Top Stories category, Page 1268
Pittsburgh officials to New Year’s revelers: Stay home this year
Although a crowd of people isn’t expected — or allowed — to gather in Downtown Pittsburgh for New Year’s Eve celebrations, public safety officials issued their annual reminder Wednesday advising revelers to put safety first. “I know that we all want — and absolutely deserve — to celebrate New Year’s...
Pittsburgh musicians raise their voices off stage to save local venuesVideo
Musicians communicate through song. They feed off the energy of live performances. Many haven’t performed live for months because of the pandemic. That hasn’t kept them from making new music for when they return to Pittsburgh-area venues. There is one tune that’s about to be heard that will help the...
As Allegheny County’s covid cases slow, deaths hit record mark
Another 525 cases of covid-19 were reported Wednesday by the Allegheny County Health Department. While certainly still high, the new cases are nearly 50% less than Tuesday’s four-digit report. The new count puts the county back on its recent trend of fewer cases. The seven-day average of new cases drops...
Hempfield photographer found innovative way to stay in business during pandemicVideo
Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series highlighting five people whose lives were reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. Back before the covid pandemic slammed the economy and limited what people could do outside their homes, Dennis Pushkar expected that his Impressions Photography would build on what had been...
Stories of the Year: After George Floyd’s death, a movement for racial justice
Eight minutes changed the course of 2020. It was Memorial Day. May 25. George Floyd was being arrested by Minneapolis police outside of a grocery store after authorities received a 911 call that someone paid with a counterfeit bill. The caller told authorities the man was acting erratically. Floyd, who...
Police arrest 3 people for alleged involvement in Green Tree shooting
Allegheny County Police have arrested three people in connection with a Monday night shooting in Green Tree. Scottie Harris, 21, Jamere Blackwell, 20, and Sequawon Harris, 22, have all been charged with criminal attempt homicide and related charges for allegedly attempting to rob a man around 8:15 p.m. along the...
Pittsburgh residents encouraged to put garbage, recycling out for collection Wednesday
Pittsburgh officials are encouraging residents whose garbage and recycling has not yet been collected to leave their materials at the curb for collection Wednesday. Mayor Bill Peduto vented his frustration on the collection service delay Tuesday. “I am beyond disappointed that homes still have not had their garbage and recycling...
Louisiana congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies from covid-19
BATON ROUGE — Luke Letlow, Louisiana’s incoming Republican member of the U.S. House, died Tuesday night from complications related to covid-19 only days before being sworn into office. He was 41. Letlow spokesman Andrew Bautsch confirmed the congressman-elect’s death at Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport. “The family appreciates the numerous prayers and...
Man accused of shooting McKeesport police officer arrested in West Virginia
The man accused of shooting a McKeesport police officer was nabbed Tuesday evening by U.S. Marshals, bringing a nine-day manhunt to an end at a West Virginia apartment complex. Koby Lee Francis, 22, of McKeesport was found at a Clarksburg apartment and arrested shortly after 6 p.m. in connection to...
Despite slow vaccine rollout, nursing homes optimistic about distributionVideo
Much is still unknown about how vaccines are being distributed in Pennsylvania’s nursing homes, but operators and advocates are optimistic and excited for the milestone. Skilled nursing facilities across the state began receiving their first doses of covid-19 vaccine Monday, through a partnership between the federal government and two national...
1st reported U.S. case of virus variant triggers questions
DENVER — The new and seemingly more contagious variant of the coronavirus that has set off alarm in Britain has been reported for the first time in the U.S., in a Colorado man who hadn’t been traveling, triggering a host of questions about how it got here and adding urgency...
Court: Parents of Cincinnati child who killed himself can sue educators
CINCINNATI — The parents of an 8-year-old student who killed himself after being persistently bullied can move forward with a lawsuit against the Cincinnati school district that alleges wrongful death and other charges, a federal appeals panel ruled Tuesday. The three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court Appeals said...
Biden criticizes pace of vaccine rollout, vows to accelerate
WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration Tuesday for the pace of distributing covid-19 vaccines and predicted that “things will get worse before they get better” when it comes to the pandemic. “We need to be honest — the next few weeks and months are going to...
What happened to the flu? Mild season in Pittsburgh area could see an uptick, experts say
Flu cases both locally and across Pennsylvania have remained low compared to the record-breaking case counts seen in the 2019-20 flu season. But doctors cautioned Tuesday it’s still early in the season, and the usual January uptick could coincide with a holiday-driven surge in covid-19 cases. As of Dec. 19,...
UPMC begins vaccinations in Pittsburgh area senior communities
When Nancy Fadgen was offered the covid-19 vaccine, she said yes “without reservations.” “If we want this to go far, somebody has to take the step forward and try it,” the 79-year-old resident at UPMC Heritage Place said. UPMC began vaccinating residents and staff in its senior communities Tuesday –...
Troy Hill man accused of stabbing man in face arrested after SWAT standoff
Police arrested a man accused of stabbing another man in the face during a street fight Tuesday afternoon in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood. Edward Terle, 32, of Troy Hill was detained and charged with aggravated assault after a nearly 45-minute SWAT standoff. Authorities received a report at about 1:15 p.m....
Trump lashes out at GOP after override vote on defense bill
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump lashed out at congressional Republicans on Tuesday after the House easily voted to override his veto of a defense policy bill. A total of 109 Republicans, including Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of GOP leadership, joined with Democrats on Monday to approve the override,...
Pittsburgh projects, including Lower Hill development, awarded $7.5M in state grants
A long-planned development in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District, a commercial development in Larimer and an industrial development project in Fairywood are among projects that were awarded $7.5 million in state grants, the city announced Tuesday. Mayor Bill Peduto called the awards “critical investments” by Gov. Tom Wolf and the city’s...
Allegheny County’s Kane Centers to start vaccinating residents, staff next week
Residents and staff in Allegheny County’s Kane Community Living Centers will begin receiving vaccinations next week, officials said Tuesday. The Kane Centers at Ross and Glen Hazel are the first county facilities scheduled to receive doses of vaccine through a federal partnership with CVS Health. Their two-day clinics are tentatively...
Pennsylvania reports 8,545 new covid cases, 267 deaths
Pennsylvania has 8,545 new covid-19 cases and 267 new deaths Tuesday, according to the state Department of Health. With the new numbers, there are now 622,329 total covid cases and 15,353 total deaths in the state. In December thus far, there have been 260,885 cases and 4,970 deaths reported. Of...
About 50% of Westmoreland County covid cases, deaths have come in December
Westmoreland County reported the most new coronavirus cases in about two weeks Tuesday. There were 466 new cases reported, the most since 542 cases were announced Dec. 15. Tuesday’s new cases bring the county’s total to 18,855. In December, there have been 9,594 cases reported, which account for about 51%...
Allegheny County reports 41 new covid deaths, 1,020 cases
Allegheny County on Tuesday reported 41 new deaths attributed to covid-19 and 1,020 additional cases of the virus. Total deaths and cases are now at 898 and 52,473, respectively, in the county. There have been 389 deaths and 24,069 cases reported in December thus far. Of the new deaths, one...
Trump’s $2,000 checks stall in Senate as GOP, McConnell block voteVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 covid-19 relief checks stalled out Tuesday in the Senate as Republicans blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats and split within their own ranks over whether to boost spending or defy the White House. The roadblock mounted by Senate Majority Leader...
North Versailles tobacco shop sells winning $100,000 lottery ticket
A customer at a North Versailles tobacco store is $100,000 richer this holiday season after their New Year’s Millionaire Raffle ticket was selected for a weekly drawing prize. The winner, who was not identified, purchased the ticket at Puff Discount Tobacco, located on Greensburg Avenue. Seven raffle winners were announced...
Pandemic hits home for Allegheny Valley Hospital physician and his wifeVideo
Editor’s note: This is the third in a series highlighting five people whose lives were reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus had a clear and, some would argue, promising path into Dr. David and Louisa Shin’s O’Hara home. A primary care physician, Dr. Shin, 52, works for Allegheny Health...
