Top Stories category, Page 1669
Chugging beer while riding a tricycle in South Greensburg, all for a great causeVideo
Typically, it might not be the best idea to mix competitive pedaling and beer chugging. But that’s just how participants of the Rotary of Westmoreland’s second annual Trike and Chug spent Saturday afternoon to raise money for the purchase of special adaptive bicycles for disabled children. The Rotary sponsored the...
Water main break in Hempfield cuts service to Westmoreland Manor, Hempfield Towers
A water main break Saturday morning disrupted service to Westmoreland County’s nursing home in Hempfield and a neighboring housing authority property. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said a 30-inch transmission line near the railroad tracks across Route 119 in Hempfield ruptured and left some customers with little to no...
Rep. Joe Kennedy formally announces US Senate campaign
BOSTON — U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III formally declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Saturday, becoming the first member of the Kennedy political dynasty to bid for the upper chamber of Congress since Edward M. Kennedy in 1962. The Massachusetts Democrat spoke to supporters gathered in a community...
Westmoreland County flooded with 124M pain pills during critical period of opioid crisis
Inside Roadway Pharmacy, customers mill through aisles stocked with cough and cold medicines, colorful greeting cards and other drugstore fare. Playing over the sound system is “Come on Eileen,” the 1982 hit. Some people fill prescriptions after picking up groceries at Ideal Market. The businesses sit next to each other...
Protest forms at North Side gas station after police charge workers with assaulting customersVideo
A $17 dispute Friday night at an Exxon gas station on Pittsburgh’s North Side that led to the assault of two sisters was captured on video and shared on social media. The community reaction was swift. By 6 a.m. angered residents had gathered outside the gas station, vowing to stay...
Boil water advisory for South Hills lifted; Becks Run Road to reopen
Officials at Pennsylvania American Water Company say residents in the South Hills no longer need to boil their water before use or take any additional precautions. The advisory was lifted Sunday morning. Meanwhile, work crews continue to work to reopen Becks Run Road following last week’s water line break on...
A flowing river of painkillers, all perfectly legal, cuts through Allegheny County
Along with produce and the deli bar, Fuel Perks and meat sales, Giant Eagle pharmacies across the region distributed millions of opioid painkillers as the epidemic ballooned and morphed, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration database. At the Brentwood Towne Square store, 3.4 million opioid pain pills were distributed over...
Local U.S. Attorney Scott Brady appointed to federal advisory committee
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady of the Western District of Pennsylvania has been named to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, one of nine U.S. attorneys to be appointed by U.S. Attorney General William Barr. “The U.S. Attorneys who comprise the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee play a critical role in carrying out...
U.S. air defense forces are being deployed to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Friday that U.S. air defense forces will be sent to Saudi Arabia. “The president has approved the deployment of U.S. forces, which will be defensive in nature,” Esper said at the Pentagon. The announcement is a response to the Sept. 14 attack on...
Former New Castle police officer accused of violating man’s rights
A former New Castle police officer has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of deprivation of civil rights. Ronald Williams, 40, of New Castle is accused of depriving an individual of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure in connection with an incident in April 2018....
Greensburg joins in Global Climate StrikeVideo
Xander Davis, a senior at Hempfield Area High School, is concerned about climate change. “I’m worried for a future about which I once had hopes and dreams,” said Davis, one of several young people who spoke Friday outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg. More than 100 people joined in...
Cops: 4 ‘dragged’ man suffering overdose into Greensburg street instead of calling for help
Four people who were inside a Greensburg home when their friend overdosed allegedly dragged the unconscious man into the street instead of calling for help, city police allege in court documents filed Friday. Deborah A. Carnes, 57, and Timothy J. Fairman, 52, of Greensburg; Matthew T. Caldwell, 45, of Mt....
Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez ordered to be arraigned in Westmoreland in teen sex case
Felipe Vazquez, the suspended Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher who is accused of sexually assaulting a former Scottdale teenager, will be moved from the Allegheny County Jail to Westmoreland County next week to be arraigned on criminal charges. President Judge Rita Donovan Hathaway signed an order Friday authorizing sheriff’s deputies to...
Pittsburgh public safety director criticizes company after Carrick water main breakVideo
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich was upset early Friday with the Pennsylvania American Water Co. over what he described as a “lack of communication” during a major water main break in Carrick. At one point, Hissrich, who was on the scene shortly after the break was reported at 5...
Officials: Tour bus crash near national park in Utah kills 4
SALT LAKE CITY — A tour bus carrying Chinese-speaking tourists crashed near a national park in southern Utah, killing at least four people and critically injuring up to 15 others, authorities said Friday. The morning wreck near Bryce Canyon National Park, known for its distinctive landscape of narrow red rock...
Minibus bombing outside Iraq’s Karbala kills 12, injures 5
BAGHDAD — Iraqi security officials said the death toll in an explosion on a minibus Friday outside the Shiite holy city of Karbala has climbed to 12. According to the officials, five passengers were also wounded in the blast, which occurred as the bus was passing through an Iraqi army...
Pittsburgh-area students participate in Global Climate StrikeVideo
Local students joined peers across the country and around the world Friday as they demonstrated in Downtown Pittsburgh in support for action on climate change. “Communities in Western Pennsylvania are screaming and shouting for help, and are being ignored,” organizer Leandra Mira, 18, told a crowd at the City-County Building...
Walmart to stop selling electronic cigarettes at its stores
NEW YORK — Walmart says it will stop selling electronic cigarettes at its namesake stores and Sam’s Clubs following a string illnesses and deaths related to vaping. The nation’s largest retailer said Friday that it will complete its exit from e-cigarettes after selling through current inventory. It cited growing federal,...
‘House Hunters’ host Suzanne Whang dies at 57
Suzanne Whang, whose smooth, calm voice provided the narration for HGTV’s “House Hunters” for years, has died. She was 57. Her Tuesday death was confirmed Friday by her longtime agent, Eddie Culbertson. Whang first gained fame as the on-screen host of the show, where anxious home buyers are shown trying...
WPIAL sets hearing date for Connellsville, Allderdice to address racial, anti-gay slurs
Representatives from Connellsville and Allderdice will meet next week to address allegations that the schools’ boys soccer teams used racial and anti-gay slurs. The WPIAL scheduled the hearing for Wednesday afternoon in a meeting room at the Pittsburgh Plaza Hotel, executive director Tim O’Malley said. The WPIAL board voted unanimously...
Report: Antonio Brown sent ‘intimidating’ texts to accuser
A woman who alleges former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown made an unwanted sexual advance toward her said she received what she described as intimidating text messages from a number associated with Brown, according to Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated published an article this week detailing a few allegations against Brown,...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Sept. 20-22Video
The kids are back in school, vacations are wrapping up, but the autumn fun is just getting started. Festivals and other events are popping up all over the region this weekend, and the good times are rollin’. Get outdoors and grab some grub, listen to some tunes, meet up with...
Residents recount horror of rising water from massive Carrick water main breakVideo
Wendy Gitzen woke early Friday to what she thought was the sound of rain outside her Carrick home. She quickly realized it was no passing shower. “It sounded like the Ohiopyle out there,” said Gitzen, 46, who, in a few seconds, discovered her house was surrounded by water. She woke...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 20-22
Summer officially ends this weekend. Say farewell in Pittsburgh by enjoying some pierogies, listening to blues music or visiting the birds. Here’s what’s going on: Potato and cheese and more The annual Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin is Sunday. This will be the third year the...
Fire started by candle causes heavy damage to Millvale house
A Millvale house was heavily damaged by a fire early Friday morning that authorities said was probably started by a candle. Firefighters from 10 departments responded to the blaze at 144 Logan St. shortly after 5 a.m. and were on the scene for more than 2 1/2 hours, said Millvale...
