Top Stories category, Page 321
Cleanup of Parks Township nuclear waste dump to begin next summer, Army Corps details the plan
The Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors are less than a year out from starting to remove, process and package radioactive materials from the Parks Township nuclear waste dump. Remediation will start in August on 10 shallow trenches of highly enriched uranium and other hazardous materials buried at the...
State Attorney General’s Office says no legal opinion offered on controversial Mt. Pleasant parade entry
A Mt. Pleasant Borough report that last week’s controversial politically-themed entry in the community Halloween parade fell short of a hate crime was not based on a legal opinion provided by the state attorney general’s staff, according to a spokesman for that state office. Borough Solicitor Les Mlakar said at...
Date set on Springdale trestle bridge demolition
Overnight work to dismantle the trestle bridge over Pittsburgh Street in Springdale will begin Wednesday and last about five days, officials told residents during a town hall meeting Thursday. Chief Derek Dayoub said the work will close Pittsburgh Street between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night. During that time, crews...
Elaine Effort, former KQV news reporter, dies
Elaine Effort, an award-winning pioneer of Pittsburgh journalism and a longtime broadcaster on news station KQV Radio, unexpectedly died Wednesday, according to the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, of which she was a founding member. “Mrs. Effort was always willing to listen to new ideas and roll up her sleeve to...
President-elect Trump names Susie Wiles as chief of staff, 1st woman in the post
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the manager of his victorious campaign, as his White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the influential role. Wiles is widely credited within and outside Trump’s inner circle for running what was, by far, his most disciplined and...
Pa. disciplinary court bars ex-district judge from taking bench ever again
A former Allegheny County district judge who resigned earlier this year will never again serve on the bench, the state Court of Judicial Discipline said on Thursday. Anthony Saveikis, 57, of Coraopolis, stepped down from his position in January but had been on leave for more than a year before...
Jury finds Belle Vernon man guilty in Rostraver road rage killing
A Westmoreland County jury after more than two hours of deliberations Thursday night convicted a Belle Vernon man of third-degree murder for a road rage killing nearly three years ago in Rostraver. Prosecutors contended Anthony Hairston, 29, was guilty of the first-degree murder and the intentional killing of 59-year-old Holly...
Dave McCormick defeats Bob Casey in Pa. Senate race
Republican businessman David McCormick has won an upset in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey, The Associated Press reported Thursday, but Casey has not conceded. “Thank you, Pennsylvania! Looking forward to representing every citizen of our great Commonwealth,” McCormick posted on X two hours later. McCormick, 59,...
GOP flips 2 U.S. House seats in Pennsylvania, as Republican Scott Perry wins again
HARRISBURG — Republicans knocked off Democrats in two perennially contested U.S. House seats in eastern Pennsylvania while U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, one of the hardest right members of the chamber, survived a challenge in a southern Pennsylvania district with more moderate politics. The defeats of sixth-term Rep. Matt Cartwright and...
Hearings delayed for Pagans member, others charged in New Kensington drug, gun case
Preliminary hearings for four people accused of running drugs in New Kensington, including a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang, were delayed Thursday. Bill Robert Rana, 44, who at one time was sergeant at arms for the Pagans Pittsburgh chapter, Marc D. Farabaugh, 42, Stephanie Lynn Miller, no age available,...
Bird’s eye view: Construction underway at $15M Hempfield Municipal Complex
Construction is continuing at the future site of the Hempfield Municipal Complex on Weatherwood Lane. The first phase of the $15 million development includes infrastructure, such as stormwater management and utilities, as well as the creation of pads for planned buildings and a 14-acre park, said township manager Aaron Siko....
Latrobe attorney accused of stealing $31K from female prison inmate
A Latrobe attorney is accused of exploiting an elderly jail inmate from New Kensington to get access to her bank account, stealing $31,300 and then using the money to gamble at a casino, according to court papers. Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said attorney John Allen Roth used his position...
Federal Reserve cuts its key interest rate by a quarter-point amid postelection uncertaintyVideo
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Thursday by a quarter-point in response to the steady decline in the once-high inflation that had angered Americans and helped drive Donald Trump’s presidential election victory this week. The rate cut follows a larger half-point reduction in September, and it...
Headliner announced for Pittsburgh’s Highmark Light Up Night
Alternative rock band The Fray, known for “How to Save a Life” and other hits, will be the headliner for the 63rd annual Highmark Light Up Night on Nov. 23. The group performs at 8:30 p.m. on the Xfinity Riverfront Stage on Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Sixth Street. Hosted by...
Murrysville man, former Allegheny County detective, now accused of asking son to lie
A former Allegheny County detective is accused of asking his son to lie about where an alleged crime happened, which resulted in a criminal case against him being dismissed last year, state police said in court papers. Troopers said Raymond Bonacci, 58, of Murrysville, “encouraged and/or demanded” his son to...
Several Westmoreland municipalities issue burn bans in light of dry conditions
At least three Westmoreland municipalities have enacted burn bans in light of dry conditions in the region. Derry Township issued a burn ban Monday, and Mt. Pleasant Township announced a burn ban Tuesday that will remain in effect until further notice. Hempfield issued a burn ban Tuesday that will remain...
Biden gets blamed by Harris allies for the vice president’s resounding loss to TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden’s name wasn’t on the ballot, but history will likely remember Kamala Harris’ resounding defeat as his loss too. As Democrats pick up the pieces after President-elect Donald Trump’s decisive victory, some of the vice president’s backers are expressing frustration that Biden’s decision to seek reelection until...
‘Overjoyed’ or ‘disgusted’? Western Pa. voters weigh in on Trump presidential victory
Philip Manns stayed up until 2 a.m. watching the election returns on TV on Tuesday, pleasantly surprised by now President-elect Donald Trump’s performance Election Day. “I was watching all night, and I was just surprised he was doing so well,” said Manns, 81, of Hempfield. “I think the pollsters all...
Disciplinary board suspends Pittsburgh-area lawyer with history of courting controversy
A well-known, Pittsburgh-area attorney with a history of disciplinary infractions going back 30 years has been suspended from practicing law over allegations that he failed to properly represent a client in Indiana County. The state Supreme Court Disciplinary Board recommended a nine-month suspension for attorney Milton Raiford in its report...
Trump’s victory fueled by growth in rural counties as he cuts into Democrats’ urban bases
Three factors emerged within the numbers behind Donald Trump’s victory Tuesday in Pennsylvania. Muted turnout in Philadelphia, the state’s largest city, and growing support for the former president in rural and urban centers combined to help pave the way to Trump’s victory. Also contributing was diminished backing for Vice President...
With 2nd term secured, Deluzio to reach across the aisle to GOP, but cautiously
Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio on Wednesday vowed to reach across the aisle to work with Republicans where he could and to hold them accountable when their proposals could hurt his constituents after an election night that saw the GOP take control of the White House and the U.S. Senate. Control...
McCormick campaign confident it will flip Casey’s U.S. Senate seat to GOP
With no decisive winner called in the tight race for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat, David McCormick’s campaign manager said Wednesday he believes the Republican businessman will topple Bob Casey, the incumbent Democrat. The McCormick camp is banking on capturing the outstanding votes left to count in conservative counties and indicated...
5 key moments that shaped the presidential race and a Trump victory
Donald Trump’s decisive win Tuesday night over Kamala Harris represents a profound realignment of the American electorate, giving Republicans a blueprint for future victories and Democrats enough cause for soul searching to last a presidential term. Trump gained ground in almost every district and demographic, storming back to the White...
Hurricane Rafael makes landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 storm after knocking out power on the islandVideo
HAVANA — Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, shortly after powerful winds knocked out the country’s power grid. Forecasters warned Rafael could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods to western swaths of the island after it knocked out power and...
Harris says nation must accept election results while urging supporters to keep fightingVideo
WASHINGTON — Kamala Harris said Wednesday that “we must accept the results of this election” as she encouraged supporters to continue fighting for their vision of the country after her loss to Donald Trump. The Democratic vice president said the battle would continue “in the voting booth, in the courts...
