Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 917
Fayette state representative could face DUI charges after car crash, seeks alcohol treatment
State Rep. Matthew Dowling, R-Fayette/Somerset, could face DUI charges after he was involved in a car crash Saturday, and is seeking “professional treatment to address any possible alcohol issues.” State police responded to the incident at about 1:40 p.m. Dowling, 37, had rear-ended a car twice in the area of...
Dismissal of Unity man’s criminal cases upheld by state appeals court
The dismissal of three criminal cases against a Unity man named as a suspect in his former girlfriend’s disappearance has been upheld by a state appeals court. A three-judge panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the ruling issued last year by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger,...
Pittsburgh man gets at least 4 years in prison for killing girlfriend’s unborn baby
A Perry South man will serve four to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to shooting his girlfriend and killing her unborn child on Tuesday. Andrai Russell, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Russell was already charged...
FDA advisers back Novavax covid shots as new U.S. option
American adults who haven’t yet gotten vaccinated against covid-19 may soon get another choice, as advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday backed a more traditional type of shot. Next, the FDA must decide whether to authorize the vaccine made by latecomer Novavax, a protein vaccine that’s made...
Pittsburgh council grants Tito House historic designation
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday voted to grant historic designation to the Tito House in the city’s Uptown neighborhood. “We are extremely excited,” said Sabreena Miller, real estate and development manager with Uptown Partners. “We’ve worked very hard to see that this property be cared for, protected and an asset...
Police: Pittsburgh woman trespassing at SpaceX facility ‘wanted to speak to Elon Musk’
A Pittsburgh woman told police she worked for SpaceX and needed to speak with Elon Musk when she was accused of trespassing at the Texas facility last week, authorities said. Nivea Parker, 20, is charged with criminal trespass, evading arrest and assault of a public servant in connection with the...
Parkway East closure to impact traffic, Oakland commuters for 2 weeks
One lane of the inbound section of the Parkway East, entrance and exit ramps, and sections of Bates Street in Oakland will be closed for up to 15 days starting Friday evening, PennDOT said. Department officials say the closures will impact traffic for motorists using the Parkway East, especially those...
Homestead man wanted in Greenfield bar shooting turns himself in
A Homestead man wanted charged in connection with a shooting at a Greenfield bar in April turned himself in to police Tuesday, authorities said. Jeremy Banks, 40, faces 21 charges, including 12 counts of aggravated assault in the April 30 shooting at Zeno’s on Acorn Street. Police allege Banks shot...
Pittsburgh council considers amendments to stop-and-frisk legislation
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday recommitted legislation outlining new regulations for stop-and-frisk incidents, meaning the measure will be discussed further and possibly amended before a final vote. The measure requires police to document why they are stopping and searching a pedestrian before they do so. Officers will have to use...
TSA officers catch 2 guns in 3 days at Pittsburgh International
Security officers at Pittsburgh International Airport on Tuesday stopped the second person in three days from bringing a loaded gun past the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, according to a spokeswoman. Both men — one stopped Sunday and the other on Tuesday morning — claimed they’d forgotten they had the loaded...
Pittsburgh woman facing felony charges after Arnold police say she punched woman, scuffled with officers
Arnold police accused a woman of spitting at officers and kicking one of them in the groin when they tried to arrest her for allegedly assaulting another woman. Korrina Jolynn Booker, 35, of the 6800 block of Frankstown Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, was charged with two felony counts of...
Greensburg man escapes handcuffs, walks out of city police station
A Greensburg man is being held without bail after police said he slipped out of handcuffs Saturday at the city station and walked out of the building, according to court papers. Gerald V. Leonard, 59, is charged with escape. He had been taken into custody on an unrelated bench warrant...
Bedford County toddler’s death ruled homicide, stepmother charged in death
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled the death of a 3-year-old Bedford County toddler who died May 29 as a homicide due to asphyxiation. The examiner’s office said Travis W. Young died at 4 p.m. at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh about 18 hours after he was taken...
Court says Zappala erred in ignoring criminal complaints on gun legislation
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court on Tuesday ruled that Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. did not follow the law when he dismissed private criminal complaints submitted against Pittsburgh’s former mayor and city council over gun control legislation they approved three years ago. Zappala should have investigated the complaints, the...
Gov. Wolf tests positive for coronavirus — for 2nd time
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted that he tested positive for covid-19 on Monday. The 73-year-old governor said in the tweet he has mild symptoms. He said he tested positive in the evening. “I’m grateful that I recently got my second vaccine booster,” Wolf said in his tweet. This...
Mike Holden to leave WPXI for job closer to family in Cleveland
Popular WPXI-TV news reporter Mike Holden announced Tuesday morning on social media he will be leaving Pittsburgh this month to take a television news reporting job closer to his native home in Cleveland. “Personal News: June 24th marks my last day reporting here at WPXI,” Holden wrote in his post....
PBS series ‘Start Up’ to highlight New Kensington revitalization effort
New Kensington will be featured in the 10th season of a PBS series highlighting small businesses across the nation. Gary Bredow, host of “Start Up,” and a small crew were in the city Monday filming an episode focused on Olde Towne Overhaul and its efforts to revitalize downtown New Kensington...
Senate Republicans revive election bill over 2020 complaints
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate approved a bill Monday that orders a number of changes to state laws over partisan election observers in polling places and election offices, a throwback to complaints in 2020 by former President Donald Trump that the Democratic bastion of Philadelphia needed to be watched closely...
Westmoreland issues final certification of results for the May primary
Results from most races in last month’s primary election were certified Monday afternoon by the Westmoreland County Elections Board. County commissioners, who serve as members of the board, signed off on the final official results from the key ballot races that saw Republicans and Democrats nominate candidates for governor, U.S....
Freeport Road in Harmar reopens to traffic
After being closed for about a week and a half, Freeport Road reopened shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday. Allegheny Valley Regional Emergency Management Agency coordinator Bruno Moretti said the road is restricted to one lane in each direction. Moretti said there is still work to be done with removing the...
Acquitted in cop’s death, Ray Shetler eager for trial in assault case
A New Florence man previously acquitted of killing a police officer and now charged with assaults against law enforcement officials insisted in court on Monday he had no interest in delaying his upcoming trial. Ray A. Shetler Jr. 37, issued instructions to push ahead with his scheduled trial in June...
Despite 2 injuries, Westmoreland rodeo deemed a success
Forty bulls and 30 horses drew more than 4,000 people to a makeshift rodeo at the Westmoreland Mall parking lot over the weekend. “Up and all it was pretty doggone successful,” said Sean Sullivan, general manager at Live! Casino Pittsburgh, coordinator of the event. But two men were hurt during...
Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy in Capitol riot
The former top leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group and other members have been charged with seditious conspiracy for what federal prosecutors say was a coordinated attack on the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory, authorities said Monday. Henry “Enrique” Tarrio,...
Pennsylvania Turnpike adds new payment network for drivers to pay cash
The Pennsylvania Turnpike has added a new payment option for customers who want to use cash to pay Toll By Plate invoices or add money to their E-ZPass accounts. The Turnpike Commission said it has partnered with Kubra Cash Payment Network, which will allow drivers to pay their invoices at...
Penn Hills man gets state prison for fatal hit-and-run crash
A Penn Hills man who struck a pedestrian with a vehicle, killing him, will serve at least four years in prison. Surron Burch, 25, was ordered to serve four to eight years in prison followed by three years probation on Monday by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski....
