Top Stories category, Page 589
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....
Man, woman dead after separate shootings in Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Pittsburgh police are investigating two fatal shootings. A 21-year-old woman was found shot just before 3 p.m. Sunday at Finance Street and North Homewood Avenue by the East Busway overpass in Homewood South, police said. The woman had a gunshot wound to her upper body. She was taken to a...
St. Ladislaus in Natrona gives people chance to claim keepsakes, say goodbye
Rachel Brown doesn’t have the energy for social media. But the Natrona resident has a keen eye for what might go viral. Her interest in the architectural salvage of St. Ladislaus Church, shuttered in 2022, has drawn people from across the country to Spruce Street to rescue items before the...
Turnover has plagued local election offices since 2020. Luzerne County is trying to recover.
WILKES-BARRE — The polls had just opened for last year’s midterms in Pennsylvania when the phones began ringing at the election office in Luzerne County. Polling places were running low on paper to print ballots. Volunteers were frustrated, and voters were worried they might not be able to vote. Emily...
Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Diontae Johnson’s return, T.J. Watt’s splash key Steelers’ 2nd-half surge in L.A.
As we pointed out here at “Breakfast With Benz” coming out of the bye, this is the time of year when the Steelers tend to turn up their momentum. Even during this stretch of six years without a playoff victory, since 2017 the franchise is 31-10-1 between Week 5 and...
‘We’re all coming together’: Plum teachers revive festival to support Rustic Ridge families
After stopping by the airbrush booth and trying their hand at carnival games, it was time for the Betancourt family and their friends to swing by the food trucks. The group had donned their Halloween costumes to attend the Festival of Honor Sunday at Plum Senior High School. The event...
Steelers rally in 2nd half, inch past Rams to keep pace in AFC North
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Off to another customary slow start, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense extended its slumber through three quarters Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium. That’s when the wake-up alarm finally went off against the Los Angeles Rams. Just in time, as it turned out. The Steelers dominated the Rams in...
New Kensington house fire victim identified
A man who died after he was trapped in a New Kensington house fire on Saturday has been identified. Scott Fularz, 45, was the homeowner at 723 Kennedy Ave. The fire was reported about 11:45 a.m. Saturday. Fularz and a 4-year-old child were inside. Police officers were able to find...
These 9 Republicans are competing to be next House speakerVideo
Nine Republicans — from the party’s No. 3 leader to an up-and-coming conservative in his second term — are seeking to become the next House speaker, Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., announced shortly after a noon deadline to get in the race passed Sunday. The exact timing of a...
Rollout of Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban leaves some customers, businesses confused
Pittsburgh officials say they are working to address areas of confusion as the city’s plastic bag ban takes effect. The ban, meant to reduce litter and waste, went into effect earlier this month. It prohibits most single-use plastic bags, but allows exceptions for unpackaged prepared foods, produce bags, meat packaging,...
Israel strikes Gaza, Syria and West Bank as war against Hamas threatens to ignite other fronts
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza, two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank allegedly used by militants, as the 2-week-old war with Hamas threatened to spiral Sunday into a broader conflict. Israel has traded fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group since...
Upper Burrell supervisors to consider township’s 5th well pad proposal
Upper Burrell residents can weigh in on the township’s fifth proposed well pad next month. A public hearing for the Artemis well pad, which would be at 931 Merwin Road, will follow the Nov. 1 supervisors meeting, said supervisors Chairman Ross Walker. Olympus Energy of Cecil Township is seeking approval...
Bus driver shortage leaves schools, public transit agencies scrambling
A shortage of drivers is pinching school bus companies and public transit agencies that are left scrambling to transport students and workers, fill vacancies and keep their current stable of employees from burning out. “It’s just hard to get drivers. We just can’t figure it out,” said James Varner, manager...
Pedestrian bridge in Springfield Township is a step to closing gaps on Indian Creek Valley Trail
Terry and Joe Wentz are looking forward to the day when they can hit the trail with their bikes and travel all the way from the vicinity of Mill Run Reservoir in Fayette County northeast to Jones Mills in Westmoreland County. The Wentzes and others who use the Indian Creek...
Rebuilding Tree of Life synagogue 5 years after attack
A path of light. For five years, they waded through tides of healing and commemoration. A monthslong trial that was punctuated with a death sentence and reopened old wounds. Hundreds of Shabbat services led in borrowed homes. After it all, a path of light — a key feature of the...
Mistakes cost Pitt in heartbreaking loss to Wake Forest
Pat Narduzzi said there were tears in his locker room after what he called “as hard a loss as I’ve been a part of, maybe ever.” It’s one that will stick with anyone associated with Pitt football — maybe forever. Quarterback Christian Veilleux was the centerpiece of the pivotal play...
Detroit synagogue president fatally stabbed outside her home
DETROIT — A Detroit synagogue president was found stabbed to death outside her home Saturday, police said. The motive wasn’t known. Emergency medical personnel declared the woman, identified in a statement from Mayor Mike Duggan as Samantha Woll, dead at the scene, Cpl. Dan Donakowski said. “While at the scene,...
Man dies after fire in New Kensington home
A man died in a fire late Saturday morning in New Kensington, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. The fire was reported about 11:45 a.m. Saturday at 723 Kennedy Ave. A man and a 4-year-old child were inside, according to Ed Saliba Jr., chief of the New Kensington Fire...
Freeze watch issued for greater Pittsburgh region
A freeze watch will be in effect from late Sunday night through Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees will be possible, the NWS said. The watch will affect both Allegheny and Westmoreland counties as well as the surrounding areas....
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Barry Melrose belongs in Hockey Hall of Fame
We’ve lost the plot when it comes to Halls of Fame. Halls of Fame used to be grandiose and special. Look at the Baseball Hall of Fame’s first class: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth. Unimpeachable. It was a special honor for special athletes. Halls...
