Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1850
Police: Lincoln man arrested in SWAT standoff had 22 rifles seized weeks ago
A Lincoln man who spurred a SWAT situation that lasted for several hours Wednesday morning is accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend, prompting the woman to call police and flee with her young child, police said. Edward Thomas Jr., 36, was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats after...
2 challengers win Democratic nods in Penn Hills Council race
Challengers Frank Pecora and Jim Getsy won the two Democratic nominations for Penn Hills Council May 21 in a crowded race with seven candidates, including an incumbent. With all precincts reporting unofficial results, Pecora had collected 19% of the votes counted followed by Getsy’s 18%. Incumbent Mark Brodnicki finished second-to-last...
Plum School District Republican committee members earn sweep for party nods; Dem newcomers get nods
Plum School District’s packed primary race resulted in Republican committee-endorsed candidates sweeping their party nods with several Democratic newcomers on the November ballot, ensuring a contested general election for six seats. Incumbents Steve Schlauch (14.13 %), Sue Caldwell (13.18 %) and Karin Acquaviva (11.92 %), along with fellow Republicans Jacqueline...
Franklin Regional incumbents have tough time in primary
A raft of Franklin Regional school board candidates opposed to the Sloan elementary campus project will appear on the Republican side of the ballot in November, and two incumbents will not have a chance at re-election in the fall. “The No. 1 thing I heard from people in this community...
Democrat Joe Bia ousts embattled Arnold Mayor Karen Peconi
The challenger who defeated incumbent Arnold Mayor Karen Peconi in Tuesday’s primary called her actions last summer “an embarrassment” to the city, and it appears many Democratic voters agreed based on Joe Bia II’s victory by a three-to-one margin. Bia, an Arnold councilman with two years left in his first...
GOP’s Fred Keller wins Pennsylvania’s special U.S. House election
HARRISBURG — Republican Fred Keller, a conservative state lawmaker, won the special election for Congress on Tuesday in a heavily Republican district that sprawls across areas of central and northern Pennsylvania that are a stronghold for President Trump. Keller, of Snyder County, will replace Republican Tom Marino, who resigned in...
Former planning commissioner wins contested Monroeville Council race
An incumbent and a political newcomer who ran unopposed for Monroeville Council in Tuesday’s primary sailed to victory while a former planning commissioner edged out his opponent, according to unofficial tallies. In Ward 6, Bob Williams, 75, earned 55.5% of the votes counted compared with opponent Domenic Russo Jr.’s 44.2%...
Joe Pittman wins big in state Senate special election
A longtime aide to former state Sen. Don White will replace his former boss in Harrisburg, according to unofficial election results. Republican Joe Pittman collected nearly two-thirds of the votes cast in Tuesday’s primary to defeat Indiana University of Pennsylvania professor Susan Boser in a special election race in the...
Dead man’s parents can use his sperm to create his child, judge rules
Months after West Point cadet Peter Zhu died from injuries sustained in a tragic skiing accident — and lost what his parents said was his dream to have children of his own — a judge has ruled that his parents may use his frozen sperm to create a child. New...
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris concedes to Bobby Wilson, other incumbents win
A medical researcher from Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill neighborhood appears to have ousted incumbent City Councilwoman Darlene Harris in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Harris, who was seeking her fourth term, conceded the race to Bobby Wilson, 36, shortly before 9:30 p.m. With 100% of precincts reporting as of 11 p.m., Wilson had...
Roads remain closed in Pittsburgh’s Strip District while crews repair water main break
A portion of Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip District remained closed Wednesday morning after a water main burst Tuesday night and flooded a large stretch of the busy corridor. Crews continue to repair the break which has left Smallman Street closed to traffic between 15th and 17th streets. Motorists are...
Election results: 2019 primary
Click here for the 2019 primary election results from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties....
Military obstacle course provides ‘Beast’ of a challenge at Westmoreland air show
As pilots take to the sky to test the limits of their planes at this weekend’s Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland County Airshow, visitors on the ground can test their mettle against “The Beast.” The Air National Guard will present the timed obstacle course Saturday and Sunday at Arnold Palmer Regional...
Zappala wins race for DA, while 2 Allegheny County Council incumbents fall
Two Allegheny County Council incumbents fell to challengers in Tuesday’s primary, but longtime District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. defeated the first challenger he’s faced in two decades. Political newcomer Bethany Hallam defeated longtime Allegheny Councilman John DeFazio in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for a shot at one of two at-large...
Housing Secretary Ben Carson confuses real-estate term with an OreoVideo
Ben Carson might do more for Oreo cookie sales than “Game of Thrones” ever did. But Carson, the housing secretary under President Trump, did not offer the promotion intentionally. On Tuesday, Carson appeared to think that a California Democrat was questioning him about the cookies during his congressional testimony, when...
Hempfield schools want to cut fewer positions in proposed budget
Hempfield Area School District officials are trying to limit the number of positions cut in a proposed budget for the 2019-20 school year. Last week, school board members unanimously passed a preliminary budget that cut six positions, including five paraprofessionals and one building aide, but did not raise property taxes....
House panel subpoenas Trump’s former top staffer, Hope HicksVideo
WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday issued subpoenas to President Trump’s former top staffer Hope Hicks and ex-White House counsel Donald McGahn’s chief of staff as part of its expansive probe into potential abuse of power, public corruption and obstruction. The move to compel testimony from Hicks and...
Kevin Gorman: Big Ben takes big step toward becoming better leader for SteelersVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers endured an offseason notable for its negativity, with much of the criticism directed at the lack of leadership by franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. That Roethlisberger took it to heart could prove to be a positive, especially if he becomes a better leader. It’s what they need from...
Pittsburgh has plan to prevent cyberattack that hobbled Baltimore
Could the cyber attack that crippled city services in Baltimore happen in Pittsburgh? A plan is in place to prevent such an attack, Tim McNulty, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s spokesman, said Tuesday. “We can’t really say what our defenses are. We don’t want to tip our hand, but we have...
‘1-4-3 Day’ will celebrate Mister Rogers’ message of love
The number 143 meant a lot to Fred Rogers, and not just because it’s the weight he maintained his entire adult life. It was one of many ways he said “I love you.” Representing the one letter in “I,” four in “love” and three in “you,” the number was a...
State auditor general investigating Pittsburgh school administrators’ Cuba trip
Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is expanding an audit of the Pittsburgh Public Schools district to include administrators’ travel expenses and what he characterized as “no-bid contracts” totaling $12 million to $14 million. DePasquale said Tuesday that he’s seeking documentation on travel and contracts based on reports that Superintendent Anthony...
Police: Woman sprayed can of bear repellent inside Pitt building
A woman sprayed bear repellent inside a University of Pittsburgh building Monday, sickening at least six people and forcing those inside to evacuate, police said. Mary Siegert, 28, allegedly told police the canister of bear spray must have gone off by mistake. University and city police responded to the Eureka...
Peters school board censures member accused of racist Facebook post
The Peters Township school board voted Monday night to publicly censure a board member accused of sharing a racist Facebook post. William Merrell previously said he never made the Facebook post, and it happened when his account was hacked two years ago. The post included a link to a list...
Toddler dies after putting phone charger in mouth while plugged into wall
A phone charger killed a child Saturday in India. A three-year-old boy was electrocuted when he put a cell phone charger in his mouth, reports the Hindustan Times. The boy was visiting his grandmother with his mother in Uttar Pradesh’s Jahangeerabad when he found the charger plugged into the wall,...
Investigation continues into shooting death at Greensburg home; no arrests made
Workers with the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office removed a body from a Greensburg home Tuesday after a reported shooting that investigators said involved the death of a man. The identity of the deceased was not available. After the body was removed at 5:50 p.m. from the Menoher Way residence, Coroner...
