Top Stories category, Page 431
Final culprit in Oakmont girl’s abuse, death pleads guilty to homicide
Her sister and brother-in-law are already serving decades in prison for abusing and killing his 3-year-old daughter. Now, it’s just a matter of time before Alexis Herrera joins them. On Wednesday, Herrera, 24, of Oakmont pleaded guilty to a general count of criminal homicide for the June 9, 2020, death...
Social media reacts to upcoming Biden-Trump presidential debate
It’s official — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to take the debate stage together, and their first matchup is coming soon. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the two presidential candidates agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September, and the first will...
‘Force of nature’ Patty Ameno dies at 72
The Kiski Valley is missing one of its most dogged, outspoken voices. Longtime environmental activist and Kiski Valley resident Patty Ameno has died. Ameno, 72, of Hyde Park died Friday, according to friends, who are flooding social media sites with expressions of grief and condolences. Ameno was known by friends,...
Canadian wildfires pose threat of smoke to Western Pa. once again
Pennsylvania skies could be clouded by wildfire smoke again this summer, according to meteorologists. Canada’s wildfire season has begun, and air quality alerts have spread across the United States. Air quality alerts are in effect across northern Iowa, and as the smoke spread southward and eastward Monday, parts of Minnesota...
Pittsburgh council refuses to OK controversial $1,200 payment to ex-city worker
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday refused to authorize a controversial $1,200 payment to a former city employee for his work as a contractor amid widening concerns over the use of city credit cards. Council voted unanimously to not approve the payment to Mario Ashkar following warnings by Controller Rachael Heisler...
Squirrel Hill deli hit with consumer alert after rodent droppings, mice found
The Bagel Factory, a deli in Squirrel Hill, was hit with a consumer alert following an inspection by the Allegheny County Health Department. The report identified several high-risk violations, including the presence of rodent droppings on food contact surfaces within storage and hallway areas, marking a repeat offense. Additionally, inspectors...
Deadly overdoses fell in the U.S. for the 1st time in 5 years, new estimates show
Deaths from drug overdoses fell last year in the United States as fewer people lost their lives to fentanyl and other opioids, marking the first time the death toll had dropped in five years, according to newly released estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal officials said...
United Methodists scrap their anti-gay bans. A woman who defied them seeks reinstatement as pastor
Twenty years ago, Beth Stroud was defrocked from her beloved job as a United Methodist pastor in Philadelphia. In a church trial, she was found guilty of violating “Christian teaching” because she had acknowledged living in a committed relationship with another woman. Earlier this month, delegates at a United Methodist...
Retail sales were unchanged in April from March as inflation and interest rates curb spending
NEW YORK — Retail sales in April were unchanged from March as inflation continued to sting and elevated interest rates made taking on debt more burdensome. The number following a revised 0.6% pace in March, according to Commerce Department data released Wednesday. It rose 0.9% in February. That comes after...
Biden and Trump agree on presidential debates on June 27 and in September
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday agreed to hold two campaign debates in June and September — the first on June 27 hosted by CNN — setting the stage for the first presidential face-off in just weeks. The quick agreement on the timetable to...
CNX plans $1.5B hydrogen fuels plant at Pittsburgh airport, but wants federal tax credit to build it
HARRISBURG — Natural gas producer CNX Resources said it plans to build a $1.5 billion facility at Pittsburgh’s airport to make hydrogen-based fuels, but only if President Joe Biden’s administration allows coal mine methane to qualify for tax credits that are central to the Democrat’s plan to fight climate change....
New Castle police chief says noise complaint may have led to fatal shooting
A deadly shooting Tuesday afternoon in New Castle may have been spurred by a noise complaint, according to New Castle Police. Officials said officers were dispatched to a report of shots fired along East Washington Street at 4:17 p.m. Officers found an adult man, who has not yet been identified,...
Officer injured, suspect in custody following Downtown Pittsburgh foot chase
Following a foot chase Tuesday afternoon in Downtown Pittsburgh, police arrested a man and recovered a stolen vehicle and firearm. Authorities said officers on foot patrol near Wood Street spotted a stolen vehicle just after 4 p.m. Officers got behind the vehicle in a patrol car and on bicycles near...
Morning Roundup: 4th person charged in Rivers Casino roulette scheme
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 15: 4th person charged in Rivers Casino scheme Pennsylvania State Police on Tuesday announced a fourth person was arrested in connection with a scheme to rig electronic roulette betting at Rivers Casino. Police in March announced two...
Plum recognizes first responders to Rustic Ridge tragedy
What Peter Troxell remembers most about the August day when a house exploded in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood is that it was hot. As a fire police officer with the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department, it was Troxell’s job to make sure the first responders who needed to get to...
Immune therapy drugs show promise in treating esophageal cancer
Gary Hines didn’t want to lose his hair. The Harrison resident, diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2021, worried about looking his best for his son’s wedding. “I was all worked up,” said Hines, 60, retired after 30 years with the Harrison Township Water Authority. “Turns out, I never lost one...
Biden administration is sending $1 billion more in weapons, ammo to Israel, congressional aides say
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it would send more than $1 billion in additional arms and ammunition to Israel, three congressional aides said Tuesday. But it was not immediately known how soon the weapons would be delivered. It’s the first arms shipment to Israel to be...
GOP advances Senate candidates in West Virginia, Maryland who could flip Democratic seats
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Republican voters advanced strong Senate contenders in Maryland and West Virginia on Tuesday, giving the GOP a big boost in its push to claim control of Congress’ upper chamber. At the same time, Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump sought to project strength in...
Man driving with 3 children struck by bullet in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood
A man was caught in a crossfire by at least one bullet as drivers in two vehicles reportedly shot at each other Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said officers were dispatched shortly before 5 p.m. to the 6300 block of Morrowfield for reports of...
Chartiers Valley still looking for superintendent as candidate withdraws name
Deanna Fink and Michelle Jesko drove to the Chartiers Valley School Board meeting Tuesday from Saltsburg to watch the CV board consider action on hiring its superintendent, Philip Martell of the River Valley School District. “We were excited he was going to move on from (River Valley),” Jesko said. The...
Zappala fights release of quadriplegic prison inmate supported by Shapiro
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday tried to thwart at every turn a request for compassionate release by a quadriplegic man serving a life prison term, despite Gov. Josh Shapiro and several state representatives throwing their weight behind the effort. Ezra Bozeman, 68, was convicted of second-degree murder...
Justice Department: Boeing violated deal that avoided prosecution after 737 Max crashes
WASHINGTON — Boeing has violated a settlement that allowed the company to avoid criminal prosecution after two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft, the Justice Department told a federal judge on Tuesday. It is now up to the Justice Department to decide whether to file charges against the aircraft...
Gainey aide defends administration over controversial contractor payments
The top spokeswoman for Pittsburgh’s mayor acknowledged Tuesday that city employees broke in-house rules by using a municipal credit card to charge thousands of dollars in payments to a former worker after he became a private contractor, but she rejected suggestions that the hiring itself violated the state’s ethics law....
Whistleblower questions delays and mistakes in way EPA used sensor plane after fiery Ohio derailment
The U.S. government has a specialized plane loaded with advanced sensors that officials brag is always ready to deploy within an hour of any kind of chemical disaster. But the plane didn’t fly over eastern Ohio until four days after the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment there last year. A whistleblower...
If it seems like more tornadoes are striking Western Pa. — they are
A spate of tornadoes have spun up in Western Pennsylvania with unprecedented frequency this spring. The National Weather Service in Moon’s coverage area, which includes Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia, has already seen 14 tornadoes in 2024, which is more than double the annual average of six...
