Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 31
Slavery exhibit removed by Trump administration is returning to Independence Mall in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — Workers are restoring an exhibit depicting the history of the nine people once enslaved in Philadelphia amid a legal fight between the city and the Trump Administration. Mayor Cherelle Parker visited the site Thursday morning and saw the work being done, spokesperson Joe Grace said. A federal judge...
Ligonier Country Market proposes borough as new host
The Ligonier Country Market has proposed shifting its regular event from a 9.6-acre Loyalhanna Watershed Association property to downtown Ligonier Borough. The Country Market — launched about 50 years ago — has been held on the watershed association’s property off of Route 30 in Ligonier Township for the past 25...
Trump gets pledges for Gaza reconstruction and troop commitments at inaugural Board of Peace talks
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Thursday at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package and five countries have agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force for the war-battered Palestinian territory. While lauding...
Innamorato launches Main Streets Allegheny to support county’s business districts
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato on Thursday announced a $4 million initiative to support main streets, providing funding for public space improvements, small business support and local events. The Main Streets Allegheny program will distribute grants this year to municipalities, community organizations and small businesses. “Main streets are the heart...
More than 100 state lawmakers support Penn State faculty union efforts
More than 100 state lawmakers are supporting a unionization attempt for Penn State University faculty, as a vote to unionize could come this spring. Minority Leader Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, sent a letter to Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi on behalf of 102 state legislators from the House and...
Arts panel made up of Trump appointees approves his White House ballroom proposal
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a panel made up of President Donald Trump’s appointees, on Thursday approved his proposal to build a ballroom larger than the White House itself where the East Wing once stood. The seven-member panel is one of two federal agencies that must approve...
West View mayor says borough leaders not interested in cooperating with ICE
While West View officials have not been asked about cooperating with federal immigration authorities, they would not be interested in doing so, Mayor John Henry said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities across the country and locally have prompted numerous borough residents to raise concerns, he said. “I believe this council...
Sidney Crosby’s Olympic injury sparks debate over NHL player participation
Uncertainty continues to surround the status of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, who was injured in Wednesday’s Olympic quarterfinals contest between Canada and Czechia. Canada coach Jon Cooper provided a limited update to reporters in Milan following his team’s optional practice Thursday, in which Crosby did not partake. “Sid is...
Mark Madden: The Pirates’ fate rests with 2 familiar bats
Optimism abounds with the Pirates, mostly because of a few shiny new toys and not least because 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin is hitting bombs at spring training. Griffin will be in Pittsburgh sooner, not later, and the sooner the better. But it feels like the fate of the Pirates in...
For peat’s sake: Persian Gulf sheikh explores deal with Ambridge maker of artificial peat moss
PittMoss says its paper and cardboard-based peat moss alternative can do a lot: reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and, critically, grow plants better than the real thing. The proprietary mixture of shredded recyclables and organic fertilizers might even be able to “totally transform” the soil of one of the driest...
Trump warns of ‘bad things’ if Iran doesn’t make a deal, as second U.S. carrier nears Mideast
Iran held annual military drills with Russia on Thursday as a second American aircraft carrier drew closer to the Middle East, with both the United States and Iran signaling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran’s nuclear program fizzle out. President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes 10...
Pittsburgh Mills owner acquires Macy’s store marked for closure
The owner of the Pittsburgh Mills mall property in Frazer has acquired a new property. Residents don’t have to leave the mall to see it. According to the Allegheny County Real Estate portal, Pitt Realty LLC, purchased the Macy’s store attached to the mall. Pitt Realty is a limited liability...
Former Prince Andrew arrested and held for hours on suspicion of misconduct over ties to Epstein
LONDON — The former Prince Andrew was arrested and held for hours by British police Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his links to Jeffrey Epstein, an extraordinary move in a country where authorities once sought to shield the royal family from embarrassment. It was the...
Morning Roundup: Coroner called to crash; Woodland Hills School District faces audit; Pittsburgh deer management season ends
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Feb. 19: Coroner called to crash in Butler County A portion of Route 8 in Butler County was reopened Wednesday evening following a crash Wednesday afternoon. According to TribLive news partner WTAE, Route 8, or Pittsburgh Road, in...
PennWest lags behind IUP, Slippery Rock in enrollment gains
A simple glance at the headlines paints a drastically different picture among the three Western Pennsylvania universities in the State System of Higher Education. Slippery Rock’s enrollment last fall increased 2.75%, its largest gain in nearly a decade; and its retention rate of 86.4% is the best in university history...
Dual enrollment surging at PennWest; top high school is in York County
Pennsylvania Western University officials are optimistic with spring enrollment trends, particularly with dual enrollment students. Total headcount at PennWest — which includes the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses — is at 10,121 students, 2.43% above its target of 9,881. But that’s still less than its fall enrollment of 10,548. Dual...
Westmoreland water authority says harsh winter weather stressed system
Arctic winter conditions that set upon Western Pennsylvania over the past month have the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County working overtime. Snow and freezing temperatures in late January and early February resulted in hundreds of water line breaks, leaks, frozen pipes and longer work hours for the crews assigned to...
Former Steelers safety Mike Wagner, key member of Steel Curtain defense, dies
Four-time Super Bowl champion Mike Wagner, a ballhawk at safety and a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, has died. He was 76. The Steelers, for whom Wagner played all 10 of his NFL seasons, announced his death Wednesday night. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of...
Kennedy’s push to find cause of autism divides Hill Republicans
WASHINGTON — One year into his first term, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s focus on autism is showing how polarizing Trump administration health policy can be for Capitol Hill Republicans. Some GOP lawmakers say Kennedy’s interest in autism is counterproductive and could cause long-term mistrust in...
‘Unconscionable’: At Ash Wednesday vigil in Pittsburgh, Christians decry ICE tactics, pray for immigrants
Michael Airgood felt compelled Wednesday to join dozens of fellow Christians who prayed for peace and called for humane treatment of immigrants during a vigil in Downtown Pittsburgh. “I’m here because I think what our government is doing to immigrants and people of color is unconscionable,” said Airgood, a minister...
Public health, green groups sue EPA over repeal of rule supporting climate protections
WASHINGTON — A coalition of health and environmental groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, challenging the rescinding of a scientific finding that has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. A rule finalized by the EPA last week revoked...
Trump administration releases Hudson tunnel funds it froze for months, allowing work to restart
The $205 million held since October by the Trump administration in a political spat over the region’s largest infrastructure project has been restored, the Gateway Development Commission said Wednesday in a statement. The money, part of nearly $15 billion earmarked by Congress for the construction of the $16 billion Hudson...
Downtown Pittsburgh assault near Kaufmann’s clock leads to 3 arrests
Police on Wednesday arrested three of four suspects charged with punching and kicking a man dozens of times earlier this month while beating him in Downtown Pittsburgh near the landmark Kaufmann’s clock. The three — Shakeem Griffey, 31, of Pittsburgh; Mateke Katzbeck, 26, of Pittsburgh; and Caleb Mitchell, 23, of...
Transportation Department says more than 550 driving schools must close over safety failures
More than 550 commercial driving schools in the U.S. that train truckers and bus drivers must close after investigators found they employed unqualified instructors, failed to adequately test students and had other safety issues, the federal Transportation Department announced Wednesday. The move marks the Transportation Department’s latest effort to improve...
Billionaire Les Wexner says he was ‘duped’ by adviser Jeffrey Epstein, ‘a world-class con man’
NEW ALBANY, Ohio — The billionaire behind the retail empire that once blanketed shopping malls with names such as Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch told members of Congress on Wednesday that he was “duped by a world-class con man” — close financial adviser Jeffrey Epstein. Les Wexner also denied...
