Top Stories category, Page 342
Veterans court offers redemption chance for former service members
John Novotnak knew he needed help. The U.S. Army serviceman whose eight-year career included a tour of duty in Iraq, struggled after he was discharged from the military in 2008. Novotnak, 43, of North Huntingdon was charged in 2022 for the second time with drunken driving when he finally concluded...
Pittsburgh Public Schools unveils plan to consolidate, reconfigure facilities
A plan to reduce the footprint of Pittsburgh Public Schools from 54 to 42 schools was introduced Tuesday. Education Resource Strategies suggests closing 14 schools and 10 facilities, reconfiguring 12 schools and opening three new schools. The consultant was hired by the district and examined community feedback and a variety...
October’s supermoon pairs with a comet for a special nighttime spectacle
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — October’s supermoon is the closest of the year and it’s teaming up with a comet for a rare stargazing two-for-one. The third of four supermoons this year, it will be 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) away Wednesday night, making it seem even bigger and brighter than in...
Video, witnesses lead to suspect’s arrest in fatal Homewood stabbing
Surveillance video and witness statements helped Pittsburgh police piece together what they believe happened in the early morning hours Monday leading to a fatal stabbing in Homewood, according to court papers. Detectives said Raniesha Scott, 27, and Maurissa L. Plummer, 21, both of Homewood, had been arguing for hours when...
Morning Roundup: Fire at Downtown Pittsburgh apartment building; TSA at Pittsburgh airport finds 35th gun of 2024
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 16: Residents return to apartments after Downtown Pittsburgh fire Residents were allowed to return to Midtown Towers in Downtown Pittsburgh after a fire Tuesday evening, according to city police. Firefighters were called to the Liberty Avenue apartment...
Couple, pet rescued from house fire in Unity
A couple and their pet dog were rescued by a neighbor when fire broke out in their Unity home Tuesday night. A smoke alarm awakened the pair as they were sleeping on the first floor of their Dos Drive home, according to Tom Schultheis, township emergency management coordinator. Blocked by...
Lane restrictions set for I-70, Route 51 as interchange revamp proceeds, old bridge is razed
Overnight single-lane restrictions will be in place for several days on a section of Interstate 70 as crews demolish the bridge that used to carry Route 51 over the interstate in Rostraver. The bridge is being replaced by a more complex crossing as part of a $120.7 million project to...
McCormick, Casey clash on abortion, guns and energy in final debate
HARRISBURG — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger David McCormick disagreed on clean energy policy, gun laws and abortion rights in a fast-moving debate Tuesday night as they accused each other of lying and shared a stage for the last time before the election. The 60-minute debate was...
U.S. demands Israel allow humanitarian aid into Gaza or risk losing military support
WASHINGTON — In a rare, direct threat, the Biden administration has told Israel it must allow humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip or risk losing U.S. military armament, U.S. officials said Tuesday. The demand comes as Israel launches another major offensive in northern Gaza, where airstrikes in recent days...
Casey and McCormick face off in 2nd debateVideo
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican challenger David McCormick meet for their second debate Tuesday evening. The 60-minute debate will air starting at 7 p.m., hosted by WPVI -TV in Philadelphia. Watch live from ABC News Live:...
Hay smolders days after Hempfield barn fire, sparks concern for residents
A fire that destroyed a storage barn Saturday afternoon at Westmoreland Equestrian Center in Hempfield left behind a field of hay that is continuing to smolder and smoke, sparking concerns from nearby respiratory-challenged residents. As of Tuesday, it wasn’t clear how much longer the smoldering may continue at the site...
Pittsburgh seeks early end to $24M tax break for Squirrel Hill parcel
A formerly blighted parcel of land in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood that enjoyed a 20-year tax break to spur development could return to the tax rolls next year — nearly a decade earlier than expected. If City Council agrees, Pittsburgh, its school district and Allegheny County will see estimated total...
Pittsburgh to clear Downtown homeless camp due to drug problems
Pittsburgh officials are clearing out a Downtown homeless camp after reports of drug use there, Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said Tuesday. The camp sits next to the Fort Pitt Commons office building off Grant Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. People living at the camp will be offered shelter elsewhere...
Trump to hold rally Saturday at Arnold Palmer airport
Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally Saturday in Westmoreland County. Trump, the GOP nominee for president, is scheduled to appear at 6 p.m. at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. Trump’s visit will come two weeks after he last appeared in the region. On Oct. 5, Trump returned...
Tim Benz: Steelers need more than just Russell Wilson to fix the passing game
During Tuesday’s press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin suggested that the door is being left open for Russell Wilson to start Sunday night’s game at quarterback against the New York Jets instead of Justin Fields. “We’re looking hard at it this week,” Tomlin said of starting Wilson. Fields...
‘It’s not happening’: Westmoreland airport director dispels rumor regarding overnight immigrant flights
Thousands of immigrants are not being flown in overnight to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity, said Gabe Monzo, Westmoreland County Airport Authority executive director. To some chuckles from board members and others in attendance at the authority’s board meeting Tuesday, Monzo addressed the nuisance that has become part of...
Gotta go? Pittsburgh pushes for more public potties Downtown
Pittsburgh officials want to expand access to public bathrooms Downtown, where restrooms can be hard to find. City officials and the nonprofit Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership last September rolled out the “Pittsburgh Potty” initiative, which saw temporary bathrooms installed near the Gateway Center T Station Plaza and the intersection of Smithfield...
Supreme Court tosses out decision letting 18-year-olds carry guns during emergencies in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday tossed out a decision allowing 18-year-olds to openly carry guns during emergencies in Pennsylvania. There were no noted dissents in the high court’s brief order. It lets stand a ban on people aged 18 to 20 carrying guns in public during a declared...
JD Vance to visit Pittsburgh this week
Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican candidate for vice president, is set to visit Pittsburgh Thursday. Vance is expected to deliver remarks at 12:30 p.m. at The Pennsylvanian on Liberty Avenue Downtown, according to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign. Doors will open for the event at 10:30 a.m. Vance...
Mike Tomlin: Russell Wilson ‘under consideration’ to start at QB for Steelers
Let the quarterback controversy begin for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After sitting out the first six games of the season, Russell Wilson is “under consideration” to start Sunday night when the Steelers play the New York Jets, according to coach Mike Tomlin. “We’re looking hard at it this week,” Tomlin said...
Casey, McCormick debating again after combative 1st meeting in battleground Senate race
HARRISBURG — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Republican challenger David McCormick meet for their second debate Tuesday evening, with control of the Senate on the line and tens of millions of dollars pouring into the race every week. During their first debate two weeks ago, Casey tried...
Driver who died after Lernerville crash identified as Chicora man
The driver injured Sunday in a crash at Lernerville Speedway has died, a family member and the speedway confirmed in social media posts. Both identified him as Shane Nolan of Chicora. “Lernerville Speedway and the Tomson family are deeply saddened by the passing of Shane Nolan, a cherished member of...
Walgreens to close 1,200 U.S. stores as chain attempts to steady operations at home
Walgreens will close about 1,200 locations over the next three years as the drugstore chain seeks to turnaround a struggling U.S. business that contributed to a $3 billion quarterly loss. The company said Tuesday that about 500 store closures will come in the current fiscal year and should immediately support...
1-seat Democratic margin has Pa. House control up for grabs in fall voting
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s legislative Republicans would like to pass additional voter ID requirements, restrict abortion and make election changes to improve their odds of winning judicial races. Democrats want to bump up the state’s minimum wage and widen civil rights for LGBTQ people. In the closely divided General Assembly, those...
Shooting victims from Butler Trump rally call out Secret Service failures
Two men who were shot at a Butler County rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump this summer told NBC News they continue to deal with health problems related their wounds. Jim Copenhaver, 74, of Moon and David Dutch, 57, of Plum expressed concerns with security lapses leading up to...
