Top Stories category, Page 1625
2 dead in California high school attack; gunman shoots self
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — A student gunman opened fire Thursday at a Southern California high school, killing two students, wounding three others and shooting himself in the head, authorities said. He was in grave condition. The shooting occurred around 7:30 a.m. at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, about 30...
Poll: Americans struggle to identify true facts
WASHINGTON — In a sharply divided country, here’s something many Americans agree on: It’s hard to know what’s a true and honest fact. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USA Facts finds that regardless of political belief, many Americans say they have a...
NBC’s ‘Dateline’ to recount Blairsville dentist’s murder
The 2006 murder of Blairsville dentist John Yelenic will be recounted in the Friday installment of NBC’s “Dateline.” Titled “The Premonition,” the two-hour segment of the long-running investigative series will air at 9 p.m. Among those interviewed for the show is Janelle Lydic, a Blairsville police corporal who was among...
HUD: Homeless veteran numbers drop this year in Pennsylvania
Veteran homelessness in Pennsylvania dropped by nearly 13% in 2019, according to the annual Homeless Assessment Report by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Those numbers mirror the national trend, which HUD officials say continues to decline. “In Pennsylvania, we’ve made great strides over the years in our efforts...
Old dogs, new tricks: 10,000 pets needed for scienceVideo
SEATTLE — Can old dogs teach us new tricks? Scientists are looking for 10,000 pets for the largest-ever study of aging in canines. They hope to shed light on human longevity too. The project will collect a pile of pooch data: vet records, DNA samples, gut microbes and information on...
Fact check: GOP presses empty Ukraine meddling theory during impeachment hearingsVideo
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans pressed the discredited theory that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 U.S. election in defending President Donald Trump in Wednesday’s impeachment hearings. A look at some of the remarks in the House Intelligence Committee proceeding: REP. DEVIN NUNES, top Republican on the panel: “The Democrats cooperated in...
Despite female push, Garth Brooks bests Carrie Underwood at CMA AwardsVideo
The Country Music Association Awards almost fully honored and highlighted the women of country music — whose songs have been heavily dismissed on country radio over the years — until two words were uttered when they named its entertainer of the year: Garth Brooks. Wednesday night’s show kicked off with...
Police: 2 dead in Homewood shooting
Two people were fatally shot Wednesday night in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, according to police. The woman who died was Kierra Eddisha Harris, 26, of McKees Rocks, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday. The medical examiner said Harris died of gunshot wounds to the neck and chest. Her death...
As rockets rain down, Israel intensifies its strikes in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli aircraft struck Islamic Jihad targets throughout the Gaza Strip on Wednesday while the militant group rained scores of rockets into Israel for a second straight day as the heaviest round of fighting in months showed no signs of ending. The death toll rose to...
Plum Town Center construction manager approved, borough plans moving forward
More pieces are falling into place for a proposed Plum municipal center. Council voted 5-0 Wednesday night to appoint Massaro Construction of O’Hara as the Plum Town Center’s construction manager at an estimated cost of $425,000. Councilmen John Anderson and Mike Pastor were absent. The project’s estimated cost is $12...
Allegheny County Council holding 2 budget hearings, no property tax hike next year
Allegheny County Council held the first of two public hearings on the proposed 2020 county budget Wednesday, reviewing sections of the budget including county administration, health and human services, public works, facilities management and the health department. The $1 billion budget was proposed by Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald in October....
Greensburg Salem approves borrowing up to $13 million for repairs
The Greensburg Salem School Board on Wednesday approved issuing up to $13 million in bonds to pay for school repairs, but opponents said a new school board might counteract the measure early next year. The vote passed 6-3. Board members Charlotte Kemerer, Ron Mellinger, Nicholas Rullo, Rachel Shaw, Lynna Thomas...
Pittsburgh ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant falls to high school physics teacher in Tournament of Champions
Fans hoping to root on a Western Pennsylvanian contestant in this week’s “Jeopardy!” mega-competition had their hopes dashed Wednesday night. Lindsey Shultz, a Connellsville native who works as a physician and health care analyst in Pittsburgh, was knocked out of the popular game show’s 10-day Tournament of Champions in the...
Comedian Joe Bartnick returns home to Pittsburgh for birthday celebration
Legendary funnyman Joe Bartnick returns home to Pittsburgh on Friday for an event five decades in the making. The best-selling author will take the stage at Club Cafe for a birthday bash. Doors open at 10 p.m. with the show starting at 10:30 at 56 S. 12th St. in the...
Washington County woman pleads guilty to violating federal gun, drug charges
A Washington County woman has pleaded guilty to violating federal drug and gun charges. Alyssa Ashley Adkins, 30, of Houston, entered the plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court at Pittsburgh to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams or more of fentanyl; a similar...
Jeannette shuts down hemp drying facility
A controversial hemp drying facility in Jeannette must stop operations immediately, according to an order from the city. Fire Chief Bill Frye delivered the cease and desist notice to the Thomas Avenue warehouse late Wednesday afternoon. Frye said Colorado-based Patriot Shield Security opened the facility in September without taking any...
Greene County native Pete Putila emerges as Pirates GM candidate
Pete Putila grew up in Greene County rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He might wind up in charge of their baseball operations or, possibly, at least playing a major role. Putila, a Houston Astros assistant general manager, has emerged as a candidate for the Pirates’ GM job. The Carmichaels graduate’s...
Man in critical condition after being struck by car near Carnegie Mellon campus
A man was in critical condition after being struck by a car Wednesday afternoon while walking near Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Pittsburgh and university police responded to the crash near Fifth and Morewood avenues about 3:15 p. m., Pittsburgh public safety spokesman Maurice Matthews II said. Medics...
Diplomats describe Trump’s effort to hijack Ukraine policy for his political benefitVideo
WASHINGTON — Career U.S. diplomats delivered solemn testimony Wednesday about the Trump administration’s alleged misconduct in Ukraine — including a previously undisclosed cellphone call in which President Donald Trump appeared to personally press a senior State Department official to pressure the Eastern European nation. As the historic public impeachment proceedings...
Newborns sport cardigans to honor Mister Rogers at Pittsburgh hospitalVideo
Newborns at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh sported crocheted cardigans and sneakers during a visit Wednesday from Joanne Rogers, wife of the late Fred Rogers. “They’re so polite,” Joanne Rogers said while greeting the newborns styled after Mister Rogers. Wednesday is being recognized as World Kindness Day. Caitlin Pechin, a...
URA to vote on $1.6 million purchase of former Hill District grocery property
The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority is moving to acquire a former grocery store complex on Centre Avenue in the Hill District. URA directors are scheduled to vote Thursday on purchasing the 2.6-acre property from Dollar Bank for $1.6 million. The complex previously housed a Shop ’n Save. The Hill House...
NBC lays off entire ‘Days of our Lives’ castVideo
Like sands through the hourglass … so goes the cast of “Days of our Lives.” But it looks like the hourglass has been busted. By NBC. Every actor on the show, one of television’s last remaining soap operas, has been released from their contract, TVLine reports. The site said the...
Officer Brian Shaw’s mother to Rahmael Holt: ‘I will never forgive you’Video
Lisa Shaw says she is still waiting to wake up from the nightmare of losing her son, New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw. “All he wanted to do was make a difference in the community,” Shaw told jurors Wednesday on the first day of the sentencing hearing of Rahmael Holt,...
Costco warns customers $75 ‘coupon’ is a scam
Usually when something seems too good to be true … You know how the rest of the saying goes, and Costco is here to warn its customers just that. The wholesale company posted Tuesday on Facebook that they are “NOT giving away $75 coupons. “While we love our fans and...
FBI investigating Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration over Mariner East pipeline permits
HARRISBURG — The FBI has begun a corruption investigation into how Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration came to issue permits for construction on a multibillion-dollar pipeline project to carry highly volatile natural gas liquids across Pennsylvania, The Associated Press has learned. FBI agents have interviewed current or former state employees in...
