Top Stories category, Page 1449
West Newton police, street department closed after officer tests positive for covid-19Video
The West Newton police and street departments are shut down and employees are in quarantine after a part-time officer tested positive last week for covid-19. Mayor Mary Popovich said Monday officials don’t believe there is a widespread outbreak of the virus in West Newton but borough officials decided to close...
Pittsburgh Zoo welcomes 3 African lions
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is asking for the public’s help to renovate its lion exhibit for a trio of new lions, with the hope there could be more in the future. Three African lions, a 2-year-old male and a pair of 2-year-old females, are now out of sight...
Pittsburgh Irish Festival canceled over crowd size concernsVideo
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival has been canceled, due to “the difficulties of navigating the covid-19 global pandemic,” organizers say. Instead, the 30th anniversary of the festival will take place from Sept. 10-12, 2021. This year’s festival originally was scheduled for Sept. 11-13 at the Lots at Sandcastle in West Homestead....
Roof collapses at church on Pittsburgh’s North SideVideo
Authorities responded Monday afternoon to the collapse of the roof at a church on Pittsburgh’s North Side. An Allegheny County 911 shift commander couldn’t provide details but said the city’s police, firefighters and emergency medical services were dispatched at 12:42 p.m. to Christian Fellowship Center Church on McClure Avenue in...
Police: Unity man arrested after threatening woman with hatchet
A Unity man was arrested on multiple assault charges after allegedly threatening his girlfriend with a hatchet Saturday, state police said. Joshua L. Poole, 39, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment after the 5:15 p.m. incident on the 300 block of Allegheny Avenue....
2 women rescued from Yough River after 1 swept away by current in Ohiopyle
A 20-year-old woman who was swept away by the Youghiogheny River current Sunday in Ohiopyle State Park was rescued by a 21-year-old woman in her group, according to park manager Ken Bisbee. The two women were able to get to safety on a rock just before the 20-foot-high falls near...
Democrats unveil police overhaul, kneel at CapitolVideo
WASHINGTON — Democrats proposed a sweeping overhaul of police oversight and procedures Monday, a potentially far-reaching legislative response to the mass protests denouncing the deaths of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement. Before unveiling the package, House and Senate Democrats held a moment of silence at the Capitol’s...
Pennsylvania reports 351 more coronavirus cases, 10 more deaths
Pennsylvania on Monday reported 10 more covid-19 deaths and 351 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 75,943, according to state health officials. A total of 5,953 people have died from the virus. More than 451,000 people have tested negative. Of the total cases, 71% have recovered....
New indictment filed against Unity man linked to disappearance of Cassandra Gross
A Unity man linked to the disappearance of Cassandra Gross has been indicted on charges of having a sawed-off rifle in Potter County nearly two years ago. The serial number on the .22-caliber rifle had been removed and the firearm was not registered to Thomas George Stanko, 49, according to...
Pitt asks for federal lawsuit by former officer Michael Rosfeld to be dismissed
The University of Pittsburgh has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by former Pitt police officer Michael Rosfeld, alleging his claims have no standing and reassuring students the school has no designs on bringing Rosfeld back to the force. “Please be assured that the University of Pittsburgh Police...
Allegheny County reports no new coronavirus deaths, 5 new cases
Allegheny County health officials on Monday reported no new coronavirus-related deaths, five new cases and one new hospitalization. Both the county and the state are reporting 168 deaths in the Allegheny County. The county is reporting an additional five cases, bringing the total to 2,008. The state updated its coronavirus...
Virtual PizzaFest to showcase 4 Pittsburgh pizza artisans
Four of Pittsburgh’s best pizza artisans will show their stuff during this year’s virtual PizzaFest – A Slice Of Delish! The event, which welcomed a sold-out crowd last year, will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday on Zoom. In addition to watching as chefs give demonstrations, tips and recipes from...
Why I protest: Pittsburgh-area residents who march for racial justice explain why
George Floyd was killed Memorial Day after a confrontation with a Minneapolis police officer. Floyd was black. The police officer, Derek Chauvin, is white. His death prompted large protests in cities of all sizes across the country, including in Pittsburgh and Greensburg. Thousands of residents from Western Pennsylvania have joined...
Fire destroys playgrounds at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh
School leadership at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighborhood vowed to rebuild “bigger and bolder and better” after a fire broke out at the school’s two playgrounds Saturday night. There was no damage to the school building and no other signs of possible vandalism were found, Imani Christian...
Westmoreland Fair officially canceled because of coronavirus restrictions
For the first time in 65 years, the Westmoreland Fair has been canceled, said fair President Craig Lash. Restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic made it “impossible” to host the event, Lash said. The restrictions would have included limiting the number of guests...
Support grows to toughen penalties in Pennsylvania for boating while under the influence
Those who are boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face penalties similar to those for people who are caught driving under the influence as measures to stiffen the law are gaining support in the Pennsylvania Legislature. The state House and a state Senate committee overwhelmingly passed...
9th day of protests in Pittsburgh as marchers call for police reform
The ninth straight day of demonstrations in Pittsburgh came to a close in Market Square on Sunday with protesters calling on city officials to meet with them to discuss police department reforms. “Chief of police, we’re asking you for a sit down,” said Kyna James, one of four leaders of...
As White House’s strong-arm tactics get pushback, Trump takes credit for peaceful protestsVideo
WASHINGTON — Asserting that “everything is under perfect control,” President Donald Trump claimed credit Sunday after a national wave of demonstrations against police abuses turned calmer, even as the White House faced fresh pushback over strong-arm tactics used against peaceful protesters. Protests appeared peaceful Sunday, a day after riot police...
Minneapolis council majority backs disbanding police force
MINNEAPOLIS — A majority of the members of the Minneapolis City Council said Sunday they support disbanding the city’s police department, an aggressive stance that comes just as the state has launched a civil rights investigation after George Floyd’s death. Nine of the council’s 12 members appeared with activists at...
Masses to resume at Shrines of Pittsburgh churches after covid-19 scare
In-person Masses that had been canceled over the weekend at some of Pittsburgh historic churches will resume Monday. Masses at the Shrines of Pittsburgh grouping in the diocese had been canceled because the spouse of an employee thought the had covid-19. But the test came back negative, the pastor of...
Virginia officer charged in use of stun gun on black manVideo
FAIRFAX, Va. — A white Virginia police officer was charged with assault and battery in connection with the use of a stun gun on a black man, authorities announced. Fairfax County police Officer Tyler Timberlake arrived on scene and fired his stun gun at the man after other officers had...
Man found shot to death in Wilkinsburg, police say
Allegheny County Police are investigating after they said a man was found shot to death Sunday in Wilkinsburg. The shooting was reported just before 4:40 p.m. in the 1600 block of Laketon Road. Police said the man was dead when they arrived. The man was standing near a set of...
Pittsburgh police chief explains why he took a knee during Beechview protest
Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert explained in a Facebook post Sunday why he participated in a Friday protest in the city’s Beechview neighborhood. Schubert didn’t plan on participating, but said being there helps him gauge how police can best respond to protests, he wrote in a Facebook post. He was...
Strong wind, rain as tropical storm makes Louisiana landfallVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Tropical Storm Cristobal made landfall Sunday on the Louisiana coast, packing 50 mph wind and spinning dangerous weather as far east as northern Florida, where it spawned a tornado that uprooted trees and downed power lines. The lopsided storm moved ashore between the mouth of the Mississippi...
Philadelphia mural of controversial ex-mayor Rizzo removed amid protests
PHILADELPHIA — The image of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo was removed from the side of a building in south Philadelphia amid large protests in the city on the issue of police brutality. Mural Arts Philadelphia said Sunday morning that the mural was being painted over with the consent of...
