Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 19
Westmoreland man indicted on federal child exploitation charges following FBI arrest
A Westmoreland County man was arrested Thursday by the FBI and an indictment against him was unsealed, according to court records. James William Martin Jr., 43, was taken into custody in the Greensburg area, according to Bradford Arick, public affairs specialist with FBI Pittsburgh. U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh public...
Pittsburgh controller questions $608 catering bill charged to taxpayers for funeral reception
The Pittsburgh City Controller’s Office is questioning a $608 city credit card charge last month that paid for food to be sent to a funeral reception for the father of Councilman Khari Mosley. City Council President R. Daniel Lavelle authorized the expenditure of taxpayer money. “Our office is empathetic to...
Pittsburgh-area students design human-centered AI models to tackle education issues
Diego Jofre Lieva remembers some of the language barriers he faced when he came to West Allegheny High School from Chile at the end of his freshman year. “We took language assessments, and a lot of my peers really struggled,” said Jofre Lieva, now a senior at West Allegheny. “I...
Penguins vs Flyers: Previews and predictions as Penguins begin playoff push
The Pittsburgh Penguins return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after a three-year absence and will face off against the rival Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, starting at 8 p.m. Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. TribLive writers are previewing the matchup with features, commentary and need to know information. Preview...
Woman charged after posing as mother, taking child from Steel Valley school, police say
Steel Valley School District officials released an 8-year-old student to a woman now charged with kidnapping after she pretended to be the child’s mother, Homestead police said. Jamya Jones-Houston, 25, of Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood is charged with felony kidnapping and interference with the custody of children for the incident...
Trump cancels millions from Catholic Charities amid Pope feud
MIAMI — The Trump administration has abruptly canceled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami to shelter and care for unaccompanied migrant children. The decision is drawing a raft of criticism from South Florida political and religious leaders — including members of the president’s own...
More NFL Draft road closures take effect
Another phase of road closures for the NFL Draft on Pittsburgh’s North Shore begins Wednesday — a day before the draft. The following roads will be closed from Wednesday through Saturday:Sproat WayNorth Shore Drive (from Chuck Noll Way to Mazeroski Way)Mazeroski WayWest General Robinson StreetLacock StreetFederal StreetI-279 Southbound Exit 1B...
Mark Madden: Penguins-Flyers will be fast, physical, unforgiving and more series thoughts
As you prepare for the Pennsylvania derby, gird your loins via refreshing Penguins notes and keep your head on a swivel. It’s going to be that kind of series. • Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said his Flyers will “go after” Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. Some interpret that...
Trump and Iranian foreign minister say Strait of Hormuz is fully open
BEIRUT — U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, as a 10-day truce in Lebanon appeared to hold. The truce offered a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and could clear...
Cameras in courtrooms stir debate from baby Lindbergh kidnapping to O.J. and Charlie Kirk’s killing
From the Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial to O.J. Simpson’s double murder case, cameras in the courtrooms have long exposed the inner workings of some of America’s most spectacular criminal cases. Now calls to bar cameras from Tyler Robinson ‘s trial in the killing of Charlie Kirk is reigniting the debate...
Murrysville man killed in motorcycle crash near Saltsburg
A Murrysville motorcyclist was killed Thursday evening after crashing into a pickup near Saltsburg, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Peter Devey, 59, died in the crash. Police said Devey and the driver of a Ford F-250 pickup had been traveling west on Waukeena Road in Loyalhanna Township around 10:45 p.m....
Battle of Pennsylvania playoff rivalry runs deep for Penguins, Flyers
Some call it the Battle of Pennsylvania or Keystone State rivalry or Pennsylvania Cold War. Penguins vs. Flyers is a matchup that dates to the 1960s and has grown in intensity since. While they have had hundreds of head-to-head meetings in the regular season, this rivalry takes on new life...
NHL releases full schedule for Penguins-Flyers playoff series
The NHL released the full schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs early Friday morning. The Pittsburgh Penguins will open their series against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday. The schedule for the best-of-seven series: Saturday, April 18 – Flyers at Penguins, 8 p.m....
Jet fuel supplies are lagging. What does that mean for airlines and travelers?Video
NEW YORK — A looming jet fuel shortage in Europe and Asia sparked by the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz could further upend world travel within weeks if oil doesn’t start flowing again soon — meaning higher airfares and flight cancellations as the summer...
Diocese of Greensburg bishop joins clergy nationwide weighing in on Trump, Pope Leo XIV discourseVideo
Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick said Thursday that Pope Leo XIV is “speaking from his rightful position” in criticism of President Donald Trump and the Iran war. The polarizing debate between the president and the pope has pushed onlookers to opposing sides. But Kulick views Leo’s continued calls for...
Pittsburgh cop’s use of force under review for striking handcuffed woman in face
Pittsburgh police, claiming they were prompted by community concerns, have asked an independent use-of-force expert to investigate after a city police officer was filmed striking a woman in handcuffs during a drug-related arrest. A Pittsburgh police spokeswoman on Thursday said the male officer, who she did not name, struck Angel...
Parks Township nuclear waste cleanup expected to take 6 to 8 yearsVideo
To residents, cleanup at a Parks Township nuclear waste dump will look like a few trucks leaving the site every week, said Nicholas Melin, commander of the Pittsburgh District of the Army Corps of Engineers. Behind the site’s electric fence, 10 trenches containing about 33,000 cubic yards of materials will...
Voters to decide on placing term limits on Allegheny County officials
Allegheny County Council voted this week to let voters decide whether to place term limits on the county executive, members of council and row officers including the district attorney, sheriff, controller and treasurer. County Executive Sara Innamorato plans to sign the legislation, according to a spokeswoman. That would clear the...
Federal agency approves concept for Trump’s plan for a Triumphal Arch in WashingtonVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s design for the Triumphal Arch he wants built at an entrance to the nation’s capital moved a step forward Thursday after a key agency reviewed the proposal for the first time. One commissioner suggested changes, including removing a Lady Liberty-like statue and a pair of...
Organizer of Draft Bash event on North Side forges ahead while awaiting permit
Even though Pittsburgh event producer William “B” Marshall is still waiting for full permit approval with one week to go before the 2026 NFL Draft, he’s moving ahead with plans to bring 40 largely minority-owned art, food and merchandise vendors to the southwest corner of Allegheny Commons Park West throughout...
As clock ticks down, NFL Draft site takes shape on North ShoreVideo
With one week to go before the NFL Draft begins on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, construction crews remain busy on site. Steve Farago, the NFL’s director of event operations, said Thursday that work on the North Shore and Point State Park sites is progressing as planned and remains on time. “This...
Pittsburgh rental market underwhelms as NFL Draft nearsVideo
With one week before thousands of people descend on Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, some who hoped to cash in by listing rental properties may be disappointed. While most city hotels were fully booked more than a month ago — with a handful of rooms expected to fetch around...
Pittsburgh medic chief lauds good Samaritan in Allegheny River rescue
Without the help of an unknown stranger, things could have turned out much worse for a freezing man who fell into the Allegheny River early Wednesday morning. The stranger heard the man’s cries for help and called 911 before clasping on to the man’s arms, holding him above the water’s...
Limits on commercial water use at Beaver Run Reservoir sought by environmental group
An environmental group on Thursday asked Westmoreland County commissioners to ban the removal of water by fracking companies from Beaver Run Reservoir during periods of drought. Gillian Graber, executive director of Protect PT, a nonprofit citizen environmental group, said the concerns were brought to the commissioners after similar requests made...
Trump nominates Erica Schwartz, former deputy surgeon general, to serve as CDC director
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general, to be the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a social media post, Trump described Schwartz as “incredibly talented” and said, “She is a STAR!” The Atlanta-based CDC, which is...
