Top Stories category, Page 1783
Saudis say they don’t want war, but will defend themselves
Saudi Arabia does not want war but will not hesitate to defend itself against Iran, a top Saudi diplomat said Sunday, after the kingdom’s energy sector was targeted this past week amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf. On Sunday night, a rocket was fired into the Iraqi capital’s heavily...
U.S. to roll out economic part of Mideast peace plan
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will unveil the first phase of its long-awaited blueprint for Mideast peace next month at a conference in the region designed to highlight economic benefits that could be reaped if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, the White House said Sunday. The plan, which has been...
Tarentum police officer saves ducklings trapped in a storm sewer
Tarentum police Officer Kurt Jendrejewski knew what he had to do Sunday morning when it was clear there were ducklings in a storm sewer drain on Corbet Street. After a concerned resident called the police station Jendrejewski showed up to find the mother duck and three of her ducklings frantically...
Tax the wealthy and big companies for road repairs? Democrats divided
WASHINGTON — Should big corporations or the wealthy pay more taxes to repair the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure? Or should consumers pay for the roads they use with a higher gasoline tax? Democrats, who control the House of Representatives and have the power to block most legislation in...
Trump’s ‘great patriot’ farmers follow him into a trade war
MADRID, Iowa — Iowa farmer Tim Bardole survived years of low crop prices and rising costs by cutting back on fertilizer and herbicides and fixing broken-down equipment rather than buying new. When President Donald Trump’s trade war with China made a miserable situation worse, Bardole used up any equity his...
One injured in Salem Township crash involving car, quad
First responders on Sunday were sent to the scene of a crash involving a vehicle and a quad in Salem Township. A Westmoreland 911 dispatcher said the crash happened just after 3 p.m. in the 2600 block of Route 819. One person, an unknown aged female, was reported to be...
Motorcycle crash leaves person injured in Cook Township
A person was injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher confirmed. The crash happened around 3:20 p.m. in the 700 block of Bethel Church Road in Cook Township. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash, the dispatcher said. No other information was immediately...
Leslie Odom Jr. draws laughs, inspires during CMU graduation address
It was 16 years ago when Leslie Odom Jr. graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with his whole life ahead of him. Now, coming off of his success as a member of the original “Hamilton” cast, the Tony and Grammy award winning actor and singer returned to CMU on Sunday as...
Westmoreland voters might be using current voting machines for the last time
Tuesday’s primary election might be the last that use the touch-screen voting system that has been in place in Westmoreland County since 2005. The county last week received proposals from four companies to sell new computerized machines that will allow for the generation of a verifiable paper trail to meet...
Youngwood firefighter memorial 5K run raises funds for scholarships
Volunteer firefighter Lance Wentzel was a runner, so it’s only fitting that the Youngwood Hose Company No. 1 and Youngwood Area Business Association hold a 5K run/walk in his honor every year. On Sunday, 127 runners of all ages participated in the fifth annual Jeffrey “Lance” Wentzel 5K Run/Walk along...
Leechburg founder David Leech gets state historical marker
An official state marker now stands at River Avenue in Leechburg close to where founder David Leech established a canal and other businesses starting in the 1820s. “He founded the borough, and he made contributions to the state and the nation,” said Larry Boehm, vice president of the Leechburg Area...
Leslie Jones, ‘SNL’ take on Alabama’s abortion ban in season finaleVideo
Though the “Saturday Night Live” season finale opened with members of the Trump administration singing a corruption-themed parody of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” the episode’s most heated political moment arrived during the “Weekend Update” segment. Cast member Leslie Jones rolled in wearing a red cloak and white bonnet recognizable...
As states pass restrictive abortion laws, questions surface
ATLANTA — As multiple states pass laws banning many abortions, questions have surfaced about what exactly that means for women who might seek an abortion. The short answer: nothing yet. Governors in Kentucky , Mississippi , Ohio and Georgia have recently approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is...
Protesters say Paulson Spray Park opening a ‘political stunt’Video
The squeals of delighted children mixed with the shouts of protesters at Saturday’s opening of a new city spray park in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar. The Paulson Spray Park and Playground opened at noon Saturday at the site of the former Paulson Swimming Pool, which had been closed for more than a decade....
Defunct Bethlehem Steel’s 21-story headquarters implodedVideo
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Sixteen thousand tons of Bethlehem Steel collapsed in a matter of seconds Sunday as a demolition crew imploded Martin Tower, the defunct steelmaker’s former world headquarters. Crowds gathered to watch the demolition of the area’s tallest building, a 21-story monolith that opened at the height of Bethlehem...
Michigan GOP congressman Justin Amash says Trump conduct is ‘impeachable’
WASHINGTON — A Republican congressman from Michigan on Saturday became the first member of President Donald Trump’s party on Capitol Hill to accuse him of engaging in “impeachable conduct” stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller’s lengthy investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. But Rep. Justin Amash stopped...
Authorities identify man found dead in Swissvale early Sunday morning
A 22-year-old man was found dead on a Swissvale sidewalk early Sunday morning of multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Aris Payto Barclay Vann, of Wilkinsburg. Vann was pronounced dead at the scene in the 2200 block of Woodstock Avenue at...
Election guide: Here’s what you need to know for the primary
Primary Election Day is Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some of the notable races include Allegheny County district attorney, Allegheny County council, Pittsburgh city council, Westmoreland County sheriff and Westmoreland County commissioner. To get more information on polling places, go to the official election pages...
Garth Brooks lights it up in record-breaking Pittsburgh show
A Pirates jersey-clad Garth Brooks performed for a record-breaking audience Saturday night at Heinz Field on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The concert was delayed slightly because of weather concerns, but the crowd — expected to top 75,000 for a Heinz Field record — was allowed to resume entering the stadium shortly...
Coal still fuels economic fire in Pennsylvania, industry study reports
Don’t rule the coal industry out as an economic force in Pennsylvania just yet. A new study — conducted by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and commissioned by the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance — found that coal mining accounts for nearly $7 billion in economic activity in the state, including...
Watch Heinz Field crowd sing Garth Brooks’ ‘Friends in Low Places’
Everyone knew this was coming, but it doesn’t make the moment any less special. Fans attending the Garth Brooks show Saturday night at Heinz Field took over when Brooks played fan-favorite “Friends in Low Places.” At his preshow news conference Friday, Brooks cracked that he hasn’t actually sung “Friends in...
Schools turn to apps, other tech to guard against shootings
LOS ANGELES — Schools trying to protect kids from mass shootings are turning to gunshot detection systems, cellphone apps and artificial intelligence — a high-tech approach designed to reduce the number of victims. Technology that speeds up law enforcement’s response and quickly alerts teachers and students to danger is a...
Alligator on the South Side, goat on Baum Blvd.: busy day for animal control
A family fishing along the banks of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon encountered something else: an alligator. The family spotted the alligator sunning itself on a riverside trail around 1:15 p.m., according to Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri. The gator, about 3 feet long and weighing...
Pittsburgh Diocese announces mergers, shrines established, priest assignments
Five parish mergers were announced Saturday by Pittsburgh Diocese Bishop David Zubik. He also said five Downtown Pittsburgh church buildings will be classified as shrines. Zubik said the five parish mergers are a result of the ongoing On Mission for The Church Alive! initiative. The bishop made the announcements in...
Former Disney employee accused of stealing parks’ costumes
ORLANDO, Fla. — A former Walt Disney World employee with backstage access stole about $14,000 worth of costumes and items from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot theme parks, authorities said Friday. Patrick Allen Spikes, 24, faces burglary, grand theft, and trafficking in stolen property charges, news outlets reported. The Orange...
