Top Stories category, Page 1844
Pa. mother describes role in daughter’s murder, dismemberment
PHILADELPHIA — In a calm, emotionless voice, Sara Packer described watching her boyfriend murder her 14-year-old daughter, Grace, in 2016. She admitted to participating in the crime — the kidnapping, rape, killing, dismemberment and disposal of an adopted child she said she thought of as “a nonentity.” Packer said she...
Legal opinions vary on significance of testimony about Rosfeld’s emotions
It’s unclear whether the prosecution or defense will benefit from Wednesday’s testimony about the emotional state of former East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld after he shot Antwon Rose II, based on analysis from two legal experts. East Pittsburgh resident John Leach, a witness called by prosecutors, testified Wednesday that...
One dead in officer-involved shooting at State College apartment complex
A State College police officer shot and killed a man Wednesday at the Marvin Gardens apartment complex on Old Boalsburg Road in the borough, authorities said. The name of the deceased wasn’t immediately released. Borough and Pennsylvania state police rushed to the residential property around 2 p.m. as nearby public...
Witness: Gunshot residue ‘inconclusive’ for Frazer woman charged in husband’s death
Closing arguments are scheduled Thursday morning in Allegheny County Court for a Frazer woman accused of killing her husband two years ago after they argued about money and her having burned a casserole. Teresa Drum, 40, is charged with the Feb. 27, 2017, homicide of her husband, Dennis Drum Sr.,...
Trump attacks John McCain again, saying he didn’t get ‘thank-you’ for approving funeral
WASHINGTON — President Trump continued Wednesday to attack the late Sen. John McCain, even as a growing number of Republican senators rose to McCain’s defense, calling him a war hero and a patriot — although most were careful not to criticize the president directly. During a White House event at...
Pennsylvania hunters set 14-year record for deer harvest
Pennsylvania hunters posted their highest overall deer harvest in 14 years in 2018-19, but the buck harvest seemed to take a hit because of bad weather on opening day, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said. The game commission said hunters killed 374,690 white-tailed deer during the 2018-19 hunting season, which closed...
Penn State to collect $733K from Jerry Sandusky’s defunct charity
HARRISBURG — Penn State will collect hundreds of thousands of dollars left over from the defunct charity for youth founded by convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky, settling claims from a threatened civil lawsuit. The university and the state attorney general’s office both confirmed this week that an agreement was reached...
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner charged with felonies in Detroit incident
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner and her husband have been charged in connection to an incident involving police at a Detroit hotel earlier this month, prosecutors said Wednesday. Wagner, 41, of Point Breeze, Pittsburgh, faces two felony counts of resisting and obstructing the police and a misdemeanor count of disorderly...
Redevelopment plans for Ross Park Mall OK’d
The owners of Ross Park Mall have received the go-ahead for their plans to demolish the vacant Sears store and replace it with businesses that are expand its attractiveness as a destination for more than just shopping. Ross commissioners unanimously approved the plans on March 18. Simon Properties, which owns...
Federal Reserve foresees no interest rate hikes in 2019
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and projected no rate hikes in 2019, dramatically underscoring its plan to be “patient” about any further increases. The Fed said it was keeping its benchmark rate — which can influence everything from mortgages to credit cards to...
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain coaster is on track for summerVideo
This new Steel Curtain is quite intimidating, and its name is fitting. Inspired by the Pittsburgh Steelers stifling defense of the 1970s, The Steel Curtain roller coaster at Kennywood in West Mifflin is massive and well on its way to throwing its riders for a loop. Media members toured around...
Pittsburgh City Council proposes ban on ‘use’ of assault weapons, adds amendments to billVideo
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday devised a new tactic in its effort to ban assault rifles from within city limits by amending proposed firearms regulations to include the “use” of semi-automatic weapons and large capacity magazines in public. Council members said adding the “use” element will bolster the city’s legal...
Kings’ Frownie returns after 4-year hiatus
Turn that frown upside down — or don’t. The return of the Kings Family Restaurants’ Frownie — the gooey chocolate brownie with the white-icing grimace — is sure to bring a smile to fans after a four-year hiatus from the menu. Created as a tongue-in-cheek counterpoint to the Eat’n Park...
Netflix debuts ‘Stranger Things’ Season 3 trailerVideo
Nothing says 2019 like 1985. Netflix debuted the Season 3 trailer for its hit sci-fi series “Stranger Things 3” on Wednesday, and it’s jam-packed with plenty of action — in a starkly mid-’80s fashion. As we already know, the upcoming season — which will be available July 4 — is...
Cops: Arizona woman disciplined her adopted kids with pepper spray
MARICOPA, Ariz. — Arizona authorities say a woman has been arrested on allegations of using pepper spray to discipline her seven adopted children and locking them for days inside a closet. A police report says Machelle Hackney’s adopted children had no food, water or access to a bathroom for days...
Italy: Driver abducts schoolchildren, sets bus ablaze
MILAN — A bus driver in northern Italy abducted 51 schoolchildren and their chaperones Wednesday and took them on an hour-long drive, then set the vehicle on fire when he was stopped by a Carabinieri blockade, officials said. Officers broke the glass in the back door of the bus and...
Labrador retriever most pup-ular U.S. dog breed for 28th year
NEW YORK — Labrador retrievers aren’t letting go of their hold on U.S. dog lovers, but German shorthaired pointers are tugging on the top ranks of doggy popularity, according to new American Kennel Club data. Labs topped the list for the 28th year in a row. Yet there’s been plenty...
Trump keeps a sharp focus on Ohio for 2020 campaign
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is returning to the state that foretold his 2016 victory and serves as the linchpin of his re-election effort. Trump’s visit to Ohio on Wednesday marks his first trip to the state since last year’s midterm election campaign , when the state was a rare...
Shifting hopes as Republicans and Democrats await Mueller
WASHINGTON — It’s a witch hunt, a vendetta, the worst presidential harassment in history. That’s what President Donald Trump has shouted for two years about the special counsel’s Russia probe. Now, barring an eleventh-hour surprise, Trump and his allies are starting to see it as something potentially very different: a...
California man, 96, found in home with hundreds of rats
OJAI, Calif. — A Southern California woman is in custody after deputies discovered her 96-year-old father and multiple pets living in a home stinking of feces and infested with up to 700 rats, authorities said Tuesday. Catherine Ann Vandermaesen, 65, was arrested on suspicion of felony elder abuse and misdemeanor...
4 DUI arrests on St. Patrick’s Day weekend reported by Laurel Highlands task force
Members of the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force made four driving under the influence arrests during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, according to a post on Latrobe Police Department’s Facebook page. The task force did roving patrols from Friday to Sunday and stopped 92 vehicles. They issued five citations for underage...
Disney closes $71B deal for Fox entertainment assets
Disney has closed its $71 billion acquisition of Fox’s entertainment business, putting “Cinderella,” ”The Simpsons,” ”Star Wars” and “Dr. Strange” under one corporate roof. The deal is likely to shake up the media landscape. Among other things, it paves the way for Disney to launch its streaming service, Disney Plus,...
Multi-car crash snarls Parkway West in Carnegie
A multi-vehicle crash briefly closed one lane of the Parkway West in Carnegie Wednesday morning. ACCIDENT: Parkway West Outbound at Carnegie. Left lane blocked. LIVE look at @WPXI at 6:09 AM. @JenniferTomazic pic.twitter.com/xExJoc15cn— WPXI Traffic (@WPXITraffic) March 20, 2019 It is unknown if there were any injuries in the crash,...
Cops: Burglars break into Hempfield convenience store
State police are looking for two burglars who in broke into a Hempfield convenience store through the front window. According to police, the unknown men broke through the window of the Speedy Mart on West Point Drive around 11 p.m. March 2. The men made off with unspecified merchandise. Anyone...
Testimony concludes on Day 2 of Rosfeld trial; prosecution could rest Thursday
The homicide trial of former East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld is continuing Wednesday. Proceedings got underway around 9 a.m. in Room 313 of the Allegheny County Courthouse. Rosfeld is accused of shooting Antwon Rose II three times as he ran from a June 19 traffic stop in East Pittsburgh....
