Top Stories category, Page 1201
G. Gordon Liddy, unrepentant Watergate burglar who became talk show host, dies at 90
G. Gordon Liddy, the tough-guy Watergate operative who went to prison rather than testify and later turned his Nixon-era infamy into a successful television and talk show career, has died at age 90. Liddy died Tuesday at his daugher’s house in Virginia, his son Thomas P. Liddy told The Washington...
Turtle Creek man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for narcotics trafficking
A Turtle Creek man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted of narcotics trafficking. Jerry Coker, 30, of Turtle Creek was sentenced to 10 years in imprisonment and eight years supervised release, according to an announcement Tuesday from Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman....
Attempt to override Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s veto of paid sick leave law fails by 1 vote
Allegheny County Council on Tuesday failed to override a March 16 veto by county Executive Rich Fitzgerald to enact a law to mandate that county businesses provide paid sick leave. It means the process to require paid sick leave will start with action from the county Health Department, as required...
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz investigated over alleged sexual relationship with underage girl
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a prominent conservative in Congress and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, said Tuesday he is being investigated by the Justice Department over a former relationship but denied any criminal wrongdoing. Gaetz, who represents parts of western Florida, told Axios that his...
Pitt students join crowd of hundreds for covid vaccines in Oakland
Hundreds of people, including many University of Pittsburgh students, lined up Tuesday afternoon to receive their first dose of the covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination event in Oakland. The vaccine clinic was hosted outside at the Oak Hill Apartments, where the line stretched several blocks. Among the group waiting for...
Officials relax some distancing, other guidance in Pennsylvania schools
Pennsylvania schools can reduce physical distancing requirements between students, officials announced Tuesday, bringing the state in line with the most up-to-date guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While students, teachers and staff were previously required to maintain six feet of distance, the new guidelines allow students to...
Pitt says covid is ‘widespread’ in residence halls, adds 30 cases
The University of Pittsburgh saw another surge in cases over the weekend, according to the most recent report from the school’s Covid-19 Medical Response Office. Pitt on Tuesday recorded 29 new cases among students and one new employee case on its Pittsburgh campus. There are 67 students in isolation, while...
Pennsylvania election law reforms won’t be ready for primary
HARRISBURG — Five months after the state’s narrow and bitterly contested presidential race drew Republican claims of improper election procedures, it’s clear no changes will be enacted in time for Pennsylvania’s spring primary election. The GOP majorities in both legislative chambers have convened a series of hearings on election law...
Pittsburgh man, Boston man arrested after fatal Hawaii vacation rental fight
HONOLULU — Two visitors from the East Coast were under arrest for manslaughter as a result of a deadly fight at a Hawaii vacation rental, police said. Big Island police were dispatched to Kailua-Kona rental early Monday where a 30-year-old man wasn’t breathing. A preliminary investigation found that an argument...
Lawyer: FBI enlisted Proud Boys leader to inform on antifa
FBI agents recruited a Proud Boys leader to provide them with information about antifa networks months before he was charged with storming the U.S. Capitol with other members of the far-right extremist group, a defense attorney says. Proud Boys “thought leader” and organizer Joseph Biggs agreed to provide the FBI...
Greensburg bishop announces restoration of New Kensington church damaged by tornadoVideo
Restoration of a New Kensington church hit by a tornado nearly a year ago is about to begin, the Diocese of Greensburg announced Tuesday. St. Mary of Czestochowa sustained about $2.6 million in damage when an EF-1 tornado with winds of up to 100 mph traveled about 4 miles, from...
Over 4,000 migrants, many kids, crowded into Texas facility
DONNA, Texas — The Biden administration for the first time Tuesday allowed journalists inside its main border detention facility for migrant children, revealing a severely overcrowded tent structure where more than 4,000 migrants, including children and families, were crammed into pods and the youngest kept in a large play pen...
Wolf: Pa. closes in on ending Phase 1A covid vaccinations
Pennsylvania is “catching up” on vaccine distribution, Gov. Wolf said Tuesday. About 31% of the commonwealth’s population has gotten their first dose, compared to the national average of 29%, he said. Pennsylvania matches the national average when it comes to the amount of people who have gotten second doses, at...
Cold front expected to bring snow, high in 30s for start of April
Consider it an April Fool’s joke from Mother Nature. Just one that isn’t very funny. A cold front moving through Southwestern Pennsylvania is expected to bring snow showers and cold temperatures on Thursday, the first day of April. According to David Shallenberger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in...
Video: Conor Lamb discusses Biden’s Pittsburgh visit, Capitol securityVideo
President Joe Biden is saying the outlook for the country’s economy is looking brighter thanks to the recently passed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, the American Rescue Plan. Critics say the plan is a waste of money and many citizens don’t know exactly where the money is going. The president...
Ligonier area dam removed; trout stream to be restoredVideo
A 1940s-era reservoir that once held close to 7 million gallons of drinking water for the Ligonier-Laughlintown areas is empty. A New Kensington company is removing the dam — a project that eventually will allow the stream that fed the reservoir to be rechanneled so it flows freely into a...
Hempfield man accused of attempting to break out of Westmoreland jail
A Hempfield man jailed in connection with an alleged domestic assault is accused by police of using wheelchair arms to pry off the metal frame of a window at the Westmoreland County Prison, according to county detectives. Jule A. Mascherma, 33, is charged with attempted escape, institutional vandalism and making...
3 Pittsburgh residents accused in $1M fraud scheme targeting pandemic unemployment
Three Pittsburgh residents face felony charges in connection with a scheme that defrauded Pennsylvania of nearly $1 million worth of pandemic-related unemployment relief, according to charges filed by the state Attorney General’s Office. Linda Slade, 51, of Westwood; Rochelle Oaks, 66, of Perry South; and Keith Brown, 53, of Brighton...
Latrobe bridge set for rehabilitation
A bridge in Latrobe is set for rehabilitation this year after the county commissioners on Monday approved a $2.4 million project. Brewery Bridge carries Ligonier Street over Loyalhanna Creek near City Brewing and Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. County engineer Vaughn Neill said the project is funded mostly by a federal...
Highmark Inc. purchases naming rights to Buffalo Bills’ stadium
Pittsburgh is no longer the only city with a Highmark Stadium. The Buffalo Bills’ home is also called Highmark Stadium. The team made it official with a formal announcement Tuesday morning. Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, a newly rebranded health insurer, has purchased the naming rights for what...
United Steelworkers begin strike at Allegheny Technologies, Inc.; reject’s ATI’s last-minute counter offerVideo
The United Steelworkers began a strike against Allegheny Technologies Inc. on Tuesday, marking the first such action against the company in nearly three decades. Some workers have been with the company long enough to remember the last strike 27 years ago, but Harrison’s Jeff Allenberg, 41, was hired at ATI’s...
United Steelworkers set strike date at ATI facilities
The United Steelworkers union announced Friday it will start a strike at Allegheny Technologies Inc. next week. The union said it informed ATI it will strike over what it calls unfair labor practices beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday. “We have provided the notice to ATI to ensure an orderly and...
Rising lumber prices a pain in the pocketbook, push new house prices up $24,000
In 40 years of building homes in Westmoreland, Allegheny and southern Butler counties, Ray Snoznik, owner of R.A. Snoznik Construction Inc. of Murrysville, never has seen such a jump in lumber prices in one year. “It’s up 188% from last year. We’re trying to adjust (to the price hike), but...
Pittsburgh police investigate shootings in Hill District, Larimer
Pittsburgh police are investigating two shootings that happened Monday, one of which left a man in critical condition, authorities said. Officers responded just after 11 p.m. to the 2200 block of Webster Avenue in the Hill District where they found a man shot in the back. He was transported to...
Allegheny County and Pennsylvania see highest covid hospitalizations in a month
Covid hospitalizations on Tuesday continued to increase in Allegheny County and Pennsylvania, according to state data, reaching levels previously reached a month ago. Pennsylvania The number of covid-19 patients hospitalized in the state grew to 1,980 on Tuesday, the 10th consecutive day hospitalizations have increased. It was the most people...
