Top Stories category, Page 590
Egypt’s border crossing opens to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into besieged Gaza
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas’ bloody rampage two weeks ago. Just 20 trucks were...
Centurions football announcer honored for more than 30 years of dedication
After more than three decades announcing football for the Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions, there’s not much happening on the field that could surprise Ben Falcone. But he wasn’t prepared for a sneak play by family members and GCC administrators, who honored his 35 years behind the microphone during halftime of...
Long lines at pump unlikely, but Middle East crisis could disrupt oil supplies, raise prices
WASHINGTON — Fifty years after the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the current crisis in the Middle East has the potential to disrupt global oil supplies and push prices higher. But don’t expect a repeat of the catastrophic price hikes and long lines at the gasoline pump, experts say. The Israel-Hamas...
Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-70 work to trigger Cranberry detour, Westmoreland restrictions
Work on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 70 will cause a detour in Cranberry and restrictions in Westmoreland County beginning on Monday, according to officials. Weather permitting, a nearly 2-mile detour will be in place from 6 a.m. Monday through 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27 for eastbound turnpike travelers at...
Spirit Airlines cancels dozens of flights to inspect some planes; disruptions will last days
Spirit Airlines canceled about 100 flights Friday after pulling some planes out of service for inspections, and the airline expects the disruptions to last several days. Spirit did not describe the nature of the inspections and did not respond when asked for further information, but the Federal Aviation Administration said...
French intelligence: Palestinian rocket, not Israeli airstrike, likely caused Gaza hospital blast
PARIS — An assessment by French military intelligence indicates the most likely cause of the deadly explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli hospital was a Palestinian rocket that carried an explosive charge of about 11 pounds and possibly misfired, a senior French military official said Friday. Several rockets in the arsenal...
Trial begins in fatal shooting of 1-year-old struck by stray bullet in Spring Hill
Allegheny County prosecutors admitted Friday that Marvin Hill is not the man who fired the stray bullet that killed 1-year-old Zykier Young as the child lay in bed in Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill three years ago. But they said Hill is guilty of criminal homicide anyway, because he was armed with...
Clean energy funds investment can aid hard-hit communities
If the region can boast there are workers here who are trained in the semi-conductor industry, it could be a boon for economic development. That’s the thinking of Mary Salony, the executive director of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board. And the group is set to receive $1.4 million in federal...
Butler’s Mike Kelly again votes against Jim Jordan for House speaker
A Republican congressman from Western Pennsylvania again voted against U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, being named House speaker. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, instead voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Jordan for a third time failed to garner the necessary votes to become speaker. This comes about two...
Violent threats from Virginia to Texas disrupt Muslim groups raising support for Palestinians
ARLINGTON, Va. — For more than 20 years, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has held its annual banquet at the Marriott Crystal Gateway hotel in Crystal City, Va., just outside the nation’s capital, according to CAIR’s executive director, Nihad Awad. Sporadic protests and angry phone calls targeting the Muslim civil...
Penn Township family receives community support after house fire
Greg Benson and his wife, Donna, had no idea their house was on fire Thursday evening. “A passerby came beating on the front door. We have two chocolate Labs, and I thought it was my oldest son just trying to irritate the dogs,” said Greg, 65, of Penn Township. “I...
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office will pay $295K to settle sexual harassment allegation against top aide
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 — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office agreed to pay $295,000 to quietly settle a sexual harassment complaint against one of his most trusted advisors, according...
Police continue to investigate New Kensington shooting
A man remained hospitalized Friday morning after being shot Thursday afternoon in New Kensington. The shooting in the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue, near McCargo Street, was reported to Westmoreland County 911 around 3:20 p.m. No arrests had been made as of Friday afternoon, said Melanie Jones, a spokeswoman for...
Dropped cellphone leads to arrest in McKeesport killing
A Mon Valley teen dropped his iPhone after fatally shooting a 47-year-old man this March — and that, combined with surveillance footage of the crime, led to his arrest this week, Allegheny County Police said. Sanchez Spence, 18, of McKeesport, remained in Allegheny County Jail on Friday after being charged...
PennWest, other universities weigh options for unused student housing
“Live here, live well.” That’s the online pitch promoting “Vulcan Village” apartments near PennWest University’s California campus in Washington County. The student complex has a resort-inspired outdoor pool, around-the-clock maintenance and a fitness center. But these days, there aren’t enough students living there. Fewer than half of its 770 beds...
Judge fines Trump over social media post, threatens jail for further violations
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump was fined $5,000 on Friday after a disparaging social media post about a key court staffer in his New York civil fraud case lingered on his campaign website for weeks after the judge ordered it deleted. Judge Arthur Engoron avoided holding Trump in...
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to replace water mains with $37.3M in state funding
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority plans to replace about four miles of water mains in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights and Squirrel Hill South neighborhoods. The authority said it has secured a $37.3 million funding package from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the project to replace aging and undersized water...
House Republicans drop Jim Jordan as their nominee for speaker, falling back to square one
WASHINGTON — Republicans dropped Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday as their nominee for House speaker, making the decision during a closed-door session after the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump failed badly on a third ballot for the gavel. The blocked-House impasse deepening, Republicans have no realistic or workable plan to...
Heart’s Ann Wilson headlines Women Who Rock at Stage AE
Being successful for a woman in the music industry is about refusing to take “no” for an answer. Someone who knows that firsthand is Ann Wilson from Heart. “You have to be pushy, and you will have to sacrifice everything, if you are serious about your career,” said Wilson, who...
Morning Roundup: Vehicles slam into homes in Duquesne and Wilkinsburg
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Oct. 20: Vehicle smashes into house in Duquesne A vehicle crashed into a house in Duquesne early Friday morning, Tribune-Review news partner WTAE reported. No one was reported injured in the crash, which occurred just before 2 a.m....
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Oct. 20-23
It’s finally the weekend. And it looks packed with pumpkins, circus performers, coffee, chocolate, and some “Boo-tiful Music.” ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will be at PPG Paints Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and...
1 person flown for treatment after 2-vehicle crash in Hempfield
A medical helicopter was dispatched to airlift a patient injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night in Hempfield. The crash was reported just before 8:30 p.m. at Route 30 and West Penn Drive, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. Traffic was restricted on Route 30 as crews from Adamsburg Fire...
Biden says support for Israel and Ukraine is ‘vital’ for U.S. security, will ask Congress for billionsVideo
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden declared it is “vital for America’s national security” for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case Thursday night for deepening U.S. involvement in two unpredictable foreign conflicts as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both...
Crews battle blaze at Penn Township home
Crews from multiple fire departments were battling a blaze Thursday evening that caused extensive damage to a Penn Township home. The blaze was reported about 4:45 p.m. in the 300 block of Mt. Manor Road. Harrison City and Westmoreland City fire departments were the first to respond to the scene....
Insanity claim to be explored for Penn Township man accused of killing father, aunt
The lawyer for a Penn Township man charged in the murders of his father and aunt in 2021 told a Westmoreland County judge he will explore a potential insanity defense for his client. Defense attorney Brian Aston said an investigation is underway to determine if there is enough evidence for...
