Top Stories category, Page 14
Federal judge throws out Trump order blocking development of wind energy
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capricious” and violates U.S. law. Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court...
Trump says survivors of scrutinized U.S. strike were trying to right boat before 2nd missile was fired
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday justified the U.S. military’s decision to fire a second missile in a heavily scrutinized attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea by claiming that two suspected drug smugglers were trying to right the vessel after it had capsized in the initial strike....
Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters will remain in state prison after a federal judge rejected her bid for freedom
DENVER — A federal magistrate judge on Monday rejected a bid by a former Colorado county clerk to be released from prison while she appeals her state conviction for orchestrating a data breach scheme driven by false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race. Former Mesa County...
Mum’s the word: NFL, Visit Pittsburgh host private town hall on draft plans
As a Pittsburgh councilman, Anthony Coghill chairs City Council’s public safety committee and serves on the Sports & Exhibition Authority’s board. But even those credentials could not score him an invitation to a closed-door “town hall” Monday with NFL officials about the 2026 NFL Draft coming to Pittsburgh in April....
Former Steeler Ryan Shazier reunites with medical team that treated him in Cincinnati
Eight years to the day after Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal cord injury, he returned to UC Medial Center to reunite with the care team that treated him and started him on a path to recovery. The former Steelers linebacker also met with patients to talk about his recovery process...
As cold temperatures approach, don’t forget the drip
Western Pennsylvania may be avoiding heavy snowfall this week, but frigid temperatures are still sticking around. Matt Brudy, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said colder air is on the way during the second half of this week and this weekend, which could lead to single-digit wind chills...
Pa. transgender health leader’s name changed on federal portrait in act of ‘bigotry’
Among the portraits of agency leaders that line the hallways at the federal Department of Health and Human Services is one of Admiral Rachel Levine, who served as Pennsylvania secretary of health and physician general before being named President’s Biden’s assistant secretary of health. Levine was the first transgender person...
8 taken to hospital following Monroeville crash involving school bus
Five children and three adults were taken to local hospitals after a crash Monday morning between a Gateway school bus and another vehicle, school officials said. First responders were called to Monroeville Boulevard near the entrance to Target around 8:30 a.m. The bus collided with an SUV, which overturned. Gateway...
Military required not to follow unlawful orders, Pam Bondi said in past court filing
The Trump administration’s top law enforcement official and legal adviser said in a brief filed last year in the Supreme Court that service members are required not to carry out illegal orders from a president. News of the resurfaced brief, first reported on by The New York Times, comes as...
5 things we learned: In AFC North, Steelers control destiny, but so do 2nd-place Ravens
Five things we learned from Steelers 27, Ravens 22: 1. Northern exposure While it’s true the Steelers got a leg up on the Ravens in the AFC North, Baltimore controls its playoff fate the rest of the way. As do the Steelers. It may sound confusing, but it’s true. If...
Police say there could be more victims in case of former Highlands teacher charged with sex assault
Allegheny County Police said there might be more victims of sexual assault by a former Highlands School District teacher arrested Thursday. Sean Dicer, 53, was arrested at his Pacific Avenue home in Brackenridge. He was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, unlawful contact with a minor and...
Greensburg Lutheran church sells shopping plaza along Main Street
A Greensburg shopping plaza has been sold to a Unity church. Charter Oak Church on Frye Farm Road has purchased the Mid Town Plaza, at 450 S. Main St., from First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 246 S. Main St. for $1.15 million, through its COC Holdings LLC, according to documents...
Police drop charges against man previously accused of firing shots during road rage incident
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that charges against Dillon Schaub were withdrawn. State police have withdrawn all the charges against a man previously accused of firing several shots from a handgun at another vehicle during a supposed road rage episode in North Buffalo on Friday. On...
Victim identified in fatal shooting outside New Kensington Elks Lodge
Police continue to investigate a homicide that took place early Saturday morning outside the New Kensington Elks Lodge, 932 Third Ave. Jeffrey Ballard, 46, was shot and killed outside the bar at around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, said Melanie Jones, a spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. Ballard is...
Sharpsburg, Rankin mayors attend Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism
Sharpsburg Mayor Kayla Portis visited New Orleans for the first time with a heavy heart. Portis attended the 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism held Dec. 2-4 in New Orleans. “The Tree of Life shooting is a tragedy that continues to weigh heavily on our region,” said Portis, invited...
Budget bombshell: Pittsburgh councilwoman proposes 30% tax hike in 2026
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Barb Warwick dropped a budget bombshell on Monday, proposing a 30% property tax hike to balance what she and her peers see as a disastrous final spending plan by the outgoing mayor. A tax increase of that magnitude is only path to forward without axing services, Warwick said....
Trump proposes $12B aid package for farmers hit hard by his trade war with China
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced a $12 billion farm aid package on Monday — a boost to farmers who have struggled to sell their crops while getting hit by rising costs after the president raised tariffs on China as part of a broader trade war. He unveiled the plan...
Carnegie Museum of Natural History director Gretchen Baker to depart
Gretchen Baker, the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland, will be leaving effective Dec. 31. The Carnegie Museums announced Monday that Baker would be moving to a position as president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden. She joined the...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ lead in AFC North is restored, along with the Mike Tomlin narrative
The Pittsburgh Steelers are back atop the AFC North, and the narrative is back in place. It ranges somewhere between Kevin Bacon screaming “All is well!” in “Animal House” and Aaron Rodgers saying, “Means maybe (the media) will shut the hell up for a week.” It doubtless involves every talking...
Where things stand in the peace talks on the Ukraine war
President Donald Trump has unleashed the most extensive diplomatic effort to end the fighting in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago, but Washington’s efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet Monday with European allies as...
Plum prepares for 25th edition of Make-A-Wish telethon, hopes to crack $1.25M mark
Plum’s annual Make-A-Wish telethon is set to return later this month for its 25th edition. The livestreamed event has raised $1.19 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation since it began in 1999. But organizers are hoping to crack the $1.25 million mark this year, according to Plum High School teacher and...
Steelers vs. Ravens: What they’re saying in Baltimore after loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled out a wild road win Sunday at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, defeating their rival Ravens, 27-22, and taking the lead in the AFC North. The Steelers squeaked away with the win after a potential, go-ahead Ravens touchdown was taken off the board with less than three...
Madden Monday: ‘The Ravens were worse, more than the Steelers were better’
During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X had plenty of good things to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 27-22 victory in Baltimore. “I thought they did a good job rushing (Lamar) Jackson. I thought Jackson was awful, but I thought that they contained...
Construction of driverless vehicle test track in East Huntingdon reaches the start line
Construction of a 2-mile track in East Huntingdon to test autonomous vehicles and train first responders is underway, with the facility expected to be in operation by late 2026. The project’s first phase, which includes the test track and supporting infrastructure, is expected to cost about $30 million. Work crews...
Hundreds gather in Squirrel Hill to hear account of Israeli held captive by Hamas for 491 days
For Jay Idler, reading the first published account of an Israeli taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, was difficult, but necessary. “A lot of the hostages are appropriately closed in after having such a traumatic experience,” said Idler of Squirrel Hill. “Having someone elaborate after what they went...
