Top Stories category, Page 534
Manhattan DA wants gag order for Trump, seeks to play ‘Access Hollywood’ tape at hush-money trial
NEW YORK — Prosecutors in Donald Trump’s New York hush-money criminal case asked a judge Monday to impose a gag order on the former president ahead of next month’s trial, citing what they called his “long history of making public and inflammatory remarks” about people involved in his legal cases....
Biden hopes cease-fire, hostage deal to pause Israel-Hamas war can take effect by next MondayVideo
President Joe Biden said Monday that he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that would pause hostilities and allow for remaining hostages to be released can take effect by early next week. Asked when he thought a cease-fire could begin, Biden said: “Well I hope by the beginning of...
Pharmacy information company hack has impact on Western Pa. pharmacies, chains
A cyberattack disrupted operations at a pharmacy information company beginning about two weeks ago, impacting a number of pharmacies around the country. UnitedHealth subsidiary Change Healthcare first reported on its website Feb. 21 that it is “experiencing a cyber security issue.” In updates Friday, the company said it was still...
Federal probe targets organ collection groups for potential fraud
The nonprofit organizations that collect and distribute organs for transplantation in the United States are under federal investigation to determine if they’ve defrauded the government, the Washington Post reported Monday. The probe seeks to determine whether organ procurement organizations, or OPOs, which work alongside hospitals to procure everything from kidneys...
Gator, turtles pulled from fire at Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park
At least one alligator and several turtles were pulled from a fire Monday afternoon at Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park. Allegheny County Deputy Steve Costello noticed the building at the intersection of Brownsville and McCorkle roads was ablaze just before 4 p.m., Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Manko said. South...
Allegheny County hits U.S. Steel with $1.9M fine over Clairton Coke Works emissions
Allegheny County officials Monday hit North America’s largest coke-manufacturing facility — which is also the county’s top source of air pollution — with a $1.9 million fine for uncontrolled emissions. It’s the third-largest penalty levied against U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works in the past five years. The fines stem from...
Ex-FBI informant charged with lying about Bidens to remain jailed while he awaits trial, judge rules
LOS ANGELES — A former FBI informant charged with fabricating a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden’s family must remain behind bars while he awaits trial, a judge ruled Monday, reversing an earlier order releasing the man. U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II in Los Angeles ordered Alexander Smirnov’s...
Black Pa. country musicians celebrate the Beyoncé effect, invite new listeners to stick around
This story first appeared in PA Local, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA taking a fresh, positive look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food of Pennsylvania. As Beyoncé’s rootsy new country singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em” usher in a new era for the superstar, other...
Woman pleads guilty in catalytic converter theft ring targeting Westmoreland, Indiana counties
An Indiana County woman pleaded guilty Monday to involvement in a catalytic converter theft ring, and attorneys indicated another suspect may do the same. Debbra Lynn McAdams, 56, of Homer City entered a general plea to theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and criminal use of a communication facility. Two...
New Kensington gun store burglary suspects enter not guilty pleas
A federal grand jury returned indictments against two men accused of burglarizing a New Kensington gun store in January. Michael Guin, 26, of Harrison and Steyn Sarduy, 18, no address available, each are charged with conspiracy and theft of a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer. Guin also is charged...
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium staff endure ‘trying time’ amid 3 animal deaths
Three animal deaths at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium this month have brought “profound sadness” to its staff, officials said Monday during a news conference. “This is a lot for our staff to deal with right now,” said the zoo’s president and CEO Jeremy Goodman. “It is very tough when...
Outback Steakhouse closes North Hills location
No more shrimps on the barbie in Pittsburgh’s North Hills. Outback Steakhouse, the Australian-themed restaurant chain, closed its McKnight Road location in McCandless this past weekend. The move was part of a nationwide consolidation of older restaurants. The chain is owned by Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands and is well-known for steaks...
Robert Morris seeks to build $28M hockey arena
Robert Morris University wants to build a $28 million arena on campus for its Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs and is seeking $10 million from the state for the project. If it comes to fruition, the state-of- the-art venue would hold 2,500 people through general spectator seats “with...
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel will leave post March 8 as Trump moves to install new loyalists
NEW YORK — Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel will leave her post March 8, having been forced out of the GOP’s national leadership as Donald Trump moves toward another presidential nomination and asserts control over the party. McDaniel announced her decision in a statement on Monday morning. “I have...
Morning Roundup: Tractor-trailer overturns in Washington County
Here are a few morning news items for Monday, Feb. 26, 2024: Tractor-trailer overturns on I-70 A tractor-trailer crashed and turned over on its side Sunday evening, splaying across Interstate 70 in Washington County. The crash happened around 7:15 p.m. in the eastbound lanes on I-70 near the 13.5 mile...
Week’s winter warmup: Temperatures to reach into 60s, rain likely later
A late winter warmup will hit the Pittsburgh area Monday, with temperatures forecasted to eclipse the 60s multiple times this week. The region will experience above-average temperatures from Monday through Wednesday ahead of an expected cold front that will reach Southwestern Pennsylvanian later in the week, according to TribLive news...
‘2nd chance at life’: Nurse performs CPR, saves Plum teen who collapsed on run
Today, Giustino Racchini is a freshman at Penn State University studying journalism, with plans to be a play-by-play announcer or a sportswriter. On a cold Monday in December, the 19-year-old lay dead on Old Frankstown Road in his hometown of Plum. He wasn’t breathing. He had no pulse. His heart...
AT&T says some customers will receive credits as a result of network outage
AT&T said that it plans to reimburse customers for the nearly 12-hour network outage that took place Feb. 22. The company announced in a news release late Saturday that it will issue a $5 credit to “potentially impacted” AT&T Wireless customers, which it says is the “average cost of a...
Families, survivors mark 1991 missile attack that killed reservists based near Greensburg
For more than three decades, Norman Madison Sr. has made the trip on Feb. 25 from his Monessen home to the Hempfield community of Carbon to honor his son. A memorial there honors Anthony Madison along with 12 other members of the 14th Quartermaster unit based near Greensburg who were...
White House urges House Speaker to free up path for Ukraine aidVideo
President Joe Biden’s top national security aide pressed House Republicans to unlock assistance to Ukraine and acknowledged that Russia’s wartime economy has shown resilience. U.S. emergency aid to Ukraine, the country’s main lifeline against recent Russian advances on the battlefield, has been stuck for months as Republican congressional leaders seek...
American Heart Association of Greater Pittsburgh hosts mass CPR training
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey had never learned how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, known as CPR, an emergency procedure to maintain the blood flow to vital organs and to restore normal heart function after sudden cardiac arrest. When he was asked by the American Heart Association of Greater Pittsburgh to join...
From billionaire Mark Cuban to independent store owners, criticism for pharmacy benefit managers is plentiful
At first glance, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban may seem to have little in common with an independent pharmacy owner. But they have one shared adversary: pharmacy benefit managers. They claim the drug price negotiators are putting mom-and-pop drugstores out of business. Pharmacy benefit managers — known as PBMs — are...
Butler Treasure Hunting Club finds untold value in camaraderie, friendship
There’s a place where rings of gold and silver line dining room tables, jewels sparkle under the lights and historic coins of every size are within reach. Where is this modern day El Dorado? It’s on Main Street in Butler County. Brotherhood of the hunt The Butler Treasure Hunting Club...
‘A big fumble’: Pittsburgh’s clunky rollout of plastic bag ban sows confusion
Jake Diettrich, manager of Market Outlet, a Pittsburgh produce shop, has been grappling since January with the city’s plastic bag ban. Diettrich has had to calm grumbling patrons, swap his stock of outlawed plastic bags for pricier paper ones and contend with worries that the bag ban and mandatory fees...
Takeaways from South Carolina primary: Donald Trump’s Republican home field advantage is everywhere
NEW YORK — Donald Trump trounced Nikki Haley on Saturday in the South Carolina primary, a victory that emphatically punctuated the depth and breadth of his support among Republican primary voters as he vanquished his lone remaining major opponent in her home state. Trump did not even have to mount...
