Regional category, Page 12
Pittsburgh Oktoberfest Karneval continues through Sunday
The Ferris wheel on the Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh is framed in front of a setting sun as it dips behind Mount Washington on Thursday evening as the Pittsburgh Oktoberfest Karneval continues. Pittsburgh Oktoberfest celebrations continue through Sunday, and the Ferris wheel rides and games are open daily from...
Judge to decide appeal for ex-state trooper in 20-year-old Blairsville dentist’s murder
An appeal filed by a former state trooper in the murder of a Blairsville dentist is 10 years too late, state Deputy Attorney General William Stoycos argued Thursday. Plus, evidence the defense claims it recently obtained wouldn’t have any impact on the trial jury’s decision to convict Kevin J. Foley...
‘I’m cautiously optimistic’: Palestinians, Jews in Western Pa. share mixed emotions about peace deal
When Karim Alshurafa heard Thursday’s news of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, he felt conflicted. Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, which could be the first step toward ending a 2-year-old war that has roiled the Middle East. Alshurafa, 42,...
Shutdown strikes federal workers in Pittsburgh with furloughs
About 250 federal workers represented by the National Treasury Employees Union in Western Pennsylvania were furloughed Wednesday, casualties of the ongoing federal government shutdown. The workers learned by email they should plan to stay home for the duration of the shutdown unless they hear otherwise. Things for the union started...
Horseman lassoes loose cow on I-79; heifer’s origin remains unknown
A wrangler on horseback lassoed a roving cow on Interstate 79 early Wednesday morning when the animal backed up traffic for about two miles in Cranberry. State police told TribLive news partner WTAE that callers first reported the loose livestock in the grassy median around 7 a.m. Police and an...
AI ‘Grandparent Scams’ are on the rise in Pennsylvania
Grandparent scams are on the rise once again, but this time, AI technology is involved, officials say. AARP Pennsylvania warned residents about the resurgence and offered ways for older adults and their families to stay safe. A “Grandparent Scam” usually begins with an urgent phone call from an imposter claiming...
When and where you can find peak fall foliage in Western Pa.
Parts of Somerset County are already reaching their peak fall colors, and with this week’s much-needed rain and temperatures dipping into the 40s, the rest of Western Pennsylvania won’t be far behind. Brian Wolyniak of the Penn State Extension in Allegheny County recommends checking the Department of Conservation and Natural...
Retention, community college transfers highlight Pa. state system’s enrollment increase
Fall enrollment at the 10 universities that make up the state system of higher education increased for the first time in more than a decade, with the biggest gains coming from retention and community college transfers, according to data released Tuesday. Enrollment in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
Trump’s funding offer to colleges sparks debate in Pennsylvania
Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, fears for his academic freedom. His concerns are shared by many colleagues as the Trump administration tries to broker deals with universities for new educational goals. “The big picture is that the administration has calculated that attacking universities, especially elite universities,...
Giant Eagle pasta salad recalled for possible listeria contamination
Pasta salad lovers in Western Pennsylvania should double check their refrigerators. Giant Eagle just issued a recall of its “Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad” sold in the prepared foods department of both Giant Eagle and Market District locations across Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Indiana — for possible listeria contamination. Listeria...
For local governments, winter road maintenance is summertime concern
Long before he jumps in his salt truck, Unity Supervisor Mike O’Barto says, the township has to consider winter road maintenance and road salt acquisition. O’Barto is among 21 plowmen, including two other township supervisors, who work to clear the 165 miles of roads in Unity, which is one of...
‘We’re stretching’: As grocery prices continue to climb, shoppers redefine their staples
The sticker shock is real: Grocery prices’ month-over-month increase in August were the highest they’ve been in three years. And relief doesn’t appear to be on the horizon, according to one food economist. The reasons might sound familiar. “There’s been a convergence of factors: lingering supply-chain issues from covid, the...
Orkin ranks Pittsburgh 12th-worst city for bed bugs
Pittsburgh ranked as the 12th-worst city for bed bugs in Orkin’s 2025 Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List — climbing the ranks higher than in previous years. Last year, the Steel City was in 21st place. Orkin said bed bugs can be found clinging to items like luggage, purses and...
Indiana County woman charged in fatal stabbing
An Indiana County woman who state police said is responsible for a fatal stabbing was charged Sunday with criminal homicide and aggravated assault. Jessica Lynn Morelli, 36, of Burrell Township is accused of stabbing a 66-year-old man, who Morelli lived with, multiple times Sunday, according to state police. Troopers and...
Dancers young and old prepare for annual Carnegie Classic ballroom competitionVideo
Carnegie Mellon University ballroom dance coach Christine Zona worked with a new group of students in early September, and she can’t wait to see how they’ve progressed once spring comes around. “It’s great to see young people who’ve never done any ballroom dancing before come in,” Zona said. “Seeing the...
Man firing from roof fatally shot by state police in Indiana County
Police say a man who was firing at them during an assault investigation Sunday was fatally shot by state troopers in Indiana County. Late Monday night, Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman identified the man as Jonathan James Pearce Jr., 34. Troopers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Dixonville Road...
Police release details about motel manager slaying, shooting of woman, Pittsburgh detective
A motel manager was shot in the head at point-blank range Friday afternoon after stepping outside to check on a disturbance at the Pittsburgh Motel in Robinson, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case Saturday. “Are you alright, bud?” Rakesh Ehagaban, 51, asked a man holding a gun...
A super harvest moon to rise and dazzle viewers
No guarantees, but check out the moon Monday night. It may be a harvest moon worthy of Neil Young. The view depends on the weather and location, a National Weather Service meteorologist and a University of Pittsburgh astronomy professor told TribLive. Barring an atmospheric anomaly, the moon should be visible...
Takeout chicken wing box helps state police identify suspect in Beaver County pursuit
A takeout box of chicken wings helped state police identify a man who fled from a traffic stop in Beaver County earlier this year. State police on Thursday filed nearly two dozen charges against Michael Richard Doran, 43, of Beaver Falls. According to state police, a trooper tried to stop...
Western Pa. hunters face new rules as state tries to manage chronic wasting disease in deer
Chronic wasting disease used to be something that was far away for most Western Pennsylvania deer hunters, centered in the south-central region of the state. No longer. In 2024, parts of southern Armstrong County and eastern Westmoreland County became part of a management area after wild deer in each area...
Monroeville Convention Center hosts 5th annual Pittsburgh Gaming Expo this weekend
Organizers have pressed the start button on the fifth annual Pittsburgh Gaming Expo. Festivities kicked off Friday afternoon at the Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Plaza Blvd. The event continues Saturday and Sunday with pinball tournaments and cosplay contests set for both days. Brian Wissner, expo co-founder and co-owner, expects...
‘Bad for everybody’: Western Pa. labor leaders pans federal shutdown
With the U.S. government shut down, thousands of unionized federal workers throughout Western Pennsylvania are wondering whether they’ll still be allowed to do their jobs — and, if so, when they’ll get paid for it. Elizabeth McPeak, first vice president of the National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 34, on Friday...
PennWest enrollment declines slightly but is ‘steadying,’ official says
During her first semester at Kent State University in fall 2023, Alison Jones realized she wanted to attend a smaller university where she would be able to make her mark. “Kent was a little too big for me,” said Jones, 20, of Edinboro. “Transferring to Edinboro, there’s obviously a lot...
Heritage, heart — and a good offer — lead folks back to family homesteads
Editor’s note: This is the second in an occasional series on real estate market trends in Western Pennsylvania. Across Western Pennsylvania, families are finding their way back to houses that once belonged to parents and grandparents, drawn by a mix of nostalgia, practicality and economics. Whether it’s the comfort of...
Missing pilot found dead with crashed ultralight aircraft after search in Indiana County
A Blair County man was found dead Thursday morning after an ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed in an Indiana County corn field. The body of David Edward Wittmer, 75, of Logan Township and his aircraft were found after 10:30 a.m. Indiana County Coroner Jerry L. Overman Jr. said the...
