Top Stories category, Page 371
Justice Department watchdog finds flaws in FBI’s reporting of sex crimes against children
WASHINGTON — The FBI has failed to report all suspected child sexual abuse cases to appropriate law enforcement agencies despite changes prompted by its handling of the case against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, according to a Justice Department watchdog report released Thursday. In a review of more...
Arlington National Cemetery worker was ‘pushed aside’ in Trump staff dispute but won’t seek charges
WASHINGTON — An Arlington National Cemetery official was “abruptly pushed aside” in an altercation with former President Donald Trump’s staff during a wreath-laying ceremony to honor service members killed in the Afghanistan War withdrawal, but she declined to press charges, an Army spokesman said Thursday. The Army spokesman said the...
Former treasurer accused of stealing $18.9K from Burrell Cheer Boosters
The former treasurer of the Burrell Cheer Boosters is facing criminal charges after, authorities say, she took nearly $19,000 from the organization. Lower Burrell police charged Ashley Marie Freiberg, 40, of Upper Burrell with a felony count of theft and misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property and bad checks. Lower...
Sheetz in Youngwood slated to permanently close in October
A Sheetz convenience store and gas station in Youngwood is set to permanently close Oct. 7. Employees were offered jobs at other locations around the area, according to Nick Ruffner, public relations manager for Sheetz. Company representatives did not respond to Trib questions about how many employees work there. The...
World War II landing ship returns to Pittsburgh
Two green helmets with scratches sit on a bunk. Metal dinner trays are stacked in the kitchen — the actual ones used by servicemen for meals. An old Jeep is parked on board with a Red Cross emblem and a Higgins boat hangs from the side. These war articles belonged...
Bicyclist hit by vehicle on Route 8 in Shaler has died
The bicyclist who was struck by a vehicle Thursday morning before dawn in Shaler has died, according to police. Allegheny County Police announced the man death’s Thursday afternoon. They said his identification will be released by the county medical examiner’s office. According to Allegheny County Police, the collision in the...
Morning roundup: Inspections restrict Tarentum Bridge traffic; reward offered in burning of McKeesport police cars
Here are the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 29: Traffic restrictions on Tarentum Bridge Traffic will be restricted on the Tarentum Bridge for ramp inspections on Thursday, PennDOT announced. There will be traffic shifts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the ramps from eastbound Route 366...
Giant Eagle’s sale of GetGo refocuses company amid growing grocer competition, experts say
Giant Eagle’s decision to sell its GetGo franchise to focus on its role as a leading grocer is indicative of increasing competition from national retailers, an industry expert said. Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent company of Circle K convenience stores, announced the purchase of GetGo on Aug. 19. Giant Eagle CEO...
Nippon Steel pledges $1 billion to Mon Valley Works pending U.S. Steel acquisition as government opposition continues
Nippon Steel will spend $2.7 billion through 2026 to upgrade steel plants if its plan to acquire U.S. Steel comes to fruition. The Japanese company announced Wednesday at least $1 billion would be used to replace or upgrade the West Mifflin hot strip mill and other facilities to improve yield...
Leechburg Area School Board decides against lawsuit against Westmoreland County
The Leechburg Area School Board will not be following through with a promised lawsuit against Westmoreland County after being presented with a possible solution to tax rate issues by Westmoreland County assessors. “The board is still considering all of its legal options,” said Ashley Coudriet, school board president. “Currently, Westmoreland...
Auditor faults Pennsylvania agency over fees from Medicaid-funded prescriptions
HARRISBURG — A review by Pennsylvania’s elected financial watchdog concluded there were shortcomings in a state agency’s oversight of fees paid to pharmacy benefit managers in the Medicaid program, but the claims were hotly disputed by state officials. The report released Wednesday by Auditor General Tim DeFoor said the Department...
Authorities investigating if delayed report of sexual relationship in McKeesport schools is criminal
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing whether McKeesport School District employees failed to alert state authorities to an alleged sexual relationship between a district employee and a teenage student or delayed reporting their suspicions and, if so, whether their actions were criminal. Allegheny County Police in January charged...
Judge rules Washington County mail-in ballot policy violated voting rights
The Washington County Board of Elections must notify voters when their mail-in ballots have errors and give them the chance to vote provisionally, a judge has ruled. A group of seven voters sued the county in July, alleging that a board policy passed a few months earlier that prohibited elections...
Supreme Court rebuffs Biden administration plea to restore multibillion-dollar student debt plan
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday kept on hold the latest multibillion-dollar plan from the Biden administration that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts. The justices rejected an administration request to put most of it back into effect. It...
Payroll irregularities lead to suspension of Westmoreland purchasing director, deputy
Westmoreland County’s director of purchasing and his deputy are suspended without pay over allegations they and four staffers were paid for extended workdays without prior approval. Purchasing Director Kristopher Cardiff and his deputy, Kristen Coyne, have been off the job since Aug. 15 after county commissioners authorized suspensions for both...
Death toll now 9 in listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meat, CDC saysVideo
At least nine people have died after being infected with listeria from Boar’s Head deli meats tied to a massive recall last month, federal health officials said Wednesday. The new food poisoning toll includes two deaths in South Carolina plus one each in Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York,...
‘He related to everybody:’ Friends, coaches, athletes mourn Baldwin track and field coach Ed Helbig
Ed Helbig didn’t need to yell or get loud to motivate his athletes, yet the longtime Baldwin coach’s voice was certainly the biggest in WPIAL track and field. A Baldwin track coach for 49 years and chairman of the WPIAL committee overseeing the sport, Helbig died Tuesday. His calming demeanor...
Point State Park fountain celebrates 50th anniversary
For 50 years, the fountain at Pittsburgh’s Point State Park has welcomed visitors and stood proudly as the heart of the city. “When you think of Pittsburgh, it is hard not to picture this historic water feature,” said Visit Pittsburgh President and CEO Jerad Bachar. “It’s become an emblem of...
Trump campaign was warned not to take photos at Arlington before altercation, defense official says
Donald Trump’s campaign was warned about not taking photographs before an altercation at Arlington National Cemetery during a wreath-laying ceremony earlier this week to honor service members killed in the Afghanistan War withdrawal, a defense official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to...
Pittsburgh mulls study on whether city should build its own animal shelter
Pittsburgh officials are looking into whether it would be more efficient for the city to open its own animal shelter instead of paying a local nonprofit for services. Currently, the city pays Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh $375,000 a year to house abandoned animals, according to Emily Bourne, a public...
$2.4 million grant to help Pittsburgh install electric vehicle charging stations
The city of Pittsburgh plans to install dozens of new electric vehicle charging stations through nearly $2.4 million federal grant. Officials on Wednesday announced Pittsburgh will receive money from the U.S. Department of Transportation to bolster public access to electric vehicle charging sites throughout city parks, parking garages and curbside...
Ex-Rivers Casino host sues venue, claims sexual harassment by ‘high rollers’
A former Rivers Casino employee who repeatedly reported being sexually harassed by “high rollers” is suing the Pittsburgh gambling venue after she said she was fired for reporting the alleged abuse. The nine-page complaint alleging a single count of retaliation was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court. It seeks the...
Pittsburgh council goes back to drawing board with tiny house bill
A proposal before Pittsburgh City Council to permit regulated homeless camps Downtown, complete with utilities and services and possibly tiny houses, was withdrawn Wednesday. Two council members spearheading the initiative, however, said they intend to reintroduce the idea soon. Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, said she and co-sponsor Anthony Coghill,...
TV Talk: KDKA-TV’s Ray Petelin and daughter go viral with sweet videoVideo
KDKA-TV meteorologist Ray Petelin and his daughter, Elizabeth, have experience appearing on-camera together in his “Hey Ray!” segments that air on Channel 2, but the pair’s exposure reached a whole new level following Ray’s social media posts last week. Ray Petelin edited together interviews he did with Elizabeth at the...
Mike Tomlin officially names Russell Wilson as Steelers’ starting quarterbackVideo
Mike Tomlin confirmed Wednesday what was apparent since the Pittsburgh Steelers started revamping the quarterback position in March: Russell Wilson will be the starter heading into the season opener Sept. 8 in Atlanta. Wilson got the nod over Justin Fields, who will serve as the backup to start the season....
