Pittsburgh man found guilty of second-degree murder in Wilkinsburg home invasion
A Hazelwood man will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him late Thursday of second-degree murder for a 2019 Wilkinsburg home invasion. Brandon Franklin, 27, will be formally sentenced in November, but second-degree, or felony, murder carries a mandatory prison term of life without...
UPMC posts $313 million loss for first half of 2024
UPMC lost $313 million in the first six months of the year, the Pittsburgh-based health care giant said. The company announced the financial picture at a time when it is cutting about 1,000 jobs. UPMC said Thursday its expenses topped $14.7 billion, but had $14.47 billion in revenue from its...
Police seek info on missing Pittsburgh woman
Pittsburgh police are seeking information about a city woman who was reported missing. Police said Latasha Jefferson was last seen in the Oakland neighborhood on Wednesday around noon. They said she is at risk due to a medical condition. Jefferson is described as a Black woman, 5-feet-3-inches tall and 170...
Memorial wall’s stop in Mt. Pleasant a moving tribute to fallen Vietnam veterans
Two days after New Year’s 1967, Dennis Kubic of Mt. Pleasant Township was wounded, and a friend and fellow infantryman was killed by enemy gunfire in Vietnam. That fateful encounter came back vividly to Kubic on Thursday morning as he located the name of his wartime buddy — Frederico Perez...
2 men, 1 woman plead guilty to 2019 Wilkinsburg killing
Three people charged with killing a man in Wilkinsburg after tracking his movements for weeks pleaded guilty Thursday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Herbert Lee Walker III, 29, and Jeremiah Ligon, 27, of Penn Hills both pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy for their roles in the death...
Man sentenced for killing constable working at Pittsburgh club
Oneka Jones believes her son was born to be a protector. Willis D. Brooks worked as a school security guard and hoped to one day become a Pittsburgh police officer. He also was a certified state constable and worked security at an after-hours club in Knoxville. It was at that...
Pittsburgh woman identified as person found dead in Monongahela River near Sandcastle
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the woman whose body was found Thursday afternoon in the Monongahela River. The medical examiner’s office identified the woman as Latasha Jefferson, 36, of Pittsburgh. The medical examiner’s release did not list a cause or manner of the woman’s death. Pittsburgh police...
Norwin briefs: Pavilion to be dedicated; foundation raising money during Norwin homecoming
VFW Post 781 to dedicate remodeled pavilion The J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781 on Billott Avenue in North Huntingdon will dedicate the remodeled Don Kattic Pavilion in a ceremony at noon Sept. 28 at the post. The 28-year-old pavilion, named at the late VFW commander Don...
North Huntingdon man charged in opiate prescription scheme
A week after a Penn Township man pleaded guilty to writing fake prescriptions for thousands of opiate pills, police charged a second man who they said was involved in the scheme. Curtis A. Stewart, 55, of North Huntingdon, was charged Thursday with acquisition by misrepresentation, forgery, identity theft, criminal use...
Man who heard voices will spend at least 8½ years in prison for killing stepfather
Seven years before Javon Taylor stabbed his stepfather to death, he started to exhibit symptoms of mental illness. He talked to himself out loud, believed the Little Mermaid was God and thought the walls in his apartment were wired so people could listen to him. It became so bad, his...
Latrobe eyes regulations, tax abatement to boost property values, curb blight
Latrobe officials are eyeing a registration system that could help hold owners accountable for vacant, abandoned properties in town. The city also is looking to offer a real estate tax abatement to encourage owners to make improvements to their properties. The dovetailing measures are meant to promote economic development while...
Pittsburgh officials endorse Harris housing plan, advocate for upzoning
The city of Pittsburgh hasn’t seen substantial population growth for over 90 years, but some local officials are hopeful it can turn things around with local action and a boost from a potential Kamala Harris presidential administration. Pittsburgh city councilman Bob Charland, D-South Side, and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor,...
Pittsburgh leaders divided over proposal to limit discounted land sales
Some Pittsburgh leaders on Wednesday voiced concerns that a proposal to ban landlords from purchasing properties at a discounted rate through the city’s Side Yard Sale Program could inadvertently lead to blight. Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, sponsored legislation that would limit the Side Yard Sale Program — which allows...
McCandless hires new town manager
John Schwend has been hired as the new McCandless town manager, as approved unanimously by members of McCandless council at their Aug. 26 meeting. Schwend was borough manager in Edgeworth for almost 11 years. “I plan to be a consistent and stable leader that the staff and town can rely...
Pittsburgh’s North Side, North Shore packed with events Labor Day weekend
Pittsburgh’s North Shore and North Side will be bustling with activity for Labor Day weekend starting with the annual Kickoff and Rib Festival near Acrisure Stadium, which opens Thursday. There’s also a University of Pittsburgh football game, TacoMania Super Fest and a Green Day concert this weekend. Additionally, the USS...
Marshall festivities make the grade
Inflatables, virtual reality, fiddles and food helped bring out the crowds to Marshall Township’s Community Day, held on Aug. 24 at Knob Hill Park. The sunny Saturday featured 45 vendors, as well as plenty of food, drink and dessert for sale at the annual event. The Marshall Township Volunteer Fire...
‘Outstanding selection’ promised at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church’s 3-story Harvest Fair
The Harvest Fair at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church — which brings in about $100,000 for charity each fall — wouldn’t open its doors without volunteers like Matt Scott. Scott and a slew of others have prepped, cleaned, sorted and baked for months in anticipation of the 69th Harvest Fair on...
Steelers unveil Super Bowl IX-themed spirits as part of 50th anniversary
Pittsburgh Steelers-themed spirits will be available starting this football season through Steelers Stillhouse, a partnership between the Steelers and three Pennsylvania distilleries. Four limited-edition spirits that commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the team’s Super Bowl IX victory after the 1974 season will be available annually:Boyd & Blair Steel Curtain VodkaBoyd...
Highmark Health revenue up $1B
The parent company of Highmark Health insurance and Allegheny Health Network said Thursday its insurance business plans drove revenue in the first half of the year to $14.7 billion — up more than $1 billion from the same period last year. Highmark Health also reported net income of $417 million...
Gainey, top budget official say Pittsburgh revenue dips mean ‘some difficult years ahead’
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Thursday acknowledged the city is bracing for tight financial years ahead, but told residents there’s no reason to worry about major cuts in city services. “The sky’s not falling, but we do have some difficult years ahead,” Gainey said. Gainey and Director of the Office...
Lower Burrell unveils pickleball courts at Veterans Central Park
Lower Burrell has caught the pickleball bug. Officials unveiled six new pickleball courts Wednesday at the old tennis courts of Veterans Central Park near City Hall. “For all ages, this is great — even from kids 5 to 95,” said Councilman Mike Stanoski, who oversees the city’s parks department. “This...
Playhouse unveiled at Sharpsburg’s 16th Street Park
Children in Sharpsburg have a new spot in 16th Street Park to let their imaginations soar. Borough officials held a ceremony Aug. 22 to dedicate a playhouse. Other amenities at the park include a pavilion with picnic tables, water sprinklers, playground equipment, a swing set, basketball court and benches. 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...
Driver in bulletproof vest attempts to flee police after drug bust in Murrysville
A Pittsburgh man was wearing a bulletproof vest when Murrysville police said he led them on a chase Wednesday afternoon following a drug bust, according to court papers. Authorities said Keyshawn H. Campbell, 23, also had a sweatshirt with body armor sewn in it wrapped around the drivers seat of...
Plum considering policy on memorials following pleas from grieving mother
A Plum mother still grieving the death of her son two years ago says a proposed school district policy on memorials is not perfect, but it’s a start. “I do think they are trying,” Jennifer Martinez said. Martinez called for the district to develop a policy after finding none existed...
