Liberal revolt threatens to derail House Democrats on their first day in charge
WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders faced the prospect of a liberal rebellion on their first day in charge after prominent Democrats said they would oppose a package of rules changes endorsed by incoming speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said they would vote...
U.S. Catholic bishops to pray over clergy sexual abuse scandal
MUNDELEIN, Ill. — U.S.-based Roman Catholic bishops are gathering Wednesday for a weeklong retreat near Chicago on the church sexual abuse scandal that organizers say will focus on prayer and spiritual reflection and not formulating policy. The retreat begins a day after The Associated Press reported that the Vatican blocked...
Sheriff: Unknown if race was factor in Texas girl’s slaying
HOUSTON — A Texas sheriff said Wednesday that he’s aware of claims by activists that a weekend shooting that killed a 7-year-old black girl was racially motivated but adds that it remains unclear what prompted the shooting and investigators are considering all possibilities. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during...
Hospital price lists go public online
A new federal mandate could make it a little easier for health care consumers to shop around, or at least get a clearer idea of what hospitals charge. A rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that took effect Tuesday requires all hospitals to publish standard price lists...
Autism Speaks meeting will lay out 2019 plans, volunteer opportunities
Officials from Autism Speaks will get together to begin planning the 2019 Pittsburgh Autism Speaks Walk on Tuesday, Jan. 8, and they want to hear from the public. The organization will host a 2019 Pittsburgh Committee Interest Night, 6 p.m., Tuesday at its Pittsburgh office, 15 27th St. in the...
Daryl Dragon, of ‘The Captain and Tennille,’ dead at 76
NEW YORK — Daryl Dragon, the cap-wearing “Captain” of “The Captain and Tennille” who teamed with then-wife Toni Tennille on such easy listening hits as “Love Will Keep Us Together” and “Muskrat Love,” died Wednesday at age 76. Dragon died of renal failure at a hospice in Prescott, Ariz., according...
Penn State moves to trademark the Happy Valley nickname
STATE COLLEGE — It’s sometimes called State College and sometimes University Park, but Penn State wants to ensure it holds the trademark when it’s called Happy Valley. The Centre Daily Times reported Wednesday the university asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last month to trademark the term that refers...
Smoky flight over Greensburg was fun practice run for aerobatic pilot
Greensburg-area residents who saw a small plane flying in circles and leaving a smoke trail in its wake Sunday afternoon weren’t witnessing a pilot in distress, a skywriter or an out-of-season crop duster. Pilot David Kahley, who has been flying small planes for more than 40 years, said he made...
The Housing Authority of Pittsburgh helped 21 families purchase homes in 2018
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh in 2018 helped 21 low-income families – five more than in 2017 – purchase homes. Mayor Bill Peduto’s office reported the families purchased homes ranging in price from $67,500 to $143,500 in Hazelwood, the North Side, Lincoln-Larimer, the South Side, the Hill...
Trump rips Mattis’ performance as the Pentagon seeks stability
WASHINGTON — President Trump criticized former defense secretary Jim Mattis’ performance Wednesday, as acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan stepped into his new job and the U.S. military sought to make sense of the president’s murky plans for the war in Syria. Trump questioned how well Mattis had served as Pentagon...
With Zinke out, former lobbyist David Bernhardt becomes acting secretary at Interior
WASHINGTON — As Ryan Zinke left his post heading the Interior Department on Wednesday, the agency’s No. 2 official, David Bernhardt, joined President Trump at a meeting of Cabinet officials. Bernhardt, who has been serving as deputy Interior secretary since his confirmation last July, is taking over as acting Interior...
Homeless couple suspected of making meth lab in Vandergrift house pleads guilty to lesser charges
A homeless couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to a meth lab police said they found at a Vandergrift house in October. Tia Charmagne Klazon, 32, of Arnold, and Kiel Thomas Freeman, 32, of Vandergrift, were each sentenced to serve six to 23 months in jail and two years...
Westmoreland County Community College hosts express enrollment
Students seeking last-minute enrollment opportunities in higher education can explore options at Westmoreland County Community College this weekend. WCCC will host express enrollment days Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at its Youngwood campus and centers in Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, New Kensington, Murrysville, Uniontown and Indiana. Express enrollment days...
Owners hop at chance to bring back Froggy’s Bar in Bloomfield
Froggy’s, once a legendary bar in Downtown Pittsburgh, is looking to get hopping again in Bloomfield. Five owners bought the former Pollock’s Cafe building on Liberty Avenue with a goal of re-creating the lively place on Market Street where drinks flowed and large crowds congregated. “Froggy’s was known as a...
Former Hempfield student admits having weapons in car
A former Hempfield Area School District student will serve three years on probation after police found 16 weapons in his car parked at the high school in March. Rocco P. Valore, 18, of Greensburg pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of possession of weapons on school property. Police conducted a...
Man attacks McDonald’s employee in Florida, viral video shows
Brenda Biandudi doesn’t normally go to fast food chains, but it was New Year’s Eve and she needed somewhere to use the restroom and buy a drink. So Biandudi stopped at a McDonald’s in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Sunday afternoon. She noticed it was nearly empty inside, save for a...
Bolivar man accused of assaulting, threatening ex-girlfriend
A 21-year-old Bolivar man was arrested for allegedly breaking into an ex-girlfriend’s residence in Seward early New Year’s Day, then assaulting her and threatening to burn her house. Darion A. Martin was arraigned on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, terroristic threats, possession of prohibited weapons, intimidating a...
Vandergrift woman injured in crash with unloaded school bus in Allegheny Township
A Vandergrift woman was seriously injured when the small pickup she was driving crashed into a school bus in Allegheny Township on Wednesday afternoon, township police said. There were no children on the small bus when the accident occurred at 3:45 p.m. collision along Hyde Park Road near the AutoZone...
Joyride in stolen Jeep lands man in Westmoreland County Prison, cops say
A 26-year-old man accused of taking a joyride last month across parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania in a customized Jeep is now temporarily parked in the Westmoreland County Prison. Frank A. Porter, of Smithton, is being held on $75,000 bond as he awaits a Jan. 15 preliminary hearing for allegedly stealing...
Seven Springs, Hidden Valley report best December since 2010
Seven Springs and Hidden Valley ski resorts had their best December in years, thanks to an early cold snap that let them crank up the snow making machines. “We got a really strong start. We were really aggressive with snow making, starting Nov. 15,” said Alex Moser, director of marketing...
Woman, 70, accused of pointing gun at man walking his dog in New Kensington
A 70-year-old New Kensington woman has been charged with one count of simple assault after police say she pointed a gun at a man who was walking his dog near her home. Larry Alvino told police he was walking his dog along Earl Avenue toward Valley Street when he heard...
Pittsburgh warns City Hall visitors that guns are prohibited in building
Pittsburgh began preparing Wednesday for an armed protest scheduled for Monday outside the City-County Building by posting signs for a first time warning visitors that weapons are not permitted inside the Downtown building. Tim McNulty, spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto, said firearms have always been prohibited in the Grant Street...
Arnold man accused of crashing into New Ken Subway could face jail time, fines
An Arnold man who police claim crashed a car into a New Kensington Subway last month is facing several traffic citations, but no criminal charges, according to court records. New Kensington police cited Brandon Tyaire Jackson, 22, with reckless driving, failing to drive at a safe speed, failing to report...
Police: Man fires into Oklahoma City Taco Bell over sauce
OKLAHOMA CITY — Police in Oklahoma City say they are looking for a man who fired a gun into a Taco Bell after he didn’t get the sauce he wanted. Authorities say the confrontation happened after 1 a.m. Monday. No one was hurt, but a drive-thru window was shot out....
Pete Davidson accuses Louis C.K. of trying to get him fired from ‘SNL’
Pete Davidson kicked 2018 to the curb on Monday night with a stand-up set about breakups, tattoos and Louis C.K. The “Saturday Night Live” star performed in Boston on New Year’s Eve and had some choice words for the fellow comedian, who recently made headlines for a stand-up set mocking...
