Top Stories category, Page 1009
Ben Roethlisberger ready for next chapter after Steelers’ career ends with playoff loss to Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ben Roethlisberger tried to motivate his teammates by downplaying their chances against the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC wild-card game. He labeled the Steelers the worst of the 14 teams that extended their season into mid-January. He talked of wanting to keep the game against...
Extra covid tests from feds unlikely to make much difference in Western Pa. schools
A White House plan to deliver millions of covid-19 tests to schools by the end of the month likely won’t change much in Western Pennsylvania. Those already using the tests appreciate the extra resources. The rest have no plans to change course. Burrell School District “is not interested in testing...
Projecting Hope to host free film festival at Pittsburgh Mills Cinemas
The Projecting Hope Film Festival, a showcase of faith-focused movies with uplifting themes, will be held at the GQT Pittsburgh Mills Cinema from Jan. 21 to 23. Admission to all seven of the films is free — with free popcorn, too. It will be the 18th Projecting Hope festival, which...
Steelers unable to extend Roethlisberger’s final season as Chiefs roll to victory
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dreams of the Pittsburgh Steelers delaying Ben Roethlisberger’s farewell for another week were alive and well early in the second quarter Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Then, reality set in and the fairytale finish to his 18-year NFL career turned into a nightmare. Patrick Mahomes upstaged...
Snowstorm’s effects felt throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond
When Latrobe wrestling coach Mark Mears flew with his team to Colorado to take on the 20th-ranked team in the nation, he figured they’d be back in time to watch the Steelers game Sunday night. In a thrilling upset, the Wildcats beat the powerhouse Pomona Panthers, 34-33. But now they’re...
Snow, ice blasts through South with powerful winter stormVideo
ATLANTA — A dangerous winter storm combining high winds and ice swept through parts of the U.S. Southeast on Sunday, knocking out power, felling trees and fences and coating roads with a treacherous, frigid glaze. Tens of thousands of customers were without power in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and...
Mehmet Oz is spending millions on TV to boost his Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. He’s not alone in an ultra-wealthy GOP fieldVideo
PHILADELPHIA — If you live in Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance you’ve been seeing Mehmet Oz on your television — and not like you used to. The celebrity surgeon and former talk show host known as “Dr. Oz” is pouring millions of dollars into campaign ads as he runs for...
St. Vladimir unveils initial plans to rebuild as bishop visits for Divine Liturgy
Just six weeks after a massive fire caused more than $4 million in damage to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, parishioners gathered for Divine Liturgy in the church social hall and devised a plan to move forward. “You can’t stop this church,” said Susan Podolski, 68, a lifelong member of...
For Oath Keepers and founder, Jan. 6 was weeks in the making
WILMINGTON, Del. — Two days after the presidential election on Nov. 2, 2020, the Oath Keepers were already convinced that victory had been stolen from President Donald Trump and members of the far-right militia group were making plans to march on the U.S. Capitol. “We aren’t getting through this without...
Texas rabbi: Captor grew ‘belligerent’ late in standoffVideo
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — A rabbi who was among four people held hostage at a Texas synagogue said Sunday that their armed captor grew “increasingly belligerent and threatening” toward the end of the 10-hour standoff, which ended with an FBI SWAT team rushing into the building and the captor’s death. Authorities...
3 minor injuries reported after car crashes into Murrysville home
Three people had minor injuries after a car crashed into a home Sunday morning, according to Pat O’Mahony, fire chief of Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. The crash happened at 7:45 a.m. on Pleasant Valley Road. O’Mahony said the driver of a Buick LaCrosse reported falling asleep before leaving...
Covid deaths and cases are rising again at U.S. nursing homes
Covid-19 infections are soaring again at U.S. nursing homes because of the omicron wave, and deaths are climbing too, leading to new restrictions on family visits and a renewed push to get more residents and staff members vaccinated and boosted. Nursing homes were the lethal epicenter of the pandemic early...
After Biden’s first year, the virus and disunity rage on
WASHINGTON — From the inaugural platform, President Joe Biden saw American sickness on two fronts — a disease of the national spirit and the one from the rampaging coronavirus — and he saw hope, because leaders always must see that. “End this uncivil war,” he implored Americans on Jan. 20,...
Winter storm to bring nearly a foot of snow to parts of Western Pennsylvania
Parts of Western Pennsylvania could see nearly a foot of snow in a winter storm getting underway Sunday afternoon and state officials urged citizens to stay home. Meteorologist Lee Hendricks at the National Weather Service in Moon said Sunday morning that the storm’s track shifted a bit and parts of...
ACLU report: Black defendants frequently assigned higher bail amounts than whites
District judges in Pennsylvania, including the 16 in Westmoreland County, imposed cash bail more frequently and in higher amounts for Black defendants in 2016 and 2017, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union. Common Pleas Court President Judge Rita Hathaway said she doesn’t think the color of...
Hostages safe after Texas synagogue standoff; captor dead
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Four hostages were spared and their captor was killed, ending an hourslong standoff at a Texas synagogue, where the man — a British national — could be heard ranting on a livestream and demanding the release of a Pakistani neuroscientist who was convicted of trying to kill...
A digital divide haunts schools adapting to virus hurdles
When April Schneider’s children returned to in-person classrooms this year, she thought they were leaving behind the struggles from more than a year of remote learning. No more problems with borrowed tablets. No more days of missed lessons because her kids couldn’t connect to their virtual schooling. But coronavirus cases...
Parents, retirees teach class as omicron sidelines faculty across nation
Clark County, Nevada, was short nearly 2,000 teachers this week. The district had 400 substitutes to cover them. That simple math problem forced central-office staff into classrooms, students into auditoriums, and eventually led one of the largest districts in the U.S. to halt instruction. “It was putting a real strain...
Fast-moving fire damages Youngwood homeVideo
A fast-moving fire appears to have started on the back porch of a Youngwood home Saturday afternoon, according to Fire Chief Lloyd Crago. “It’s probably going to be a total loss,” he said. No injuries were reported. Firefighters were called to the blaze on South Seventh Street at 1:30 p.m....
Celine Dion cancels stop at PPG Paints Arena as health woes continue
Celine Dion has canceled the Pittsburgh stop of her “Courage World Tour,” the singer announced Saturday on her website. Dion was expected to perform at PPG Paints Arena on April 20. According to the post, the songstress is dealing with health issues and recovery is taking longer than expected. Dion...
More than 100 firefighters battle blaze in Kittanning
A massive fire early Saturday spanned multiple structures along Orr Avenue in Kittanning, displacing up to 10 residents and leaving a storage facility in a pile of rubble, fire officials said. No one was injured in the blaze, which began at about 1 a.m., said Kittanning Fire Department Chief Buzz...
Pedestrian identified who was fatally struck by Port Authority bus
A woman hit by a Port Authority bus on Tuesday died from her injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim was identified as Dal Rai, 64, of Whitehall. Rai was struck just after 6:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. She was taken...
Pa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessing
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — In May, GOP lawmakers who control the state House and Senate hired the chair of the Republican Party of...
Latrobe’s City Brewery adds warehouse space, jobs at RIDC Westmoreland
City Brewery has signed a five-year lease for a warehouse and distribution site at RIDC Westmoreland, where it expects to add 50 to 60 jobs. Those positions will be in addition to 250 at the City Brewery plant in Latrobe, according to company officials. The move to the East Huntingdon...
Megan’s Law for nursing homes gaining traction in Harrisburg
A state lawmaker is making good on a promise to repair a flawed system that permits aging and ailing convicted sex offenders to quietly enter long-term care facilities — often unbeknownst to patients and staff — where some easily are finding their next victims. A bill set to be introduced...
