Top Stories category, Page 558
Assistant to Bell Acres businessman gets probation in multimillion fraud case
The long-time administrative assistant to a wealthy Bell Acres businessman convicted of concealing more than $60 million in income from the federal government will serve two years of probation for her role in the crime. Ann E. Harris, 62, of Washington County, appeared before Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers...
Squirrel Hill native prepares to go to war alongside Israel Defense Forces
As a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas entered its seventh day Thursday, Isaac Nadoff waited. The fourth-generation Pittsburgher said Wednesday he was prepared to march with the Israel Defense Forces into the war-torn Gaza Strip whenever the cease-fire ended. “I’m just in a steady state of readiness,” said Nadoff,...
Cities must replace harmful lead pipes within 10 years under new Biden administration plan
WASHINGTON — Most U.S. cities would have to replace lead water pipes within 10 years under strict new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency as the Biden administration moves to reduce lead in drinking water and prevent public health crises like the ones in Flint, Michigan and Washington, D.C....
Unsealed ruling details U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s tireless work for Trump’s 2020 cause
There may have been another Congressman who worked harder than U.S. Rep. Scott Perry to try to help former President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to cling to power despite his 2020 electoral defeat by Democratic nominee Joe Biden. But we’d like to see the proof. Because a freshly-unsealed opinion from...
Record 200.4 million people shopped between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday
With many retailers closed on Thanksgiving, Black Friday sales events have been repeating how they started — with caffeine-fueled customers lining up in the early hours to snag doorbuster deals, rather than leaving the turkey and stuffing early to start their holiday shopping. At Westmoreland Mall in Greensburg, not opening...
Slice it up: Italian Village Pizza near Aspinwall serves pieces of the pie
It all started in 1980 with one slice of homemade dough with fresh tomato sauce and melted cheese cut into a triangle. Now, 43 years later, the 16 Italian Village Pizza shops in Western Pennsylvania have hit the 100 million mark — a 100 million slices of pizza sold. “That’s...
Outgoing Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald gets new job
Outgoing Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has found a new job that will keep him in the Pittsburgh region and have a similar role in guiding investment and economic policy. Fitzgerald will be named the new executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, the federally designated metropolitan planning organization in...
Springdale native’s confessed killer gets life in prison
The man who pleaded guilty to killing a former Springdale man in a jealous rage will spend the rest of his life in prison. Samuel Tolfa, 34, of Hopewell, Beaver County, agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and serve a mandatory prison term of life without parole in connection...
Plum property owners face nearly 40% tax hike in proposed budget
Plum property owners could see their property taxes increase by almost 40% under the borough’s proposed $25.1 million spending plan for 2024. Council is considering setting the borough’s total real estate tax rate at 6.63 mills, interim borough Manager David Soboslay said. That would be a 38.7% increase over the...
North Allegheny exploring creation of 1 campus for senior, intermediate high schools
The North Allegheny School Board is planning its next steps for a possible high school renovation, and there seems to be interest in creating one campus for both the senior and intermediate high schools, said board Director Richard McClure, the board representative to the building and grounds committee. Currently, the...
With generous benefits, Pa. lawmakers could be second best compensated in nation
The base salary of Pennsylvania’s 253 state legislators is the third highest in the nation behind New York and California, but when benefits are added, it likely pushes them into second place. Legislators are eligible for lifetime medical benefits and retirement benefits unlike their counterparts in California but still trail...
Biden administration proposes biggest changes to lead pipe rules in more than 3 decades
Most U.S. cities would have to replace lead water pipes within 10 years under strict new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency as the Biden administration moves to reduce lead in drinking water and prevent public health crises like the ones in Flint, Michigan and Washington, D.C. Millions of...
Study says U.S. is ill-prepared to ensure housing for growing number of older people
PHOENIX — Michael Genaldi’s road to homelessness began early this year when a car slammed into the rear of his motorcycle, crushed three of his ribs, and left him in a coma for over a month. The 58-year-old lost his job as a machine operator, then his home, and he...
Israeli military confirms release of 8 more Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza Strip
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas freed eight Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their cease-fire in Gaza by another day. But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since...
Morning Roundup: Woman scammed out of $54,000; police arrest man they say was involved in hit-and-run
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Nov. 30: Lawrence County woman scammed out of $54,000 A Lawrence County woman lost $54,206 to a scammer pretending to be with Publishers Clearing House. According to TribLive news partner WTAE, the scammer told the woman she had...
Beaver County man to serve at least 36 years in prison for shooting Pennsylvania State Police trooper
A Beaver County man convicted of shooting Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jonnie Schooley in 2022 was sentenced to at least 36 years in prison. Damian Bradford was sentenced Wednesday. His maximum sentence is 73 years, TribLive news partner WTAE reported. Bradford was convicted on multiple charges, including attempted criminal homicide,...
Stores, police work to combat retail theft as holidays approach
Holiday shopping in some local stores will look a little different this year. With reports of retail theft on the rise, some retailers are placing some inventory under lock and key, requiring customers to contact a store employee to access certain merchandise. The measures are aimed at reining in what...
With GOP ‘failing’ to win over Pa. voters on mail-in ballots, conservative group launches ambitious plan
Frustrated by state and national Republican efforts to tout mail-in voting, a conservative Pennsylvania group is launching an initiative to personally reach half a million likely GOP voters in 2024. Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania CEO Cliff Maloney, a Delaware County native and national Republican operative, on Wednesday announced the Pennsylvania...
Henry Kissinger, secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford, dies at 100Video
WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the diplomat with the thick glasses and gravelly voice who dominated foreign policy as the United States extricated itself from Vietnam and broke down barriers with China, died Wednesday, his consulting firm said. He was 100. With his gruff yet commanding presence...
Independence Health sees about $23 million in losses over 3-month period
Independence Health System operated at a deficit of almost $23 million between the beginning of July and the end of September this year, according to recently released reports. The shortfall is an extension of the downsliding pattern that the combined health system — made up of subsidiaries Excela Health and...
Faculty union files labor complaint against Pitt, alleging it is stalling contract talks
Still without a contract two years after forming, the union representing 3,000 faculty members at the University of Pittsburgh has filed an unfair labor practice complaint, accusing Pitt of prolonging the contract talks. The United Steelworkers asserts in a filing before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board that Pitt is engaging...
Judge will review Fern Hollow Bridge documents at center of legal fight
An Allegheny County Common Pleas judge on Wednesday said that three companies identified as having worked on the Fern Hollow Bridge prior to its collapse must turn over records for his review. Judge Philip A. Ignelzi said in an order that the documents in question — bridge problem reports, critical...
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh turns 30 this year
Pittsburgh’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration turns 30 years old on Dec. 31. It’s a six-hour arts-focused family-friendly free production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The event takes place in a 14-block area of the Cultural District, Downtown. Live music, dance, theater, visual arts, magic, kids’ activities and a community...
Washington County DA conducts raid on coroner’s office over inquest records
A dispute between Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh and Coroner Timothy Warco over a fatal police shooting in the spring led to a raid on the coroner’s office Tuesday morning. Warco, who this month was reelected to a ninth term, said four detectives from the DA’s office and four...
Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa falls victim to cyberattack, feds say
Federal and state security officials said a poor or even default password could be the weak link that enabled hackers to break into a Pittsburgh-area water system. The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa suffered the cyberattack on Saturday, with several media outlets displaying images of a screen from the authority...
