Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1926
Tensions boil over at City Council meeting over police treatment of Stephon Clark protesters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — At a raucous meeting Tuesday night, the Sacramento City Council heard from residents who were enraged by the police’s reaction to a protest Monday night. Police ended a Stephon Clark march in East Sacramento by arresting protesters on a bridge over Highway 50. Police arrested 84 people...
How Ash Wednesday ashes are made
Editor’s note: This story originally published in 2019, but the process of making ashes remains the same. The ashes smudged on people’s foreheads to mark the Christian holy day Ash Wednesday were made from the blessed palm fronds distributed at last year’s Palm Sunday services, which mark the beginning of...
Men need to step up to thwart violence against women, coalition says
“It’s none of my business.” “But he seems like a nice guy.” “Well, what was she wearing?” Those statements — referencing all-too-common reactions to reports of sexual abuse — are splashed across posters distributed around Western Pennsylvania alongside two words in large, bold lettering: “NO MORE.” Beneath the words appear...
Man’s dying wish fulfilled with call from President Trump
WEST HAVEN, Conn. — A terminally ill Connecticut man who’s a big supporter of President Donald Trump is getting a bucket list wish fulfilled, with help from his Democratic sister. Jay Barrett, of West Haven, who has cystic fibrosis, left the hospital to begin palliative care at his sister’s home...
North Korea rebuilds rocket engine test site, in ominous signal about attitude to talks
North Korea has begun rebuilding work on a rocket launch pad and missile engine test site, in an ominous sign about its attitude toward negotiations on denuclearization. The rebuilding work began some time between Feb. 16 and March 2, according to satellite imagery, meaning it began either just before or...
Southwestern Pa. banks among Forbes’ ‘World’s Best’
Four banks based in Southwestern Pennsylvania are included among the 60 U.S. financial institutions that made Forbes magazine’s 2019 list of the World’s Best Banks. For this inaugural listing, the magazine partnered with research firm Statista, which surveyed more than 40,000 customers in order to rate banks in 23 countries...
14 cats, 2 dogs found crammed into vehicles outside O’Hara hotel; 1 cat dies
At least one cat died and 15 other cats and dogs are being cared for by a Westmoreland County shelter after authorities discovered all 16 animals locked inside two vehicles in an O’Hara Township parking lot, Trib news partner WPXI-TV reports. A hotel employee alerted authorities Monday night after overhearing...
Live Bear cam debuts in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Game Commission flipped the switch Monday on a new live web cam in a bear den under a porch in Monroe County. In the den are a sow and an undetermined number of cubs. The agency can’t confirm how many cubs are in the den as the cam...
Congregations in Tree of Life massacre grateful for ‘outpouring of support’
The three Jewish congregations targeted in the Oct. 27 Tree of Life synagogue massacre were thankful for the more than $6.3 million donated. “The generous outpouring of support through donations by people in Pittsburgh and from around the world demonstrates that love will triumph. We, along with our two partner congregations,...
Prosecution, defense spar over police reports in Michael Rosfeld case
Common Pleas Judge Alexander Bicket chastised prosecutors in the homicide case against Michael Rosfeld on Tuesday for the length of time it took them to hand over certain evidence to defense attorneys. The hearing came one week before jury selection is scheduled to begin in Dauphin County. Rosfeld is charged...
For millennials, Pittsburgh ranks 8th in nation among best places to live
It’s no surprise that people love Pittsburgh. The city ranked eighth in Livability.com’s Top 100 Best Places to Live for 2019. Boise, Idaho; Raleigh, N.C.; Madison, Wis.; Iowa City, Iowa, and Rochester, Minn., clinched the top 5 spots. Millennials across the country were surveyed to determine what matters most to...
In wake of Luke Perry’s death, a renewed focus on stroke
If you’re wondering how it’s possible that Luke Perry died from a stroke at only 52 years old, you might be surprised. It’s more common to suffer a stroke earlier in life than some may think. Dr. Rick Williamson, director of endovascular neurosurgery at Allegheny General Hospital, said out of...
FDA chief Scott Gottlieb steps down after nearly 2 years
WASHINGTON — Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is stepping down after nearly two years leading the agency’s response to a host of public health challenges, including the opioid epidemic, rising drug prices and underage vaping. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced in a statement Tuesday that...
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8 trailer is here
Want a taste of what the dramatic final season of “Game of Thrones” will be like? HBO dropped their official trailer for Season 8 on YouTube today. Check out the scenes and try to guess what happens to your favorite characters: Arya and Sansa Stark, Jon Snow and, of course,...
Toomey bill to limit Trump’s tariff power gaining support
A bipartisan Senate bill that seeks to rein in President Trump’s authority to impose tariffs is gaining momentum. The bill, originally sponsored by U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Allentown and Mark Warner, D-Va., would require the president to get congressional approval to impose tariffs based on national security. In recent weeks...
Westmoreland County among areas with most Pa. natives, census figures show
Sandy Dzaack was grateful to live in her family’s North Huntingdon home as the second generation to raise kids in the house. Shortly before she and her husband, Chuck Edmonds Jr., bought the home from the estate, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Edmonds died three years later, leaving Dzaack...
Deliberations to continue Wednesday in sex assault trial of former Istanbul Sofra owner
Jurors deliberated for four hours in the sexual assault trial against Adnan Pehlivan before recessing for the evening without reaching a verdict. The jury of eight men and four women began deliberating about 12:30 p.m. and broke shortly before 5 p.m. They will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Pehlivan, 47,...
Greensburg woman accused of leaving 2 children alone in crib
Greensburg police allege a 23-year-old woman left her two young children home alone in a crib last week. The children are 1 and 2 years old. Two counts of endangering the welfare of children were filed against Sierra S. Manges of Greensburg with District Judge Chris Flanigan. The complaint was...
To combat anti-vaxxers, U.S. needs a national campaign, Washington state official says
The top official overseeing Washington state’s worst measles outbreak in two decades is calling on the federal government to launch a national campaign to counter anti-vaccine groups spreading false information. John Wiesman, Washington state’s health secretary, said in an interview Monday that a national campaign similar to the U.S. government...
Allegheny County reports 3 more flu-related deaths
The Allegheny County Department of Health has reported three additional flu-related deaths, bringing the total to five deaths of Allegheny County residents this flu season. The residents — two women, one in her mid-40s and the other in her early 60s, and a man in his late 50s — died...
Jeannette woman accused of assaulting boyfriend and abusing puppy
Jeannette police allege a 27-year-old woman assaulted her boyfriend and abused a puppy during an argument Monday. Crystal A. Broker was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Joseph DeMarchis on charges of simple assault, harassment and two counts each of animal cruelty and making terroristic threats. She was ordered held in...
Here’s how $6.3M raised for Tree of Life shooting victims will be disbursed
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh announced Tuesday how the more than $6.3 million donated to support the victims, survivors, first responders and others affected by the Tree of Life synagogue shooting will be divided. The payments will begin immediately, David Shapira, chairman of Giant Eagle Corporation, said at morning...
House Democrats likely to seek 10 years of Trump’s tax returns in coming weeks
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are likely to request 10 years of President Donald Trump’s tax returns in coming weeks, tailoring their inquiry in a way they hope will survive a court battle, according to according to lawmakers and others involved in the discussions. The exact parameters of the request are...
Fire destroyed a W.Va. church; not a single Bible was burned
Call it a miracle. Or you could call it an incredibly, amazingly outstanding stroke of luck. But miracle somehow seems much more appropriate here. In the early morning of March 3, a fire was raging at Freedom Ministries Church in Grandview, W.Va. The Coal City Fire Department joined the fight...
Allegheny, Beaver sheriffs get K-9 funds from Ben Roethlisberger Foundation
The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office is among a number of law enforcement agencies receiving grants from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation for police dog-related needs, the organization announced this week. The sheriff’s office and seven other departments in the region will receive a piece of the $70,000 grant, the last of...
