Top Stories category, Page 287
Westmoreland sheriff says deputy shortage strains department, but agrees to pause planned service cutback
A plan to halt the transport of some criminal defendants to hearings at local magistrate offices was put on a temporary hold Friday after intervention from a Westmoreland County judge. Sheriff James Albert this week issued an edict that would have limited his department’s workload starting next week in response...
2 men face charges in chaotic Vandergrift bar fight in which 3 people were shot
Vandergrift police have charged two men in connection with a December shooting at Anthony’s Bar on Longfellow Street, in which three people were shot. John Booker, 35, of Vandergrift and Brydon Williams-Chambers, 23, of Arnold face two counts each of aggravated assault as well as one count each of discharging...
Trump’s new strategy for U.S. Steel-Nippon provokes mixed reactions, confusion
President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that Nippon Steel would no longer buy U.S. Steel as planned, but the Japanese company would instead invest in the symbolically important American business. The U.S. president mistakenly referred to Nippon Steel as “Nissan,” the Japanese automaker. But it’s Nippon Steel’s bid that generated...
Lawyers argue motive, intent before jury gets case in Uber driver slaying
Calvin Crew had so many choices. He could have chosen to leave his girlfriend’s gun home that night, the prosecutor said. He could have chosen not to press its barrel into the back of the Uber driver’s head as they arrived at his destination in Penn Hills, she continued. Even...
Trump opposition to U.S. Steel-Nippon deal may be softening
President Donald Trump reportedly is reconsidering his stance on a U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel merger, possibly permitting the $14.9 billion deal to go through. Citing anonymous sources, CBS News reported Friday the president has softened his stance on the deal after firmly opposing it for more than a year. Late last...
Gainey’s choice of Ragland as Pittsburgh’s top cop irks some on City Council
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday nominated Christopher Ragland, the city’s acting police chief, to run the department on a permanent basis. The nomination will move to City Council for approval as the mayor seeks to steady a department buffeted by upheaval at the top and staffing woes. Ragland, 53,...
Oakmont parking ordinance attracts negative attention
A revised parking ordinance in Oakmont has garnered some negative attention from a resident who owns multiple businesses in the borough. During the borough’s most recent public meeting, Solicitor Jacob Leyland presented a draft of an amended ordinance defining legal parking. The draft would update parking requirements in the borough’s...
Steelers to play game in Ireland during 2025 seasonVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be heading overseas for the first time in 12 seasons. To no surprise, given the franchise’s family roots, the destination is Dublin. The NFL announced Friday the Steelers will play a game at Croke Park in Ireland’s capital city during the 2025 season. The Steelers will...
Make a big-ticket Super Bowl spread on a small budget
A Super Bowl party can be the Cadillac of sporting event festivities. It has all the bells and whistles — and comes complete with sticker shock. The big game may mean thousands of dollars for tickets and travel to see it in person, but even watching at home can be...
‘Never Missed a Super Bowl’ Harrison native set to attend 59th championship
No one has been to more Super Bowls than Tom Henschel — he’s been to every one. At 83, the Harrison native will break his own record by attending his 59th Super Bowl on Sunday in New Orleans, a milestone he shares with just two other men. More people have...
Fire tax floated to Upper Burrell voters
Upper Burrell voters may be asked if they are willing to pony up additional tax dollars to support the township’s volunteer firefighters. Township supervisors received a letter from the fire company announcing its intent to petition for a referendum on a 2-mill fire tax to be voted on during this...
Lawsuit filed against activists fighting to save Donny’s Place in Pittsburgh
A developer and the estate of the late Donald Thinnes are suing two Polish Hill residents pushing for the historic designation of former Pittsburgh gay bar Donny’s Place. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, Anderson and Matthew Cotter, the defendants named in the lawsuit, have been advocating since early 2024 to thwart the...
Task force arrests 2nd suspect in brutal Aliquippa VFW beating
An Aliquippa man accused of nearly beating a fellow city resident to death inside a Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge was arrested Thursday. Brett Ours, 39, was taken into custody without incident at a home along the 400 block of Allegheny Avenue in West Aliquippa. Aliquippa police charged Ours with...
Trump administration plans to slash all but a fraction of USAID jobs, officials say
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration presented a plan Thursday to dramatically cut staffing worldwide for U.S. aid projects as part of its dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, leaving fewer than 300 workers out of thousands. Two current USAID employees and one former senior USAID official told The...
Search on for missing New Derry man; car found unlocked, police say
State police are searching for a missing New Derry man whose parked car was found Wednesday in Derry Township, three days after he was last seen. State troopers said they don’t suspect foul play in their search for 63-year-old John J. Dofollo. He was reported missing by family members when...
Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel, a close U.S. ally. Neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of or recognizes the court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin...
Authorities seize items in drug task force raid at North Huntingdon vape shop
Authorities raided a North Huntingdon vape shop Thursday morning after undercover officers made purchases there of suspected illegal products. Westmoreland County Detective Tony Marcocci said authorities seized large quantities of items containing THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, in a raid at Star Smoke and Vape on Route 30. The...
PIAA to follow Trump’s order barring transgender athletes from girls sports
The PIAA, which has allowed transgender high school athletes to compete in its state championships, will heed a presidential executive order barring them from women’s and girls sports. “We are tracking and assessing the law as it evolves and encourage all member schools to do the same,” PIAA executive director...
Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest tumult for government employees already wrestling with upheaval from the new administration. The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline to apply for the deferred...
Gaza joins list of Trump proposals backed by Fetterman
After President Donald Trump suggested a plan to “take over” and “own” the Gaza Strip, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said he was open to the idea. Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, called the plan “provocative,” but it’s “part of the conversation,” The Hill reported. “The Palestinians have refused, or they’ve been...
Jury views chilling video showing slain Uber driver’s final fare
The two large monitors in the courtroom showed the split-screen view from Christina Spicuzza’s dashboard camera. On the left, Spicuzza, wearing glasses and a surgical mask, can be seen driving her car the evening of Feb. 10, 2022, talking to her Uber passengers with kindness. “It was nice meeting you,”...
Fiery resignation by Pa.’s consumer advocate breeds fear office will lose independence
HARRISBURG — In a letter announcing he would resign as Pennsylvania’s consumer advocate, Patrick Cicero claimed he was the victim what he called a public campaign led by various investor-owned utilities to seek his removal. David W. Sunday, the incoming Republican attorney general, Cicero said, had asked him to reapply...
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust unveils Arts Landing, a $31M outdoor civic space DowntownVideo
A $31 million outdoor civic space is set to debut next year in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, part of an ongoing effort to enhance the Golden Triangle. The 4-acre site, to be known as Arts Landing, will bring 100 new trees, a band shell for outdoor performances, sprawling green space...
South Carolina man accused of killing girlfriend in Rostraver
A mother of three was fatally shot late Wednesday in Rostraver by her live-in boyfriend, according to police. One of three children living at the Route 136 home called 911 around 11 p.m. to report the shooting. Estela Rivera Vasquez, 35, was found in the basement with a gunshot wound...
Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan offering incentives for federal workers to resign
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest twist in a chaotic and distressing saga playing out for millions of government employees. The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for them to...
