Top Stories category, Page 317
Matt Gaetz once faced a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he could now lead
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he’s been tapped to lead, and has been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct. That probe effectively ended...
Gaetz pick shows value Trump places on loyalty — and retribution — as he returns to Washington
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has had few defenders in Congress as reliable as Matt Gaetz, who has thundered at one prosecutor after another for perceived bias against the president-elect and emphatically amplified the Republican’s rallying cry that the criminal investigations into him are “witch hunts.” That kinship was rewarded Wednesday...
Sheriffs arrest fugitive with warrants in multiple Pa. counties
A woman with multiple warrants in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties was taken into custody Wednesday by Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies. Carley L. Johnson, 27, who lists addresses in Irwin and Pittsburgh, has been a fugitive since April 2023, when she failed to appear in Westmoreland County district court on robbery...
Doubling real estate transfer tax could generate $150K in Latrobe in proposed 2025 budget
Latrobe may double its real estate transfer tax as part of a tentative $7.4 million 2025 budget. But it will leave the property tax rate unchanged. City officials also are debating a possible increase next year in fees that apply to mechanical devices, including games of chance, while Latrobe’s police...
Morning Roundup: Police rein in runaway horse; postal worker pleads guilty to stealing $6M in checks
Here are news items for Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024: Police return runaway horse Pittsburgh police in Zone 1 were chasing an unexpected suspect Wednesday — a runaway horse. Around 1:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of an escaped horse near Brighton Road and Harbison Avenue near the city’s Riverview...
Schools battle national shortages, pay disparity to keep nurses on the job
Aliza Zelina arrives for her school nursing job at Highlands Middle School in Harrison just after 7 a.m. each day knowing she won’t have much prep time before her patients begin to roll in. “We see kids bright and early,” she said. “It’s steady, seeing about 50 to 60 visits...
Republicans win 218 U.S. House seats, giving Donald Trump and the party control of government
WASHINGTON — Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Donald Trump. A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories...
FBI: Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort
WASHINGTON — A federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into U.S. telecommunications networks has revealed a “broad and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics, the FBI said Wednesday. Hackers affiliated with Beijing have compromised the networks of “multiple” telecommunications...
2 hospitalized after vehicle overturns into Rostraver creek
Two people were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after their vehicle overturned into a creek in Rostraver, according to the Rostraver Central Fire Department. The vehicle veered from Ridge Road and overturned into Cedar Creek, located near Route 51, according to a social media post from the fire department. The crash occurred...
Gainey’s 2025 austerity plan plays well with Pittsburgh council budget director
Pittsburgh City Council’s budget director indicated Wednesday that Mayor Ed Gainey’s austerity plan for 2025 makes sense given the fiscal pressure facing the city. Presenting an overview of Gainey’s budget and financial forecast to City Council, Peter McDevitt acknowledged that several city departments will likely ask for additional resources during...
Casey-McCormick race heads to automatic recount
Pennsylvania’s hard-fought U.S. Senate race is being extended potentially another two weeks. With the contest between Democratic incumbent Bob Casey and Republican businessman Dave McCormick within 0.5 percentage point, the race is legally required to go to automatic recount under Pennsylvania law, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced Wednesday....
Judge shutters Oakland’s troubled Panther Pit bar for 1 year
An Allegheny County judge on Wednesday ordered that the Panther Pit Bar and Grill in Oakland be closed for at least one year. Common Pleas Judge Dan Regan ordered that the establishment on Meyran Avenue be padlocked last week after the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint...
TV Talk: WTAE announces new weekend morning anchor
WTAE general assignment reporter Lily Coleman will become the station’s new weekend morning news anchor effective Nov. 23. Coleman, who reported weekday mornings before most recently filling in as morning traffic/noon anchor while Elena LaQuatra has been on maternity leave (LaQuatra will be back to work next week), has also...
Judge exits Latrobe lawyer’s theft case
Westmoreland County President Judge Christopher Feliciani recused himself Wednesday from presiding over a bail hearing for a Latrobe lawyer jailed on charges that he stole money from a client. The judge cited a conflict of interest related to pending legal matters that involved an alleged personal relationship between attorney J....
Trump says he will nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to be attorney general
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as U.S. attorney general, a surprising and highly controversial pick that could set up a confirmation battle in the Senate as the congressman continues to battle accusations of illicit drug use and sex trafficking. At a...
Bluesky has added 1 million users since U.S. election as people seek alternatives to X
LOS ANGELES — Social media site Bluesky has gained 1 million new users in the week since the U.S. election, as some X users look for an alternative platform to post their thoughts and engage with others online. Bluesky said Wednesday that its total users surged to 15 million, up...
Man, 70, shot outside Larimer nursing home
A 70-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after being shot outside a Pittsburgh nursing home. The man was shot in the stomach about 12:35 p.m. outside Corner View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in the 6600 block of Frankstown Avenue in the city’s Larimer neighborhood, police said. The victim,...
Innamorato defends proposed budget and Allegheny County tax increase
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato defended her budget and proposed tax increase Wednesday, arguing that boosting the county’s tepid economic growth is more important than making large budget cuts. Innamorato in October proposed a 46.5% property tax hike to help balance her $3.1 billion budget, which will have a shortfall...
Republican John Thune of South Dakota is elected the next Senate majority leader
WASHINGTON — Republicans have elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as the next Senate majority leader, completing a momentous shift in their leadership that elevates a top deputy of Mitch McConnell into a key position as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Thune, 63, is in his fourth...
Authority calls for voluntary conservation in response to state drought conditions
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water customers are being asked to conserve water as drought conditions take hold throughout Pennsylvania. Conservation efforts are voluntary, and municipal authority officials said there is no immediate expectation mandatory cutbacks of water use will be required. “It’s not panic time. It’s nothing like that,”...
Ex-director of Gloworms day care in McCandless gets probation for mistreating toddlers
A McKees Rocks woman accused of mistreating five toddlers at the McCandless day care she ran will serve two years probation. Melissa Marie Populo, 38, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to a single misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children. Populo worked as the director...
‘Wheel of Fortune’ blunder leads to free sausage for all. Here’s why
Sausage lovers are in luck this World Kindness Day. Johnsonville sausage is offering a free round of sausage Wednesday to people who post online about a kind act using the hashtag #KeepTheInternetJuicy. Why? The initiative was inspired by the viral “Wheel of Fortune” clip where contestant Will Jordan guessed the...
Trump makes a victor’s return to Washington and pledges a smooth transition of powerVideo
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump made a victor’s return to Washington on Wednesday, visiting the White House for a nearly two-hour meeting with President Joe Biden and committing to a straightforward transition of power as the president-elect moves quickly to build out his new administration. Sitting in front of a crackling...
FBI investigating robbery at Citizens Bank in Penn Hills
The FBI is investigating a bank robbery Tuesday morning in Penn Hills. Police were dispatched about 11:30 a.m. to Citizens Bank at 6125 Saltsburg Road for reports of a robbery. A man was seen running from the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, Penn Hills police Chief Ronald Como...
Pedestrian struck, killed by vehicle in Forest Hills
A pedestrian has died after being struck by a car late Tuesday night in Forest Hills, according to Allegheny County Police. Police said an adult male was struck shortly before 10 p.m. near the intersection of Ardmore Boulevard and Sumner Avenue. The pedestrian, who police have not identified, was taken...
