Art Institute of Pittsburgh running out of money, federal overseer says
A federal receiver controlling the finances of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh is nearly out of cash to manage the entities he’s tasked to oversee. Mark Dottore, the Cleveland-based receiver in the case, wrote in a Feb. 7 letter to the Department of Education that he has $3.8 million on...
Penn Twp. man loved golf, Albanian family roots
Theodore Peshkopia came home one day with a surprising announcement for his wife. “He said he and a partner had bought a 100-acre property in Penn Township,” said Joanne Peshkopia. Considering that Mr. Peshkopia was an elementary school principal at the time, his wife wasn’t sure what to make of...
Lindsey Vonn retires as 1 of greatest skiers of all time
Lindsey Vonn competed in her last race Sunday, ending a ski career in which she has made herself one of the greatest athletes of all time. The Associated Press has covered her exploits, from the Olympics to the world championships to the annual World Cup circuit, from the beginning. Starting...
Truck spills load on Parkway West, snarls traffic between Green Tree, Robinson
A truck lost its load along the Parkway West midday Thursday, snarling traffic for hours while crews worked to clear metal debris from the interstate, officials said. By 5 p.m., about five hours after the incident, Interstate 376 reopened to traffic after closing to a single lane in both directions...
Thousands speak out on legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania
Thousands of Pennsylvanians have filed online comments in response to Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s call for feedback on the pros and cons of legalizing recreational marijuana. Officials said Fetterman, who recently launched a 67-county statewide listening tour to gauge public sentiment on the issue, drew a crowd of more than...
Pittsburgh, Lamar Advertising bicker in court over Mt. Washington billboard
Legal arguments reignited Thursday over the large Lamar Advertising sign looming over Pittsburgh from atop Mt. Washington. A Pittsburgh attorney argued that Lamar Advertising has operated a “blatantly illegal” sign for more than three years, while representatives from Lamar contended the city is violating its due process, property and free...
Cops: Suspect ditched bag of kittens during Westmoreland County chase
A sack of kittens discarded by a retail theft suspect during a police chase are now safe at a Greensburg animal shelter. Officers returned to the Jeannette home where the chase began Wednesday, when 37-year-old Thomas Campbell ran as police sought to question him for a series of recent thefts...
Clarion PennDOT crews recognized for effective, green management of salt stockpiles
A PennDOT District staff in Western Pennsylvania has been recognized for its efforts to effectively manage winter road salt storage and to be environmentally conscious about its application. Crews from PennDOT’s District 10 in Clarion County received five of 55 “Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting” awards from the Florida-based Salt Institute....
Suspect charged with murder in NYPD friendly fire death
NEW YORK — A robbery suspect with a long rap sheet and a habit of bizarre stunts was charged Wednesday with murder in the death of a New York City police detective struck by friendly fire while responding to a stick-up Tuesday night. Detective Brian Simonsen died after being hit...
Mon Valley waterline breaks again, water buffaloes set up in affected area
The water woes for residents in Charleroi, Monessen, North Charleroi and Speers just continue as the Borough of Charleroi Water Authority reported a landslide caused two more waterline breaks Wednesday as about 3,000 customers in those communities remain under a boil water advisory. Tribune-Review news partner WPXI said the new...
Westmoreland water authority will seek repayment from gas driller for additional water tests
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said Wednesday the agency will seek repayment for the cost of water quality tests conducted this week at the Beaver Run Reservoir in the aftermath of a pressure drop at a deep gas well on the property. “We increased our testing to every day,...
Michael Avenatti accused of hiding millions of dollars from bankruptcy court
LOS ANGELES — Michael Avenatti hid millions of dollars from the court overseeing his law firm’s bankruptcy and used much of the money for personal compensation, a former partner alleges in new court records. The firm, Eagan Avenatti, was required by law to file monthly reports on its income and...
House committee weighs mandatory background checks for gun sales
WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee spent hours debating a measure Wednesday that would require background checks for all gun sales and most gun transfers within the United States, the most significant gun-control legislation to be brought before Congress in years. The committee spent more than eight hours debating the...
Aliquippa man pleads guilty in federal court to selling cocaine in Allegheny County
An Aliquippa man pleaded guilty to having and selling cocaine in Allegheny County for several months in 2017. Rickee Dawkins, 52, was initially charged with five other men for a conspiracy to violate federal drug laws. He accepted a plea agreement. He was the last of the six to go...
Federal jury finds Beaver Falls man guilty of drug sales
A federal jury in Pittsburgh deliberated for six hours on Wednesday before finding a Beaver Falls man guilty of violating five drug laws. According to federal records, Anthony Taylor was accused of a conspiracy that sold almost 18 ounces of cocaine and three-quarters of an ounce of the synthetic painkiller...
Pittsburgh jury indicts 2 in bank robbery spree case; 3rd suspect to plead guilty
A federal grand jury this week indicted two of three people accused of a string of armed bank robberies in Pittsburgh and its suburbs in October, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said y. Nicole Wallace, 34, of Carnegie and Edward Hooten, 42, of Pittsburgh face charges that carry maximum sentences...
Perennial presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche dead at 96
LEESBURG, Va. — Lyndon LaRouche Jr., the political extremist who ran for president in every election from 1976 to 2004, including a campaign waged from federal prison, has died. He was 96. LaRouche’s political action committee confirmed Wednesday on its website that LaRouche died a day earlier. The cult-like figure,...
Judge finds Paul Manafort lied to investigators in Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Paul Manafort intentionally lied to investigators and a federal grand jury in the special counsel in the Russia probe, a judge ruled Wednesday. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson was another loss for the former Trump campaign chairman, who faces years in prison in two...
Inspiration for ‘Pittsburgh Dad’ video series dies
The inspiration for the Steel City-based YouTube series “Pittsburgh Dad” died on Monday. Greensburg native Curt Wootton announced on the “Pittsburgh Dad” Facebook page on Wednesday that his father, Keith Wootton, passed away earlier in the week. Curt has portrayed the “Pittsburgh Dad” character since 2011 on YouTube, posting videos...
Fired Pittsburgh police officer plans to sue city, detective
The attorney for a fired Pittsburgh police officer said Wednesday he plans to sue the city and a police detective for malicious prosecution, claiming the detective lied in court. Robert Kramer, 29, was fired in 2017 following an incident in which he was accused of pointing a silver revolver at...
Ex-W.Va. Supreme Court justice Allen Loughry gets 2 years for corruption
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former West Virginia Supreme Court justice who had a $32,000 blue suede couch in his office and was at the center of an impeachment and corruption scandal was sentenced to two years in federal prison Wednesday. “I have not seen evidence of remorse,” U.S. District Judge...
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette union files unfair labor action against publisher
The union representing Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newsroom workers on Wednesday filed unfair labor practice charges against Publisher John Robinson Block for what witnesses described as a “berserk” newsroom meltdown over the weekend. Block intimidated staff members when he stormed into the North Shore newsroom Saturday night, ranting and raving and acting...
Prison an ‘amazing experience’ for Bill Cosby, spokesman says
Since he was sentenced to prison in September, Bill Cosby has given up coffee, bread and dessert, and he’s dropped down to 195 pounds, according to the actor’s spokesman. “He said despite the circumstances, this is an amazing experience,” said Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s spokesman, in an interview with NBC10 in...
U.S. says ex-intel official Monica Witt defected to Iran, revealed secrets
WASHINGTON — A former U.S. Air Force counterintelligence specialist who defected to Iran despite warnings from the FBI has been charged with revealing classified information to the Tehran government, including the code name and secret mission of a Pentagon program, prosecutors said Wednesday. The Justice Department also accused Monica Elfriede...
Westmoreland water authority will seek repayment from gas driller for additional water tests
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said Wednesday the agency will seek repayment for the cost of water quality tests conducted this week at the Beaver Run Reservoir in the aftermath of a pressure drop at a deep gas well on the property. “We increased our testing to every day,...
