Top Stories category, Page 421
Airbnb cracks down on Fourth of July holiday weekend parties; 2022 shootings in Pittsburgh still unsolved
Airbnb has once again implemented its anti-party system for the Fourth of July and Memorial Day weekends this year — and Pennsylvania is included. Its machine-learning technology identifies certain attempts to book one- or two-night stays in entire homes that could be at high risk for disruptive parties and prevents...
Trump to make Butler County stop shortly before Republican convention
Donald Trump will make a campaign stop in Butler County on Saturday, July 13, according to the former president’s website. Trump will host a 5 p.m. event at the Butler Farm Show grounds, 625 Evans City Road. The farm show, itself, does not take place until August. It will be...
Preparations underway for Pittsburgh’s furry convention
This year’s Anthrocon in Pittsburgh will be Eric Zawratny’s 24th furry convention. Every summer, anthropomorphics, otherwise known as furries — people dressed as human-like animal characters — travel to Pittsburgh. The group is a collection of artists, animators, writers, costumers, puppeteers and anyone who enjoys cartoon animals. The festivities will...
Sharon man charged with 1st-degree murder in the killing, dismemberment of teen
A Sharon man has been charged with killing and dismembering a missing 14-year-old teen. State police charged DaShawn Watkins, 29, of Sharon with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of Paul Likens Jr., who was initially reported missing on June 25, and was suspected...
Podcast: Potential nationwide scam hits Carrick event venue
A recent alleged concert booking scam has affected a venue in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. Audiovisual company Hearcorp owns the event venue and former church at 25 Carrick Ave. Chief operations officer Brendan Elder recalled his conversation with Alex Bowen, who wanted to book a concert featuring orchestral renditions of Dr....
Police find drugs, $57K after arresting accused drug dealer in New Kensington
A New Kensington man police say was dealing drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana, was arrested Wednesday morning. Tarique Taron Godson, 31, was apprehended after city police and officers with the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force carried out a search warrant at a house in the 400 block...
Longer happy hours, value meals with an adult beverage coming to Pennsylvania
Inflation-weary consumers could soon see changes coming to their favorite drinking establishments that will be gentler on their wallets. Longer happy hours and combo meals that include an adult beverage are among a number of changes to the state’s liquor code included in a bill the House approved on Wednesday...
Colorado dairy worker tests positive for bird flu, 4th person linked to outbreak
A fourth farm worker has been infected with bird flu in the growing outbreak linked to dairy cows, health officials reported Wednesday. The worker had direct contact with infected dairy cows on a northeast Colorado farm, state and federal health officials said. The man developed pink eye, or conjunctivitis, received...
California Gov. Gavin Newsom to campaign for Biden in Pittsburgh
President Joe Biden’s campaign is calling in reinforcements. California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to visit Pittsburgh on Friday to energize the president’s base following his rocky debate performance. Newsom, a Democrat and one of Biden’s staunchest allies, will join Western Pennsylvania leaders for a rally at 1 p.m. A press...
Hurricane Beryl roars by Jamaica after killing at least 6 people in the southeast CaribbeanVideo
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Beryl was roaring by Jamaica Wednesday, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Beryl’s eyewall was “brushing the south coast of...
‘All hands on deck’: Police gear up for Pittsburgh’s July 4 fireworks
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi, like many area residents, admires the iconic view of Downtown that motorists get when emerging from the inbound Fort Pitt Tunnel. He just doesn’t want motorists watching Independence Day fireworks from there Thursday night. “People like to stop on the bridge to watch; people...
Biden vows to keep running as signs point to rapidly eroding support for him on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON — A defiant President Joe Biden vowed Wednesday to keep running for reelection, rejecting growing pressure from Democrats to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness to keep campaigning, much less win in November. But increasingly ominous signs were mounting for the president. Two Democratic...
Paging Kamala? Summer Lee says VP Harris is ‘obvious choice’ if Biden steps down
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee has joined a growing chorus of elected Democrats weighing in on the fallout from President Joe Biden’s lackluster debate performance, emphasizing the gravity of the presidential race and suggesting that if Biden were to step aside, Vice President Kamala Harris is the “obvious choice” to replace...
Pittsburgh furry convention names Gray Paws Sanctuary as its 2024 charity
Anthrocon has named Gray Paws Sanctuary its charity for the 2024 Pittsburgh furry convention. The White Oak nonprofit, which helps older dogs in the greater Pittsburgh area, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. “This is amazing to be selected as the charity for 2024,” co-founder Darla Poole Brescia said Wednesday. Gray...
McKees Rocks woman charged with mistreating toddlers at McCandless day care
McCandless Police have accused the director of Gloworms Academy of mistreating five toddlers at the day care. Melissa Marie Populo, 38, of McKees Rocks faces five counts of endangering the welfare of children. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. A Gloworms Academy employee contacted McCandless police at 10 p.m....
Somerset County soldier 1 of 2 Civil War heroes set to posthumously receive medal-of-honor at White HouseVideo
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will award the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry on Wednesday to two Union soldiers who stole a locomotive deep in Confederate territory during the Civil War and drove it north for 87 miles as they destroyed railroad tracks and telegraph lines. U.S. Army Pvts....
Morning Roundup: FBI, police investigate hoax threat at Tree of Life
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, July 3: FBI, police investigate hoax threat to Tree of Life synagogue Authorities are investigating a hoax threat made against the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, according to WTAE. Pittsburgh police told WTAE that...
Police shot man who left guns, ‘concerning’ notes in car at Cranberry golf course
Police fatally shot an Ellwood City man near a Cranberry Township golf course Tuesday after guns and “concerning” notes were found in a vehicle he abandoned, prompting an hourslong search and shelter-in-place order issued in the township. In a news release Wednesday, state troopers identified the man killed as Logan...
Red Hot Chili Peppers concert review: Veteran rockers bring their California love to sold-out Pittsburgh showVideo
The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ love of California cannot be underestimated — with some Internet estimates putting a reference to the Golden State in about 20% of their songs. That was on full display Tuesday night in a sold-out show at the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, where the...
‘Nearly fell asleep on stage’: Biden blames travel for poor debate as he looks to calm revolt
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden blamed travel plans that took him to France and Italy in the weeks ahead of his disastrous debate against Donald Trump for his poor performance on stage, seeking to explain a moment that has upended the 2024 race and imperiled his reelection prospects. “I didn’t...
Pa.’s health secretary wins Senate confirmation to the post on 2nd try
After 18 months as serving as the acting head of Pennsylvania’s Department of Health, Dr. Debra Bogen is now the state’s health secretary. Bogen, a pediatrician and former head of the Allegheny County Health Department, won Senate confirmation on Tuesday by a 42-8 bipartisan vote. “I look forward to continuing...
Rebounding Pittsburgh airport pledges shorter security wait times at new terminal
Pittsburgh International Airport marked a milestone on June 24 when security agents handled more passengers on a single day than ever before. Nearly 20,000 people flowed through the checkpoint that Monday, according to airport spokesman Bob Kerlik. Some passengers reportedly waited well over two hours in the security line that...
Last ride remembers Leechburg man’s adventurous life
Scottie Joe Hawkins got one last ride on his truck Tuesday. Family and friends hoisted his casket onto the flatbed of the tractor-trailer Hawkins used to make his living, repurposing it as a hearse to take him to his final resting place. A special platform was built onto the flatbed...
Plans for Pittsburgh festival fund move forward but lack key element: money
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday voted to move ahead with a plan to create a fund to support arts and cultural events that were impacted by the covid-19 pandemic — but they don’t seem to have any money for it. Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, last month introduced legislation to...
Pittsburgh finds way to avoid forfeiting nearly $9M in federal covid relief funds
Working against a ticking clock that gives the city only six months to put under contract all remaining federal covid-19 relief dollars, Pittsburgh officials are changing funding streams for projects that might be too slow for the federal government’s looming deadlines. The goal, Director of the Office of Management and...
