Top Stories category, Page 272
Area wreath ceremonies bear witness to legacy of military service, families’ sacrifices
When 6-year-old Jason McClary placed a memorial wreath Saturday morning at Murrysville Cemetery, he represented all those who lost a loved one in military service — just as he lost the father whose name he shares. The Washington Township boy was less than a year old, and his older brother,...
Former Latrobe CEO’s 20-year sentence commuted by Biden
President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted the sentence of Gregory J. Podlucky, former chairman and CEO of a now defunct Latrobe beverage and bottling company who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2011 for his role in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme. Podlucky’s commutation was part of a...
Drones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightings
CHATHAM, N.J. — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving,...
Former Manhattan prosecutor to represent suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO
NEW YORK — The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has added a prominent defense lawyer to his legal team as Manhattan prosecutors work to return him from Pennsylvania to face a murder charge. Luigi Mangione will be represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, who was a high-ranking deputy in...
Father, son arrested in Mt. Pleasant Township shooting; preliminary hearing set
A father and son were arrested in Mt. Pleasant Township for firing multiple shots at a man in a moving truck, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Paul Caletri Jr., 70, and Paul Caletri III, 30, were arrested by state police. They are each charged with aggravated assault,...
Under Shapiro, half of clemency recommendations remain unsigned
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — In his first two years as governor, Josh Shapiro has signed about 50 percent of the clemency applications recommended to him by the...
Trump wants to end daylight saving time
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time. In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate...
Pa. AG charges Allegheny County residents in vehicle ‘smash-and-grab’ spree
State authorities have accused four Allegheny County residents of breaking into dozens of vehicles last year throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, stealing checkbooks, credit, debit and ID cards, and then draining victims’ bank accounts. On Dec. 6, the state Attorney General’s Office charged Ahmed Henderson, Theresa Imel, Elizabeth Madden and Shaquan Moore...
‘I was raised to always help’: Verona man rushes to help residents escape apartment fire
Erik Kust only wants to be known as a good neighbor. Others call him a hero. Thursday night, Kust was heading home from the grocery store. He was about four blocks away from his Verona home when he stopped at an intersection and noticed heavy smoke billowing from the windows...
Crews work to pump grout to stabilize area above Marguerite mine in Unity after sinkhole tragedy
A cement-like grout is being pumped into strategically placed borings and down into the former Marguerite mine beneath Monday’s Union restaurant in Unity. Starting around 8 a.m. Friday a steady stream of cement mixer trucks emptied their contents every five to seven minutes into a machine that pumps it far...
Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh in Station Square to close
After 23 years, the Hard Rock Café Pittsburgh will close. The final day for the establishment, which opened June. 24, 2002, in Station Square in Pittsburgh’s South Side, is Feb. 13. The closure was confirmed in an emailed statement Friday from Hard Rock International. “Hard Rock has enjoyed serving the...
Texas sues New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills by telemedicine
Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. The lawsuit was filed in Collin County, Texas, by the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday and announced Friday. It appears to be the first challenge anywhere in the U.S. to a...
Mt. Washington bar and grill to close
After three decades, Redbeard’s Sports Bar & Grill on Shiloh Street in Mt. Washington is closing. Owner Len Semplice announced on social media that the establishment’s last day of operation will be Dec. 21. “This is a sad day,” the post said. “The Mt. Washington community has been our family,...
LGBTQ landmark Brewers Bar gets new ownership in Lawrenceville
After being put up for sale this summer, Brewers Bar in Lawrenceville — Pittsburgh’s oldest gay bar — will remain intact with new ownership in 2025. Justin Beiter will be the face of the bar as a co-owner and operator. He said it will be rebranded, but it will remain...
Rosendahl’s owner upset Irwin officials won’t renew lease in order to make borough offices accessible
A fixture in downtown Irwin for nearly a century is being booted from its Main Street building to make way for municipal offices accessible for those with disabilities. Borough council this week decided not to renew the lease of Rosendahl’s Appliance Center when it expires March 31 so the administrative...
Mark Madden: Pirates ownership will always choose profit over winning, even amid Paul Skenes’ window
The Pittsburgh Pirates have Paul Skenes, just 22, the NL Rookie of the Year and already MLB’s best pitcher. Yet it seems like a time of no hope. To date, the Pirates’ big offseason move is trading a solid starting pitcher in Luis Ortiz for Spencer Horwitz, a meh first...
Biden commutes sentence of controversial Pa. judge in Kids for Cash scandal
President Joe Biden has commuted the sentence of a former judge in Northeast Pennsylvania who gained notoriety for a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks. That commutation was part of a larger move from Biden, who commuted sentences for about 1,500 people who were released...
Data center planned at vacant portion of Arconic site in Upper Burrell
When complete, a new data center facility in Upper Burrell will have the potential to hold a digital cloud like Meta or other technology household names, its developers said. TECfusions, a data center owner and operator, closed on property at a vacant portion of the Arconic property in Upper Burrell...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 13-15
From cookie lovers to Swifties to those who can’t get enough of the holiday season, Pittsburgh will offer a little something for everyone this weekend. Grab a cocktail, beer or sweet treat, enjoy some tunes and relax with these events. Lawrenceville Cookie Tour This weekend is the perfect time to...
Fire at Verona apartment leaves at least 6 people homeless
At least six people were left homeless Thursday evening after a fire ripped through an apartment building in Verona. Multiple fire departments responded to the call for a fire with entrapment shortly before 5 p.m. in the 400 block of Center Avenue. Bystanders and borough police were kicking in doors...
MAWC says inventory finds 3% of water system has lead service lines
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said they suspect just 3% of its water system contains lead service lines and have started to notify impacted home and business owners of its findings. An inventory of the system’s more than 123,000 customers revealed more than 4,000 properties could be serviced by...
Mt. Lebanon businessman gets 3 years in prison for fraud stemming from arson
A Mt. Lebanon man will spend three years in federal prison stemming from fraud allegations related to a South Side property he owned that burned down. Prasad Margabandhu, 48, pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud and mail fraud in September before U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. On Thursday, she ordered...
Westmoreland’s fired deputy purchasing director testifies courthouse boss initiated alleged theft scheme
Westmoreland County’s former deputy director of purchasing told a judge her boss said he and his five department employees were authorized for additional pay in August 2023. Kristen Coyne claimed she didn’t learn those pay hikes had actually been rejected by county officials until both she and her boss were...
Chorus to approve U.S. Steel-Nippon deal grows louder
United Steelworkers President David McCall was mentioned only once by name Thursday afternoon at a rally supporting the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, but his intransigence over the $15 billion acquisition looms much larger with a decision on the deal likely imminent. “I want to know: Who’s...
American who says he crossed into Syria on foot is free after 7 months in detentionVideo
DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday said he was detained after crossing into the country on foot seven months ago on a Christian pilgrimage. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus...
