Top Stories category, Page 1019
Cat found in North Huntingdon with zip ties around body recovering at Frankie’s Friends in New Kensington
A cat found with zip ties wrapped around its body is recovering after surgery at Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue in New Kensington. Dr. Becky Morrow, medical director of Frankie’s Friends, called it a case of animal cruelty. “There’s no good reason to do that,” she said. “At best, it was...
Drivers at Smithton truck stop predict Canadian blockades soon will spread to U.S.
Trucker blockades of bridges along the Canadian-U.S. border that forced the shutdown of a Ford plant in Ontario this week soon might spread south to the U.S., according to several truckers who spoke to the Tribune-Review as they traveled through Western Pennsylvania. “I can definitely see it happening here, too,...
Pittsburgh funk music icon Betty Davis remembered: ‘She was bold’
Family members, friends and fans are remembering the public and private sides of pioneering funk musician Betty Davis of Homestead. The cult figure and subject of a 2017 documentary, “Betty — They Say I’m Different,” died Wednesday at 77. To her niece, Cheana Mabry of Carrick, she was the quiet...
Most vulnerable still in jeopardy as covid precautions ease
Two years into the pandemic Jackie Hansen still left home only for doctor visits, her immune system so wrecked by cancer and lupus that covid-19 vaccinations couldn’t take hold. Then Hansen got a reprieve — scarce doses of the first drug that promises six months of protection for people with...
Pittsburgh City Council divided on creating infrastructure committee in wake of bridge collapse
Proposals before Pittsburgh City Council to increase focus on the city’s infrastructure in the wake of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse are drawing mixed reactions from council members. The first piece of legislation would create a 15-member committee of city officials, construction industry professionals, organized labor representatives and others to...
Pittsburgh City Council advances outdoor dining, retail legislation
A proposal to allow Pittsburgh restaurants to continue offering outdoor dining is essential for some eateries’ survival, according to several community organizations. Legislation before City Council would allow restaurants and retailers to apply for permits to use sidewalks and streets for dining and shopping. The practice became commonplace during the...
State auditor general finds 3 issues in audit of Lower Burrell’s Kinloch fire company
As part of a routine audit, the state Auditor General’s Office found three issues with the business practices and financial accounting of Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, which serves the city’s Kinloch neighborhood. In an audit covering Jan. 1, 2018, to Dec. 31, 2020, the auditor general concluded...
Kennywood’s Laser Loop returns to U.S. — at New York amusement parkVideo
One of Kennywood Park’s most famous — and incredibly popular — coasters, the Laser Loop, will be back and operating on U.S. soil for the first time in decades. Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World has purchased the looping ride — since renamed Cascabel — from La Feria Chapultepec Magico,...
Passersby rescue resident from Greensburg house fireVideo
A New Jersey man in town visiting family got a Greensburg woman to safety Thursday morning as a fire next door began spreading to her home. Gary Demus happened to be riding along Harrison Avenue around 9 a.m. with his cousins Cheryll Chakrabarti and Kevin Conaway, both of Hempfield, on...
Police say dispatcher put camera in urinal to record North Versailles officers
A dispatcher with the North Versailles Police Department took photos and video of officers using a small hidden camera affixed to the urinal in the department restroom, according to charges against him. John Logan, 49, is charged with invasion of privacy and tampering with evidence. “Everyone is always innocent until...
Pitt police say woman robbed, assaulted near Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh police are searching for a man they said robbed and assaulted a woman before running off Thursday morning. Police said the incident occurred at 12:34 a.m. on the 4000 block of Fifth Avenue in Oakland. The woman told officers an unknown man walked up to...
Unity woman awaiting assault trials blames school hazing allegations for mental spiral
The lawyer for a Unity woman awaiting trial for assault of a nurse and charges she intentionally rammed a car driven by a high school student told a judge on Wednesday her mental health difficulties that led to the criminal cases stemmed from a hazing incident that involved middle school...
Plum School District’s Center Elementary interim principal formally appointed to position
Plum School District officials recently appointed Monroeville resident Maria Fajt as Center Elementary’s new principal. Fajt started this school year as interim principal at the K-4 school. District officials said former principal Jason Knisely had stepped down to go back in the classroom. He is also listed as the district’s...
Report: Archives asks Justice Department to probe Trump record handling
WASHINGTON — The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the National Archives and Records Administration has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether former President Donald Trump violated federal law in the handling of documents. The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the report. The referral followed several Post stories...
Family: Bob Saget died after accidental blow to the head
LOS ANGELES — Bob Saget’s death last month stemmed from an accidental blow to the head, his family said in a statement Wednesday. The comedian and “Full House” star was found dead Jan. 9 in a Florida hotel room. He’d performed in the area the night before as part of...
Fetterman a no-show so far in U.S. Senate candidate forum series
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Braddock, is facing criticism for failing to sign up for an online candidate event organized by a coalition of Democratic political groups in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The SWPA Grassroots Coalition is hosting a series this month where Democratic U.S. Senate...
Trial begins for man accused of fatally shooting neighbor over argument in Wilkinsburg
A Wilkinsburg man is on trial this week for a 2019 shooting death. Dilon Bartifay, 34, is charged with criminal homicide stemming from the Nov. 16, 2019, incident at the corner of Ross and Center streets in Wilkinsburg. Detectives said that Bartifay killed Gregory Lamont Blair Sr., 46, whose son...
Hospital leaders hopeful as covid cases decline, staffing remains an issue
Hospital leaders across Western Pennsylvania are hopeful that a downswing from the coronavirus pandemic’s omicron variant appears to be here. They reported decreasing positive case rates and hospitalized covid patients, a welcome reprieve from the onslaught around the holidays and beginning of 2022. “That’s not to say there won’t be...
Jan. 6 committee subpoenas ex-Trump adviser Peter Navarro
WASHINGTON — The House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection subpoenaed former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Wednesday, seeking to question an ally of former President Donald Trump who promoted false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. The committee is demanding information and testimony from Navarro,...
Police charge 2 in shooting outside Greensburg bar, still seeking 1 suspect
Greensburg police used witness interviews and video provided by the Rialto Bar and the Palace Theatre to piece together evidence to charge two men in a downtown shooting Jan. 30 that injured two people. Evan R. Curley, 23, of Greensburg and Stevin “Twogunz” German, 27, of Uniontown face attempted homicide...
Scores of bridges around Westmoreland County are rated in poor condition
Westmoreland County has 143 state-inspected bridges that are rated in poor condition and will need maintenance work, if they haven’t already been closed. PennDOT lists a bridge as being in poor condition if its deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert has a condition with a low rating. A bridge will be...
Covid continues decline in Western Pa., expert says ‘worst of pandemic is largely over’
Covid-19 cases dropped by more than half over the past week in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties as well as statewide, and an infectious disease expert says the statistics likely signal the omicron-driven surge has reached its peak. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, Allegheny County recorded 3,850 cases, an average...
E-scooter bill would clear way for more Pennsylvania cities to join Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh last year became the first city in Pennsylvania to legalize low-speed electric scooters and, as part of a two-year pilot, Spin e-scooters became available to rent for use on city streets. Now, a bill moving through the state Senate would allow select Pennsylvania cities, including Greensburg and New Kensington,...
Former Pitt emergency management director pleads guilty to stealing PPE, selling it online
The former director of emergency management at the University of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing more than 13,000 pieces of personal protective equipment from the school’s stockpile at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic to sell at inflated prices online. Christopher Casamento, 42, of Ross, will be sentenced on...
Billie Eilish, her mom donate plant-based meals to Pittsburgh nonprofit
Billie Eilish’ s “Happier Than Ever” world tour isn’t just about feeding each city with good music. It’s about nourishing the people there. too. Before Eilish’s Tuesday performance at PPG Paints Arena, the singer supplied food to 412 Food Rescue, a Pittsburgh-based organization that prevents food from going to waste...
