Top Stories category, Page 1089
Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente Drive could be renamed to also honor legend’s late wife
Pittsburgh City Council could vote as early as next week to rename Roberto Clemente Drive in Oakland as Roberto and Vera Clemente Drive to recognize the baseball legend’s wife, who died two years ago. Roberto Clemente, a beloved icon in Pittsburgh, was a Hall of Fame outfielder for the Pittsburgh...
Children’s vaccine appointments filling up at pharmacies, clinics in Westmoreland County
Pharmacies and health care providers around the area are gearing up to give covid-19 vaccines to their youngest patients yet — those ages 5 to 11. Excela Health has three immunization dates this month that are filling up quickly at its North Huntingdon clinic. Hayden’s Pharmacy expects to open up...
Diverse group of new Allegheny Co. judges to be ‘gravitational force,’ legal expert says
Candidates elected Tuesday to the Allegheny County Common Pleas bench will not only change the makeup of the court, but also could change the community’s perception of it and influence already sitting judges, observers of the race say. The group of 10 elected judges includes six women and four people...
Apollo man charged with raping woman sheltering with him after PFA order against her husband
Apollo police arrested a borough man on charges he raped a woman staying at his house with her daughter after she split with her husband. Joshua Allen Gibbon, 20, of Woodward Avenue, was arrested on Oct. 30. The police acted after the accuser provided them with a detailed layout of...
Police: Accused robber asked mom for a mask before going into convenience store
The mother of a 25-year-old man arrested in a failed robbery of a Penn Township convenience store Wednesday told investigators she thought it was “weird” when he asked for a covid-19 mask before entering the store. After putting on the mask, the woman’s son, Jaime T. Shipley, exited his mother’s...
Crafton man charged in George Floyd protests in Pittsburgh gets time served on federal count
A Crafton man already serving time in state prison for his actions during the May 30, 2020, George Floyd protests in Downtown Pittsburgh was ordered Thursday to time served in his federal case. Raekwon Blankenship, 25, appeared before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab via video conference. In addition to...
5 things to know as covid vaccinations begin for young children
Children across the country are cleared to begin receiving child-sized doses of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine after getting the recommendation from adviser at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed by the green light by director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. The shots – one-third the dose that adults and older...
U.K. authorizes Merck’s covid pill, 1st shown to treat covid
LONDON — Britain has granted a conditional authorization to Merck’s coronavirus antiviral, the first pill shown to successfully treat covid-19. It is the first country to OK the treatment, although it was not immediately clear how quickly the pill would be available. The pill was licensed for adults 18 and...
Driver fleeing from state police in Beaver Falls hits car, 3 people injured
Three people were injured when a van fleeing from police crashed into a car in Beaver Falls on Wednesday night, according to state police. Police say John Allen, 44, of Beaver Falls fled at a high rate of speed when a state trooper on patrol along Eighth Avenue in the...
Analysis: After tough election, Biden dismisses danger signs
WASHINGTON — The hazard lights are blinking for President Joe Biden after Democratic setbacks in this week’s elections, but the president professes to see no reason for panic. Just one year after he rode to the White House with a record 81 million votes, Biden saw Democratic stalwart Terry McAuliffe...
Pa. lawmaker pushing to eliminate Native American mascots, images for sports teams
A Pennsylvania lawmaker is introducing legislation that would ban schools from using Native American mascots. Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, said more than 60 schools and sports teams in Pennsylvania still use or refer to indigenous culture in their mascots and logos. “For far too long, Indigenous peoples have faced discrimination,...
‘Rust’ film armorer says someone may have put bullet in gun
The woman in charge of weapons on the movie set where actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins said Wednesday night that she had inspected the gun Baldwin shot but doesn’t know how a live bullet ended up inside. “Who put those in there and why is the central...
Are covid-19 boosters the same as the original vaccines?
NEW YORK — Are covid-19 boosters the same as the original vaccines? Yes, covid-19 boosters use the same recipe as the original shots, despite the emergence of the more contagious delta variant. The vaccines weren’t tweaked to better match delta because they’re still working well. The vaccines work by training...
Pittsburgh couple plead guilty in federal court to conspiring to distribute steroids
A husband and wife from Pittsburgh with ties to the fitness and bodybuilding industry have pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to distribute steroids and other performance enhancers, the government announced. Thomas Mouton, 34, and Sara Mouton, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan to conspiracy...
New Kensington police investigating bathroom bullying incident at Valley High School
New Kensington police are investigating a bullying incident in which garbage was dropped on at least one student in a bathroom at Valley High School. Students found to have been involved could face discipline ranging from detention to expulsion depending on the severity and their own disciplinary history, Superintendent Chris...
Murrysville Council approves 1st tax hike since 2007 on earned income, real-estate transfer taxes
Murrysville Council voted unanimously Wednesday to bump its share of the earned income tax from 0.5 to 0.7%, and its share of the real-estate transfer tax from 0.5% to 1%. It is the first municipal tax hike since 2007. Finance Director Diane Heming said she anticipates the move will bring...
Republicans win big in Jefferson Hills; Gill Hall fire department remains an issue
It is a clean sweep by Republicans in the Jefferson Hills Council and mayoral races, according to complete but unofficial returns from the Allegheny County Elections Division. Newcomer Keith Polick was the top vote-getter in a race for four four-year council seats. He earned 1,692 votes followed by incumbents David...
Democrat Phil Murphy narrowly reelected governor in New Jersey
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy narrowly won reelection Wednesday, eking out a victory that spared Democrats the loss of a second gubernatorial seat. He’s the state’s first Democratic governor to get a second straight term in 44 years, defeating Republican former Assembly member Jack Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli...
Westmoreland GOP crows over election wins as Democrats look to redefine message
Westmoreland is a Republican county. While that has been the the case for the last several years, Tuesday’s GOP victories solidifies the party’s dominance in local politics. Those wins will give Republicans control of every elected office in county government as well as every state and federal office specific to...
Black Pittsburghers hopeful Ed Gainey’s mayoral win marks new day
Ed Gainey is poised to become Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, something community activists and residents say they hope will lead to more representation for the city’s minority residents. Gainey, a Democratic state representative from Lincoln-Lemington, handily defeated Republican challenger Tony Moreno. Gainey garnered about 70% of the vote, according to...
Here’s how PennDOT trains snowplow drivers for the upcoming winterVideo
Unlike a lot of people, Ann Rogers does not mind driving in the snow. For the PennDOT driver, it’s something that comes with her job. “I really love plowing snow,” said Rogers, who has been keeping state roads in the Uniontown area clear for the past three years. Rogers was...
Ziccarelli ready for new job as Westmoreland County District Attorney
Nicole Ziccarelli knows her successful campaign that ousted six-term Democrat John Peck is only the beginning. The hard part begins in January, when she takes over as Westmoreland County District Attorney. “I’m glad I have two months to prepare,” Ziccarelli said Wednesday, hours after she received more than 57% of...
Philadelphia bans traffic stops for minor infractions
PHILADELPHIA — The mayor ordered police Wednesday to stop pulling over drivers for low-level offenses that critics say lead to disproportionate stops of minority drivers, making Philadelphia the largest city government in the U.S. to ban what are sometimes called pretextual stops. The executive order from Mayor Jim Kenney puts...
Giant Eagle joins list of grocery stores to close on Thanksgiving
Anyone in the Pittsburgh region panicked over a forgotten cranberry sauce or scorched turkey will have to get creative this Thanksgiving, as a number of local grocery stores plan to remain closed Nov. 25. Now add Giant Eagle to that list, which already includes Trader Joe’s and Walmart. In Greensburg,...
Renovations proceed at city-owned 412 Blvd. of the Allies in Downtown Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh officials said this week that progress is being made on renovating 412 Boulevard of the Allies, which the city bought three years ago to house offices for several city departments. The city bought the nine-story Downtown building so it could relocate several offices and services there from the John...
