Top Stories category, Page 214
Education Department plans to lay off 1,300 employees as Trump vows to wind the agency down
WASHINGTON — The Education Department plans to lay off over 1,300 of its more than 4,000 employees as part of a reorganization that’s seen as a prelude to President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency. Department officials announced the cuts Tuesday, raising questions about the agency’s ability to continue...
Police charge Pittsburgh man with killing housemate
Pittsburgh police have charged a Homewood man with shooting two housemates, one fatally, on Friday night. Police said Preslin Turner, 36, killed Therreus Lindsey. The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m. after Turner claimed that someone had been in his room, leading to an argument and fistfight with other residents of...
NTSB urges ban on some helicopter flights at Washington airport where 67 people died in midair crash
WASHINGTON — Federal investigators looking into the cause of the January collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people recommended a ban on some helicopter flights Tuesday, saying the current setup “poses an intolerable risk.” National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy...
Police detail events leading up to woman’s shooting death in Rostraver
Robert S. Chaplin was standing in the yard, flailing his arms and yelling, when police arrived at his Rostraver home for a reported shooting Feb. 5, according to township police Officer Brian Dove. Dove testified Tuesday that a distraught child shouted to arriving officers, “Mum’s in the basement.” That’s where...
Pittsburgh Planning Commission approves $31M Arts Landing project Downtown
A $31 million overhaul in Downtown Pittsburgh that will create an outdoor recreation and event space earned approval Tuesday from the Planning Commission. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is looking to breathe new life into an underutilized, 4-acre site that stretches down 8th Street from Fort Duquesne Boulevard along the Allegheny...
McKeesport police officer sues over racial discrimination, retaliation claims
A Black McKeesport police officer is suing his employer and the city’s mayor over claims of racial discrimination in how the police department promotes and disciplines. Julian Thomas, 38, of McKeesport, alleges the city has long ignored its own civil service rules, resulting in mostly white officers being promoted by...
One Oxford Centre acquired for $92M less than 2016 sales price
Rugby Realty President Aaron Stauber started his Tuesday morning with 45 minutes of swimming at the Rivers Club in One Oxford Centre. “I was at work and in my office by 9:15 a.m.,” Stauber said. He’s part of the group that now owns the 1-million-square-foot, 45-story, aluminum and glass tower...
Canada incoming PM says he’ll keep tariffs in place until U.S. shows respect and commits to free trade
TORONTO — Incoming Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that his government will keep tariffs in place until Americans show respect and commit to free trade after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened historic financial devastation for Canada. Carney, who will be sworn in as Justin Trudeau’s replacement in the...
Wall Street falls in a manic day after briefly dropping more than 10% below its recordVideo
NEW YORK — The U.S.stock market fell further Tuesday as a result President Donald Trump’s latest escalation in his trade war, briefly pulling Wall Street 10% below its record set last month. And like it’s been most of the past few weeks, the market’s slide on Tuesday was erratic and...
Trump doubles tariffs on Canadian metals, causing Ontario to back down on electricity price hikes
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would double his planned tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada, a retaliation that prompted the provincial government of Ontario to back down on its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States. Tuesday’s escalation and...
United Steelworkers vote down ATI contract
ATI and United Steelworkers are still without a contract. A tentative agreement was reached Feb. 28, just hours before the most recent contract was set to expire. But it failed to pass a union vote Monday. ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said company leadership is disappointed the union vote was unsuccessful....
Missing Pitt student’s clothing found on Dominican Republic beach
Clothing belonging to missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki has been found on the beach in the Dominican Republic where she was last seen Thursday as the search continued Tuesday for the 20-year-old Virginia woman. Officials in Loudoun County, where she lives, said investigators from the U.S. and the...
U.S. resumes military aid, intelligence sharing as Ukraine says it is open to a 30-day ceasefireVideo
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — The Trump administration lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, and Kyiv signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, pending Moscow’s agreement, American and Ukrainian officials said Tuesday following talks in Saudi Arabia. The administration’s...
House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate
WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line. Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members...
Businesses voice concern over Breezewood interchange revamp
Still a decade away, the proposed revamp of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Breezewood interchange will likely take a toll on businesses that have built up around the highway’s connections to Interstate 70 and Route 30. The changes are expected to make the trip more convenient for the more than 2.5 million...
Elon Musk eyes Social Security, benefit programs for cuts while claiming widespread fraud
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk pushed debunked theories about Social Security on Monday while describing federal benefit programs as rife with fraud, suggesting they will be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending. The billionaire entrepreneur, who is advising President Donald Trump, suggested that $500 billion to $700...
Browns acquiring QB Kenny Pickett from Super Bowl champion EaglesVideo
The Cleveland Browns are acquiring quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Monday. The person, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because deals can’t be announced until Wednesday, said the Eagles will receive...
Pitt freezes all hiring amid funding cutbacks
The University of Pittsburgh has instituted a hiring freeze of all faculty and staff that takes effect immediately. It will remain in place at least for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, the university said. “In response to a shifting federal landscape and in order to...
Appeal in Loyalhanna triple murder case identifies potential new suspects
New attorneys for a former Loyalhanna business owner on death row for the murder of his sister, mother and elderly aunt in 2009 claim they have identified two other men as the potential killers. The evidence, they say, bolsters arguments that a new trial is warranted. Kevin Murphy, 64, of...
‘We’re all just worried’: Pitt students on edge as classmate still missing in Dominican Republic
Students who returned to classes Monday at the University of Pittsburgh were talking about a classmate who wasn’t there: Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student who went missing last week while on spring break in the Dominican Republic. “These things can happen to anybody,” said Mackenzie Shearon, 19, of Cranberry. A...
Raising chickens costly but worth it: ‘It really is an investment’
The price of eggs may be through the roof, but that doesn’t mean you’ll save money with a chicken coop. While the popularity — and legality — of backyard chickens is spreading, the economics doesn’t add up for most people thinking of bypassing the grocer for their own hens. Just...
Stocks’ sell-off worsens as Wall Street wonders how much pain Trump will accept for the economy
NEW YORK — The stock market’s sell-off cut deeper on Monday as Wall Street questioned how much pain President Donald Trump will let the economy endure through tariffs and other policies in order to get what he wants. The S&P 500 dropped 2.7% to drag it close to 9% below...
PIAA declares Uniontown vs. Meadville fight-marred playoff game a double forfeit
Neither Uniontown nor Meadville will advance in the PIAA boys basketball playoffs. The PIAA declared their fight-marred game a double forfeit and wants involved spectators suspended from attending any school-sponsored sporting events for more than a year, the association announced Monday. The game Friday night at Meadville was halted with...
Report: Steelers lose free agent QB Justin Fields to Jets on 2-year, $40 million deal
Justin Fields won’t be returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers to start another season at quarterback. Fields is departing in free agency, agreeing Monday to a two-year, $40 million offer from the New York Jets that includes $30 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported. The Steelers had been trying to sign...
Pennsylvania Lottery wants to go big on scratch-offs
The Pennsylvania Lottery wants to bump up the number of games it sells with big-ticket prizes. It’s a move that could bring in more money for senior citizen programs by offering more attractive games to lottery players. “There is an increasing demand for games with bigger payouts — such as...
