Top Stories category, Page 1012
Man charged in Swissvale shooting that left 6 people hurt on Christmas Eve
Allegheny County Police arrested a man they say is responsible for a Christmas Eve shooting in Swissvale that left six people injured, including the man who was arrested. Jacques Washington, 53, of Swissvale was taken into custody Monday afternoon. He is charged with two counts of attempted homicide and five...
Pittsburgh Public Schools resume in-person classes at 5 schools, 21 schools to be remote Tuesday
Pittsburgh Public Schools is reopening five schools to in-person learning while closing 21 other locations, officials announced Monday. Students can report back to class Tuesday at Pittsburgh Carrick High School, Pittsburgh Liberty PreK-5, Pittsburgh Lincoln PreK-5, Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8, and Pittsburgh Whittier PreK-5. Staff and students at the 21...
Some health officials letting covid-infected staff stay on the job
Health authorities around the United States are increasingly taking the extraordinary step of allowing nurses and other workers infected with coronavirus to stay on the job if they have mild symptoms or none at all. The move is a reaction to the severe hospital staffing shortages and crushing caseloads that...
Police: Pittsburgh man killed woman, hid remains in Knoxville shed
A man charged with homicide in the killing of a woman in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood had been arrested for alleged assaults against the woman four times prior, according to charges filed in the case. Montel Reed, 26, is accused of killing Crystal Leschner, 28, in late December and hiding her...
Home covid tests to be covered by insurers starting SaturdayVideo
WASHINGTON — Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home covid-19 tests per month for people on their plans. The Biden administration announced the change Monday as it looks to lower costs and make testing for the virus more convenient amid rising frustrations. Under...
Greensburg man to serve life in prison for murder, burning of Vandergrift woman
Beverly Richason didn’t hold back her anger in court Monday as she spoke about the horror her daughter endured when killed by friends who then burned her remains beyond recognition and left them in a heap of ashes in the woods more than four years ago. “She had her faults,...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey supports effort to host national political convention, regardless of party
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said he supports efforts to bring either the Republican National Convention or Democratic National Convention to the city. Pittsburgh is on a shortlist of cities being considered to host the Republican National Convention in 2024, according to a Politico.com report. Other finalists include Milwaukee, Nashville and...
Steelers fans survive emotional upheaval of Sunday playoff dramaVideo
Not since Jerome Bettis fumbled the ball at the Indianapolis one-yard line near the end of a playoff game against the Colts, have Steelers fans had to endure such mental torture. Though it seemed like an eternity, the Steelers only had to survive just over a minute on the clock...
Port Authority to require covid-19 vaccination for all employees by mid-March
Port Authority of Allegheny County leaders will require all employees to be vaccinated against covid-19 by mid-March or face firing, officials said Monday. There will be no option for increased testing requirements for those who aren’t vaccinated. The policy goes into effect Feb. 1, and employees must be fully vaccinated...
In 1st, U.S. surgeons transplant pig heart into human patientVideo
A Maryland man is doing well after surgeons and clinicians from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center performed the first successful transplant of a genetically modified pig’s heart Friday to save his life, officials from the health system said Monday. After being...
Pa. House expected to vote on proposed congressional map as redistricting lawsuit looms
This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access. HARRISBURG — The state House is expected to vote on a proposed...
Woman from Pittsburgh’s Hill District sentenced for role in man’s beating death
A woman from Pittsburgh’s Hill District will serve at least 12-1/2 years in state prison for her role in the beating death of a man in Homewood last year. Madera Johnson, 49, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski on Sept. 27. A...
Hempfield woman accused of punching trooper in the face
A 38-year-old Hempfield woman posted bail and was released from the county prison Monday after being held there over the weekend for allegedly punching a state trooper who responded to break up an altercation among family members at her home. Regina S. Glott is charged with aggravated assault, harassment, resisting...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey calls for Oakland Crossings project to be put on hold
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Monday called for a 30-day pause on the controversial Oakland Crossings proposed zoning ordinance. Walnut Capital, the Shadyside developer known for revitalizing Bakery Square, has proposed a major transformation of a portion of Oakland. Dubbed Oakland Crossings, the 17-acre project would require a zoning amendment,...
Bridgeville man expected to plead guilty next month in Capitol riot case
A Bridgeville man who authorities said livestreamed himself from inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C., is expected to plead guilty next month. During a brief status conference on Monday, an attorney for Kenneth Grayson said he expected his client would be offered a plea...
UPMC opens covid-19 vaccine clinic in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
In an effort to make vaccines more easily accessible and combat vaccine hesitancy, UPMC opened a covid-19 vaccine clinic in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. “Access to vaccinations is not there for everybody,” said Rachel Marini, an infectious disease pharmacist at UPMC. In underserved communities like the Hill District, she said, it...
Off-duty state trooper suspended after alleged assault at private party in Cambria County
A state trooper from the Ebensburg station in Cambria County was suspended without pay after investigators say he was involved in an off-duty physical altercation with another man during a private party. Trooper Scott Myers, 34, was arrested early Saturday on charges of aggravated assault, harassment, simple assault and terroristic...
$1 million winning lottery ticket sold at Lower Burrell supermarket
Lower Burrell’s Community Market was one of four sites in the state that sold a $1 million winning ticket for the state lottery’s new Millionaire Raffle drawing on Saturday, according to a Pennsylvania Lottery announcement Monday. Other winning Millionaire Raffle tickets on Sunday were sold in Cumberland, Delaware and Montgomery...
Will omicron finally free us from the covid shackles?
Maybe the record-setting omicron storm is the prelude to the sunnier place we’ve hoped for during two years of covid-19. Dr. John Goldman, a UPMC infectious disease specialist, believes it’s possible. He bases it on the fact ultra-contagious omicron is touching so many people so fast it won’t be much...
Police: Triple homicide suspect in Pittsburgh’s Homewood had child with one of the victims
A man who Pittsburgh police say is responsible for a New Year’s Eve triple homicide in Homewood had been in a relationship with one of the victims and the two had a child together, according to a criminal complaint against him. Ronald Steave, 29, is charged with three counts of...
Police: Pet camera leads to suspect in burglary of Hempfield home that later burned down; family searches for missing dog
State police arrested a man they said was recorded on a pet camera minutes before a fire destroyed a Hempfield home and injured two firefighters, according to court papers. Randy W. Bryner, 58, of Greensburg, is charged with burglary and criminal trespass. No charges related to the Jan. 2 fire...
2 injured in multi-vehicle crash in Derry Township, dispatchers say
Two people were transported to area hospitals early Monday after a crash involving a tractor-trailer and two vehicles along Route 982 in Derry Township, according to a Westmoreland County dispatcher. The crash occurred at 4:18 a.m. at the highway’s intersection with Lincoln Road, at the township’s border with Latrobe. Firefighters...
Pittsburgh gas prices remain steady as national average moves higher
The national average price of gasoline increased in the last week, but is unchanged in the Pittsburgh area, according to price tracking service GasBuddy. According to GasBuddy, the national average rose 2.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.29 on Monday. That’s 5.5 cents per gallon less than...
Date set for special election to fill Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s former legislative seat
Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler announced Monday that a special election will be held April 5 to fill the state House seat vacated by now-Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. Cutler is also expected to call for a special election to fill the seat vacated by Jake Wheatley, who will...
Mark Madden: Ben Roethlisberger willed the Steelers into the playoffs
Ben Roethlisberger did it. I’m not sure how. But he did it. I’ve written this column many times. Barring an even bigger miracle next weekend at Kansas City, this will be the last. (Don’t forget Sunday’s real heroes: 3-14 Jacksonville upset Indianapolis, and Las Vegas kicked instead of kneeling.) But...
