Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 334
Residents voice concerns as Penn Township continues developing zoning change proposal
As Penn Township officials continue to weigh a series of zoning changes aimed at increasing economic development, resident Darlene Leslie is worried her quiet home will be disturbed by traffic, noise and pollution. Leslie lives in the eastern portion of the township, about three miles from Bushy Run Corporate Park...
Gilpin supervisors hear complaint about stopping livestreaming public meetings
The Gilpin supervisors are fielding complaints after deciding to stop livestreaming public meetings. According to a social media post by Supervisor Charles Stull, the issue of livestreaming meetings was raised by a “few board members” and added to the February voting meeting agenda for discussion. “Once on the topic, I...
IRS plans to lay off 7,000 probationary workers beginning Thursday
WASHINGTON — The IRS will lay off roughly 7,000 workers in Washington and around the country beginning Thursday, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press. The layoffs affect probationary employees with roughly one year or less of service at the agency and largely include workers in compliance...
Legendary Penguins broadcaster, Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Lange dies
Mike Lange didn’t think he would make it in Pittsburgh. Beyond the first week. After arriving in Western Pennsylvania to begin his new job as the play-by-play voice of the Penguins, Lange took up temporary residence with a co-worker and the two went out to a local establishment on his...
North Huntingdon scraps plan for developer to build sports complex on public land
After nine months of debating whether a $30 million sports complex should be built on North Huntingdon’s public works property, township officials Wednesday put a halt to drafting a lease with the developers of the proposed sports complex and terminated any talks with them. The vote to end the process...
More staff members exit Sen. Fetterman’s office as he seeks a political middle ground
The staff churn in Sen. John Fetterman’s office continues. NBC News is reporting that two of Fetterman’s longest serving staff members are exiting as the Pennsylvania Democrat seeks to find a working lane between his party and the president. The departures of Charlie Hills, the communications director, and Tre Easton,...
Senators clash over FBI director pick ahead of confirmation vote
Republicans and Democrats sharpened their arguments over Kash Patel’s fitness to lead the FBI, offering starkly different versions of the nominee ahead of a confirmation vote expected Thursday. Senate Republicans have rallied around Patel’s nomination and his pledges to fight crime, while Democrats have described him as perilously unsuited for...
Sewickley’s Jason Richey in line to become Allegheny County GOP chair
A Sewickley attorney who formerly ran for governor is in line to become the next chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, as both of his opponents have dropped out of the race. The Allegheny County GOP is scheduled to hold an election Saturday to replace outgoing Chairman Sam...
From Allegheny Center to Windgap, councilman wants police chief nominees to meet Pittsburghers where they are
A Pittsburgh councilman wants to make sure that residents across the city get a crack at grilling any police chief nominee before City Council votes on the appointment. City Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said he hopes to introduce a bill within several weeks to require six public meetings — one...
Boy shot in Downtown Pittsburgh, suspect detained
A teenage boy was shot and wounded on a Downtown Pittsburgh street late Wednesday afternoon, and police have detained the suspected shooter. The incident, a block from the Downtown police substation, happened just after 4 p.m. in the 400 block of Smithfield Street. A city police officer who was driving...
Ross debates placing former Steelers player’s medical marijuana dispensary next to laser tag facility
Ross commissioners tabled a motion to approve a former Steeler’s medical marijuana dispensary after concerns were raised about its proximity to a popular laser tag facility during their Feb. 18 meeting. The proposed dispensary would be at 7725 McKnight Road, where G&G Fitness Equipment currently sits. That would place it...
Meet 3 people leading the preservation of Black history in Pittsburgh
Black history within Pittsburgh is incredibly prevalent: The National Opera House was a hub for jazz artists and musicians like George Benson, the city was part of the Underground Railroad and it has an international Black newspaper. But that legacy needs people to make sure the culture is protected and...
Snowbirds Canadian jet team to headline June air show at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Michigan’s loss will be Westmoreland County’s gain when the annual air show at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport returns this summer. Airport officials learned this week the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds jet team will be available to fly in and headline the Shop ‘n Save International Airshow, set for June...
Norwin awards $6.39M auditorium renovation project
Extensive renovations to Norwin High School’s 60-year-old auditorium will move forward now that school board members have awarded $6.39 million worth of contracts for the project. The school board awarded the $4.48 million general construction contract to R.A. Glancy & Sons Inc. of Richland; the $393,700 heating, ventilating and air...
Probability of asteroid striking Earth highest ever recorded
The probability of an asteroid striking Earth on Dec. 22, 2032, has risen to the highest level ever recorded — 3.1%, the New York Times reported. Known as 2024 YR4, the space rock was first detected in December, and it’s between 130 to 300 feet long, according to the Times....
Trump officials want to ban junk food from SNAP. Past efforts show it’s not easy
A push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the U.S. program that helps low-income families pay for nutritious food has been tried before — but it may soon get a boost from new Trump administration officials. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed health and human services secretary,...
Penn Township store sells $500K winning Cash 5 lottery ticket
A Penn Township convenience store customer is a half million dollars richer today after purchasing a winning Cash 5 lottery ticket on Tuesday. Pennsylvania Lottery officials said a Cash 5 with Quick Cash ticket purchased at the PT Pit Stop on Route 130 matched all of the five balls drawn...
Pittsburgh’s newest skyscraper opens
FNB Financial Center opened its doors this week in Pittsburgh as the city’s newest mixed-use skyscraper. Construction at the 26-story FNB Financial Center began in September 2021 in the city’s Lower Hill District neighborhood. The $220 million tower, at the corner of Washington Place and Bedford Avenue, will serve as...
Americans’ confidence in air travel safety dips slightly after Washington plane crash: AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON — Americans’ confidence in air travel and the federal agencies tasked with maintaining air safety has slipped a little from last year, following a recent crash in Washington, according to a new poll, but most still believe air transportation is generally safe. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center...
Trump, Zelenskyy trade barbs as U.S.-Ukraine relations sour over war with Russia
KYIV, Ukraine — Relations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump deteriorated rapidly Wednesday as Zelenskyy said Trump was living in a Russian-made “disinformation space” and Trump called Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections” in comments that were sure to complicate efforts to end the war. Zelenskyy also...
Trump suggests Ukraine is to blame for war, saying they ‘could have made a deal’
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Top U.S. and Russian officials had their most extensive high-level engagement since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine almost three years ago, meeting for four hours Tuesday before President Donald Trump suggested that Kyiv was to blame for the conflict. Trump showed little patience for Ukraine’s objections...
Burrell school task forces work out schedule proposals for reconfiguration
Schedules at Burrell’s Bon Air Elementary and Charles A. Huston Middle schools are close to being finalized. This week, the Bon Air and Huston task forces — groups of about 20 parents and staff providing feedback on schedules and plans for reconfigurations at the schools next year — continued to...
Reversing enrollment decline among priorities for incoming Westmoreland Co. Community College president
As Westmoreland County Community College grapples with a decline in enrollment and recent turnover in its top leader, incoming president Kristin Mallory aims to stabilize the institution. The vice president of academic affairs at Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, Md., Mallory was hired as the college’s president last week after...
Proposed state tax would prop up fire, ambulance and other emergency services
Lower Burrell No. 3 fire Chief Brennan Sites is appreciative of what his city officials do when it comes to supporting his volunteer fire company. But competing with rising costs for equipment and declines in volunteerism, the city is nearly tapped out when it comes to giving its two volunteer...
Trump’s firing of 1,000 national park workers raises concerns about maintenance and operating hours
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has fired about 1,000 newly hired National Park Service employees who maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and perform other functions as part of its broad-based effort to downsize government. The firings, which weren’t publicly announced but were confirmed by Democratic senators and House members,...
