Top Stories category, Page 883
JetBlue-Spirit deal brings hope and concern for Western Pa.
Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said he’s hopeful a $3.8 billion deal for JetBlue to purchase Spirit Airlines ultimately will be a boon for local travelers. But there are no guarantees. The deal was announced Thursday. Spirit has been the sole carrier at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport...
Wolf sues GOP-led legislature to block abortion, voter ID questions from reaching Pa. ballot box
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is suing the Republican-controlled legislature in the state’s highest court over its efforts to change...
United Steelworkers fight to have union recognized at Braeburn Steel
The United Steelworkers union has filed three allegations with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) related to the refusal of the new owner of Braeburn Alloy Steel in Lower Burrell to recognize the union. “If they were looking for a fight, they picked the wrong union,” said Bernie Hall, director...
Police: Man holed up in North Huntingdon house after firing gun surrenders peacefully
A man who had fired multiple shots inside his North Huntingdon house and was holed up for six hours Thursday as police sought to end the standoff surrendered peacefully, state police said. North Huntingdon police and a state police special emergency response team had surrounded the house at 1752 Ivanhoe...
Coulter Building’s early 20th century aesthetic brought back to life in Greensburg
An office building on Greensburg’s Main Street that originally was Westmoreland County’s courthouse has regained some of its early 20th century appeal. Owner Ryan Will renovated interior common areas of the four-story Coulter Building at 231 S. Main St. “What we were looking to do was bring it back to...
Westmoreland County’s 1st EMA drone team to take the sky via Sewickley Township
The Sewickley Township Emergency Management Agency is taking its resources to the sky with a drone recently purchased for $34,000. Director Glenn Wees said the device will help the agency assess emergency situations, such as search and rescue operations, from the air. “Once we get the team built, we’ll be...
South Side distributor plans large-scale expansion in Westmoreland County
The former Beckwith property, west of Route 66 near the northern end of the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass in Salem Township, will become a new distribution center for beer and soda. Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co., based in Pittsburgh’s South Side, is expanding and nearly doubling its storage capacity with...
Retired W.Va. priest accused of abusing boy in Butler County
A retired Catholic priest who served at St. Francis de Sales Church in West Virginia is accused of sexually abusing a boy in Butler County, according to court papers. Perry Malacaman, 84, who resides in West Virginia, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person under the age...
JetBlue agrees to buy Spirit for $3.8 billion
JetBlue has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion in a deal that would create the nation’s fifth largest airline if approved by U.S. regulators. The agreement Thursday comes a day after Spirit’s attempt to merge with Frontier Airlines fell apart. Spirit had recommended its shareholders approve a lower...
First public training camp since 2019 brings out first-time attendeesVideo
The first public Steelers training camp since 2019 brought a lot of first-time attendees to Saint Vincent College for Wednesday’s open practice. “I’m a ride-or-die Steelers fan,” said Mike Johnson, who drove from New Jersey to attend his first training camp. Gary Andress made the drive from Indian Mills, N.J.,...
Former Kiski Township police say supervisors harassed them with false reprimand over dinner party
Three of the four Kiski Township police officers who quit this month said one of the reasons for their departure was an unfounded reprimand from supervisors about attending a graduation dinner party where alcohol was served. Four township police officers and the police secretary resigned on July 7 and 8....
Pittsburgh School Board officially appoints new superintendent, Wayne N. Walters
The Pittsburgh Public Schools made official Wednesday what it had revealed last week — the interim superintendent since October was promoted to superintendent, ushering in what school officials hope will be a “reset period” with a opportunity to recommit to public education in the city. The school board unanimously approved...
Family seeks release of Oakmont teacher being held in Russian prison
Marc Fogel has lived in six countries and taught overseas for 35 years, including stints in Mexico, Malaysia, Colombia, Oman and Venezuela. Last summer, Fogel and his wife, Jane, were about to start their 10th and final year teaching at the Anglo American School in Moscow. But, when they arrived...
Leet officials fire police chief with no prior public notice
Leet police Chief Michael Molinaro, who filed a federal lawsuit in June against the township alleging political retaliation, was fired Monday by commissioners. Molinaro had been on paid leave since April, pending an investigation. Commissioners approved terminating Molinaro after meeting privately during a workshop meeting and then adding it to...
Man taken into custody following a SWAT situation in Millvale
A SWAT situation in Millvale resulted in a man being arrested Wednesday night. Allegheny County dispatchers said police, fire and EMS activity began around 6:30 p.m. along the 600 block of Evergreen Avenue. Millvale police said a man surrendered to authorities hours later and emergency responders were able to clear...
Pennsylvania universities reject GOP call to freeze tuition
HARRISBURG — Four Pennsylvania universities said Wednesday they will follow through with tuition increases despite calls from House Republicans to roll back the price hikes. The lawmakers, including Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, the GOP nominee for governor, argue Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, Lincoln and Temple are receiving federal funds...
Josh Shapiro pitches economic plan during visit to Pittsburgh’s robotics row
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro pitched his economic plan during a Pittsburgh campaign stop Tuesday and said one of his goals as governor would be to ensure that the region becomes the world leader in the robotics industry. “I am here today to plant a flag and say we will...
Florida man accused of submitting $25M in fraudulent Medicare claims through Ellwood City hospital
A Florida businessman has been charged in federal court in Pittsburgh with conspiring to submit $25 million in fraudulent Medicare claims through an Ellwood City hospital for unnecessary cancer genome screenings. Daniel Hurt, 58, of Fort Lauderdale, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, pay...
Sen. Joe Manchin says he has health, energy, tax deal with Schumer
WASHINGTON — In an unexpected turnabout, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin announced Wednesday they had reached an expansive agreement that had eluded them for months on health care, energy and climate issues, taxes on higher earners and corporations and trimming of the federal debt. For months,...
Allegheny County health officials announce availability of monkeypox vaccine, eligibility still limited
Vaccine availability to those at risk for contracting monkeypox remains limited, but Allegheny County health leaders say they are working on a plan to expand eligibility as supply increases. Twenty cases of the virus have been confirmed in the county. Vaccines are being offered to people who have had a...
Woman accused of tattooing underage girl’s neck without permission from parents, faces charges
A tattoo artist who rents space at a parlor in Springdale was charged by police with tattooing a butterfly on an underage girl’s neck without getting permission from a parent. Shaolin Ameris Barr, 21, of the 2000 block of Constitution Avenue in Arnold was charged with misdemeanor counts of corruption...
Family seeks release of Oakmont teacher being held in Russian prison
Marc Fogel has lived in six countries and taught overseas for 35 years, including stints in Mexico, Malaysia, Colombia, Oman and Venezuela. Last summer, Fogel and his wife, Jane, were about to start their 10th and final year teaching at the Anglo American School in Moscow. But when they arrived...
‘What was that?’ Building manager, business owners describe parking lot collapse in Penn Hills
Benjamin Bair had just shown an apartment minutes before he heard a crashing sound. “I instantly stopped and was like, ‘what was that?’” said Bair, the building manager for the apartments where the parking garage collapsed on Tuesday evening in Penn Hills along Frankstown Road. “Seconds after … like boom,...
Former Greensburg-area dentist to testify in trial over wife’s safari death
DENVER — A wealthy dentist accused of shooting and killing his wife in their cabin at the end of an African safari trip testified Wednesday that an unfamiliar shotgun they brought with them to hunt a leopard accidentally went off, wounding her as she hurried to pack early in the...
Should you wait for the omicron booster? Why experts say you should ‘get it now!’
If you’re like most Americans, you’ve gotten your primary doses of a covid-19 vaccine, but you haven’t gotten the recommended booster shots. So if it’s been several months since your last primary dose, you’re probably due for a booster. But the companies behind two of the more popular covid-19 shots,...
