Top Stories category, Page 1597
Appeals court: Part of ‘Obamacare’ invalid, more review neededVideo
NEW ORLEANS — The “individual mandate” of former President Barack Obama’s health care law is invalid, but other parts of the law need further review, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. The 2-1 ruling handed down by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans...
Pittsburgh Council kills pension enhancement amendment
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday effectively killed a amendment that would have enhanced pension payouts for elected officials, including outgoing Councilwoman Darlene Harris. Members voted 6-2 without comment to table the amendment aimed at eliminating a so-called Social Security offset. Harris and Councilman Anthony Coghill voted no and Councilwoman Theresa...
Editorial: Better school funding needed in Pennsylvania
It should not cost more to teach math in Squirrel Hill than it does in New Kensington. It should not be more expensive to teach history in Hempfield than in Jeannette. It should not take more money to teach reading in Upper St. Clair than in Clairton. But geography ends...
Strip District merchants aren’t happy with suggestions to improve parking, traffic safety
Longtime Strip District merchants are panning a consultant’s draft report that suggests ways to improve parking and pedestrian safety in the historic wholesale district. Stantec, a Boston-based urban design firm, reported that the Strip has 10,300 parking spaces on streets and in lots, but only about 3,800 are available to...
1 dead, 1 injured in Perry South shooting
A shooting Wednesday in Pittsburgh’s Perry South neighborhood left one man dead and a woman wounded, authorities said. The shooting happened about 3 p.m. near the intersection of Norwood and Kennedy avenues, according to police. A man was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene, said Public...
Pittsburgh LGBTQ group leader accused of impersonating law enforcement officer
The leader of one of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ advocacy groups turned himself in Wednesday on charges that he billed himself as a law enforcement official and forged documents to back it up, according to a criminal complaint filed by state police. Gary Van Horn, 40, of Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood appeared at...
Pennsylvania hunters take in record number of bears in 2019
The Pennsylvania Game Commission reported the state’s highest bear harvest ever this year as the agency tries to slow a growing bear population. Locally, hunters took the most bears in Armstrong and Butler counties, with numbers in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties holding steady. Expanded hunting opportunities doubled the number of...
‘Dangerous’ snow squall leaves behind slick roads, minor crashes in Southwestern Pa.
A squall that blanketed Southwestern Pennsylvania on Wednesday afternoon — leaving roads slick and myriad minor car crashes and disabled vehicles in its wake — was akin to a summer thunderstorm, just one full of snow instead of rain, said meteorologist Matthew Kramer of the National Weather Service. “You can...
Marigold, the wayward pig found in Indiana Township, remains unclaimed
A pig found wandering in Indiana Township two weeks ago remains unclaimed. The female adult mini-sized pig, named Marigold by its caretakers, is said to be healthy but “grumpy,” according to Blue Martin, co-founder of Pigsburgh Squealers, a nonprofit pig rescue farm in Frazer. “Pigs are incredibly social and sensitive,”...
Traffic stop, videos help police ID suspect in Murrysville, Penn Township thefts
A traffic stop in Murrysville led to the arrest of a suspect in multiple vehicle break-ins in several communities. Murrysville police Detective John Devlin stopped a damaged Nissan SUV for alleged equipment violations Nov. 22. It was identical to the SUV seen at the area of the vehicle break-ins: a...
How to avoid giving bad holiday giftsVideo
We’ve all been there – heading to the store to return a gift the day after Christmas, because it was the wrong size, the wrong color, or the just plain wrong present. Nobody wants to be the person who gives the bad holiday gift. But how is it truly avoidable?...
Winning Mega Millions ticket worth $372M sold at Giant Eagle in Ohio
CLEVELAND — Someone in Ohio is going to have a wonderful life! A winning Mega Millions ticket worth $372 million was sold at a Giant Eagle supermarket in Mentor, a suburb of Cleveland. The winning numbers drawn on Tuesday, just eight days before Christmas, were: 22-30-53-55-56 +16. It’s the 20th...
What to watch as Trump impeachment moves to House floor
WASHINGTON — American history is happening in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats are driving President Donald Trump to the brink of impeachment Wednesday as the House takes up charges Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress in pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rivals and refusing to cooperate with the...
House marches toward Trump impeachment; he claims ‘assault’Video
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House marched toward a historic evening vote to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday, with Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisting Congress must “defend democracy” by evicting him from the White House. Trump would be just the third American president to be impeached, a distinctive dark mark...
Allegheny County sees 66% increase in flu cases over past week
The Pittsburgh area continues to lead the state in confirmed flu cases, with a large increase in Allegheny County in the past week. There were more than 6,900 confirmed influenza cases statewide as of the week ending Dec. 14, according to the state Department of Health. That is a 57%...
Police: Butler County couple stole more than $340K from employer
State police say a Clinton Township husband and wife stole more than $340,000 from their former employer over two years. Adam Joshua Lesseski, 35, and Kara Lynn Lesseski, 37, took the money from Concrete Coring in Jefferson Township between January 2017 and last March , police said. Adam Lesseski was...
How to host a holiday party on a budget
’Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry! That being said, when you’re hosting friends and family for the holidays, your grocery bill can easily double or even triple in no time. All that extra spending can add to the stress of the season, especially if you still have...
Protesters call for Trump’s impeachment outside Conor Lamb’s office in Mt. LebanonVideo
Saying America’s democracy is at stake, more than 150 people rallied Tuesday night outside U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s office in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon, calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. “It’s the right time to do the right thing,” said Joe Shaughnessy, 52, a Mt. Lebanon...
Pittsburgh zoo mourns death of northern elephant seal
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium reported Tuesday that its northern elephant seal, Coolio, died during a veterinary procedure. According to zoo officials, gross necropsy results indicated that 7-year-old Coolio suffered from congenital abnormalities, including blood vessel abnormalities, which likely resulted in severe hypertension. “Our animals are like family and...
Pittsburgh residents voice concerns over proposed Shadyside development
Pittsburgh residents Tuesday criticized the proposed redevelopment of a Giant Eagle shopping plaza in Shadyside, saying it would add to traffic congestion and building density in an area that’s already overcrowded. Echo Realty, which owns the plaza at Penn and Shady avenues known as Shady Hill Center, has yet to...
3rd sentencing hearing postponed for woman convicted in Greensburg torture-murder
A third sentencing hearing for the youngest member of group of former Greensburg roommates convicted in the 2010 torture killing of a mental disabled woman has been delayed as state appeal courts continue to weigh the legality of life prison terms for juvenile offenders. Angela Marinucci, now 27, has been...
Giant Eagle to get rid of plastic grocery bags, straws by 2025Video
Giant Eagle announced plans to get rid of single-use plastics by 2025, aiming to keep flimsy shopping bags and fresh food containers from clogging oceans and rivers and piling up on land. The O’Hara-based retailer, in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh, unveiled its plan Tuesday during...
White teacher sues Woodland Hills alleging racial discrimination
A Woodland Hills School District teacher who holds advanced degrees in administration and educational leadership is suing the district and alleging he wasn’t hired as an assistant principal because of his race. Charles Kost, of McDonald has been a teacher at Woodland Hills for 15 years. He has a master’s...
Westmoreland County tax hike, first in 15 years, on the table
Westmoreland County commissioners could vote Thursday to hike property taxes for the first time in 15 years. Commissioners Gina Cerilli and Charles Anderson said Tuesday they have yet to commit to the proposed 2.4% tax hike as part of a finance package that includes adoption of a 2020 budget and...
Pittsburgh’s $608 million budget includes no tax increase
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved Mayor Bill Peduto’s $608 million operating and $108 million capital spending plans for 2020 but noted the numbers could change, depending on the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations with the police union. The operating budget represents a $33 million increase in spending over this...
