Trafford centenarian was driver to rich and famous
Milan “Jemo” Drakulic Sr. of Trafford got to drive famous people as the head chauffeur for the former Westinghouse Electric Corp. when its headquarters were in downtown Pittsburgh. “He was the youngest of about six chauffeurs for Westinghouse and then became its head chauffeur around 1965,” said his daughter, Maryanne...
Measles outbreak grows in northwest U.S., 30 cases reported
VANCOUVER, Wash. — The number of confirmed measles cases near Portland grew to 30 on Friday — an outbreak boosted by lower-than-normal vaccination rates in what has been called an anti-vaccination U.S. “hot spot.” Public health officials in southwest Washington, just across the Columbia River from Portland, said people may...
Ex-teacher charged with trying to support Islamic State
WASHINGTON — A former substitute teacher from Texas has been indicted on federal charges alleging he tried to provide material support to the Islamic State, the Justice Department said Friday. Warren Christopher Clark, 34, appeared in court in Houston on Friday and was ordered held without bail. Clark was captured...
St. Louis officer charged after deadly game with revolver
ST. LOUIS — A male St. Louis police officer was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a female officer during what was described as a deadly game with a revolver. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charge against Nathaniel Hendren, 29, in the death of 24-year-old...
Why Venezuela military leaders are standing behind Maduro
CARACAS, Venezuela — Even as Venezuelans fill the streets rallying behind opposition leader Juan Guaido and the list of foreign nations recognizing him as the country’s rightful president grows, the top members of the all-important military are sending a different message: Forget about it. In back-to-back proclamations Thursday, high-ranking generals...
Alabama inmate escaped prison by hiding in furniture trailer
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An inmate serving a life sentence for human trafficking escaped from an Alabama prison by hiding inside a trailer used to haul furniture, state officials said Friday. Law enforcement authorities are continuing to search for 30-year-old Corey Aris Davis, who escaped from the St. Clair Correctional Facility...
St. Louis officer charged after deadly game with revolver
ST. LOUIS — A male St. Louis police officer was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a female officer during what was described as a deadly game with a revolver. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charge against Nathaniel Hendren, 29, in the death of 24-year-old...
Experts: Decent chance Van Dyke’s sentence will be tossed
CHICAGO — Some legal experts believe there’s a reasonable chance the prison sentence of less than seven years imposed on a white Chicago police officer last week for second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times could be tossed out and a new sentencing ordered....
Fire report could complicate PG&E bankruptcy decision
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A state fire investigation’s conclusion that Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. equipment was not to blame for a 2017 wildfire that killed 22 people in Northern California wine country could hamper lawsuits by victims of the blaze and complicate the utility’s plans to file for bankruptcy. In...
Catholic faith, Ukrainian roots were bedrock of Irwin man’s life
Being a Catholic with Ukrainian roots was the bedrock of Merle Morozowich’s life. It led him to a life of service in the League of Ukrainian Catholics, led his children to fond memories of the Pittsburgh Folk Festival and even led to a meeting with Pope John Paul II. “Both...
Trump signs bill to end government shutdown
WASHINGTON —Submitting to mounting pressure amid growing disruption, President Donald Trump signed a bill Friday to reopen the government for three weeks, backing down from his demand that Congress give him money for his border wall before federal agencies get back to work. Standing alone in the Rose Garden, Trump...
Why Roger Stone is always pictured in a pose Richard Nixon made famous
Roger Stone emerged from a federal courthouse in Florida on Friday, raised his arms wide, and flashed two peace signs to the mass of press and protesters assembled just for him. The longtime Trump friend and adviser had just posted a $250,000 bond after being charged by the special counsel’s...
Whole Foods recalls products with baby spinach
Grocery chain Whole Foods on Wednesday announced a voluntary recall of numerous prepared food items containing baby spinach because of possible salmonella contamination. Whole Foods said in a notice the potentially contaminated products were sold in eight states and contain baby spinach and mesclun from Satur Farms - a Cutchogue,...
Water main break in Collier affects Baldwin Road intersection
Pennsylvania American Water crews were working Saturday in Collier after a water main break. Flaggers were directing traffic on Baldwin Road at McMichael Road, which previously had been closed. County dispatchers said the closure began around 7:30 p.m. Friday. Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael...
Militia leader sentenced to 30 years in Kansas bomb plot
WICHITA, Kan. — Two militia members convicted of taking part in a foiled plot to massacre Muslims in southwest Kansas were sentenced Friday to decades in prison during an emotional court hearing in which one of the targeted victims pleaded: “Please don’t hate us.” U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren sentenced...
Students perform, learn from cast at Pittsburgh ‘Hamilton’ programVideo
The story of Alexander Hamilton was brought to life on Friday as more than 2,500 students from the region were given the opportunity to attend a special matinee performance of “Hamilton” at the Benedum after spending weeks in their classrooms learning about the statesman and other Founding Fathers. The students,...
Senate passes bill to reopen government; group will negotiate border security deal
WASHINGTON — The Latest on the partial government shutdown (all times local): 5:25 p.m. The Senate has appointed its members of a conference committee that will negotiate a border security agreement between Congress and the White House over the next three weeks. President Donald Trump agreed Friday to reopen the...
PWSA awards $35.9 million in contracts for lead line replacement in 2019
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority board of directors on Friday approved contracts totaling $35.9 million for the replacement of lead water lines in 2019. PWSA plans to replace up to 3,400 lead lead lines this year. Board members unanimously approved the following contracts for construction and construciton oversight:Independent Enterprises...
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority aims to replace 3,400 waterlines in 2019
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority will replace at least 2,800 lead waterlines this year and try to finish an additional 600 before year’s end, the executive director said Friday. Authority board members during a meeting unanimously approved construction contracts totaling $35.9 million for the lead program this year. Executive...
Westmoreland YWCA founder Kuyat dedicated life to service, education, family
Aside from her children, Reta Snodgrass Kuyat’s proudest accomplishment was founding the YWCA Westmoreland County. “Mom started with meetings in our house, and then in a tiny storefront on Main Street across from church,” said her daughter, Karen Nagy of Oakland Park, Fla. Her mother was ahead of her time,...
Residents argue for and against Pittsburgh gun ban during public hearingVideo
Scores of people stood for hours Thursday night in a reconfigured first floor of Pittsburgh’s City-County Building to argue for three minutes each for or against the city’s proposed firearms ban. They included military veterans, attorneys, moms, dads, friends of people killed in Squirrel Hill’s Tree of Life synagogue on...
200 reported missing after Brazil dam collapse
SAO PAULO — An iron ore tailings dam collapsed in southeastern Brazil on Friday, inundating a nearby community in mining waste and leaving an estimated 200 missing, according to Minas Gerais state firefighters. Brazilian mining company Vale SA said in a statement that tailings reached the community of Vila Ferteco...
Allegheny County ranks 2nd for most insurance fraud cases in Pa.
Allegheny County ranks second among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in prevalence of insurance fraud, according to cases filed in recent years through the state’s judicial system. A report issued Friday by the Administrative Office 0f Pennsylvania Courts indicates there were 348 insurance fraud cases filed in Allegheny from 2013 through 2017,...
Jeannette couple sentenced in 2016 North Huntingdon armed robbery case
A Jeannette couple pleaded guilty Friday to charges they shot a man during an armed robbery more than two years ago in North Huntingdon. Romel Crosby and Brittany Kruel, according to police, lured their victim, 32-year-old Ronald Hines Jr. of Penn Township, to an alley in the Westmoreland City section...
Mattress Factory art museum taps Hayley Haldeman, wife of Conor Lamb, as interim director
The Mattress Factory contemporary art museum has tapped Jones Day attorney Hayley Haldeman for its new interim leader as the popular tourist destination in Pittsburgh’s North Side rebounds from allegations that supervisors retaliated against employees who reported sexual harassment. Haldeman is a litigator based in Pittsburgh who specializes in complex...
