Top Stories category, Page 1778
Unity man sentenced to state prison in large crystal meth bust
A Unity man was sentenced to state prison this week in connection with a large crystal methamphetamine bust at his home in April 2017. George Kenneth Wurthman, 59, was ordered to report to the Westmoreland County Prison on July 22 to begin serving a sentence of four to 10 years....
Be more like Mister Rogers on ‘1-4-3 Day’
What might be your act of kindness today? Gov. Tom Wolf encouraged residents to participate in an act of kindness for “1-4-3 Day,” a day honoring Pennsylvania’s kindest native son, Fred Rogers. May 23 is the 143rd day of the year. “I’m challenging all Pennsylvanians to use (Thursday) to exhibit...
Pittsburgh region at ‘enhanced risk’ for severe storms, possible tornadoes
The afternoon rush hour could be dicey Thursday as several rounds of strong storms are expected to move through the Pittsburgh region, the National Weather Service said. Meteorologists are calling for severe weather that could bring large hail, damaging winds and a 90% chance of precipitation. There also is the...
$5 million Mega Millions ticket sold in McCandless
One lucky person walked out of a McCandless grocery story with a winning lottery ticket worth $5 million. The ticket for the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing was purchased at Giant Eagle in McIntyre Square along McKnight Road. The ticket matched all five white balls drawn, 10-50-55-56-58, but not the yellow...
Newspaper delivery driver killed in New Kensington shooting
A newspaper delivery driver was shot and killed while out on his route early Thursday in New Kensington, police said. Gregory L. Smith, 69, of New Kensington was shot in the head, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. The coroner’s office ruled the death a homicide. New Kensington police...
16-year-old accused of Sheldon Park arson staying in Shuman Detection Center
A 16-year-old Harrison boy accused of setting fire to a Sheldon Park apartment building that caused about $500,000 damage last month was ordered by juvenile court Tuesday to stay in the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center until his hearing is held, an Allegheny County detective confirmed. Two women and a wheelchair-bound...
Downtown Pittsburgh charter schools close for rest of week for unspecified ‘threat’
Urban Pathways 6-12 Charter School and K-5 College Charter School, both in downtown Pittsburgh, will be closed Thursday and Friday because of an unspecified threat. The schools posted notices to their websites and Facebook pages that they had been “alerted by law enforcement of an alleged threat” that would necessitate...
Penn Hills School Board incumbents win easy, despite heavy write-in campaigns
Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio and member Rob Marra cruised to easy victories in both the Republican and Democratic party primaries Tuesday, May 21 while an estimated dozen residents ran write-in campaigns. Both incumbents were the only two people on the May 21 ballot. There are five, four-year...
Shooting in Marshall-Shadeland leaves 1 man injured
Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting Wednesday evening that left a man wounded in his upper arm. Officers from Zone 1 received a 911 call about the shooting from a residence in the 1100 block of Ingham Street shortly before 8 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man who...
Controller Chelsa Wagner’s husband seeks Detroit jury trial on disorderly conduct charge
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner’s husband is set to stand trial next month in a misdemeanor case stemming from an altercation between the couple and police officers at a Detroit hotel. Khari Mosley, 42, who pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, requested through his...
Patricia Dodge named U.S. magistrate judge for Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh attorney Patricia L. Dodge has been named a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of Western Pennsylvania. Her selection was announced by the court’s board of judges and is effective June 3. Her official duty station will be Pittsburgh, and she will serve an initial eight-year term. Dodge,...
Kroger, largest grocery chain in U.S., to eliminate plastic bags
The nation’s largest grocery chain has vowed to stop using plastic bags. Cincinnati-based Kroger says it will phase out the plastic bags by 2025. The chain goes through 6 billion bags annually. Six years to eliminate plastic bags, Kroger?? Disappointing. ♻️ Nancy Dinell (@Nancy_Advocate) May 22, 2019 The project...
U.S. officials: Plan may send up to 10,000 troops to Mideast
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon on Thursday will present plans to the White House to send up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East, in a move to beef up defenses against potential Iranian threats, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The officials said no final decision has been made yet, and...
Woman charged in Steelers-related attack OK’d for trial
A Youngwood mother on Wednesday was ruled competent to stand trial for her alleged role in her own mother’s assault that occurred as she attempted to watch a televised Pittsburgh Steelers preseason football game two years ago. Delores Amorino, 42, told a Westmoreland County judge she wants a trial for...
Pittsburgh native Becca Droz is back on CBS’ ‘Amazing Race’
Pittsburgh native Becca Droz will be featured on CBS’ “Amazing Race” airing at 8 p.m. Wednesday. She and her teammate Floyd Pierce are competing for a $1 million prize on a 25,000-plus mile journey around the world. The duo known as “Team Fun” competed on the show in 2017. They...
Attorney: Ex-Canon-McMillan wrestler’s gun pointed at cops wasn’t loaded
The lawyer for a 19-year-old former Canon-McMillan champion wrestler said his client did not intend to harm three police officers who shot him at his North Strabane home last month. The officers shot and wounded Logan Macri after he allegedly pointed an AR-15 rifle at them. Casey White, Macri’s lawyer,...
Westmoreland County faces potentially heated fall contests after primary election
This week’s primary victory for Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held sets up a race in November between an incumbent awaiting retrial on public corruption charges and a retired district judge. But the two-term Republican’s pending legal woes won’t be a campaign issue, Democrat James Albert said Wednesday. “His legal issues...
Steamfitters Union accepting apprentices June 3-22
The Steamfitters union 449, Pittsburgh, will be accepting apprentice applications June 3 through 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the union’s Technology Center in Harmony, Butler County. Applicants need to allow 30 minutes to fill out the application on site....
U.S., China appear to brace for long haul in trade disputeVideo
WASHINGTON — With negotiations on hold and tariffs piling up, the United States and China appear to be bracing for a prolonged standoff over trade. Beijing is airing Korean War movies (antagonist: America) to arouse patriotic feelings in the Chinese public and offering tax cuts to software and chip companies...
New Ken-Arnold School Board: 2 incumbents out, another tied
At least two incumbents of the New Kensington-Arnold School Board are on their way out, and another’s tenure appears to be hanging in the balance, according to Westmoreland County’s unofficial election results. In the Democratic Party race for Region I, two candidates received the same number of votes for one...
No license required: Sunday is Fish-For-Free Day in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will offer its first of two Fish-For-Free Days on Sunday, when anyone can fish, even without a state fishing license. The second free fishing day will be July 4. The commission is offering the free days to open up fishing opportunities for the public,...
Coroner, police remain mum on Greensburg death investigation
An autopsy was performed Wednesday on the body of a Greensburg man who was shot and killed a day earlier inside his home, but investigators still refuse to identify him or provide details of the investigation. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office confirmed that forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril H. Wecht conducted...
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris reflects on primary loss
Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Darlene Harris was back at work as usual Wednesday morning, one day after losing a primary election to her Spring Hill neighbor, Bobby Wilson. Harris, 66, the longest serving member of the current council, said she had no regrets about losing the race. She attributed the loss...
How did the region’s embattled candidates fare in the primary?
Several incumbents went into Tuesday’s primary election facing strong criticism or controversy over decisions they made in office. Some won, some lost. Here’s a look at how the embattled candidates fared. Bobby Wilson topples Darlene Harris for Pittsburgh City Council District 1 Unofficial vote tallies show Wilson taking more than...
Increased state police patrols, DUI checkpoints coming this summer
AAA and Pennsylvania State Police are partnering this summer to reduce deadly crashes. The two entities announced Wednesday the implementation of Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E). Under Operation C.A.R.E. police will step up efforts to combat speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and driving under the influence. Officers will increase...
