Top Stories category, Page 1446
Many Westmoreland taxpayers not noticing extended discount period
Many Westmoreland County residents aren’t taking advantage of this year’s extended discount period for property taxes, and it’s causing headaches for local tax collectors. Earlier this spring, the county commissioners extended the deadline for the 2% property tax discount — which usually ends in April 30 — through Aug. 31...
‘We are never going to be tired’: South Hills protest organizer vows continued fight over racial injusticeVideo
In less than a week’s time, Camille Redman has become one of the faces of a movement — a movement that has not lost momentum in the weeks since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police and a movement that has been working its way outward from Pittsburgh and into...
New Kensington protest to recognize slain city officer before demanding end to police brutality
A Black Lives Matter protest being held Saturday in New Kensington will start with demonstrators placing a wreath at a memorial honoring a city police officer who was killed three years ago, an organizer said. “This is not an anti-police event. This is a pro-black lives event,” said Jon McCabe,...
Dottie the penguin returns to National Aviary after recovering from pneumoniaVideo
Dottie, a National Aviary penguin, has fully recovered from a near fatal bout with pneumonia. She spent more than seven months in the Pittsburgh facility’s avian hospital. This week, she rejoined her “husband” Stan and 16 other penguin friends in the aviary’s Penguin Point, said Pilar Fish, senior director of...
Reserve man charged with threatening to shoot entire Millvale police force
A Reserve Township man with alleged access to firearms and previous run-ins with law enforcement has been charged with threatening to shoot every member of the Millvale Police Department. Tyler Allison, 23, was charged with four counts each of making terroristic threats and harassment following a June 4 medical call...
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to reopen with new precautions
CLEVELAND — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is reopening, but fans better practice social distancing by staying at least “two Stratocasters apart” and bring their credit cards, officials announced Thursday. Rock’s shrine will reopen on June 15 after closing on March 14 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Visitors...
Pennsylvania adds 467 additional covid-19 cases, 51 more deaths
Pennsylvania officials on Thursday reported 51 more covid-19 deaths and 467 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 77,313, according to health officials. A total of 6,113 people have died from the virus. Approximately 5,888 of the total cases are from health care workers. There are 630...
Tanisha Long is building a Black Lives Matter movement for all of Southwestern Pa.
Tanisha Long’s voice was still hoarse two days after leading and organizing a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally at Point State Park on June 7. “It’s my protesty voice. Just part of it, I guess,” she said. She then moved on to the topic of the day: how and why...
Unity businessman plans Fourth of July fireworks at Westmoreland FairgroundsVideo
Fireworks will light up the night sky to celebrate the Fourth of July in Mt. Pleasant Township as a way for a local businessowner to give back to the community. Marcus Wisneski is planning a “drive-in fireworks show” to celebrate Independence Day at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. It is one of...
Dow sinks 1,800 as virus cases rise, deflating optimismVideo
The Dow Jones industrials lost more than 1,800 points, nearly 7%, as increases in coronavirus cases deflated optimism that the economy could recover quickly from its worst crisis in decades. The pullback Thursday comes after the market has been screeching higher for more than two months at a pace that...
Allegheny County reports 21 new coronavirus cases, 1 more death
Allegheny County health officials Thursday reported 21 new covid-19 cases and one new death. County data show that of the 2,055 cases, 1,923 are confirmed and 132 are probable. Of the country’s 173 deaths, 161 are confirmed and 12 are probable. All deaths occurred in people between the ages of...
Pittsburgh Public Schools axes drive-in commencements because of planned protests
Pittsburgh Public Schools has canceled a drive-in style graduation ceremony planned for Downtown this weekend because of planned protests, according to school officials. A short statement from the district said the cancellation was at the request of law enforcement. The district had initially planned virtual graduations that would be live-streamed...
1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits – Jun. 11, 2020Video
WASHINGTON — About 1.5 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many Americans are still losing their jobs even as the economy appears to be slowly recovering with more businesses partially reopening. The latest figure from the Labor Department marked the 10th straight weekly decline...
First large covid-19 vaccine test in U.S. on track for JulyVideo
The first experimental covid-19 vaccine in the United States is on track to begin a huge study next month to prove if it really can fend off the coronavirus, its manufacturer announced Thursday — a long-awaited step in the global vaccine race. The vaccine, developed by the U.S. National Institutes...
As of Thursday evening, power still out for about 600 West Penn Power customers, about 700 for Duquesne Light
Power has mostly been restored after the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal rolled through the region Wednesday evening. West Penn Power reported Thursday that a power grid was shut down, affecting a large portion of the Elizabeth Township, because of numerous utility lines that were down and other storm-related power...
Giant Eagle takes steps ‘to stand up against racism and social injustice’
The Giant Eagle supermarket chain has announced several measures intended “to stand up against racism and social injustice.” Among the moves announced were: • A $350,000 contribution to support social justice causes; • The closure of its Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo locations Saturday from 7 to 8 a.m....
Police: Missing Homewood man, 84, found safe
Pittsburgh police have found a man reported missing on Wednesday from the Homewood area. Peter Jackson, 84, was last seen Monday at the Erie Veterans Administration hospital. Jackson was found and is safe, according to police. UPDATE: Peter Jackson has been located and is safe. Thank you for your concerns...
Pittsburgh police look to ID suspect in vehicle damage during Downtown protests
Pittsburgh police on Wednesday released photos of a man suspected of damaging the window of a police tactical support vehicle during May 30 protests in Downtown Pittsburgh. The man is suspected of throwing a cinder block through the front passenger window of a Tactical Operations Support truck parked at Washington...
Police: Missing 2-year-old boy found safe
A missing 2-year-old boy was found safe and returned to Pittsburgh, police announced Saturday. Moor Bey had last been seen on June 1 when his father dropped him off to his mother, according to police. Police said they believed the mother, who had local addresses in the Beechview and McKees...
Citing ‘abject failure’ by Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent, black female leaders call for no contract renewal
A coalition of black, female leaders is calling for the Pittsburgh Public Schools to reject Anthony Hamlet for another term as superintendent. In a letter sent June 1 to the school board that included more than 50 signatures, a group called Black Women for a Better Education criticizes Hamlet’s organizational...
House Speaker Turzai to resign from Legislature effective Monday
Pennsylvania State House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, on Wednesday announced he will resign from the General Assembly effective Monday. Turzai, an abortion opponent, strong proponent of state support for charter and religious schools and the state’s energy industry, did not say what the future holds for him beyond the...
Wolf says he will go to court to uphold his disaster declaration
Gov. Tom Wolf says he’s ready to go to court to defend his disaster declaration. Wolf’s announcement came as state lawmakers ramped up attacks on the validity of the declaration. On Tuesday, they passed a resolution ordering the governor to rescind his June 3 extension of the 90-day disaster declaration...
East Huntingdon warehouse serves as stage for 412 Food RescueVideo
Hundreds of boxes of food were loaded into volunteers’ cars Wednesday in East Huntingdon, an attempt by 412 Food Rescue to help Westmoreland County residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. A group of nine volunteers, including two 412 Food Rescue staff and several from the American Red Cross, worked tirelessly...
Gov. Wolf updates guidance on outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania
Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday updated guidelines on the types of outdoor recreation that businesses may offer during the yellow and green phases of the state’s reopening plan. Wolf’s new guidance will permit additional outdoor recreational activities in counties that are in the yellow phase. These activities include mountain biking,...
Superior court turns away appeal from former Westmoreland sheriff
The Pennsylvania Superior Court on Wednesday quashed the appeal of former Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held, who sought the dismissal of corruption charges against him following a mistrial in 2018. A three-judge panel said it did not have jurisdiction to rule on Held’s appeal, in which the former two-term Republican...
