Top Stories category, Page 152
Fiery Air India crash kills 241 people aboard, leaving 1 survivor, airline says
AHMEDABAD, India — An Air India plane bound for London crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board, the airline said. One passenger who was thrown from the plane survived. At least five medical students in a college hostel were killed when...
How they track the flight of golf balls at the U.S. Open for TV viewers, spectators on siteVideo
When a golfer at the U.S. Open tees off, in less than one second the members of the NBC Sports broadcasting team know where the ball is headed, how far it will go and where it will land. That’s great for viewers watching at home, who see a comet-like streak...
Light at the end of the tunnel? North Greengate Road train overpass targeted for improvements
A restoration specialist by trade, Bill Cunningham is used to dealing with the aftermath of fires, floods and other disasters. But he also has found himself serving as an occasional unofficial traffic cop as he helps direct motorists when a tall truck gets stuck or has to turn around at...
U.S. Open meteorologist runs 1-man show from women’s locker room at Oakmont
Amid the sweeping grounds of Oakmont Country Club sits one man alone in the women’s locker room of the clubhouse — meteorologist Jake Swick — whose sole job is to monitor the weather for the U.S. Open in real time. Inside that women’s locker room is a window that opens...
Los Angeles-area mayors demand that Trump administration stop stepped-up immigration raids
LOS ANGELES — Dozens of mayors from across the Los Angeles region banded together Wednesday to demand that the Trump administration stop the stepped-up immigration raids that have spread fear across their cities and sparked protests across the country. But there were no signs President Donald Trump would heed their...
Freeport Area School Board OKs $55 million high school renovation, tax hike
After years of planning and debate, the Freeport Area School Board moved ahead Wednesday with a $55 million high school renovation project — and approved a tax increase to help fund it. Both measures passed 5-4. The school directors who voted for both were Christine Davies, Michael Huth, Gregory Selinger,...
Plum Zoning Board rejects fracking injection well after lengthy battle; company plans to appeal
After a yearslong legal battle, the Plum Zoning Hearing Board rejected the application for a second injection well in the borough, which is an about-face from its initial decision. Board member Mike Monfredi, who made the motion to reject the application, was joined by Andrew Novick and Linda Wilkins in...
USGA’s course maintenance teams work all night to ensure a pleasant U.S. Open experience
Leighton Schwob, the U.S. Golf Association’s U.S. Open Championship director of operations, wishes he had a little more darkness to work with. “Too much land, not enough night,” he said of the daily — or in this case, nightly — maintenance of public areas at Oakmont Country Club. One doesn’t...
Bicyclist who died after colliding with SUV in McKeesport identified
A bicyclist who died Wednesday afternoon after colliding with an SUV in McKeesport has been identified. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Taylor Mehalcik, 29, of Versailles. Allegheny County Police said the collision in the 600 block of Eden Park Boulevard was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m....
U.S. Open volunteers share what drove them to come to Oakmont this year
Karen Beeken assured a volunteer arriving early Wednesday at Oakmont Country Club that they would get their credentials. “I’ll take care of ya,” said Beeken, 72. Beeken of O’Hara is one of more than 4,000 volunteers working the 125th U.S. Open. They come from near and far, from all across...
Westmoreland Mall a feasible location for proposed convention center
A 200-room hotel and convention center with 15,000 square feet of meeting space could find a home at Westmoreland Mall. Some results of a study examining the feasibility of a hotel and convention center in Westmoreland County were revealed Wednesday by Sean Sullivan, general manager of Live Casino Pittsburgh, during...
Alerts issued for air quality, high temperatures across Pittsburgh region
Authorities have issued advisories for air quality and high temperatures Thursday in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is the primary reason for the National Weather Service issuing an air quality notice. While the smoke has recently been at high levels in the atmosphere, causing hazy skies, an inversion will...
Kennedy names 8 vaccine committee replacements, including covid shot critic
NEW YORK — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday named eight new vaccine policy advisers to replace the panel that he abruptly dismissed earlier this week. They include a scientist who researched mRNA vaccine technology and transformed into a conservative darling for his criticisms of covid-19 vaccines,...
Key Pa. senator says bipartisan energy bills on hold until contested climate program settled
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — A group of bills aimed at boosting electricity production and regulating clean energy has rare, bipartisan support in Pennsylvania’s divided legislature. But a...
Former Crafton man who dealt drugs smuggled from Mexico gets 23 years in prison
A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a former Crafton man to serve 23 years in prison for his role in running a complex heroin and cocaine distribution operation in Western Pennsylvania. The sentencing concludes the long-running case against Andrew Beatty, 41, who was charged more than a decade ago. Beatty,...
Brian Wilson, Beach Boys visionary leader and summer’s poet laureate, dies at 82
Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ visionary and fragile leader whose genius for melody, arrangements and wide-eyed self-expression inspired “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls” and other summertime anthems and made him one of the world’s most influential recording artists, has died at 82. Wilson’s family posted news of his death to his...
Where and when Saturday’s No Kings protests will happen in Western Pa.
Cities across the United States will gather Saturday for a No Kings Day protest against the Trump administration — and Pittsburgh is no exception. On that day — President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday — thousands of people are expected to rally outside the City-County Building on Grant Street in demonstration...
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain stalls, stranding riders on hill
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain came to a complete stop with riders onboard Saturday after the roller coaster’s safety sensors were triggered mid-ride. Social media posts showed photos of 24 riders stuck on the lift hill as the coaster sat motionless on the tracks. Kennywood spokeswoman Lynsey Winters said the Steel Curtain...
McKeesport man pleads guilty to gun theft from North Huntingdon home
An Allegheny County man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the theft of guns from a North Huntingdon home in 2021. John Steven Hudak, 49, of McKeesport was charged nearly three years ago with the theft and illegal possession and sales of 13 guns from a home safe while its owner...
Trump says U.S. gets rare earth minerals from China; tariffs on Chinese goods going to 55%
LONDON — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States will get magnets and rare earth minerals from China under a new trade deal and that tariffs on Chinese goods will go to 55%. In return, Trump said the U.S. will provide China “what was agreed to,” including allowing...
Pittsburgh City Council expands paid sick leave requirements for businesses
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure that will mandate businesses provide additional paid sick days for workers. Under the city’s existing Paid Sick Days Act, which went into effect in March 2020, employers with 15 or more employees must give workers up to 40 hours of paid...
What is a Labubu? Viral monster dolls tough to find in Pittsburgh region
When Divina Rocco first heard of the viral Labubu plush dolls sold by the Chinese collectibles retailer Pop Mart, she admittedly thought they were “ridiculous.” Now, she owns seven of them. The monster-like creatures were created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. He created “The Monsters” in 2015, first as...
Make sure to bring a healthy appetite to the U.S. OpenVideo
Should you be eating a Philly cheesesteak for breakfast? It’s a culinary debate for the ages. Dick Atzeni of Sligo, Clarion County, and his granddaughter, Hannah, certainly weren’t against it, as they chowed down on their sandwiches around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the U.S. Open in Oakmont. Atzeni has been...
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver indicted on federal charges from skirmish at New Jersey immigration center
TRENTON, N.J. — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted Tuesday on federal charges alleging she impeded and interfered with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center while Newark’s mayor was being arrested after he tried to join a congressional oversight visit at the facility. Acting U.S. Attorney for New...
Young fans give tips regarding the hunt for U.S. Open autographsVideo
To get an autograph at the U.S. Open, you must be assertive, pushy and, for the most part, you have to be a kid. On Tuesday, Oakmont Country Club was flooded with people and families coming from all over the country. Among the crowd, tiny hands gripped flags, posters, hats...
