Top Stories category, Page 323
Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years in prison by a federal judge
BOSTON — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Massachusetts Air National Guard member to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine. Jack Teixeira pleaded guilty earlier this year to six counts of willful retention and transmission of...
Man jailed after bringing flash-bang grenade to Pittsburgh airport, police say
Security at Pittsburgh International Airport Tuesday morning caught a West Virginia man they said was trying to carry a live flash-bang grenade onto a flight. Allegheny County Police said they arrested Zachary Velling, 25, of Morgantown, after the Transportation Security Administration officers found the device in a passenger bag at...
FAA prohibits U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti and U.N. suspends flights after plane was shot by gangsVideo
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that it will prohibit U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after gangs shot a Spirit Airlines flight and the United Nations said it will suspend flights, “obviously limiting the flow of humanitarian aid and humanitarian personnel into the...
Pittsburgh officials want to resume free spay, neuter services for cats, dogs
Pittsburgh City Council will consider resuming a program offering free spay and neuter services for pet cats and dogs as well as stray cats. Proposals introduced Tuesday would expand contracts for Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh to perform the work from 2025 through 2027. Contracts for spay and neuter services...
Federal judge hears evidence on blocking Pyrex plant closure in Charleroi
A federal judge will decide by the end of Thursday whether to block the closure of a Pyrex-making glassware plant in Charleroi that is a major employer in the Mon Valley. The Pennsylvania Attorney General is seeking a preliminary injunction to prohibit Centre Lane Partners, a private equity firm working...
‘Mission remains the same’: Gainey focuses 2025 budget on boosting core services
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Tuesday used his annual budget address to applaud his administration’s efforts to improve core city services, make bridges safer, respond faster to snowstorms and revitalize a Downtown that has seen increasing vacancies since the covid-19 pandemic. The mayor told City Council his proposed budget for...
23andMe users could be eligible for data breach settlement
After a data breach affected around half of its customers, family ancestry company 23andMe has agreed to a $30 million settlement — and users could be eligible to receive a payout in the future. 23andMe is a DNA testing company that provides users with ancestry, genetics and health information. Users...
Holiday Krampus event booted from Market Square, new venue announced
The 2024 Krampus celebration in Pittsburgh has been booted from Market Square and will relocate this year, according to the event organizer. Pittsburgh’s 10th annual Krampusnacht celebration is moving to Penn Brewery in response to an email sent to organizer Mark Menold last December by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Special...
Schumer invites McCormick to Senate orientation
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has reversed course and invited Pennsylvania Republican Dave McCormick to the chamber’s orientation for new senators following an initial snub because of uncounted ballots in McCormick’s race. McCormick was declared the winner Friday by The Associated Press in an upset victory, but Democratic incumbent...
Biden funded new factories and infrastructure projects, but Trump might get to cut the ribbons
WASHINGTON — All that’s left is for President-elect Donald Trump to put his name on it — if he wants. Trump won the White House in large part because of voters’ frustration with high prices and a sense that the United States needs major changes. But when he enters office...
Hoarding disorder can drive families and communities apart. An Irwin nonprofit can help
This story first appeared in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. Sign up for free here. Cindy’s home has so much stuff that she can’t use certain areas. Boxes form...
Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona U.S. Senate race against Republican Kari Lake
PHOENIX — Democrat Ruben Gallego has been elected Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator, defeating Republican Kari Lake and preventing Republicans from further padding their Senate majority. Gallego’s victory continues a string of Democratic successes in a state that was reliably Republican until Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. Arizona...
Trump planning to choose Marco Rubio to lead State Department in historic first
President-elect Donald Trump plans to tap U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, making him the first Latino to helm the State Department, according to a source familiar with the plans. Trump’s selection of Rubio, born in Miami to Cuban parents, is expected to assuage fears among GOP...
Norwin football stadium project could cost more than $25M
It could cost more than $25 million to demolish Norwin stadium and design and build its replacement, an architect told school officials Monday. The stadium’s concrete grandstand would be replaced with aluminum bleachers, a new press box, expanded restrooms and new turf. It will cost about $21.8 million for the...
‘You have to catch it while you can’: People flock to Great Crossings Bridge despite safety risks
People aren’t heeding a warning that it isn’t safe to walk atop the Great Crossings Bridge at Youghiogheny River Lake. The 206-year-old bridge is exposed because of the dry spell, and there’s been a steady stream of sightseers who flocked to — and past — the bridge’s Somerset County entrance...
Chartiers Valley teen accused of threat in custody
The student who authorities believe was behind a threat against Chartiers Valley schools is in custody, police and school district officials said. The threat closed schools in the district Monday, along with classes at the Parkway West Career and Technology Center. The district will be operating on a normal schedule...
McCormick to go to Washington for Senate orientation over Schumer objections
Republican Dave McCormick said Monday he is off to Washington, D.C. for freshman orientation at the U.S. Senate, even as the chamber’s Democratic leaders are withholding an invitation while waiting for the remaining votes to be counted in Pennsylvania. The Associated Press Friday declared McCormick the winner in an upset...
How did Pa. Dems keep the state House during a red wave? Meet Frank Burns
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. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House Democrats have clung to their one-vote majority despite a statewide wave of GOP wins that...
Allegheny County manager warns council that rejecting proposed tax hike would be ‘catastrophic’
Allegheny County’s manager is warning County Council that failure to approve a property tax hike near the level proposed for next year could be disastrous. Council members, led by President Pat Catena, began pushing back immediately after County Executive Sara Innamorato in October proposed a 46.5% tax hike to help...
Trump names Lee Zeldin to lead EPA, Stephen Miller to be deputy chief of policy
NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump on Monday named former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency as he continues to build out his future administration with loyal supporters. Trump, in a statement, said Zeldin, who mounted a failed bid for governor of New York in 2022, would...
TV Talk: David Johnson retires from WPXI after 40 years
WPXI announced that veteran news anchor David Johnson, 67, will retire from Channel 11 effective Dec. 13. Johnson, who joined the station in January 1985, currently anchors the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts on WPXI and the 6:30 and 10 p.m. news on WPGH-TV, Pittsburgh’s Fox affiliate. “As I...
Bethel Park U.S. Marine Corps Captain shares his story at Veterans Breakfast Club
Eric McElvenny was 132 miles into the 140.6 miles of the Ironman World Championships in beautiful Kona, Hawaii. Every bone, muscle and piece of skin on his body hurt. He couldn’t take one more step. “I am in physical pain,” McElvenny said as he described that moment to the room...
As Gainey prepares 2025 Pittsburgh budget address, some wonder how realistic his plan is
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Tuesday will formally present a budget proposal that curbs spending without reducing services or hiking taxes, even as the city’s revenues dip. While Gainey will likely use his annual budget address as an opportunity to paint a rosy picture of a spending plan that funds...
Mark Madden: Beating Ravens would legitimize Steelers’ hopes of AFC North title … and more
Refreshing sports notes, top of the league! Sports notes, top of the league! • Beating Washington on the road legitimizes the Steelers’ 7-2 record. Beating Baltimore at Acrisure Stadium this coming Sunday would legitimize their pursuit of the AFC North championship and their possibility of winning a playoff game. (Or...
Steelers vs. Commanders: What they’re saying in Washington after loss
The last-minute loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers stung badly for the Washington Commanders, said head coach Dan Quinn. But the Steelers’ 28-27 comeback victory provided a lot of lessons for his team. “Heading into this game, I thought it was going to be a hard fought game,” he said in...
