Top Stories category, Page 196
Jury finds argument over dirty dishes led to roommate’s murder
A jury Wednesday found a Pittsburgh woman guilty of third-degree murder in her roommate’s death — even though, police said, her boyfriend fired the fatal shot. Prosecutors said Destiny Jenkins drew a gun and tried to fire it at her roommate, Eddie Kimber. But when the gun jammed, Jenkins told...
Terry Carcella departing as Latrobe’s city manager for similar post in Springdale
Latrobe officials will look to reassign administrative responsibilities temporarily as City Manager Terry Carcella departs this month to take on a similar post in Springdale Borough. Springdale Council voted Tuesday to hire Carcella, initially paying him a prorated salary of $85,000 through the end of the year. Carcella said his...
Raids lead to charges against businesses run by onetime video poker kingpin
A series of video gambling raids last year across Southwestern Pennsylvania has led to criminal charges against two companies linked to John “Duffy” Conley, Western Pennsylvania’s onetime video poker kingpin. Investigators seized more than 400 illegal video gaming machines from locations in a dozen counties, including Allegheny and Westmoreland. On...
Wisconsin judge argues prosecutors can’t charge her with helping a man evade immigration agents
MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge charged with helping a man who is in the country illegally evade U.S. immigration agents who were trying to detain him at her courthouse filed a motion to dismiss the case Wednesday, arguing that there’s no legal basis for it. Attorneys for Milwaukee County...
‘Heartbroken,’ ‘gut-wrenching’: Penn State communities grapple with recommended campus closures
Penelope Morrison hoped to retire one day from her job as an associate professor at Penn State New Kensington. Now she has come to the realization that might not be possible after Penn State acknowledged this week that New Kensington is one of seven branch campuses recommended for closure. “None...
EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking waterVideo
The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. The Biden administration set the first federal drinking water limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, finding they...
Dozens of Pittsburgh-area federal workers at Bruceton Research Center to keep jobs
Dozens of the 200 federal employees whose jobs were set to be cut at the Bruceton Research Center south of Pittsburgh will keep their jobs,U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio said Wednesday. The employees are respirator certification workers at the center. In layman’s terms, they test the efficacy of things like the...
Penn State trustees’ private talks on campus closures should happen in public, expert says
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Transparency advocates are questioning the Penn State Board of Trustees’ use of private meetings to discuss potential campus closures — including one who said the...
Georgetown student released from immigration detention after federal judge’s ruling
ALVARADO, Texas — A Georgetown University scholar from India who was arrested in the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign college students was released from immigration detention Wednesday after a federal judge’s ruling. Badar Khan Suri said he was glad to be released as he left a federal detention facility in...
Person of interest identified in killing of Jennah Seibert, DA says
A person of interest in the slaying of a Rostraver woman last month has been arrested on unrelated charges, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Spokesperson Melanie Jones did not release his name Wednesday. No charges have been filed in connection with the April 11 death of Jennah...
North Carolina woman extradited to Westmoreland after arrest related to online extortion, theft case
North Huntingdon police made an arrest after sorting through a convoluted scheme that cost a township man nearly $24,000, according to court records. The man reported to police last year that he donated to what he believed was an online fundraiser for a person in need of a heart transplant....
Separating fact from fiction in Pittsburgh mayor’s race
As Pittsburgh’s Democratic rivals for mayor spew facts and figures on the campaign trail, they’re also sprinkling in misinformation. Whether by accident or design, Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor have at times distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented issues during debates, news conferences and other public appearances. “Misinformation...
Police charge West Virginia man with sexually assaulting teen girl in Moon motel
Police say a 22-year-old man traveled more than 200 miles by bus from Charleston, West Virginia to Moon and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in a motel room. Dustin Lee Marshall is charged with various felony sex crimes, including statutory sexual assault, possession of child pornography and corruption of minors....
U.S. overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest 1-year decline ever seen
There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded. An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Wednesday. That’s down 27% from the 110,000 in 2023....
Springdale hires new manager away from his same position in Latrobe
Terry Carcella worked for several municipalities, in different capacities, while constructing a 42-year municipal government career. Now, he can add the Springdale Borough manager position to that list, as borough council hired him with a unanimous vote Tuesday. On May 27, he’ll assume his new post, which has been vacant...
End of universe sooner than once thought, research says
This just in: The end is near(er) than we thought. Turn back the ultimate doomsday clock by more than a thousand megaannum — that’s the millennium equivalent of 1 million years — so 1,000 megaannum would be 1 billion years. If research by Dutch scientists published this week meets muster,...
Mark Madden: What if Paul Skenes doesn’t pitch better?
Paul Skenes isn’t falling apart. But he’s not a phenom so far this season. He isn’t dominating. Look at Monday vs. the New York Mets, Skenes’ most recent start. He allowed six hits and one run in six innings. He walked three and struck out six. He had to pitch...
Westmoreland Democrats to hold town hall to address proposed Trump budget
Westmoreland County Democrats will convene a town hall meeting next week in Greensburg to address potential cuts in federal social service programs. The event, scheduled for 6 p.m. May 19 at Greensburg Hose Co. No. 1, will feature former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and Martin O’Malley, who served as commissioner...
Morning Roundup: West Homestead investigates employees; Route 65 reopens
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 14: West Homestead suspends employees for alleged misuse of funds During its Tuesday night meeting, West Homestead Borough Council placed two employees on paid administrative leave for alleged misuse of funds. The employees’ statuses will remain pending...
Asphalt company says Pittsburgh Mills owner never paid them for filling potholesVideo
Add an Eastern Pennsylvania-based asphalt company to the list of those frustrated by the owner of the Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer. Jessica Jones, president of Patch Management Inc., said mall owner Namdar Realty Group hasn’t paid a $21,000 bill for the hot asphalt spray applied in recent weeks. “We fulfilled...
TV Q&A: Alby Oxenreiter looks back while looking ahead
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review. Q: Does Alby Oxenreiter have any plans of returning to Channel 11? We have not seen him in almost two years. — Jon, via email Rob:...
Judge in Johnstown becomes 1st in U.S. to uphold use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans
A federal judge in Johnstown on Tuesday ruled the government may remove Venezuelan citizens thought to be members of a violent gang under the Alien Enemies Act — but only if they are given 21 days notice and “an opportunity to be heard.” The 43-page opinion, written by U.S. District...
A look inside nearly finished Pittsburgh International Airport terminal projectVideo
Pittsburgh International Airport opened its doors for a tour of the nearly 90% complete terminal modernization, offering a look at the nearly $1.7 billion transformation. The terminal is set to reach “substantial completion” by the end of June, according to project officials. The final touches will continue after the public...
Latest Pittsburgh mayoral debate focuses on GOP candidates vying to reverse 100-year-trend
Pittsburgh’s Republican candidates for mayor were grilled for a solid, commercial-free hour Tuesday night during a live debate on WTAE. Artificial intelligence, education, economic development, homelessness and public safety were some of the issues the candidates touched on as they explained why Pittsburgh needs to break from a century of...
Eddie Vedder has special connection to Pittsburgh’s Clemente Museum. Here’s why.
Iconic Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has described Pittsburgh’s Clemente Museum as one of his “top five places on the whole planet Earth.” Vedder — who returns to Pittsburgh this weekend for a pair of sold-out shows at PPG Paints Arena — isn’t just an admirer of the late baseball...
