Top Stories category, Page 1038
Cyberattack on Butler college part of growing trend; experts urge vigilance to thwart hackers
Organizations that keep sensitive information in their computer systems can’t do much to avoid being targeted by cyberattackers. But experts say they can do things to reduce the damage wreaked by an attack. A cyberattack on Butler County Community College’s computer system forced the campus to shut down Monday and...
Bill Cosby prosecutors ask U.S. Supreme Court to review case
PHILADELPHIA — Prosecutors asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the ruling that overturned Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction, arguing in a petition Monday that a dangerous precedent could be set if press releases are treated as immunity agreements. Cosby’s lawyers have long argued that he relied on a promise...
WHO warns that new coronavirus variant poses ‘very high’ risk
GENEVA — The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the omicron variant is “very high” based on the early evidence, saying the mutated coronavirus could lead to surges with “severe consequences.” The assessment from the U.N. health agency, contained in a technical paper issued to member...
Covid outbreak hits Westmoreland jail as caseload surges throughout county
Westmoreland County Prison is dealing with another coronavirus outbreak. Nine inmates tested positive Monday at the Hempfield lockup after 37 active cases were discovered last week, warden Brian Kline said. “We shut down the work release program last week and stopped all outside volunteers from entering the jail,” Kline said....
Pittsburgh’s Couch Brewery to close, but new brewery moving in
Couch Brewery in Pittsburgh’s Larimer is scheduled to close next month, but another brewery will be moving into the location. The independent brewery on Washington Boulevard announced the closure on social media Sunday. Its last day in business will be Dec. 19, the brewery wrote on Facebook “with a tear...
North Huntingdon woman killed in crash
An elderly North Huntingdon woman died in a two-vehicle crash Sunday, according to Police Chief Robert Rizzo. Pauline Nagy, 94, was a backseat passenger in a car that collided with a van just before 5 p.m. at the intersection of Route 30 and Malts Lane, police said. She was pronounced...
Holiday decorations return to Port Authority buses after covid hiatus
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on some Port Authority of Allegheny County buses and trains. As part of a tradition that began over a decade ago, several Port Authority bus drivers and T operators are exhibiting their holiday spirit by festively decorating their vehicles. There are currently...
Troopers say Jeannette teen found with loaded handgun tied around his neck
A Jeannette man who tried to run from a traffic stop in Youngwood had a loaded 9 mm handgun concealed under his jacket and secured by a shoestring tied around his neck, police said. Jaiden Crosby-Anderson, 19, was a backseat passenger in a sedan that state troopers stopped for having...
West Newton man charged with threatening woman with knife after assault
A 54-year-old West Newton man is charged with terroristic threats, robbery and simple assault after police say he attacked a woman at his residence. Eric J. Ross is accused of dragging the woman by her hair down two flights of stairs during an argument at his apartment in the 100...
Some states know a lot about vaccinated people who have gotten covid-19. Pennsylvania doesn’t
PHILADELPHIA — Each week in Oregon, state health officials produce a public report documenting how many people have contracted the coronavirus even after getting the vaccine, including data about their ages, races, the counties where they live, which covid-19 variants they caught and how sick it made them. That type...
Pa. deer hunter shot in the head, killed by young relative: coroner
A child hunting with family missed a deer and shot a 71-year-old man in the head, killing him. The tragedy happened around 10 a.m. Saturday in Jackson Township, Cambria County, as WJAC-TV in Johnstown reports. The victim is identified as 71-year-old William Tripp of Elizabethtown. Tripp was hunting with family...
Mario Lemieux to oversee hockey operations as Fenway Sports Group deal with Penguins almost done
For Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are much more than the people who have owned his employer. They’re “Mario and Ron.” He has a personal relationship with each of them. And he’s happy for them. That’s because they’re still going to be involved with the...
Supreme Court set to take up all-or-nothing abortion fight
WASHINGTON — Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in Wednesday’s showdown over abortion. The justices can either reaffirm the constitutional right to an abortion or wipe it away altogether. Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that declared a nationwide right to abortion, is facing...
Steelers vs. Bengals: What they’re saying in Cincinnati after win
Bullied by the Bengals. What more is there to say? The Bengals rolled over to the Steelers Sunday in dominating fashion. Cincinnati is making a playoff push. Pittsburgh is making a push for an offseason team overhaul. Still, we checked in with writers in Cincinnati after the 41-10 home win....
Man robbed at ATM in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood
A man faces charges of robbery after threatening another man and taking his money at an ATM in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section early Monday, according to police. Christopher Henderson, 28, of Pittsburgh is charged with robbery and terroristic threats stemming from the incident just after 2:30 a.m. Henderson is in the...
Nonprofits hope to see funds flow on Giving Tuesday
Hot on the heels of the nation’s three biggest shopping days of the year — Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday — there is yet another reason to keep that wallet open. Charities, arts organizations, libraries and other nonprofits are hoping to top off a tough year on...
Deadline nears to enroll in Medicare Advantage health insurance for 2022 coverage
The deadline is approaching for seniors and people with disabilities to sign up for a Medicare-eligible health insurance plan for 2022. Enrollment closes Dec. 7 for coverage that begins Jan. 1. Medicare Advantage plans are privately offered alternatives to traditional Medicare and supplemental government-provided plans. They’ve long been popular in...
4 on the floor: Vehicle owners prepare for tire sticker shock
Eric Colamarino knows he’s running out of time to find winter tires for his Ford pickup truck. The 30-year-old Unity resident said he has been searching for tires since July, only to be met by factory back orders and prices that are 20% to 25% higher per tire. Colamarino said...
Cyberattack forces closure of Butler County Community College on Monday and Tuesday
Butler County Community College will be closed Monday and Tuesday in response to a ransomware attack on its computer systems, the college announced Sunday night. The main campus in Butler Township and additional locations in Cranberry, Lawrence, Jefferson and Mercer Counties and remote and online classes will be closed as...
Airing of Grievances: Bengals humiliate Steelers in every possible way
During his Tuesday news conference, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stopped short of calling Sunday’s game in Cincinnati a “must win.” Barely. Good thing. Because if he really felt the Steelers absolutely had to have that game, they failed miserably. The Bengals thrashed the Steelers, 41-10, Sunday afternoon, dropping them to...
Despite stars back on defense, powerless Steelers lose to Bengals, 41-10
CINCINNATI — To paraphrase a line from the late Chuck Noll, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ problems are great, and they are many. Looking like a shell of the team that a few weeks ago was riding a four-game winning streak, the Steelers were blown out Sunday by the Cincinnati Bengals, 41-10,...
KSWA Fan Fest and toy drive for Allegheny County families returns after pandemic hiatus
Four professional wrestling title matches are part of a charity event featuring two pro wrestling hall-of-famers and, perhaps, a partridge in a pear tree. The Keystone State Wrestling Alliance will host its 13th annual Fan Fest and Holiday Toy Drive on Dec. 4 at Three Rivers Harley-Davidson in the Glenshaw...
Twisted Thistle, upscale eatery in Leechburg, reopens after 6-month closure
Twisted Thistle, an upscale eatery along Market Street in Leechburg, has reopened after a nearly six-month closure. “I’m just so excited to be able to open this beautiful restaurant again,” owner Linda Alworth said. “I’ve put too much of my life, sweat and tears into it. It should never have...
Teenage gunshot victim found dead in vacant lot in Washington, Pa.
Officials found a body of a teenager Sunday morning in a vacant lot in Washington, Pa. The Washington County Coroner’s Office identified the victim Sunday evening as Connor Brock, 18, of Washington, Pa. According to the coroner’s report, Brock had an apparent gunshot wound. The coroner and city police are...
‘We have a litter problem’: Gov. Wolf unveils statewide litter action plan
Pennsylvanians pride themselves on the beauty the state offers, by way of millions of acres of forest, rolling hills and, this time of year, gorgeous fall scenery. But anyone who has driven the state’s roads to reach those destinations will have a tough time arguing with Gov. Tom Wolf. “We...
