Top Stories category, Page 1340
Police: New Kensington man strangles woman, dog during argument
A New Kensington man grabbed a woman by her neck and lifted her off her feet during a fight Monday morning, according to city police. New Kensington police said that Damian Ryan Terrace, 23, also choked one of the woman’s dogs and threatened to kill them. According to a criminal...
Several floors of Pitt residence hall in quarantine after covid increase
The University of Pittsburgh is investigating an increase in covid-19 cases in Litchfield Tower B, a residence hall in Oakland. Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 2, nine cases were reported in the building, said Pat McMahon, a university spokesman. McMahon told The Pitt News the university is still investigating whether...
Peduto submits legislation to protect Black Pittsburghers from hairstyle discrimination
Black Pittsburghers would be protected from hairstyle discrimination in legislation Mayor Bill Peduto is submitting to City Council this week. “Black hair is and always has been professional, but that has not always been reflected by employers, schools or agencies in this city,” Peduto said in a statement. “This legislation...
Trump leaves hospital, declares ‘I feel good’Video
WASHINGTON — Stepping gingerly, President Donald Trump walked out the military hospital Monday night where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for covid-19, immediately igniting a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000...
Westmoreland County Prison guard accused of assaulting handcuffed, shackled inmate
For the second time this year, a Westmoreland County prison guard has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed and shackled prisoner in the Hempfield lockup. Rodney Walters, 53, was arraigned Friday on charges of official oppression and simple assault filed by county detectives after a two-month investigation into the...
Facade collapse at Praha building prompts Corbet Street closure in Tarentum
Part of Corbet Street in Tarentum was closed until further notice Monday after bricks from the facade of the Praha building fell onto the street and sidewalk. A borough police officer found the damage around 1:25 a.m. Monday, code enforcement Officer Anthony Bruni said. The 115-year-old building sits at and...
Penguins waive Jack Johnson, extend qualifying offer to Matt Murray, other restricted free agents
Jack Johnson’s time in Pittsburgh has come to an end. On Monday, the Penguins placed the veteran defenseman on unconditional waivers for the purposes of buying out the final three years of a five-year contract he signed in 2018. The man who extended and ultimately ended that contract wishes it...
Westmoreland has added over 200 covid cases in past week
Westmoreland County added 45 new covid-19 cases Monday, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county had the third highest new case count in the state Monday, coming in behind Philadelphia (76) and Allegheny (46). In the past seven days, Westmoreland County has had 215 new...
Lawsuit targets Point Park University for forced-online spring semester
Four undergraduate students at Point Park University are suing the school, claiming that they are entitled to refunds for a subpar education in the spring when classes moved from in-person instruction to remote learning because of the covid-19 pandemic. The lawsuit includes claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment...
Allegheny County adds 46 new coronavirus cases
Allegheny County added 46 cases of coronavirus to its tally Monday, according to a report from the county Health Department. In the past seven days, the county has seen 543 new cases. The new positives come from 848 PCR tests conducted from Sept. 30-Oct. 4. The new cases range in...
Edgewood Eat’n Park restaurant closing after 29 years
Richard Wilson stood outside Eat’n Park in Edgewood Towne Center after eating his final breakfast there. The restaurant is closing at 5 p.m. Monday after 29 years. “It was like a shock when I found out about this closing,” said Wilson, 40, of Swissvale, as he dined on a steak...
Toomey confirms he won’t run for another Senate term or governor in 2022
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, on Monday announced he will call it quits in 2022 after a combined total of 18 years in Congress. At a news conference near his home in suburban Allentown, Toomey said he will serve out the final two years of his second...
Western Pa. organizations see uptick in tutoring demands in wake of pandemic
As parents help their children navigate through online learning in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many are turning to tutoring sites for homework help. Locally, organizations offering tutoring services have seen an increased demand as students traverse an ever-changing landscape with districts reopening in person, virtually or through hybrid...
Trump aims for Monday release; White House press secretary tests positive
BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump was hoping for a Monday discharge from the military hospital where he is being treated for covid-19, a day after he briefly ventured out while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade — an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus that...
PSO virtual concert series opens with celebration of Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will bring a new type of front row experience to music lovers via an online concert series premiering Oct. 19. ”Front Row: The PSO Virtual Experience” will include five episodes that will traverse the region and offer classical and popular music, along with Holiday Pops and...
Pandemic pushes start of holiday shopping earlier than ever
NEW YORK — Add last-minute holiday shopping to the list of time-honored traditions being upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Retailers are kicking off the holiday season earlier than ever this year in hopes of avoiding big in-store crowds and shipping bottlenecks in November and December. Stores like Best Buy, Macy’s,...
4 firefighters hurt battling blaze in Pittsburgh’s South Side
Four firefighters were injured Sunday while battling a blaze on Mt. Oliver Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side, according to public safety officials. Crews responded to a call about 8 p.m., where they rushed to extinguish flames in a third-floor apartment. Firefighters found heavy flames in the back of one of...
Former Homestead church, now an agility course, is still a place to reach a higher powerVideo
When you’re 17 feet in the air about to take a step onto a tight rope, you might need some inner strength. That fortitude is something that can be brought out of you at the Dragon’s Den. Housed in the former historic St. Mary Magdalene Church in Homestead, this ropes...
Trump leaves hospital briefly to greet supporters outsideVideo
BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump declared, “I get it,” in a message to the nation Sunday evening before briefly leaving the hospital to salute cheering supporters from his motorcade, a surprising move that raised new questions about the president’s understanding of the coronavirus that has killed more than 209,000...
Pa. agency websites back online after weekend technical issue
A technical issue that affected the online services of multiple state agencies over the weekend appeared to have been fixed as of early Monday. Online Voter Registration and other services on the Department of State, Department of Revenue, Department of Human Services and the Liquor Control Board websites were having...
West Deer couple, neighbor invite people to come and see their haunted housesVideo
If you ask Greg McWilliams why his West Deer house looks like a Halloween paradise, he’ll give you a simple answer: It’s for the kids. “If it was just me and (my wife), we probably wouldn’t do it. It’s all for our kids,” McWilliams said. “We love seeing the smiles,...
Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley holds pet blessing ceremony as new building nears completionVideo
Construction of Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley’s new $1.9 million shelter is nearing completion after being delayed because of the coronavirus. On Sunday, about two dozen dogs and their owners turned out for a pet blessing ceremony at the shelter’s new home along Church Street in New Kensington. Officials with...
Pennsylvania reports 2,251 new coronavirus cases, 37 new deaths over past 2 days
Pennsylvania on Sunday reported 2,251 new cases and 37 new deaths attributed to the coronavirus for the past two days. The state Department of Health said a technical issue caused a delay in Saturday’s reporting and the need to report a two-day total Sunday. The state has generally stopped issuing...
Report: Sen. Pat Toomey may not seek reelection
Sen. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania’s highest-ranking Republican in office, is expected to talk about his future plans Monday. A spokesman for Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, would not confirm or deny a Sunday report by the Philadelphia Inquirer that he will not seek re-election to the Senate. Toomey will make an announcement at...
Hershey School proposes $350M network of 6 early childhood centers in Pa.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. The super-rich Milton S. Hershey School for poor children, which has faced criticism over how few students it helps, has...
