Pittsburgh moving hearing on gun ban to first floor of City-County Building, Downtown
Citing public safety concerns, Pittsburgh officials Wednesday announced a change of location for Thursday’s highly anticipated public hearing on a proposed gun ban. The hearing will be held on the first floor of the City-County Building on Grant Street, Downtown, but the city will provide seating only for disabled people,...
Ligonier bead class helps people see their valueVideo
Making jewelry from beads is a hobby for some. For Nettie Wray, 47, of Ligonier, it has helped her heal. Wray began crafting with beads after an accident left her unable to continue her job as a truck driver. She found the craft gave her a renewed sense of value...
North Huntingdon store top Sheetz site for fundraiser for needy children
The Sheetz Inc. convenience store at Ronda Court in North Huntingdon will offer free coffee and fountain drinks Thursday as a reward for customers and employees raising more money for a charitable fundraising initiative in December than any of its 583 other stores in Pennsylvania and five other states. The...
State AG: School threat reporting system gets hundreds of tips in its first week
A statewide school-based anonymous reporting system for threats of potential violence fielded 615 tips in its first week of operation, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. The Safe2Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is a program enabling students, teachers, school administrators and others to detect and report potential threats of violence...
Navy SEAL commander arraigned in alleged Iraq war crime cover-up
SAN DIEGO — A general court martial began with the arraignment of a Navy SEAL platoon commander Tuesday for allegedly failing to report war crimes that prosecutors say were committed by another SEAL under his command. Lt. Jacob X. Portier was in a San Diego military courtroom where he was...
In a surprise move, Pennsylvania is throwing the door open for industrial hemp production
In a surprising turn, Pennsylvania is throwing the door wide open for industrial hemp production — something the state, or the country for that matter, has not seen since before World War II. State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said Tuesday that Pennsylvania submitted a plan to the Department of Agriculture...
Allegheny County Sheriff dog tracks down suspect in Munhall shooting
A Pittsburgh man suspected in a recent Munhall shooting was arrested Wednesday morning by Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies. Santonyo Lewis, 44, of the city’s North Side, tried to elude deputies but was tracked down by the sheriff’s police dog, Woody. Lewis was wanted on charges stemming from an incident Jan....
Ruffsdale man pleads guilty to drunk driving, causing crash
A Ruffsdale man will serve up to five years in prison for causing a vehicle crash along the railroad tracks in East Huntingdon that severely injured his two passengers. John Woodward, 39, pleaded guilty this week to drunk driving and two counts of causing a crash resulting in injuries. Police...
Parts of Flight 93 memorial remain open during federal government shutdown
While not all features are accessible at the Flight 93 memorial near Shanksville, visitors who want to honor the men and women who lost their lives Sept. 11, 2001, can still do so during the government shutdown. “Weather permitting, the gates were left open, so you can still come in...
Police: 5 fatally shot inside Florida bank, suspect arrested
SEBRING, Fla. — A gunman opened fire Wednesday inside a Florida bank, killing five people before surrendering to a SWAT team, police said. The shooter called police to report that he had fired shots inside the bank in Sebring, about 80 miles southeast of Tampa. Negotiations failed to persuade the...
Greensburg state trooper suspended after allegedly threatening wife with handgun
A state trooper working out of the Greensburg station has been suspended without pay after he was arrested for allegedly threatening his wife with a handgun at their Plum home. Scott Mang, 32, broke down two doors in the house and threatened to kill his wife and himself with her...
Threats, image of Monessen trial witness posted on social media
A Westmoreland County prosecutor Wednesday said an investigation is underway to learn who took a courtroom photograph of a witness during an attempted murder trial last week, an image that was posted online with an apparent threat. Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said it appeared the photo of the alleged...
Anglers to get back Tarentum bait and tackle shop, along with its knowledge
After an October blaze shut down the only local bait and tackle store between Harmar and Kittanning, Allegheny Angler in Tarentum will soon be back in business. The owners, who will be in their 31st year of selling minnows, shiners, worms and rods and reels of all kinds — as...
Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen delaying testimony to Congress
WASHINGTON— President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will not testify before a House committee next month as scheduled, his adviser said Wednesday, depriving Democrats for now of a prime opportunity to scrutinize Trump, his links to Russia and payments to buy the silence of a porn star. Cohen indefinitely delayed...
Guy Costa to retire from public service for 2nd time, this time for good
Guy Costa parlayed a part-time job during college in the 1970s sweeping out the old Civic Arena into a public service career that spanned 40 years. Costa, 63, of Squirrel Hill announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of March. It is the second time Costa has retired...
Venezuela’s Juan Guaido declares himself president amid protests
CARACAS — Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in a defiant speech Wednesday before masses of anti-government demonstrators who took to the streets to demand President Nicolas Maduro’s removal — a bold move that was immediately recognized by the Trump administration and a growing number of other...
Pittsburgh police save baby who wasn’t breathing
A baby who wasn’t breathing prompted quick action by two Pittsburgh police officers and is recovering, according to a post on Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Zone 5 Facebook page. The officers, Jena Bednarowicz and Bryce Valencic, were on patrol Sunday in the city’s Larimer neighborhood when they were dispatched to...
Delmont food bank gains food windfall after winter storm fails to materialize
The fact that Winter Storm Harper was a bust turned out to be a boon for the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The Delmont food bank got a sizeable donation from West Penn Power over the weekend when the storm failed to materialize and the utility was stuck with 16,000 pounds...
Norwin seeks nominees for distinguished alum honors
The Norwin Alumni & Friends Association is seeking nominations by Feb. 1 for the Distinguished Alumni Award to be presented at the third annual Knight of Distinguished Alumni Recognition Dinner on May 23 at the Stratigos Banquet Center, North Huntingdon. To be eligible for the award a person must have...
Hempfield man charged for exposing himself to convenience store clerk
State police on Wednesday charged a Hempfield man with exposing himself to a clerk at a nearby convenience store in August. Troopers said Paul Aaron Montella, 33, recognized himself on surveillance images released to the media in December and turned himself in. He is charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness...
Mamma bear, 4 cubs get new home in McKean County
The Pennsylvania Game Commission relocated a female bear and her four cubs spending the winter in a den located against a home in Galeton, Potter County. The bear is believed to have hibernated in a den against the same house before, according to a report from the game commission on...
Pitt Medical School leader transitions to research
A physician who led the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine to national prominence in research circles announced Wednesday he is stepping aside from his post as senior vice chancellor for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine. Pitt officials said Dr. Arthur S. Levine, who came to...
Police: Mother of dead baby denied knowing she was pregnant
PHOENIX — Police say a worker accused of putting her newborn in a bathroom trash can at an Amazon distribution center in Phoenix, where the child was found dead, told investigators she didn’t know she was pregnant. Samantha Vivier of Tonopah, Ariz., was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of unlawful disposal...
Nancy Pelosi denies Trump access to House for State of the Union
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday derailed President Trump’s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, forcing the president to put his views before the nation another way. She said he can’t have access to the House chamber for the speech until the government...
East Deer bridge near Sheetz finished, open to traffic
Work to replace the bridge over Crawford Run on Freeport Road in East Deer is finished and the new bridge is open to traffic, the contractor announced Wednesday. Work on the bridge, near Sheetz, started in July. It was scheduled to be finished in December, but was delayed into January...
