Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 985
Ross police union members cast ‘no confidence’ vote for chief
For a second time, members of the union representing police officers in Ross have taken a “no-confidence” vote in the leadership of Chief Joe Ley. A letter sent on Tuesday from the executive board of the Ross Township Police Association announced that 27 officers voted in favor of the no...
Norwin director claims assignment on racism was critical race theory teaching
A Norwin school board member claims that a high school social studies teacher gave students an assignment on systemic racism in America, which was an example of critical race theory instruction, despite the school administration’s previous assertion that it was not being taught in the district. Director Shawna Ilagan contended...
Biden announces sanctions against Russia for invasion of UkraineVideo
MOSCOW — President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the United States will impose its first tranche of economic sanctions against Moscow in response to what he described as “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.” “I’m going to begin to impose sanctions in response far beyond the steps we...
Renovate or build a new school? That’s the question being posed in Hempfield Area
Officials with the Hempfield Area School District are gearing up to make a decision next month on whether they will renovate or build a new high school. School board members this week unanimously voted to retain PNC Capital Markets LLC as underwriters once a project is chosen and hired Krakoff...
Speed limits in most Pittsburgh parks dropping to 15 mph
Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to reduce the speed limit in the city’s parks to 15 mph, down from 25 mph. The measure allows the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to make exceptions. Councilman Bobby Wilson, who sponsored the bill, said there will likely be higher speed limits on...
Pittsburgh recognizes February as Mayor Ed Gainey Month
Pittsburgh City Council announced Tuesday that the city is dedicating February as Mayor Ed Gainey Month. “I can’t imagine recognizing Black History Month without recognizing our own mayor in the city of Pittsburgh,” said Council President Theresa Kail-Smith. Gainey, of Lincoln-Lemington, became the city’s first Black mayor when he took...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $12.8M allocation for Bus Rapid Transit project
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday allocated $12.8 million to Port Authority of Allegheny County’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit project. Port Authority has touted the BRT project as a “high-quality, bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable and cost-effective services via dedicated lanes and frequent operations.” The plan for the Downtown-Uptown-Oakland-East...
Lawsuit seeks halt to Pa. justices picking congressional map
HARRISBURG — A federal lawsuit claims the Pennsylvania Supreme Court would overstep its authority by selecting a new set of congressional district maps, and the plaintiffs also want a restraining order to prevent the state justices from changing the election calendar. Two Republicans running for Congress, a member of the...
Alta Via restaurant to expand into Pittsburgh’s Market Square
The Downtown Pittsburgh hospitality scene is buzzing again and adding another popular restaurant to the neighborhood. Alta Via, an Italian restaurant inspired by California cuisine, is expanding from its original home and into Market Square, according to the big Burrito Restaurant Group. The group owns the Mad Mex chain and...
Former Leechburg police chief Michael Diebold ordered to prison for failing to register as sex offender
Despite an impassioned plea to serve his sentence on house arrest, former Leechburg police Chief Michael Diebold will spend 18 to 36 months in prison for failing to properly register as a sex offender. Diebold, 44, pleaded guilty in December 2018 to soliciting sex online from a state trooper posing...
Pittsburgh protester gets 2 years of probation, social media ban
A prominent protester from Pittsburgh will serve two years of probation after pleading guilty Tuesday in six separate cases. Shawn Green, who goes by the name Lorenzo Rulli, also must also stay off social media as part of the agreement. Rulli, 20, of the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, pleaded guilty to...
Man arrested in theft of $8,200 bicycle from Greensburg shop
Several search warrants led Greensburg police to arrest a New York City man who they believe stole an $8,200 bicycle from a local shop, according to court papers. Joziha J. Clemens, 21, was arraigned Friday after being extradited to Westmoreland County. He was being held on $75,000 bail at the...
Tull Family Foundation donates $20 million to Sewickley Academy
The Tull Family Foundation donated $20 million to Sewickley Academy, making it the largest donation in the school’s history, according to the school’s press release on Tuesday. Head of Sewickley Academy Ashley Birtwell expressed how thrilled she was about the possibilities the donation brought for the school. “As we continue...
Seeing double: 2-22-22 is not your ordinary Tuesday
Some dates just stick out. Today is one of those. It’s Feb. 22, 2022, or 2-22-22. People are calling it “Twosday” and it falls on a Tuesday, which makes it even more of an anomaly. Known as a palindrome, which means it reads the same backward and forward, people take...
Man accused by police of stealing car from Bell driveway, setting it on fire after crashing it
A Kittanning man was arraigned Tuesday on state police accusations that he stole a car from a Bell home, crashed it and set the interior on fire, according to court papers. Robert James Booth, 29, is charged with reckless burning, theft, risking catastrophe and related offenses. Troopers said a Dodge...
All 3 defendants convicted of hate crimes in Arbery killingVideo
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The three men convicted of murder in Ahmaud Arbery’s fatal shooting were found guilty of federal hate crimes and other lesser charges Tuesday for violating Arbery’s civil rights and targeting him because he was Black. In addition to the federal hate crimes, the jury also found father...
Highland Hose firefighter injured in Tarentum fire expected to recover fully; aid sought for families
A Tarentum volunteer firefighter is expected to make a full recovery after his feet became trapped on an aerial ladder while he and others were battling a fire at a duplex Monday. Richard Schuller, 22, was trapped near the far end of the ladder as it was extended from an...
Garbage truck strikes school bus in Ross, no injuries reported
A school bus in the North Hills School District was struck by a garbage truck Tuesday morning on Roseland Avenue in Ross. In an email to district parents, school officials said Highcliff Elementary students on Bus No. 696 were onboard when the truck backed into the school bus around 8:30...
World leaders focus on how to punish Russia over Ukraine
BRUSSELS — With the smell of war in the air over Europe, world leaders got over the shock of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to deploy troops to separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and they are focused on producing as forceful a reaction as possible. Germany made the first big...
Ukraine crisis: Putin gets OK to use force outside Russia
MOSCOW — Russian lawmakers on Tuesday authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country — a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. Several European leaders said Russian troops rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern...
Pittsburgh police say gun found in Hill District domestic incident
Pittsburgh police’s SWAT team responded to a domestic incident Tuesday morning at an apartment building at Bedford Avenue and Chauncey Street in the city’s Hill District. Police said someone jumped from a window and fled the building. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, police recovered a firearm in the incident. Authorities...
Police: Woman followed Aspinwall man from Rivers Casino, robbed him of winnings
A Forest Hills woman has been charged with assaulting and robbing a man of around $1,500 after following him from Rivers Casino to his Aspinwall home, according to Allegheny County Police. A 66-year-old man turned up at UPMC St. Margaret hospital around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday with face and head trauma,...
Flood watch issued for several counties in Western Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch Tuesday through Wednesday morning for portions of the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, including Allegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Rich Redmond, a NWS meteorologist in the Moon office, said the area may see up to an inch of rain today, with afternoon wind gusts...
Westmoreland fire departments, emergency medical services awarded state grants
Area fire and emergency medical service units are making plans about how they will use their share of $29 million in state grants announced by Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook. Two Westmoreland County volunteer fire departments will reap the benefits of 2021 consolidations — Hempfield...
Penn Township native returns to Pittsburgh as ‘Hamilton’ company manager
“Awesome” is an adjective often used to describe “Hamilton,” the widely acclaimed song-and-rap Broadway musical about American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. The same word can be used to summarize the nature of the undertaking to get the touring version of “Hamilton” from city to city. One of the company managers...
