Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1704
Marsy’s Law votes won’t be counted, Pa. Supreme Court rules in split opinion
Pennsylvanians still have the right to cast a vote Tuesday on the proposed Marsy’s Law related to victim rights — but officials won’t be counting and sharing the results of votes on that particular measure, the state’s highest court affirmed in a split ruling Monday. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, on...
Heinz pickle pin among surprises found in 113-year-old cornerstone of former Tree of Life synagogueVideo
Heinz pickles were apparently as popular in Pittsburgh 113 years ago as they are today. A Tree of Life Congregation member included a Heinz pickle pin among the mementos and documents placed in the cornerstone of the Oakland synagogue when it was built in 1906. The building, which became part...
Pickup truck hit by train in Cheswick; man taken to hospitalVideo
One person was injured when a train struck a pickup Monday afternoon near Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick, then pushed the vehicle for nearly a mile before coming to rest, police said. The male driver of the lime-green truck was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. The man was...
Low voter turnout expected across Western Pennsylvania on Election Day
Most counties in the area are predicting low voter turnout ahead of Tuesday’s election — typical for an election year with no presidential or congressional races. Only about a fourth of registered voters are expected to cast ballots in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and a little more than a third...
Daily Download: Accused cop killer Rahmael Holt, Saw Mill Run Boulevard and Steelers defenseVideo
Each day, TribLIVE reporters and editors will break down the biggest news of the day, with video highlights of the people and places making headlines. Today, reporter Maddy Lee discusses accused cop killer Rahmael Holt’s trial getting underway, Saw Mill Run Boulevard being closed as part of a bridge replacement...
Former U.S. envoy Marie Yovanovitch says she was warned she was being targetedVideo
WASHINGTON — Laying out the anatomy of a chilling smear campaign, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told House investigators in a transcript released Monday that Ukrainian officials had warned her in advance that Rudy Giuliani and other allies of President Donald Trump were planning to “do things, including...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $10M purchase of police body cams
Pittsburgh police will be getting new body cameras and Tasers under a $10 million purchase request approved Monday by City Council. Under the proposal, the city will buy 950 cameras and 950 Tasers from Arizona-based Axon Enterprise Inc. The equipment includes a “signal sidearm” sensor that will not only immediately...
Veterans Day deals for vets, active-duty military around Western Pa.
The region’s longstanding support of veterans and active-duty military personnel will be on display again this Veterans Day as businesses, restaurants and fraternal groups offer discounted meals and services. Veterans Day is Nov. 11, in recognition of the day the armistice was reached to end the fighting in World War...
Appeals court agrees Trump tax returns can be turned overVideo
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s tax returns can be turned over to New York prosecutors by his personal accountant, a federal appeals court ruled Monday, leaving the last word to the Supreme Court. The decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upholds a lower court...
Norwin grad, business owner wins Miss Pennsylvania USA titleVideo
A Norwin graduate and owner of two boutique shops in Westmoreland County was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA this weekend, giving her the chance to compete for Miss USA. Victoria Piekut, 23, of North Huntingdon — who owns Wight Elephant Boutique in Irwin and Greensburg — competed against 35 women for...
Weather expected to impact Westmoreland voter turnout on Tuesday
Beth Lechman, Westmoreland County elections director, predicted a turnout of 25% to 27% for the county, expecting voters to be deterred by the weather forecast of high winds and rain. The county has two Common Pleas judge positions up for election in addition to elections for county commissioner, sheriff and...
Cops: Mt. Pleasant Township man attacked workers with baseball bat over rental TV
A 55-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man was so angry when two workers arrived to pick up an 82-inch television he had rented that he attacked them with a metal baseball bat, police said. State police say Gene R. Overly fled the scene after the Saturday afternoon incident, but eventually was...
Trafford police say driver accused of 6th DUI told them he used heroin, meth, cocaine
A 34-year-old man awaiting trial for his fifth DUI told Trafford police Sunday he was under the influence of heroin when his SUV swerved into the opposing lane. Tyler E. Thimons of Gibsonia was stopped about 1:30 a.m. Sunday after patrolman Zlatan Avdic said he watched Thimons’ 2008 Ford Escape...
Election HQ: Information on state, county, municipal races in Western Pa.
Election Day in Western Pennsylvania is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To get information on the local races, candidates and issues that are on your ballot, see the list below. For more information on polling places, go to the official election pages for...
Small ATI locomotive leaves tracks but doesn’t block Norfolk Southern trafficVideo
A small locomotive used to pull rail cars between ATI’s two plants in Harrison left the tracks Monday. It was unclear how many people were aboard. No 0ne was injured in the mishap, according to ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie. The front end of the shifter went off on the side...
Video, audio of foot chase, shooting of New Kensington officer played during murder trial
Brian Shaw, a wounded New Kensington police officer, called out for help moments after being shot three times in an alley where he chased a man believed to have run from a sports utility vehicle following a traffic stop. “I’ve been shot. I’ve been shot,” Shaw said into his radio...
Decorating early for Christmas makes you happier, expert says
There are two types of people: Those who decorate early for Christmas and those who hate those people. Sure there might be some shades of gray (or red and green), but generally there are two major camps. And both sides are passionate when it comes to defending their turf. What...
Police: Masked men robbed Mia Pizza in Bloomfield
Pittsburgh police are investigating an armed robbery that was reported at about 12:40 a.m. Monday at Mia Pizza on Baum Boulevard in Bloomfield. Two men wearing masks and hoods entered the store, pointed guns at two employees and forced them to open a cash register, according to police spokeswoman Cara...
2 arrested in Jeannette pistol exchange
Two men were arrested last week in Jeannette after police said they exchanged a pistol that had the serial number obliterated. Timothy Joshua Bertrand, 28, of Jeannette, and Joseph Raymond Thornton, 52, of Manor, are both being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. City police and agents from...
2 injured in East Huntingdon crashVideo
Medical helicopters took two people to the hospital after a Monday morning crash in East Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County 911. The two-vehicle crash on Porter Avenue — also known as Route 819 — happened just before 7 a.m. One vehicle went over an embankment and was heavily damaged, with...
Saw Mill Run closed as PennDOT replaces Shaler Street Bridge using new techniqueVideo
The new Shaler Street Bridge was inched into place Monday afternoon over the course of several hours and the overall work to finish the bridge is expected to take about two weeks thanks to a new construction technique PennDOT is debuting. This is the first time PennDOT has used a...
Police investigate reported Downtown Pittsburgh robbery
Police are investigating a reported robbery that happened Sunday afternoon in Downtown Pittsburgh. A woman told police she was inside a business on the 400 block of Boulevard of the Allies around 1:45 p.m. when she was approached by a man who allegedly pistol whipped her and demanded her money,...
40 years later: Mt. Pleasant tie to Iran hostage crisis revisitedVideo
Editor’s note: Portions of a first-person account from Janice Steinhagen, formerly Janice Malego, appear in italics throughout this article. Janice Steinhagen’s story based on an exclusive interview with former Iran hostage Jerry Miele sits in a box with 40 years’ worth of newspaper clippings. But as a story, it looms...
Emotions high as trial of New Kensington officer’s accused killer begins
Rahmael Sal Holt insists he didn’t kill New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw two years ago, but his lawyers won’t have to prove or say who did, according to a legal expert who identified a potential defense strategy for the capital murder trial slated to start Monday morning. Bruce Antkowiak,...
Lawyer: Whistleblower willing to take written GOP questionsVideo
WASHINGTON — A lawyer for the whistleblower who raised alarms about President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine said Sunday his client is willing to answer written questions submitted by House Republicans. The surprise offer, made to Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, would allow Republicans...
