Top Stories category, Page 569
Bomb squad called to Bethel Park after suspicious devices found near body of man
The Allegheny Bomb Squad responded Wednesday evening after several suspicious devices were found near a man found dead in a Bethel Park home. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Richard Friedman, 53. According to TribLIVE news partner WTAE, Bethel Park police discovered Friedman’s body around 7:30 p.m....
Hatfield’s Ferry power plant demolition embodies end of a bygone era
Masontown council President Bruce Cochrane can remember when the power station at Hatfield’s Ferry was built. A longtime resident of the borough at the border of Fayette and Greene counties, the retired UPS driver has spent most of his life driving on the bridge that crosses the Monongahela River and...
In adopted daughters, Hempfield family finds ‘missing pieces to the puzzle’
Amber Pearce knows what it’s like to be in the foster system — that’s why she and husband John continue to keep their Hempfield home open to children in need. In 2014, they adopted daughter Nia, now 10. On Wednesday, they adopted two more daughters — Deziray, 7, and Reylynn,...
Body of Verona man who jumped from Hulton Bridge recovered from Ohio River
The body of a man who crashed his car on the Hulton Bridge in Oakmont on Nov. 7 and then jumped over the side into the Allegheny River was recovered on Wednesday afternoon from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Jeremy Gilroy,...
Biden and Xi strike deals on military communications, fentanyl, AI
President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed on joint efforts to combat fentanyl, restore high-level military communications and hold a dialogue about artificial intelligence at a high-stakes summit that saw the two leaders seek to repair a bilateral relationship under intense strains. The discussion also included a extended...
Lawsuit alleges race discrimination at Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority
The former chief human resources officer at Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority filed a federal race discrimination lawsuit against the agency and its former executive director on Tuesday. Columbus Brooks, who is Black, is suing the URA and Gregory Flisram, who left the organization late last year to return to private...
Apollo man claimed wife’s taunt led to fatal shooting
Alfred Keith Steele told Westmoreland County detectives he had enough of his wife’s badgering when he shot her one time in the back of the head as the estranged couple argued last year in a Lower Burrell storage locker. “We were arguing, yelling at each other between storage units,” Steele...
Pitt-Greensburg student struck by car in ‘serious condition’
A Pitt-Greensburg student who was struck near the entrance to the college in Hempfield is in serious condition, a state police spokesman said. Audrey Fruehauf, 18, of Rector, was crossing Mt. Pleasant Road near Finoli Drive and University Drive when she was struck by the car, according to a state...
Additional beds open for homeless Pittsburghers as winter approaches
John Goosby has lived under the Liberty Bridge in Downtown Pittsburgh for a month now. He said a series of unrelated events led him there, including a romantic partner draining his bank account and then disappearing. The 74-year-old retired steelworker used Social Security money to buy a thick winter jacket,...
Pennsylvania’s Senate approves millions for universities and schools, but rejects House priorities
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Legislature on Wednesday approved hundreds of millions of dollars for universities after a fight that has dragged on five months into the fiscal year, although the politically divided body continued to feud over elements of school funding. Legislation to send just over $600 million to several higher...
House heads home after defeat of rule for Iran, spending bills
WASHINGTON — House lawmakers left town Wednesday for Thanksgiving after a GOP revolt that led to defeat of the rule for floor debate on the final two pieces of legislation the chamber was scheduled to consider. Nineteen Republicans voted against the rule for the fiscal 2024 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill and...
MAWC warns of mandatory water restrictions as dry autumn persists
Mandatory water conservation could begin as early as next week for customers in the northern half of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s service area as water levels at the Beaver Run Reservoir continue to fall amid a dry autumn season. Authority manager Michael Kukura said more than 56,000 customers...
Excela pays $10M to settle suits by 2 cardiologists, doctors’ attorney says
Excela Health is paying $10 million to settle civil suits brought by two cardiologists who formerly held staff privileges at the health system’s Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, according to an attorney representing the doctors. In the suits that were dropped Tuesday in Allegheny County Court, Drs. George Bou Samra and...
Spending on Pa. Supreme Court race broke records, set precedent for outside influence
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 — The candidates for Pennsylvania Supreme Court and their allies spent at least $22 million to influence the race’s outcome, with much of that...
Bills aim to hold lawmakers liable for costs to settle sexual harassment cases against them
Taxpayers no longer would foot the bill when the state settles cases in which state lawmakers are accused of sexual misconduct under a legislative package proposed Wednesday by members of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus. “This will ensure perpetrators don’t get off scot-free,” said state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, R-Fayette....
Plans advance for new Downtown police substation on Wood Street
Pittsburgh police are looking to open a new, larger substation Downtown as some people continue to voice concerns about safety in the Golden Triangle. Public safety officials said they hope to open a new substation at 439 Wood St. to replace the current Zone 2 substation at 604 Liberty Ave....
Pittsburgh’s Frick Park being considered for historic designation
Pittsburgh’s Frick Park may soon receive historic designation. The 644-acre park in the city’s Swisshelm Park, Squirrel Hill South, Regent Square and Point Breeze neighborhoods is a “visual landmark” in those communities, said Sarah Quinn, of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning. It was nominated for historic designation by Preservation Pittsburgh,...
2 men arrested during SWAT raid at New Kensington home
Two men who are awaiting trial on drug charges were accused of making and selling crack cocaine at a New Kensington home raided by a SWAT team Tuesday morning. Police charged the homeowner, Andrew Michael “Sly” Slywczuk, 39, of the 400 block of Charles Avenue, with two felony counts of...
Peters man pleads to involuntary manslaughter for role in deadly fight outside Baldwin bar
A Peters man involved in a deadly fight at Baldwin’s Loose Moose Saloon more than two years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter. Zachary Blake, 24, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20 for his role in the death of Mark Thompson, 51, of South Park. Involuntary manslaughter...
Ohio commission approves fracking in state parks and wildlife areas despite fraud investigation
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Some state parks can be fracked in Ohio, a decision made by a government commission Wednesday despite an ongoing investigation into oil and gas companies claiming possible fraudulent support. During a raucous meeting attended by many fracking opponents, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission OK’d...
Analysis: Change is coming to Pitt football program, like it or not
After the 2022 season, Pat Narduzzi had the luxury of keeping that desk drawer locked where he stores his list of assistant coach candidates. It would be a big surprise if he doesn’t go looking for the key this offseason. There is always collateral damage when a team has a...
Invenergy scraps plan for gas-fueled power plant in southern Allegheny County
A Chicago-based company has scrapped plans to build a natural gas-fueled power plant on the Youghiogheny River in southern Allegheny County. Invenergy requested to terminate its Allegheny County Health Department permit for the project last week, according to county records. A company spokesperson said Invenergy was dropping the proposal in...
Tyler Murray upgrades from Amazon worker to Steelers linebacker
Tuesday, Tyler Murray was working a shift at Amazon. “I was in my uniform and all,” Murray said. About 24 hours later, Murray took part in a practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It was crazy,” Murray said from a locker stall just assigned to him at the UPMC Rooney Sports...
NTSB at scene of deadly Ohio interstate crash involving busload of high school studentsVideo
ETNA, Ohio — A National Transportation Safety Board team was planning to start work Wednesday at the scene of a deadly highway crash in Ohio involving a charter bus filled with high school students that left six people dead and 18 injured. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the team would...
Barring ‘thin blue line’ flag on Pennsylvania township property is unconstitutional, U.S. court rules
A federal court has ruled that a Pennsylvania community’s resolution prohibiting the display of an American flag with a thin blue line on all township property is unconstitutional. The ruling about the flag that’s also used as part of the police union’s logo came down Monday. The dispute in Springfield...
