Ammunition in Rose’s pocket, stolen guns in car irrelevant in Rosfeld case, DA says
Prosecutors in the case against Michael Rosfeld argued Thursday that it is irrelevant whether Antwon Rose II was in a car with a stolen gun or had ammunition in his pocket when he was shot and killed by then-Officer Michael Rosfeld last year. None of that should have any bearing...
Armstrong County drug task force arrests 3, uncovers stolen handgun, in Ford City
The Armstrong County drug task force arrested three individuals in Ford City on drug-related charges Tuesday. Laval Bruce, 23, of Pittsburgh, Ericka Jean Golden, 23, of Braddock and Melissa Jane Kladny, 47, of Ford City, will face various charges regarding possession of and intent to deliver controlled substances, as well...
Pennsylvania man says emotional support alligator is ‘just like a dog’
YORK HAVEN —A Pennsylvania man says his emotional support alligator helps him deal with his depression. Joie Henney, 65, said his registered emotional support animal named Wally likes to snuggle and give hugs, despite being a 5-foot-long alligator. The York Haven man said he received approval from his doctor to...
4 Nevada killings spook neighbors who don’t know motive
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nervous neighbors were shining floodlights on their property at night in a northern Nevada community where Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken were killed this month in slayings that authorities blame on a 19-year-old from El Salvador said to be in the U.S. illegally. Residents also were...
Florida school joins list of universities that have had to withdraw acceptance letters
College acceptance notifications are occasion for celebration; but there are some exceptions. The Tampa Bay Tribune reported that this year’s exception was the University of South Florida, where someone hit a send button that sent email notifications soaring through the ether to some 680 applicants who had applied to the...
PennDOT crews respond to large crack in Penn Township road
Drivers headed through Penn Township should avoid Paintertown Road between Route 130 and Simpson Road, until PennDOT crews are able to address a slide that took place on Thursday morning. Police chief John Otto said police were notified about the road by a motorist shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday morning....
Vandergrift proposes more handicap parking spaces for residents
Vandergrift council will vote on an amendment to expand the number of handicap parking spaces in town during their regular meeting on Feb. 4, at the borough building, 109 Grant Ave. “The intent of council is to expand the handicap parking opportunities in our town,” said Larry Loperfito, borough solicitor....
Trump’s shutdown gift to Pelosi: a unified Democratic caucus
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has done something remarkable in the government shutdown: He’s unified the diverse new House Democratic majority firmly behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It’s not even about the wall at this point. Democrats are sticking together with an unusual amount of unity as a way to strengthen...
Trump, GOP embrace amid political fallout from shutdown
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. — As President Donald Trump’s approval rating falls, the Republican Party is grasping him ever tighter. Gathering in New Mexico, the Republican National Committee’s governing body will take the unusual step Friday of voting to declare the party’s “undivided support” for Trump and his “effective presidency.”...
2 cold weather shelters open in Westmoreland County
Two cold weather shelters are open in Westmoreland County when the temperatures dip below 25 degrees at night. The shelters — in Greensburg and Latrobe — will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through March 31 for those who are homeless or others whose homes aren’t adequately heated...
Europe court orders Italy to pay damages to Amanda Knox
MILAN — Europe’s human rights court on Thursday ordered Italy to pay Amanda Knox financial damages for police failure to provide legal assistance and a translator during a long night of questioning following the Nov. 1, 2007 murder of her British roommate. But the court said there was insufficient evidence...
24 neighborhood nonprofits share in $341K ‘Small and Mighty’ grants
The Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-Op plans to spend a $15,000 infusion on expanding a neighborhood nutrition program and planning a co-op grocery store and farmers market in Homestead. Raising Achievement in Monroeville and Pitcairn, a volunteer-led organization known as RAMP, plans to offer $1,000 stipends to...
Pitt lacks details other Pennsylvania colleges included in hazing report
Reports documenting alleged incidents of hazing at the University of Pittsburgh main campus in Oakland lack the detail included in reports from other schools across the state. University officials said they provided information mandated by a new anti-hazing law that requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to post public, online reports...
$15,000 allegedly stolen from Hempfield man, sweepstakes company warning against fraud
A sweepstakes company is warning people to watch out for a scam that caused a local man to have $15,000 taken from his bank account, police said. Scammers claiming to be from the United States Sweepstakes and Fulfillment Co. allegedly sent a mailer to a Hempfield Township man saying he...
Unloaded school bus involved in Murrysville crash
An unloaded school bus was involved in a crash Thursday morning in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The crash between the bus and a passenger vehicle on School Road North happened at 7:15 a.m. Traffic was being affected in the area while emergency responders worked to clear the...
Plummeting temperatures, gusty winds set to smack Pittsburgh region
Western Pennsylvania could see roughly an inch of snow in some places Thursday. A special weather statement issued early Thursday by the National Weather Service said temperatures have quickly dropped behind a cold front, allowing rain to transition to snow. A quick coating to near an inch of snow will...
Tarentum police searching for 2 people involved in hardware store theft
Tarentum Police are trying to identify two men accused of stealing a shovel from the Tarentum Hardware store on First Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Chief Bill Vakulick said. Security camera footage posted to the department’s Facebook page shows two men — one wearing a bright green, hooded sweatshirt and...
Flood advisory prompts Friday closure of Mon Wharf parking lot
Pittsburgh’s Public Parking Authority said it will close the Mon Wharf parking lot on Friday because of a flood advisory. The parking authority’s alert, issued Thursday, said all vehicles parked at the lot Thursday must be removed by 7 p.m. or face relocation. “Additional parking is available at the First...
Commerce chief asks why furloughed workers using food banks
NEW YORK (AP) — Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, one of the richest people in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, questioned Thursday why furloughed federal workers were using food banks instead of taking out loans to get through the monthlong partial government shutdown. Ross was asked on CNBC to comment on reports...
Trump postpones State of Union address until after shutdown
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he is postponing his State of the Union address until the partial government shutdown ends, yielding after a weeklong showdown with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Following a high-stakes game of dare and double-dare, Trump conceded Wednesday night that “no venue that can compete with...
Pittsburgh Police: Elderly man struck by hit-and-run driver in South Side Slopes
A pedestrian believed to be in his 70s was in critical condition after being struck by a hit-and-run driver, according to Pittsburgh police. The incident happened at about 9:40 in the 2300 block of Arlington Avenue, according to Public Safety spokeswoman Alicia George. She said that “This is an apparent...
When drones get near airports: Answers to common questions
The ability of drones to interfere with airliners — and inconvenience their passengers — has been demonstrated on two continents, and the problem is likely to get worse as the number of small, unmanned devices multiply. Law enforcement authorities are trying to figure out who flew a drone so high...
Ken Starr urges trust in system for investigating presidents
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who spearheaded the 1990s investigation into President Bill Clinton, urged public trust in the checks and balances established for holding presidential administrations accountable, saying Wednesday that the system remains widely underappreciated. Starr’s comments came ahead of a public lecture he delivered at...
Arrest made in missing Dravosburg woman’s death after her body was found
Allegheny County police arrested a man Wednesday night in connection with the death of Dravosburg woman who had been missing since early Novermber. Dale Cooper, 36, no address given, was apprehended in Homestead around 8:50 Wednesday by county officers and Homestead and Munhall police. He faces charges of criminal homicide,...
Surgery patients return from Mexico with deadly superbug
Tamika Capone thought she was making a smart call by traveling to Mexico for bariatric surgery. Her doctor had urged her to have the procedure to reduce her out-of-control weight and blood pressure. But her husband’s health insurance would not cover the $17,500 bill. After a friend got the surgery...
