Top Stories category, Page 269
Judge sets $1M bond for daughter charged with theft of Greensburg Beverage CEO’s estate
The lawyer for a Murrysville woman who, along with her mother, is accused of taking more than $4 million of a relative’s inheritance, told a Westmoreland County judge the case against his client has no factual basis. “Their theory is not supported by the evidence,” said defense attorney Paul Ellis...
Greensburg man to serve 20-to-40 year prison term for child rape
A Greensburg man was ordered to serve up to 40 years in prison for the rape of a child. James Dickant Jr., 35, was convicted of nine counts in a nonjury trial in October in which prosecutors claimed he had repeated sexual contact with a young child over a period...
Trial begins for Taco Bell manager charged with killing employee from Harrison
Both sides agree Zairyre Simmons fatally shot Dorian Carver of Harrison after the two argued at Taco Bell in Scott where they worked. But the prosecution and defense disagree about why. Simmons, 26, is charged with criminal homicide, receiving stolen property and carrying a firearm without a license. His trial...
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio pushes rail safety bill with visit to Tarentum
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio is hoping he can persuade President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress to support his renewed push for railroad safety. Deluzio, of Fox Chapel, is reintroducing his Railway Safety Act, a trio of bills aimed at improving federal oversight of railways. It’s an issue he...
Pentagon agency pauses celebrations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month and more
WASHINGTON — The Defense Department’s intelligence agency has paused observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pride Month, Holocaust Days of Remembrance and other cultural or historical annual events in response to President Donald Trump’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal workplace. The instructions were published...
Former Plum resident pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking charges, illegal possession of guns
A former Plum resident pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms, federal officials announced Wednesday. Solomon S. Givens, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, para-flurofentanyl and a mixture of para-fluorofentanyl...
Rostraver road rage shooter sentenced to 80 years in prison for ‘cold-blooded killing’
A Westmoreland County judge said Wednesday the New Year’s Eve road rage killing three years ago of a Rostraver woman was “one of the most callous, senseless, arrogant cold-blooded killings with malice” that he has seen. Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced Anthony Hairston, 29, of Belle Vernon, to...
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez gets 11 years in prison for taking bribes and acting as agent of Egypt
NEW YORK — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes of gold and cash and acting as an agent of Egypt — crimes his own lawyer said earned him the nickname “Gold Bar Bob.” U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in...
Defense attorneys say aides in Greensburg Salem elementary school followed direction of supervisors
Defense attorneys sought to push blame Wednesday in criminal cases alleging mistreatment of three Greensburg Salem elementary students onto two women who led the classroom, not two aides who were essentially their subordinates. Attorneys for Lorraine F. Robertson, 75, of Greensburg, and Amanda Lehman, 40, of South Greensburg, argued during...
‘Remarkably poor judgment’: Wall Street Journal takes a critical eye to start of Trump’s 2nd term
Amid all of the enthusiasm in conservative media for President Donald Trump’s first week back in office, the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal has notably applied some brakes. The Journal has editorialized against Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6 rioters, called presidential appointee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “dangerous to public health,”...
While signing Laken Riley Act, Trump says he’ll send ‘worst’ criminal migrants to Guantanamo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act into law, giving federal authorities broader power to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have been accused of crimes. He also announced at the ceremony that his administration planned to send the “worst criminal aliens” to a...
Trump White House rescinds memo freezing federal grants after widespread confusion
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s budget office on Wednesday rescinded a memo freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country. The Monday evening memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial...
Unity man dies after Ligonier Township head-on crash on Route 711
A Unity man who was severely injured in a head-on collision Monday in Ligonier Township has died. Colin Keough, 18, who lived on American Legion Road, was pronounced dead Tuesday in the intensive care unit at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, according to Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees. Keough...
Worker at Allegheny Township assisted living facility accused of stealing nearly $60K from resident
A woman working at an Allegheny Township assisted living facility is accused of stealing nearly $60,000 from a resident and permitting him to stay in the facility without paying rent, according to police. Allegheny Township police filed 19 charges against Tanya Lynn Palmer, 50, of Apollo that include theft, theft...
Kiski Area High School student injured by school bus while crossing road
A Kiski Area High School student was taken to a hospital Wednesday morning after walking into the side of a moving school bus. The 16-year-old boy was attempting to cross three lanes of traffic to reach the On The Fly convenience store, according to Allegheny Township police Chief Dan Uncapher,...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggles to answer questions on Medicare, Medicaid at confirmation hearingVideo
WASHINGTON — In a contentious confirmation hearing to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid, programs that affect tens of millions of Americans, or to provide details about how he would work to drive down health care costs. Kennedy...
New Kensington Bridge construction worker charged in crash that injured motorcyclist
A Herminie man is facing felony aggravated assault charges stemming from a traffic accident last year in New Kensington. Police on Tuesday filed charges against Matthew James Slobodnik, 24, in the crash that happened Aug. 10 at Ninth Street and Industrial Boulevard, which is the intersection just before the New...
Hamas set to free 3 Israelis, 5 Thais in next hostage release, Israeli official says
JERUSALEM — An Israeli official said Wednesday that Hamas will release three Israelis, including two women and an 80-year-old man, and five Thai nationals in the next hostage release, slated for Thursday. The official named the Israel women as Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 19, and the man as Gadi...
Tax season has begun. Here’s when you’ll get your refund
NEW YORK — Tax season is underway, and the IRS expects 140 million people will file returns by April 15. The agency has also debuted a new online tool to help taxpayers check the status of any refund they may be entitled to. President Donald Trump this week offered all...
Washington County inmates detained by ICE
Up to six Washington County inmates could be detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Jose Turcios Salmeron, a native of El Salvador, was being held at Washington County Jail on charges of aggravated and simple assault. He was released to ICE Thursday, according to a statement from the county...
2 more Pittsburgh restaurants to close their doors
Two more Pittsburgh restaurants are set to close their doors soon. Oak Hill Post, based in the city’s Brookline neighborhood, announced its closure via social media Friday after more than seven years in business. “After seven great years we have decided that the time to hang up our aprons is...
Frontier makes a second bid for Spirit with budget airlines struggling
NEW YORK — No-frills, budget airlines often lead the industry in customer complaints, according to government data, so if one were to disappear would it be missed by travelers? That is a question U.S. regulators will be asking after Frontier Airlines said Wednesday that it wanted to buy Spirit Airlines,...
Trump makes moves to expand his power, sparking chaos and a possible constitutional crisis
Just a little over a week into his second term, President Donald Trump is taking steps to maximize his power, sparking chaos and what critics contend is a constitutional crisis as he challenges the separation of powers that have defined American government for more than 200 years. The new administration’s...
Butler County woman struck and killed by vehicle
Butler County resident June M. Ruff died Tuesday afternoon of injuries she sustained after being hit by a vehicle Monday evening, according to a report from the Allegheny Medical Examiner’s office. Ruff, 62, of Slippery Rock was struck in the 400 block of Main Street in Evans City, Butler County...
Pittsburgh Planning Commission backs Gainey’s zoning proposal for affordable homes
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday voted to support a zoning package Mayor Ed Gainey has presented in an effort to bolster affordable housing. The commission voted against a dueling proposal pitched by Councilman Bob Charland. Gainey proposed to expand inclusionary zoning — a zoning regulation requiring all large-scale developments...
