Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 40
Pittsburgh students tour NFL Draft stage build, explore careers in trades
Pittsburgh-area high school students studying carpentry will get to learn more about the trade on the city’s biggest stage. Students from seven area high schools or career technology centers plan a visit Wednesday to the city’s North Shore to get a tour of the stage building and preparations for the...
New Lower Burrell food truck to serve up fresh eats, community aid
When Jill Sheerer returned from Alabama to her native Lower Burrell, she brought along a little something to share with the community. Her food truck, Jilly’s Cafe, made the journey north not long after Sheerer had replanted roots in the Alle-Kiski Valley. She’ll be opening the mobile eatery April 19...
Human papillomavirus-related throat cancer skyrocketing in men over 50
Kevin Shields thought nothing of an unusual but persistent sensation in his throat. A public address announcer for the Fox Chapel Area School District baseball, softball and flag football teams, Shields also is the man behind the mic for the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans teams. He chalked up the sensation...
Undeterred by past setbacks, perennial political candidates set sights on primary
If at first — or the second, third or fourth time — you don’t succeed, try, try again. Some people seeking office this year are known in political circles as perennial candidates. They’ve appeared on ballots several times before but typically came up far short in bids for the same...
Hot Wheels customization goes from hobby to full-time job for military vet
As an artistic child growing up in Rector, Donald Wyckoff loved building models and collecting cars, a hobby he shared with his grandfather. But over the course of 10 years that Wyckoff spent in the Navy as a military police officer stationed at various stops across the country and around...
William Shatner, Patricia Arquette among celebrities at Steel City Con in MonroevilleVideo
Hollywood legend William Shatner believed Friday afternoon the astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission would make it safely back to Earth following their voyage to the moon. The actor best known as Capt. James T. Kirk on the original “Star Trek” series shared his thoughts about the team and their...
Artemis II’s record-breaking journey around the moon ends with dramatic splashdownVideo
AP-US-SCI-NASA-Artemis-Moonshot, 19th Ld-Writethru19th Ld-Writethru HOUSTON — Artemis II’s astronauts closed out humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, blazing new records near the moon with grace and joy. It was a dramatic grand finale to a mission that revealed not only...
Crews begin clearing former Ligonier Beach property, volunteers set to do more work Saturday
The first step in the long journey to clean up the overgrown Ligonier Beach property along Route 30 restarted Friday when volunteers using heavy machinery removed logs, dead trees, heavy brush and debris from the field surrounding the former pool and in the deteriorating pool itself. That heavy lifting done...
Billions in research funding survive Trump crackdown, benefiting Pitt, CMU
The Trump administration is accepting legal defeat in its effort to limit critical funding for research institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, after its window to petition to the U.S. Supreme Court closed this week. In February 2025, the National Institutes of Health announced a cap...
NFL Draft safety plan includes increased police, EMS presence across Pittsburgh
Authorities said they are not aware of any credible threats of terrorism or violence tied to the week of NFL Draft events in Pittsburgh. Public safety officials Friday outlined preparations for the draft, including an increased police and EMS presence across the city. The FBI will deploy hundreds of agents,...
Shapiro, Garrity spar over Iran
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Treasurer Stacy Garrity are sparring this week over the war in Iran. Garrity, who is unopposed for the Republican nomination in this year’s race for governor, took exception Thursday to Shapiro describing the conflict as “the president’s war of choice.” In response to a reporter’s...
Pa. Game Commission to vote on increasing number of Sundays in deer rifle season
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will vote Saturday on potential adjustments to the deer rifle season, which officials believe could bolster interest in hunting among youth and young adults. The game commission’s nine-member board met Friday in Dauphin County to discuss opening deer rifle season on Nov. 28, a Saturday, and...
Drone ban set for NFL Draft sites in Pittsburgh
Airspace over Pittsburgh’s North Shore and Point State Park will be closed to recreational and personal drones during the 2026 NFL Draft, FBI officials said Friday. Richard Evanchec, who leads the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, said anyone operating an unauthorized drone in the restricted airspace could face both criminal and...
New Carnegie Mellon program pairs start-up entrepreneurs with investors
Founders of fledgling tech startups at Carnegie Mellon University are getting a glimpse inside the minds of venture capitalists and a shot at $240 million in potential investments. The university’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship recently launched its Deep Tech Venture-Ready Program, a six-month course in wooing venture capitalists followed by...
Once part of Drive-In Capital of the World, this rural complex fights for survival
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” blared across the massive screen at Riverside Drive-In on April 2 to mark opening night of the 2026 season at the Parks Township theater. But owners were quick to say, without recent community support, the screen would have remained dark. A GoFundMe organized by employee...
Dating choices or draft picks — the cognitive science behind either is similar, CMU professors say
The human behavior and decision-making aspects behind a person’s dating life doesn’t stray too differently from the choices that coaches and general managers make when selecting a player in the NFL Draft. “You date someone and you make a choice to commit to this person, or keep looking,” said Cleotilde...
Why are the Penguins fighting more this season?
It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say it was an easy target. But it was definitely a tempting target. During a 5-2 home win by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, one of the most vexing players in the entire NHL, struck Penguins forward Connor Dewar...
Petition launched to show support to Aspinwall Council’s censuring, resignation request of mayor
An Aspinwall resident has launched a petition campaign seeking signatures in support of borough council’s recent censuring request of Mayor Scott Zimmermann, and the calls for his resignation. Its virtual version, posted to ipetitions.com, is titled “Upholding Integrity and Accountability in Aspinwall Leadership.” It purported to have had a little...
What you need to know for NFL Draft weekend
The 2026 NFL Draft will take over parts of Downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore from April 23-25. Whether you’re coming in from out of town or a local looking to join the fun, there are lots of logistical concerns to consider. Here’s your guide for what you need to...
Penguins playoff tickets set to go on sale
The Pittsburgh Penguins locked up their first trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2022 with a 5-2 victory in New Jersey on Thursday night. They will have home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, which are set to begin April 18. The NHL won’t announce a full...
U.S. and Iran prepare for ceasefire talks as Netanyahu authorizes negotiations with Lebanon
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — With the ceasefire in Iran still shaky, Vice President JD Vance headed Friday to Pakistan for high-level talks with Iranian officials, as Israel and Hezbollah traded fire and Tehran maintained its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Many issues could derail the truce and the...
State College named best college town in America by USA Today
State College — home to Penn State University — was named the best college town in America by USA Today readers. Just over 100 miles east of Pittsburgh, the borough of about 41,000 residents stands out, readers say, for its blend of small-town feel and big-campus energy. The report, part...
Forecasters caution of wildfire risk in Allegheny County
Meteorologists issued a warning Friday that Allegheny County is at marginal risk for wildfires. The combination of low humidity and breezy wind will create marginal fire weather conditions across the region, said the National Weather Service in a social media post. “Brush fires become more likely in this environment, so...
Pittsburghese Primer: An NFL Draft visitor’s guide to understanding Yinzers
Whether it’s saying yinz for the plural of “you” or flattening vowels in words like “out” or “down,” Pittsburghers have a distinctive way of speaking. But for us, it’s totally natural. “That’s why you can pretty easily pick out a Pittsburgher,” said Brian Butko, director of publications at the Heinz...
Penn Township withdraws zoning violation notice from Club at Blackthorne, but other legal disputes continue
Penn Township is no longer accusing the Club at Blackthorne, a private event and wedding venue located in a housing community, of violating the municipality’s zoning ordinance. However, several other legal disputes surrounding the clubhouse continue. The Blackthorne Investors appeal and clubhouse zoning variance request will continue to be discussed...
