Megan Swift stories, Page 9
Child safety group warns of hot car dangers after spate of infant deaths
Five babies have died in hot cars across the United States over the past eight days, the advocacy group Kids and Car Safety noted as it asked people to be extra vigilant as the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches. There’s an increase in vehicle-related tragedies involving children after holiday...
Is Zyn allowed on airplanes? Passengers aren’t sure
After a Delta passenger was told to spit out his tobacco-free nicotine Zyn pouch on his flight, people are confused about airline policy on the smokeless products. Under Transportation Security Administration regulation, travelers can bring nicotine pouches like Zyn on both carry-on and checked luggage, according to the media website...
‘It’s humongous’: World’s largest rubber duck amazes crowd at Idlewild park
When Katie Luttner and her two grandchildren approached the giant, bright yellow duck through the trees at Idlewild & SoakZone on Friday, they were in awe. “I’ve never seen it before, and I didn’t realize how huge it is,” she said. “(It’s) bigger than what I expected.” The “World’s Largest...
Shark attacks at Hilton Head Island leave 2 injured in a week
Two shark attacks were reported within a week in a popular Pittsburgher vacation spot — Hilton Head Island, S.C. The latest incident happened on Sunday around noon at Coligny Beach Park, People reported. The attack happened near a lifeguard and in front of the beach path. WRDW reported that the...
Tips to avoid dehydration in Western Pa.’s extreme heat
As temperatures hover around the 90s, health experts are stressing the importance of staying hydrated and taking precautions against the summer heat. Dr. Brent Rau, medical director for Allegheny Health Network’s Department of Emergency Medicine, said there’s no set amount of water to drink that will stop someone from becoming...
Friends by chance, they’re steady fixtures at Sandcastle — even amid the heat wave
More than an hour before Sandcastle Water Park opens in West Homestead, a tight-knit group of friends can be found waiting to claim lawn chairs by the pool. Chuck George became friends with Roseanne Fowler and Roseann Hill more than eight years ago after meeting them at the water park....
1.7 million window AC units recalled nationwide
With extreme heat plaguing Western Pennsylvania, window air conditioners are working overtime across the region. But residents should double check their model. Midea recently recalled about 1.7 million U and U+ window air conditioners nationwide for risk of mold exposure, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Included in...
At Home store in Pleasant Hills to close amid company bankruptcy
One of the Pittsburgh region’s four At Home stores is set to close amid the company’s bankruptcy, according to court filings. The Pleasant Hills store on Clairton Boulevard is one of 26 stores initially closing, the company said. No one answered the phone Tuesday, and a message seeking comment went...
Solstice sizzle: Western Pa. braces for a surge in summer heat
Grab your water bottles. Summer’s officially here, and a uncanny stretch of consecutive days with temperatures in the 90s will accompany the solstice. For the first time in June since 1994, the Pittsburgh region is expected to have five or more days of temperatures in the 90s. And they’re coming...
New anti-Trump statue appears on National Mall following giant poop emoji statue
Almost eight months after the giant poop emoji statue arrived on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., a new statue by the same artists is making headlines — called “Dictator Approved.” The sequel is an 8-foot-tall sculpture showing a gold-painted thumbs-up squashing the crown of the Statue of Liberty, The...
Livvy Dunne shuns Detroit Tigers’ mascot as Skenes pitches
Sorry Paws, Livvy Dunne is not interested. Paws, the mascot of the Detroit Tigers, held up a flirtatious sign Thursday as Dunne’s boyfriend, Pirates ace pitcher Paul Skenes, took the mound at Comerica Park in Detroit. Fans and reporters noticed Paws behind home plate holding the sign with hand-drawn hearts...
No parking at Point State Park
Point State Park’s parking lot is officially closed for repairs — until early fall, the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources announced Thursday. Caliber Contracting Services, Inc. began the scheduled repairs to the lot at 624 Commonwealth Place, operated by Boulos Parking Inc. The work is denoted in the park’s...
Morning Roundup: Police retrieve dogs left alone in Verona after owner is jailed
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Friday, June 20: Dogs retrieved from Verona house after being left alone Two dogs were retrieved Thursday from a Verona home on Penn Street after they were left unattended. Verona Police Chief Tom Dessell said the dogs have been...
Hunting licenses for 2025-26 season go on sale next week
It’s that time of year again — hunting licenses will go on sale starting next week, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced. On Monday, hunting and furtaker licenses for the 2025-26 season will be available for purchase. Antlerless deer licenses can be purchased when general license sales open per usual, but...
Morning Roundup: Police sergeant suspended after shoving man, mounted patrols to return to Montour Trail
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Wednesday, June 18: Ellwood City police sergeant suspended after shoving man at Sheetz The Ellwood City Borough Council voted unanimously to suspend and demote Sgt. Robert Magnifico after he shoved a man at Sheetz in June. The decision comes...
Rev. Melissa L. Stoller elected 1st woman bishop of Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Rev. Melissa L. Stoller was elected the next bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — the first woman to hold the position. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod spans the bottom left corner of the state, with West Virginia and Ohio as the south and...
Oliver’s Donuts to close Lawrenceville Market House location
Oliver’s Donuts announced it will close its Lawrenceville’s Market House location on June 29. In an Instagram post, the decision was announced with a graphic thanking customers for their support over the last three years. “We are sad to announce Oliver’s Donuts is closing,” the post reads. “It’s been a...
New Pennsylvania license plates available to order
Pennsylvania’s new license plate design is now available for order, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday. Sports teams mascots across the state showed off their very own versions of the new plates in a promotional video released online. Shapiro initially unveiled the new “Let Freedom Ring” license plate and state welcome...
Morning Roundup: Police say McKeesport woman tried to bring knife into Family Law Center
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Tuesday, June 17: Police say McKeesport woman tried to bring knife into Family Law Center Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus said a McKeesport woman attempted to bring a knife into the Family Law Center — leading to her...
21-year-old motorcyclist dies in Washington County crash
On Monday night, Pennsylvania State Police responded to a one-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 79 at mile marker 40/Exit 40 in South Strabane Township. Nathan Scott Boyd, 21, was traveling south in the left lane when he “failed to negotiate a right-hand curve” at around 8:17 p.m., police said. He...
Police search for suspects in fatal Washington County home invasion
A woman was shot and killed and her son wounded Monday during a home invasion in Washington County, state police said. Renee Lynn Gill, 37, was shot at around 1:15 a.m. inside her residence on Eleanor Street in Smith Township. She died at 5:01 a.m. inside her home, according to...
Prepare for a rainy week in Western Pennsylvania
It’s time to break out the umbrellas for rain in Western Pennsylvania. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms every day this week, according to Liana Lupo, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon. “It’s going to be more of a scattered coverage,” she said, which is similar to...
Morning Roundup: Large fight on South Side
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Monday, June 16: Bicyclist critically injured in Homewood vehicle collision An adult male bicyclist is in critical condition after he was struck Sunday night by two vehicles driving side by side on the roadway, Pittsburgh police said. Officers responded...
Gov. Josh Shapiro touts Pennsylvania as nation’s golf capital during U.S. Open visit
Gov. Josh Shapiro called the state of Pennsylvania the “golf capital of the United States” during a visit Friday to the Oakmont Country Club for the U.S. Open. The Keystone State has hosted the most United States Golf Association championships compared to any other state — at 95 as of...
U.S. Open meteorologist runs 1-man show from women’s locker room at Oakmont
Amid the sweeping grounds of Oakmont Country Club sits one man alone in the women’s locker room of the clubhouse — meteorologist Jake Swick — whose sole job is to monitor the weather for the U.S. Open in real time. Inside that women’s locker room is a window that opens...
