Top Stories category, Page 480
Handling mental illness is complicated at all levels of criminal justice system
As Terrance Kurhansky’s case made its way through Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system, it became clear to his attorney and the presiding judge that their options were limited, and none of them was ideal. Kurhansky, 83, was charged in 2019 with attempting to murder his neighbor. Police said he used a...
Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit in top form in Pittsburgh concert
At one point Saturday night, as Jason Isbell surveyed the Benedum Center crowd, he made the observation that it didn’t seem to be a season-ticket holder crowd. It’s one thing to be “out there expecting ‘La traviata,’” he said with a pause, “and then get scared by ‘La rednecka.’” Instead...
‘I want to live’: Long covid patients battle debilitating symptoms in Western Pa.
Covid-19 stole Lisa Merlo’s lungs, limbs — and nearly her life. But it wasn’t done. The 57-year-old West Deer resident continues to cope with the disease’s latest attack on her body: long covid. Merlo said she was told she had a 20% chance of living after a covid diagnosis in...
Pitt holds off late N.C. State rally, earns double bye in ACC Tournament
Before he left the Petersen Events Center on Saturday night — stepping through piles of confetti to reach the Pitt locker room and, finally, home — Jeff Capel stopped to talk about something more important to him than a single victory. Perhaps more important than even Pitt earning the double...
Biden: Netanyahu ‘hurting Israel’ by not preventing civilian deaths
WILMINGTON, Del. — President Joe Biden said Saturday he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza. The U.S. leader expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack but...
‘To get the hottest pepper’: Bethel Park grower featured on Hulu’s ‘Superhot’ series
It may not have been a triple-dog dare, but friends of a teenager convinced him to trespass into a Bethel Park yard. “Hey, jump the fence,” the conversation approximately went. “I know he’s growing peppers over there.” The kid complied. “He picks one and starts eating it,” the property owner,...
Bass Pro Shops plans to open Pittsburgh-area store in early 2026
Bass Pro Shops plans to open its first store in Western Pennsylvania in early 2026. The 100,000-square-foot, two-level “Outdoor World” super store will be part of Newbury Market off of Interstate 79’s Bridgeville exit in South Fayette, Allegheny County, the company announced this week. The store is expected to employ...
Laurel Mountain open to skiers this week as operations wind down at Hidden Valley, Seven Springs resorts
The first day of spring, March 19, is just around the corner, but ski season may last just a bit longer at area resorts. The season finale is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Sunday, at Hidden Valley Resort in Hidden Valley Meanwhile Laurel Mountain Resort, east of Laughlintown...
Illegal homemade machine guns help fuel gun violence in U.S.
WASHINGTON — Eleven-year-old Domonic Davis was not far from his mom’s Cincinnati home when a hail of gunfire sprayed out from a passing car. Nearly two dozen rounds hurtled through the night at a group of children in the blink of an eye. Four other children and a woman were...
Forum tackles the future of firefighting in Hempfield
Some Hempfield firefighters came away from a department meeting Saturday with answers to their burning questions. Others left seeking further information. At Saturday’s fire forum, township officials hoped to smooth over concerns, answer uncertainties about the state of the fire department and clarify the “all-in” process, through which individual stations...
What to know about Shapiro’s proposed $10.3M agriculture innovation program
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our north-central Pa. newsletter, Talk of the Town, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. BELLEFONTE — An open-ended pitch by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to give...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: These ‘original four’ have no room to gloat about Penguins’ demise
Some around the NHL are taking delight in the Penguins’ decline. Here are some things that bring me joy: • The New York Rangers have won one Stanley Cup since World War II. • The Boston Bruins have won one Stanley Cup since Richard Nixon was president. • The Toronto...
Lead-tainted cinnamon has been recalled. Here’s what you should know
Several U.S. discount retailers recalled packages of ground cinnamon after federal health officials warned that they were contaminated with high levels of lead. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert for six brands of cinnamon, including those sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores. The move...
State police charge Washington County man with homicide
A Washington County man was jailed Saturday morning, accused of killing a man earlier this week at a mobile home park in Nottingham Township. The incident happened Wednesday morning at Mingo Park Estates, state police said. According to state police, William Jeremiah Slider, 34, hit the victim, Richard W. Morse,...
Demolition progress continues at Springdale site — but not at the boiler house
As structures at the former power plant in Springdale continue to be demolished, except the boiler house, some people might have noticed another structure being erected: a fence around the property on Porter Street. “That fence that’s on Porter is a security fence when, eventually, the administration building and wall...
Date of Pa.’s presidential primary makes it too late to make a difference, politicos say
Because Pennsylvania’s presidential primary is more than a month away, the state’s influence in determining Republican and Democratic nominees for the White House will once again be muted this spring, according to political leaders. Voters in more than a dozen Super Tuesday states cast ballots this week in what were...
Old William Penn bridge in Murrysville has weight rating reduced to 6 tons
Vehicles over 6 tons will be temporarily unable to use a small bridge carrying Old William Penn Highway over Turtle Creek in Murrysville, after the bridge’s weight rating was reduced for the second time in the past few years, according to municipal officials. “It’s an immediate concern and it’s something...
Son’s lawsuit: Nursing facility reckless in employing Harrison nurse accused of killing 80-year-old
The son of an 80-year-old woman authorities say was killed by a Harrison nurse at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Butler Township said the nursing facility was negligent and reckless in their hiring and handling of the nurse’s behavior, according to a lawsuit. Marguerite A. Laskovich died Jan. 21,...
Time to ‘spring forward’: daylight saving time begins
Get ready to reset your clocks and lose an hour of sleep — daylight saving time is upon us. Clocks will spring forward an hour at 2 a.m. Eastern time Sunday, meaning one less hour of sleep for most people across the U.S. The change also means one more hour...
Biden, in hot mic moment, shows growing frustration with Netanyahu over Gaza
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to mount, with the Democrat captured on a hot mic saying he and the Israeli leader will need to have a “come to Jesus meeting.” The comments by Biden came as he spoke with Sen. Michael...
Pa. Supreme Court to take appeal in lawsuit over concealed murder weapon
A Verona woman whose son was killed more than four years ago believes she is entitled to recover damages from the killer’s parents and their marriage counselor, who she claims purposely concealed the murder weapon. Although two lower courts have ruled against T. Lee Rouse in her lawsuit, the Pennsylvania...
Congress passes 1st package of spending bills hours before shutdown deadline for key agencies
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday approved a $460 billion package of spending bills in time to meet a midnight deadline for avoiding a shutdown of many key federal agencies, a vote that gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year. The...
Trailblazer Jim Roddey praised for acumen, stewardship and making friends of his enemies
Jim Roddey — a North Carolina native living in Pittsburgh and a Republican thriving in a Democratic stronghold — relied on his outsider status as he ascended to the most powerful political position in Allegheny County as its first executive. The man who once sailed with Ted Turner and served...
‘It doesn’t feel real’: Pittsburgh carpenter’s apprentice attends State of the Union as Jill Biden’s guest
Samantha Ervin-Upsher kept getting calls recently from a Washington, D.C., number. She assumed they were spam and didn’t answer or call back. But Monday, she finally picked up, and she’s glad she did. Turns out, it was the White House — yes, that White House — with an important question...
Program that allows 30,000 migrants from 4 countries into U.S. each month upheld by judge
HOUSTON — A federal judge in Texas on Friday upheld a key piece of President Joe Biden’s immigration policy that allows a limited number of migrants from four countries to enter the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, dismissing a challenge from Republican-led states that said the program created an economic burden...
