Top Stories category, Page 325
Chicago men sentenced for Western Pa. catalytic converter theft ring
Three Chicago men were ordered Friday to serve up to 15 years in prison for operating what authorities said was one of the largest organized theft rings in Western Pennsylvania as they stole catalytic converters from parked vehicles in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Fayette counties. “These three individuals terrorized the Western...
Trump campaign billed $40K for IUP rally
Indiana University of Pennsylvania billed the campaign of former President Donald Trump $40,000 for its use of the 5,000-seat Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex for this week’s rally. The state-owned university on Friday provided a copy of the invoice agreement in response to inquiries this week from TribLive. The total...
Charges pending against Burrell student over threat that forced lockdown
A second juvenile from the Alle-Kiski Valley is expected to be charged in connection with an unfounded threat against a local school district. Lower Burrell police said they plan to file charges against a Burrell School District student who they say made a threat on social media that prompted officials...
Luke Bryan concert expected to bring 18K fans to South Huntingdon farm
Surveying a sleepy South Huntingdon farm field Friday morning, it was almost impossible to believe that in a little more than 24 hours, about 18,000 people will fill it to attend a concert by country music star Luke Bryan. “They’re going to have it all set up in just about...
Police seek other alleged victims of teen charged with sexual crimes in Frick Park
Pittsburgh police are investigating whether a teen charged with sex crimes against two women in Frick Park might have other alleged victims. Police arrested Isaiah Rivers, 19, of Penn Hills on Sunday and charged him with sexually assaulting one woman and exposing himself to another. A search of Rivers’ cell...
Scenes from Hurricane Helene’s destructive path through Florida, Georgia
Hurricane Helene cut a destructive path through Florida and Georgia before weakening into a tropical storm over Georgia on Friday. Helene made landfall overnight in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm. At least 11 people have died so far in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp said. Authorities continue to rescue...
Allegheny County calls for dismissal of Pittsburgh Public Schools’ reassessment lawsuit
Facing declining property tax revenue and increasing payouts of tax refunds, Pittsburgh Public Schools this year sued Allegheny County and its chief executive to try to force an overhaul of the property assessment system, which, it alleges, is unconstitutional. But attorneys for the county and Executive Sara Innamorato argued Friday...
Harrison police bring back DUI checkpoints to ‘protect community’
Harrison police Chief Brian Turack is bringing back DUI checkpoints to target sections of the township that have become “concerning.” “We want to show our community we are invested,” Turack said. His department, along with the Allegheny Valley DUI Enforcement Task Force, conducted a checkpoint Sept. 20 along River Avenue...
Pitt staff join United Steelworkers union
About 6,300 employees on the University of Pittsburgh’s main and branch campuses are joining the United Steelworkers union, officials confirmed Friday after votes were tallied in a monthlong, state-supervised election. The union will work to secure a collective bargaining agreement between those workers and Pitt, Western Pennsylvania’s largest university. Results...
‘Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh’ initiative calls on arts to shape more equitable futureVideo
The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh are giving artists an opportunity to create and define what an equitable Pittsburgh might look like with the second annual “Envisioning a Just Pittsburgh” initiative. “We wanted to focus on highlighting what a just and equitable...
Deacon who subdued North Braddock church gunman to receive Carnegie Hero Fund medal
A deacon who subdued a gunman in a North Braddock church May 5 will receive a Carnegie Medal, North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism. Clarence McCallister, 63, is included in a list of 18 new medal recipients released by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. McCallister, who is a...
Pittsburgh man to serve 15-30 years for shooting North Versailles police officer and K-9
A Pittsburgh man will serve 15 to 30 years behind bars after pleading guilty in the shooting of a North Versailles police officer and K-9 last year. Ian Lamont Fields, 47, received the sentence as part of a plea deal this week in Allegheny County Court, according to online court...
Fire did not impact service from water treatment plant at Beaver Run Reservoir, spokesman says
A fire Thursday evening shut down a pump at a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water treatment plant in Bell Township, but a spokesman said there was no resulting interruption in service to customers. Spokesman Matt Junker said the fire affected a motor that operates a pump supplying treated water...
Authentic, transparent and timely school communication crucial during threats, expert says
Years ago, when there was an emergency at a school, the incident was addressed sequentially. The incident would occur, schools and law enforcement officials could investigate, handle the situation, and then communicate what happened to students’ families. Now, with the internet and social media, much of that has to happen...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 27-29
Spooky season is here! Enjoy the sounds, sights and scents of fall, if that’s your thing — or avoid it altogether if it isn’t — with events and activities around the area this weekend. Here are some suggestions. Prime Stage Theatre Cemetery Walk For the second year, Prime Stage Theatre...
Battle over proposed Unity solar panel farm continues
A Unity man told a township zoning panel this week he should have the right to use part of his property near the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport for an estimated $10.5 million solar power farm, despite strong opposition from some of his neighbors. “In the final analysis, this is a...
Helene weakens to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph over Georgia
CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — Hurricane Helene weakened to a tropical storm over Georgia with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) early Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. Helene continues to weaken while moving farther inland over Georgia. The storm was about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Macon and...
Shapiro launches Board of Higher Education to get colleges, universities to ‘row in the same direction’
Minutes into its inaugural meeting Thursday, the panel now tasked with bringing order to Pennsylvania’s loosely regulated system of colleges and universities received a pointed reminder of what’s at stake. “Our costs are going up and our enrollment is going down. We’re not graduating enough students with the credentials we...
Dormont hit-and-run suspect charged with being in the U.S. illegally for a 2nd time
Federal officials have begun the process to deport a Mexican national charged with a fatal hit-and-run crash Sept. 21 in Dormont. Allegheny County Police charged Saul Rivera-Ramirez on Sunday with homicide by vehicle, accident involving death by an unlicensed driver and driving without a license, after they say he crashed...
Netanyahu vows to use ‘full force’ against Hezbollah as hopes dim for a cease-fireVideo
NEW YORK — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to carry out “full force” strikes against Hezbollah until it ceases firing rockets across the border, dimming hopes for a cease-fire proposal put forth by U.S. and European officials. Israel carried out a new strike in the Lebanese capital,...
Pa. Supreme Court won’t hear case involving ‘dead body interference’ after all
Six months ago, the state Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from a Verona woman attempting to sue the parents of her son’s killer after she claimed they concealed the murder weapon. The case, based on an unusual interpretation of Pennsylvania’s “Interference with Dead Bodies” tort, was scheduled for...
First Energy, Duquesne Light send manpower south for Hurricane Helene
First Energy is sending 200 of its workers south to help communities recover from Hurricane Helene. Todd Meyers, spokesperson for First Energy, said the 200 would be diverted from utilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland. While the majority of the workers will be line workers, vehicle mechanics...
Pitt approves $50M center to research arthritis, osteoporosis
University of Pittsburgh trustees on Thursday approved a $50 million center for musculoskeletal research, an ambitious science and treatment effort aided by tens of millions of dollars donated by the Greensburg founder of Hillandale Farms. The board of trustees’ unanimous vote green-lights a renovation on the 16th floor of the...
Voting technology firm Smartmatic, Newsmax reach settlement in 2020 election defamation case
WILMINGTON, Del. — A settlement has been reached in a defamation lawsuit pitting an electronic voting machine manufacturer targeted by allies of former President Donald Trump against a conservative news outlet that aired accusations of vote manipulation in the 2020 election. Newsmax on Thursday confirmed a deal had been reached...
Spotted lanternfly greets Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh
Vice President Kamala Harris received an unfriendly greeting from a spotted lanternfly after her plane landed in Pittsburgh this week. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato quickly neutralized the threat. She brushed the bug off of Harris’ pants suit and stomped on it. “I’ve done several tarmac greetings now, and most...
