deer man said he was trying to thaw frozen water pipes when his home caught fire Thursday morning. The fire at 931 Bellview St. was reported around 5:45 a.m., according to Allegheny County 911. No injuries were reported. Zachary Shutak, 24, said he was using a heat gun...
Air pollution warning in effect for Clairton, Liberty areas of Allegheny County
An air pollution warning is in effect Thursday for the Clairton and Liberty areas of Allegheny County. The National Weather Service had said the “code orange” alert applied to five counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of two other counties, but corrected its alert around midday Thursday to apply to...
Police search for hit-and-run driver who struck teen girl at Burger King in Carrick
A teen girl was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the drive-thru of a Burger King while Pittsburgh firefighters were extinguishing a fire at the fast food restaurant, officials said. Officials are searching for the driver of a white or tan sedan that struck the girl, a Burger King employee,...
‘Dancing with the Stars’ brings all the moves to the BenedumVideo
Professional dancer Alan Bersten said he never imagined that he and his celebrity partner, “The Bachelorette” star Hannah Brown, would be among the finalists and the ultimate winner of ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” reality show, earning the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy. “Not until they called our names did we...
World of Wheels roars into Pittsburgh for annual stop
Like many little kids, Aaron Kaufman of Grand Prairie, Texas, loved playing with cars — and dump trucks, bulldozers, tractors and just about anything else with wheels. He credits his grandfather, who ran a mill near his home working on parts for aircrafts, and his father, a maintenance man with...
Democrats appeal for GOP help to convict ‘corrupt’ TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — House Democrats launched into marathon arguments in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Wednesday, appealing to skeptical Republican senators to join them in voting to oust Trump from office to “protect our democracy.” Trump’s lawyers sat by, waiting their turn, as the president blasted the proceedings from afar, threatening...
State police seek car involved in Burrell Township pursuit
State police are seeking information on the driver of black Volkswagen sedan with fresh passenger-side damage, who was involved in a pursuit and eventual crash in Burrell Township on Tuesday night. A state trooper attempting a traffic stop just after 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 on Pine Ridge Road was...
State Rep. Joseph Petrarca to hold 2 free concealed carry events
State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Washington Township, will hold two free concealed-carry events to ensure 55th District residents are aware of their Second Amendment rights. The informational events will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Huber Hall in Latrobe and Feb. 6 at the West Leechburg Fire...
Verona cop arrested on charges he had sex with 16-year-old boy
A Verona police officer was arrested Wednesday on charges that he shared nude photos with and performed a sex act on a 16-year-old boy, according to Allegheny County police. The boy told police he met Anthony David Ogline, 34, of Verona, through the online dating app Grindr about three months...
Pitt cyber institute starts task force to study big data tools used by city, county
A new collaboration spearheaded by the University of Pittsburgh’s cyber institute aims to help governments address the challenge of minimizing bias in data tools using algorithms and artificial intelligence. The newly formed Pittsburgh Task Force on Public Algorithms was announced Wednesday morning and includes participation from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County...
3rd juror is dismissed in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case; jury selection enters Day 13
Another juror who had been selected to hear the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case was dismissed Wednesday, making her the third seated juror to be excused or dismissed before jury selection is even complete. The woman, who was set to be juror No. 12, failed to disclose her friendship with...
Driver killed when car crashes into Port Authority bus on McKnight Road
A Pittsburgh man died Wednesday after crashing into the back of a Port Authority bus along McKnight Road, authorities said. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim Wednesday night as Anthony Diulus, 50. Allegheny County dispatchers said the incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. near the East Arcadia Drive intersection...
Pittsburgh spending $2.6 million on landslide repairs
Pittsburgh officials on Wednesday announced the start of work on two landslides threatening streets in the West End and Squirrel Hill and said construction was progressing on two others in the North Side and Oakland. The four landslides are costing the city an estimated $2.6 million. Karina Ricks, executive director...
Fire marshal can’t rule out arson in blaze that destroyed Freeport home
A state police fire marshal said he can’t rule out arson as the cause for a fire that destroyed a Freeport home last weekend. The single-story, ranch-style house at 165 Washington St. was being renovated after it was damaged in another fire four months ago. The home caught fire again...
Former Highlands principal’s federal lawsuit going to mediation
A former Highlands School District principal’s federal lawsuit against the district is going into mediation, according to court records. Attorneys for the school district and Heather Bigney have agreed to evenly share the costs of mediation. Bigney resigned as principal of Highlands Early Childhood Center in October 2019 . She...
PNC Park undergoing $1.9M seat rehab ahead of 2020 Pirates seasonVideo
As the Pirates gear up for the annual PiratesFest event this weekend, workers are preparing PNC Park for the upcoming season with a $1.9 million seating rehab. The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, which owns the stadium, last year approved the replacement of bottoms, backs and...
Speculation grows about Pennsylvania House speaker Mike Turzai’s future
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai, the most prominent fiscal and social conservative in state government, will hold a news conference Thursday amid speculation in the Capitol this week that he will leave the powerful office after five years. Turzai had repeatedly declined to comment this week on questions...
Dairy facilities in Allegheny County get milk money from new state grant program
Two dairy facilities in Allegheny County are slated to receive nearly $400,000 in total grant funding as part of a statewide dairy investment program, Sen. Jay Costa Jr. announced on Wednesday. Turner Dairy Farms in Penn Hills will receive the bulk of the funds — $334,282 — to increase its...
Chinese city stops outbound flights, trains to fight virus
BEIJING — The Chinese city of Wuhan shut down outbound flights and trains as the world’s most populous country battled the spread of a new virus that has sickened hundreds of people and killed 17, Chinese state media said early Thursday. The state-owned People’s Daily newspaper said no one would...
U.N. experts: Jeff Bezos phone hack shows link to Saudi prince
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The phone of Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos was hacked after receiving a file sent from an account used by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Nations experts said Wednesday. The two experts called for an “immediate investigation” by the United...
Study ranks Pittsburgh 5th best city for STEM professionals
The Pittsburgh metro area has been identified as one of the best markets in the country for people who work in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. The personal finance website WalletHub on Wednesday released results of a new study that has Pittsburgh ranked fifth overall, ahead of such...
Florida woman arrested at Pittsburgh airport checkpoint with stolen gun
A Florida woman was arrested after she was caught with a stolen handgun in her carry-on bag at the Pittsburgh International Airport, according to TSA. Diana Lynn Askew, 53, of Plantation, Fla., had a loaded .38 caliber handgun, police said. TSA officers on Monday detected the weapon at the airport...
