Top Stories category, Page 1571
Police: Missouri man arrested at Pittsburgh airport with loaded gun didn’t have permit
A Missouri man was arrested at Pittsburgh International Airport after TSA officers found a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag at the security checkpoint, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Donnell Whitcancek, 59, of Garden City, was arrested and charged with a firearms violation because he didn’t have a valid...
Should Pennsylvanians worry about deadly coronavirus?
Health officials say Pennsylvanians have little to fear so far from a deadly respiratory illness spreading across Southeast Asia. The coronavirus, which presents itself with symptoms similar to a common cold or the flu, has so far killed 18 people, mainly in China, and has sickened people in Taiwan, Japan,...
Full jury, 6 alternates set to hear 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
A full jury and six alternates have been seated to hear the capital case against two men accused in the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg. The final two alternates, one woman and one man, were chosen Thursday afternoon – the 13th day of jury selection. Cheron Shelton, 32, and Robert...
Fight over shrimp in Pittsburgh lands 2 women in jail
Two women were hurt while fighting over a bag of shrimp inside a Pittsburgh home, police said. They were charged with aggravated assault after the fracas. Nandine Bell, 46, of Pittsburgh, told police she was buying a bag of shrimp from Pamela Freshley, 55, of Swissvale at about 12:34 p.m....
National survey shows contradictory attitudes toward flu vaccine
Pennsylvania has nearly 40,000 confirmed flu cases so far this season, yet 43% of respondents to a nationwide survey said they won’t get a flu shot. In the survey of 1,226 Americans, conducted by Qualtrics, 74% of those who were not planning to receive a flu vaccination said it was...
Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai will not seek another term in officeVideo
Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai ended speculation about his political future Thursday by announcing that he will not seek another term in Harrisburg. With his wife and son at his side during a news conference at his district office in McCandless, Turzai said it “has been a privilege of a...
Jim Lehrer of the ‘MacNeil-Lehrer Report’ dies at 85Video
NEW YORK — Jim Lehrer, co-host and later host of the nightly PBS “NewsHour” that for decades offered a thoughtful take on current events, has died, PBS said Thursday. He was 85. Lehner died “peacefully in his sleep,” according to PBS. He had suffered a heart attack in 1983 and...
Wilkinsburg shooting suspect’s attorney says ‘guarantees’ made to witness, seeks dismissal
The attorney for one of two men accused in the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg has asked the judge to dismiss the case against his client, alleging 11 days before the trial is set to start that prosecutors failed to disclose exculpatory evidence. The push made Thursday to dismiss the...
DA: Police justified in killing Greensburg woman who had gun
The fatal shooting of a Greensburg woman in March by a city police officer has been officially classified a justified homicide. Nina C. Adams, 47, posed a threat to police and the public March 13 when she fired shots at a Harvey Avenue building, according to a report released Thursday...
Police seek ID of man caught painting ‘CAVIAR’ on South Side wall
Pittsburgh police are asking for help to identify a man caught spray painting graffiti Saturday on South 20th Street on the South Side. The tag reads “CAVIAR” and could be in other locations as well. Police released photos of the man, who was caught on video making tag at about...
Dems’ challenge: Making impeachment case with evidence recap
WASHINGTON — The challenge is becoming increasingly clear for House Democrats prosecuting President Donald Trump’s impeachment case as the Senate convenes for a second day of arguments in the landmark trial. The evidence confronting Trump becomes less compelling when presented again and again, day after day, as Democrats try to...
Leechburg man accused of assaulting girl at Westmoreland MallVideo
A 16-year-old girl from the Greensburg area told state police a man “grabbed her by the throat, picked her up and threw her to the floor” at Westmoreland Mall last month after she replied to an off-hand comment her assailant and two juvenile companions made about her appearance. State police...
Baldwin Borough considers ordinance over publicly slaughtering animals
Baldwin Borough leaders are considering new rules that would require residents who are sacrificing animals for religious purposes to do so out of the view of the public. The amended ordinance, which is working its way through borough council, would address an issue that sprung up in Baldwin last year,...
China shuts down more cities in bid to contain deadly virus
BEIJING — China decided Thursday to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush....
Fire marshal to investigate cause of East Deer house fire
An East Deer man said he was trying to thaw frozen water pipes when his home caught fire Thursday morning. The fire at 931 Bellview St. was reported around 5:45 a.m., according to Allegheny County 911. No injuries were reported. Zachary Shutak, 24, said he was using a heat gun...
Air pollution warning in effect for Clairton, Liberty areas of Allegheny County
An air pollution warning is in effect Thursday for the Clairton and Liberty areas of Allegheny County. The National Weather Service had said the “code orange” alert applied to five counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of two other counties, but corrected its alert around midday Thursday to apply to...
Police search for hit-and-run driver who struck teen girl at Burger King in Carrick
A teen girl was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the drive-thru of a Burger King while Pittsburgh firefighters were extinguishing a fire at the fast food restaurant, officials said. Officials are searching for the driver of a white or tan sedan that struck the girl, a Burger King employee,...
‘Dancing with the Stars’ brings all the moves to the BenedumVideo
Professional dancer Alan Bersten said he never imagined that he and his celebrity partner, “The Bachelorette” star Hannah Brown, would be among the finalists and the ultimate winner of ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” reality show, earning the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy. “Not until they called our names did we...
World of Wheels roars into Pittsburgh for annual stop
Like many little kids, Aaron Kaufman of Grand Prairie, Texas, loved playing with cars — and dump trucks, bulldozers, tractors and just about anything else with wheels. He credits his grandfather, who ran a mill near his home working on parts for aircrafts, and his father, a maintenance man with...
Democrats appeal for GOP help to convict ‘corrupt’ TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — House Democrats launched into marathon arguments in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial Wednesday, appealing to skeptical Republican senators to join them in voting to oust Trump from office to “protect our democracy.” Trump’s lawyers sat by, waiting their turn, as the president blasted the proceedings from afar, threatening...
State police seek car involved in Burrell Township pursuit
State police are seeking information on the driver of black Volkswagen sedan with fresh passenger-side damage, who was involved in a pursuit and eventual crash in Burrell Township on Tuesday night. A state trooper attempting a traffic stop just after 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 on Pine Ridge Road was...
State Rep. Joseph Petrarca to hold 2 free concealed carry events
State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Washington Township, will hold two free concealed-carry events to ensure 55th District residents are aware of their Second Amendment rights. The informational events will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at Huber Hall in Latrobe and Feb. 6 at the West Leechburg Fire...
Verona cop arrested on charges he had sex with 16-year-old boy
A Verona police officer was arrested Wednesday on charges that he shared nude photos with and performed a sex act on a 16-year-old boy, according to Allegheny County police. The boy told police he met Anthony David Ogline, 34, of Verona, through the online dating app Grindr about three months...
Pitt cyber institute starts task force to study big data tools used by city, county
A new collaboration spearheaded by the University of Pittsburgh’s cyber institute aims to help governments address the challenge of minimizing bias in data tools using algorithms and artificial intelligence. The newly formed Pittsburgh Task Force on Public Algorithms was announced Wednesday morning and includes participation from Pittsburgh and Allegheny County...
3rd juror is dismissed in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case; jury selection enters Day 13
Another juror who had been selected to hear the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case was dismissed Wednesday, making her the third seated juror to be excused or dismissed before jury selection is even complete. The woman, who was set to be juror No. 12, failed to disclose her friendship with...
