Top Stories category, Page 485
Cursive handwriting makes a comeback in elementary schools
Second grader Evi Thompson’s favorite letter is “S.” “I like how my pencil feels on the paper when I write it,” Evi said from her classroom at Mary Queen of Apostles in New Kensington. “It’s very loopy.” Evi and her classmates are learning the art of cursive writing, the old-school...
Pa. was deluged by election lawsuits in 2020 and experts say 2024 will be even more intense
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Earlier this year, a group of Republican state lawmakers filed suit in federal court to throw out executive actions aimed at expanding voter...
Nikki Haley wins the District of Columbia’s Republican primary and gets her first 2024 victory
WASHINGTON — Nikki Haley has won the Republican primary in the District of Columbia, notching her first victory of the 2024 campaign. Her victory Sunday at least temporarily halts Donald Trump’s sweep of the GOP voting contests, although the former president is likely to pick up several hundred more delegates...
Chris Mortensen, an award-winning reporter who covered the NFL, dies at 72
Chris Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning. He was 72. ESPN confirmed Mortensen’s death on Sunday. There was no immediate word on the cause or place of death. “Mort was widely respected...
Congressional leaders come out with 6 spending bills in a drive to avoid a partial shutdown
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders on Sunday came out with a package of six bills setting full-year spending levels for some federal agencies, a step forward in a long overdue funding process beset by sharp political divisions between the two parties as well as infighting among House Republicans. The release of...
A Supreme Court decision could come Monday in a case about barring Trump from the 2024 ballot
WASHINGTON — A Supreme Court decision could come as soon as Monday in the case about whether former President Donald Trump can be kicked off the ballot over his efforts to undo his defeat in the 2020 election. Trump is challenging a groundbreaking decision by the Colorado Supreme Court that...
‘Such a gift:’ Bishop Zubik leads special Sunday Mass at Plum retirement community
At first glance, the Mass that Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik led Sunday morning at a Plum-based retirement community followed a familiar pattern. Worshippers, seated in a ballroom in pastel-green chairs about 12 rows deep, read from the Old and New Testaments. After Zubik offered a prayer for...
Police investigate sexual assault near Pitt’s campus
Pittsburgh police and the University of Pittsburgh police are searching for information related to a sexual assault that occurred early Sunday morning. A female was sexually assaulted at approximately 2:10 a.m. on the 200 block of Melwood Avenue, and the perpetrator displayed a knife, struck her in the face and...
Building the Valley: Cindy’s Hometown Restaurant finds new home in Brackenridge
Bob Hatajik has a good feeling about closing his Tarentum diner. That’s because in less than two months, Cindy’s Hometown Restaurant will reopen in what Hatajik feels will be its forever home — the former Parkview bar along First Avenue in Brackenridge. “God opened the door and we jumped in,”...
Here’s why pharmacies are on a financial precipice
Every time pharmacist DJ Kiesel of Salem Crossroads Apothecary in Delmont fills a prescription for blood thinner Eliquis or diabetes medication Ozempic, his pharmacy loses money. He pays a wholesaler to get the medicines in stock, but the reimbursements he gets from pharmacy benefit managers — intermediaries between drug manufacturers...
Strict Pa. law would curb any payout by Pittsburgh to Fern Hollow victims even if city is liable
An Allegheny County bus mishap cost Joan Grove her leg. Another bus accident in Philadelphia took part of Hayley Freilich’s foot. Deadly bacteria at the old state prison in Pittsburgh killed Joseph Mollura. How much is a leg worth? A foot? A life? Under state law, not enough, say lawyers...
Trump wins Missouri, Idaho caucuses, sweeps Michigan GOP convention as he moves closer to nomination
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Former President Donald Trump continued his march toward the GOP nomination Saturday, winning caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and sweeping the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan. Idaho Republicans planned to caucus later. Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador who is his last major rival,...
Demonstrators in Pittsburgh among others worldwide demanding ceasefire in Gaza
Demonstrators took to the streets in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 2, 2024 to demand a ceasefire in the war in Gaza, and that Israel stop military operations in Rafah, the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Rafah, which is located near the border with Egypt, is where the majority...
Arrest made and charges filed in Pa. slaying of pregnant Amish woman
SPARTANSBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man was arrested Saturday and charged with the slaying of a pregnant Amish woman whose body was found last week. Shawn C. Cranston, 52, of Corry, has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass, according to court...
Train derailment leaves cars on riverbank or in water; no injuries, hazardous materials reported
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Authorities say a train derailment in eastern Pennsylvania has left some railroad cars along a riverbank Saturday morning and at least one partially in the river itself. Dispatchers in Northampton County said the derailment was reported at 7:14 a.m. in Lower Saucon Township. Authorities said it was...
Woman dies in 3-vehicle crash on West End Bridge
A woman was killed early Saturday in a three-vehicle crash on the West End Bridge, according to Pittsburgh police. She was dead when medics arrived at the scene, according to a news release from a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson. The release did not give the victim’s age or any other...
Man fatally shot in Station Square
A man was fatally shot Friday night in Station Square where numerous restaurants and shops are located. Pittsburgh police responded about 11:20 p.m. to reports of a shooting at 230 W. Station Square Drive, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. The victim, who was initially conscious and alert, was located outside...
Western Pa. elections officials say higher pay for poll workers helped to ease staffing crunch
It takes thousands of employees to run an election. Elections officials across Southwestern Pennsylvania said they continue to gear up and prepare staff needed for the April 23 presidential primary, including the hiring of judges of elections, inspectors and clerks needed to man voting precincts. Concerns about staffing levels have...
Ballot order is critical for candidates. In Pa., it’s determined by luck.
This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. As Sajda Blackwell approached the front of the room, she did a little dance of excitement — a shimmy as she pumped both fists in the air. “All right,...
‘We’re not leaving the community’: Manor Bar & Grille to close doors, reopen in Irwin
Derek and Megan Gutkowski’s three children grew up at Manor Bar & Grille. Howie, 14, cleaned dishes, and Julia, 17, and Madison, 19, helped serve customers. The family’s lives were dedicated to the Manor restaurant, Derek said. “At Manor Grille, if you go in there in our dining room, we...
Biden will push higher taxes for the rich in State of the Union
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will advocate plans to increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations, as well as to lower prescription drug prices, in his State of the Union address next week, in what aides describe as an effort to lay out second-term proposals for protecting and implementing his...
Deer Lakes community welcomes boys basketball team at high school as WPIAL Class 3A champsVideo
The Deer Lakes High School boys basketball team received a champion’s welcome Friday night from parents, students and some school district staffers. That’s because they returned to the high school as the WPIAL Class 3A champs after defeating their rival Burrell that evening at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center, 55-49. Fire...
Urban Air Adventure Park banks on attracting youngsters, adults to North Huntingdon site
Mary Ann Brown of Adamsburg got a sneak peak Friday at an indoor entertainment venue in North Huntingdon replete with a zip line hanging from the ceiling, a double-layer 1,000-foot electric go-kart track, four 30-foot-high climbing walls, a battle beam and a sea of 200,000 plastic balls for youngsters to...
Paramedic gets 5 years in prison for Elijah McClain’s death
DENVER — A Colorado paramedic was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for the death of Elijah McClain in a rare prosecution of medical responders that has left officials rethinking how they treat people in police custody. The convictions of Peter Cichuniec and a fellow paramedic sent shockwaves through...
Burglarized New Kensington gun store moves to new, secured location
A New Kensington gun store burglarized in January has moved to a new location its owners have fortified against break-ins. RC Firearms moved about two miles within the city from the rear of 404 Freeport St. to 2391 Seventh Street Road, said Roy Berg, who opened RC Firearms with his...
