Top Stories category, Page 569
Ohio man indicted on sex-trafficking charges involving Monroeville hotel
An Ohio man was indicted by a federal grand jury Friday on charges that he transported a minor to a Monroeville hotel to engage in “commercial” sex acts, U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan said in a news release. Donte Lashawn Cole, 39, of Euclid, an Ohio suburb of Cleveland, allegedly used...
Georgia teacher accused of threatening student in dispute over Israeli flag
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A middle school teacher in Georgia was arrested because witnesses told a sheriff’s investigator he threatened to cut off the head of a student who objected to an Israeli flag in his classroom. Benjamin Reese, a teacher at Warner Robins Middle School, was taken into custody...
Police charge Springdale Township man in wife’s shooting
A Springdale Township man is accused of shooting his wife, then turning the gun onto himself in their home on Friday, according to court documents. Scott A. Mishler, 65, was charged by Allegheny County Police with aggravated assault and attempted criminal homicide in connection with the shooting that was reported...
Illinois man pleads guilty for role in multi-county catalytic converter theft ring
An Illinois man was ordered to serve up to 10 years in prison for his role in a multi-county theft ring that police said was responsible for stealing dozens of catalytic converters from vehicles. Stewart Hinton IV, 37, pleaded guilty racketeering, theft and conspiracy offenses in connection with allegations he...
Matthew Perry died from effects of drug ketamine, coroner says
LOS ANGELES — Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of...
Jury awards $148 million in damages to Georgia election workers over Rudy Giuliani’s 2020 vote lies
WASHINGTON — A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that upended their lives with racist threats and harassment. The damages verdict follows emotional testimony from Wandrea “Shaye” Moss...
Westmoreland DA: Woman found dead in St. Clair
Westmoreland County detectives are investigating the death of a 71-year-old woman found Thursday afternoon in her St. Clair home, according to authorities. The cause and manner of Alice I. Robson’s death is pending final autopsy results, Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said. Toxicology results will not be available for several...
Christmas-delivery shipping deadlines are fast approaching
People are running out of time to have gifts shipped in time for Christmas, with at least one deadline arriving as early as this weekend. Saturday is the last day you can have something shipped by the U.S. Postal Service in time for the holiday. The Postal Service’s first-class or...
Remembering Pittsburgh pioneering Black journalist Jean Bryant’s life and legacy
Jean Bryant was an icon. A pioneer in journalism, an activist and an author, Bryant was known for her grandeur, grace, indelible laugh and infectious smile. She drew widespread acclaim for her work as a journalist in Pittsburgh, but Bryant felt her greatest accomplishment was the work that she did...
Pittsburgh’s URA to invest more than $2M in affordable housing preservation
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority plans to spend more than $2 million to preserve over 420 apartments as affordable housing. The money comes from the URA’s Housing Preservation Program, which the authority created in April with $8.9 million in pandemic relief money. Wood Street Commons in Downtown is set to receive...
2 northbound lanes open on Route 28 near Highland Park Bridge
Northbound Route 28 will now be open to two lanes at the Highland Park Bridge interchange, PennDOT announced Friday. The new northbound lane opened about 5 p.m. Friday, PennDOT said. The lane, which aims to address congestion and the existing bottleneck, will allow for two lanes of free-flowing traffic from...
U.S. Attorney’s office: Jails obligated to ensure access to opioid use medication
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia this week filed a statement of interest in federal court clarifying the obligation of state and local jails to ensure inmates have access to medication used to treat opioid use disorder. The statement was filed less than two weeks after Allegheny County Jail health...
Slow starts remain common thread that Steelers would like to change against Colts
The offensive coordinator and play-caller have changed. So has the quarterback. A few things remain the same, however, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they are deficiencies that Mitch Trubisky wants to correct Saturday in Indianapolis. “Slow start,” Trubisky said. “I have to be better on third downs. Got to execute...
Sen. John Fetterman says he is ‘not a progressive’
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman says that he is “not a progressive” amid criticism from some of his supporters. Fetterman gained fame, especially in progressive circles, for his backing of issues like single-payer health care, recreational marijuana, LGBTQ rights and progressive politicians like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. But he told NBC...
Pittsburgh police set to realign next year amid union concerns about staffing
Pittsburgh police are working to realign the shrinking 770-officer force in the new year, but union leaders warn that the bureau shouldn’t reorganize in the midst of a staffing crisis. In 2024, Chief Larry Scirotto said he plans to launch a street crime team, hire a dozen young adults as...
Cup of cheer: Holiday bars are popping up all over Pittsburgh
Holiday pop-up bars are limited-time establishments with creative cocktails and mocktails — some also offer food — with a backdrop of decorations, perfect for posting photos on social media. Western Pennsylvania has plenty to choose from of these bars, which have become popular in recent years. Tinseltown Tinseltown, formerly The...
Morning Roundup: Jeannette Rite Aid set to close; stranded sea turtles recovering at Pittsburgh Zoo
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Dec. 15: Jeannette Rite Aid to close The Rite Aid on Clay Avenue in Jeannette is set to close Jan. 11, according to a company spokesperson. The closure will add to others in Westmoreland County and the region...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 15-17
Maybe you’re looking to get crafty. Maybe you’re looking for some holiday music with lasers. Or maybe you’re just looking for some Christmas cookies. Whatever you’re looking for this weekend, Pittsburgh has some fun things planned. Art and craft shows The Pittsburgh Winter Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show is from...
Freeport official forms coalition to promote child seat safety and provide loaner car seats to the public
Roberta Bouch of Harrison takes her great-grandmother responsibilities seriously. A part-time caretaker for her two young great-grandchildren, Bouch was unsure whether the two child safety seats in the backseat of her vehicle were installed properly. “When I first put the car seat in a few years ago, I contacted a...
Weighing in on social, political issues has become a minefield for college presidents
University presidents increasingly opine on the thorniest social and political issues even if they unfold beyond their campuses — from immigration policy to gender identity to war. On one level, their diverse campuses seem to demand it. A message carefully crafted with help from campus speechwriters and delivered online can...
Carnegie Mellon graduate alleges ‘cruel campaign of antisemitic abuse’
A Jewish woman and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University is suing the school in federal court, alleging she faced “a cruel campaign of antisemitic abuse” by campus faculty and administration. Yael Canaan, 23, a New Jersey resident of Israeli ancestry, filed her complaint in U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania...
Pittsburgh police search for teen missing since June
Detectives from the Pittsburgh police Special Victims Unit are searching for a teenager has been missing since June. Jordan Boyd, 15, was reported missing Thursday by Pittsburgh police. Police suspect he is in the Pittsburgh or McKeesport areas. Boyd is about 6 feet tall and 155 pounds. He has brown...
Jurors deciding how much Rudy Giuliani must pay for lies in a Georgia election workers’ case
WASHINGTON — Jurors began deliberating Thursday to decide how much Rudy Giuliani must pay two former Georgia election workers for spreading lies about them that led to a barrage of racist threats and upended their lives. The jury left for the day without announcing a decision and were expected to...
Man shot at Arby’s in Downtown Pittsburgh
A man was injured Thursday afternoon during a shooting in a fast-food restaurant Downtown. Pittsburgh police responded to an Arby’s in the 800 block of Liberty Avenue around 3 p.m. after shots were fired inside the restaurant, spokeswoman Cara Cruz said. A total of 15 rounds were fired. Two men...
For the first time, Pa. will provide counties with funding to help indigent defendants
For the first time in Pennsylvania’s history, the state next year will provide funding to counties for indigent legal defense. While the proposed $7.5 million in funding passed earlier this year with the budget, it wasn’t until Wednesday night that the funding mechanism to allow the money to be allocated...
