Top Stories category, Page 588
Hempfield Area considering search policy changes in wake of gun incidents
Hempfield Area School District may soon have more leeway on how frequently students can be searched for contraband, amid rising parent and student concerns following security incidents at the district. A new section to the district’s search policy, defining rules for the use of metal and weapons detectors, was approved...
Indictment window extended 5th time in federal drug charges against ex-Greensburg police chief
A federal judge on Monday granted U.S. prosecutors a fifth time extension for filing a potential indictment concerning drug-related charges against Shawn Denning, the former Greensburg police chief. A criminal complaint charging Denning with two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine and three counts of aiding and...
‘Superfog’ near New Orleans blamed for highway crashes that killed at least 7Video
NEW ORLEANS — At least seven people were killed Monday after a “superfog” of smoke from marsh fires and dense morning fog caused a series of wrecks on Interstate 55 near New Orleans that left a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars, trucks and tractor-trailers. An estimated 158 vehicles...
Lawyer for Unity man charged with girlfriend’s killing claims authorities can’t prove crime was committed
The lawyer for a Unity man charged with killing his former girlfriend more than four years ago said authorities may not have jurisdiction to prosecute the case in Westmoreland County. Thomas Stanko maintains he did not kill Cassandra Gross, said his attorney, Marc Daffner, during a pretrial hearing Monday. Gross,...
Bad tech, staffing shortages hinder Pa. as it reassesses health care coverage for thousands
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 — Pennsylvania is struggling with faulty technology, persistent staffing shortages, and flawed procedures as it reassesses health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of...
Wilkinsburg man gets 25 to 50 years for killing Tarentum woman
A Wilkinsburg man will serve 25 to 50 years in prison for killing the mother of his child in Tarentum in 2021. DaShawn Frederick, 28, pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree murder, making terroristic threats and endangering the welfare of children. The sentence was negotiated. Investigators said Frederick had been in...
Detroit police say they’ve identified several people of interest in synagogue president’s killing
DETROIT — Investigators have identified several people of interest in the fatal stabbing of a Detroit synagogue president but would not talk about their connections to the woman during a press conference Monday. Authorities found 40-year-old Samantha Woll’s body outside her home early Saturday after a caller told police about...
Former major leaguer Tom Walker, father of longtime Pirate Neil Walker, dies at age 74
Tom Walker, who once threw a 15-inning no-hitter in the minor leagues and was one of the last people to see Roberto Clemente alive, died Monday, according to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was 74. Over the past several seasons, Walker was a fixture around PNC Park where he watched as...
Stowe man gets at least 21 years in prison for killing 2-year-old girl
Javonne Swinton read the letter she wrote to her daughter. “How I miss you so much,” it began. “You are a soul so pure of love and happiness, it can heal broken hearts.” Brielle Swinton, who would have turned 5 in February, was killed on Dec. 30, 2021, by her...
Pilots on Horizon Air jet say 3rd pilot in the cockpit tried to shut down engines
PORTLAND, Ore. — An off-duty pilot riding in the extra seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air passenger jet tried to shut down the engines in midflight and had to be subdued by the crew, according to a pilot flying the plane. Authorities in Oregon identified the man as...
It’s Day 20 with no House speaker, and lower-level names are starting to reach for the gavel
WASHINGTON — On Day 20 without a House speaker, Republicans found themselves starting over Monday — bumbling ahead with few ideas about who will lead, what they are fighting over and when they will get Congress working again. Republicans gathered late in the evening to hear quick speeches from the...
Ross woman gets prison sentence for fatal hit-and-run
A Ross woman is headed to prison for fatally striking a woman with an SUV and then fleeing the scene after drinking at a nearby bar in January. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Bigley on Monday sentenced Erin Lee Petroski, 40, to three to six years in prison in...
Questionable, subjective spotting of the ball hurts Pitt, helps Steelers over wild weekendVideo
As football fans, we live in era during which seemingly everything can be instantly calculated and analyzed to painstaking accuracy. We know that the Cleveland Browns’ Jerome Ford, for example, achieved a top speed of 21.13 mph during his 69-yard touchdown run against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. We watched...
Allegheny County executive, prosecutor, as well as Philly mayor race, could offer lessons for 2024 election
Local elections in Democratic strongholds at both ends of Pennsylvania next month could show how voters feel about progressive candidates and issues such as abortion and crime ahead of the 2024 election. Philadelphia will get a new mayor, and Allegheny County will see a new executive. Voters there will also...
Pennsylvania opens lottery registration for chance to buy rare whiskeys
Lottery winners will have the opportunity to shop from over 4,400 bottles of rare whiskeys, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced Monday. State residents and licensees have until 5 p.m. Friday to opt in to the lottery at the limited-release lottery web page at fwgs.com. The event will feature six...
Fatal New Kensington fire ruled accidental
A house fire that claimed the life of a New Kensington man over the weekend was accidental, the city’s fire chief said Monday. Scott Fularz, 45, died Saturday at Allegheny Valley Hospital, where he was taken for treatment of smoke inhalation. A neighbor reported the fire at 723 Kennedy Ave....
Mark Madden: Credit T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick for Steelers’ win in L.A.
When you’ve got a lot of sidebars, combine them into a dazzling edition of refreshing Steelers notes. Beautiful like the fall foliage! • T.J. Watt won the Cleveland game and won Sunday’s game at Los Angeles. He’s directly responsible for two of the Steelers’ four wins. Watt got no sacks...
Allegheny County Council proposal would ban single-use plastic bags
Allegheny County Council is set to consider a ban on single-use plastic bags that largely mimics a similar measure recently implemented in Pittsburgh. The measure is set to be introduced to County Council on Tuesday. Council members Anita Prizio, Olivia Bennett, Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis and Paul Klein are sponsoring the legislation....
Steelers vs. Rams: What they’re saying in Los Angeles after loss
Not sure if Aaron Donald will continue to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan after his hometown team rallied to beat his Los Angles Rams on their home turf. Before the game on Thursday Donald said, “We all grew up big Steelers fans. I still consider myself a Steelers fan, obviously,...
Hamas frees 2 Israeli women as U.S. advises delaying ground war to allow talks on captives
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas released two elderly Israeli women held hostage in Gaza on Monday, as the United States expressed increasing concern that the escalating Israel-Hamas war will spark a wider conflict in the region, including attacks on American troops. The death toll in Gaza was rising rapidly as...
Suspect arrested in death of Butler County teen hit on bicycle
A Butler man accused of hitting a teen bicyclist with his vehicle and fleeing has been taken into custody, Butler Township police said. Joshua A. Rivera, 38, was placed in the Butler County Prison, the department said on its Facebook page. The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Dutchtown...
Morning Roundup: Temps to warm up in Western Pa.; Beaver humane society facing ‘crisis’
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Oct. 23: Temperatures to warm up in Western Pa. Western Pennsylvania is getting a taste of winter Monday morning, but it’s not going to last. The coldest air was north of the city, National Weather Service meteorologist David...
Madden Monday: With win, maybe Steelers ‘can fool us a bit longer — and fool themselves’
For Mark Madden of TribLIVE and 105.9 The X, analysis of Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers victory in Los Angeles is straightforward. “I think it’s real simple,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “(George) Pickens and (T.J.) Watt were game-changing. Diontae (Johnson) was important. (Kenny) Pickett was better and played...
Albert, Hamacker vie for Westmoreland sheriff
Westmoreland County voters elected a Democrat in 2019 to serve as the new sheriff. Six months later, Sheriff James Albert announced he had switched his party registration to Republican, leaving Democrats with just one elected official in county government. Albert, 73, of New Alexandria will seek second term in office...
4-year-old dies after being found unresponsive in Fayette County pool
A 4-year-old boy died after being found unresponsive Saturday afternoon in a Fayette County swimming pool. Liam Vanderlee of Eighty Four was found around 2:30 p.m. in an outdoor pool in Washington Township while attending a birthday party, according to a release from Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco’s office....
