Top Stories category, Page 614
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...
Man shot in New Kensington, airlifted to hospital
A middle aged man was shot in New Kensington on Thursday afternoon, according to police. About 3:30 p.m., police blocked off the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue for a shooting. A landing zone was set up at Valley High School. Investigators at the scene directed all inquiries to the Westmoreland...
Former Kiski Area athlete Kyrell Hutcherson suing school district, WPIAL, PIAA, claiming racial discrimination
A former high school athlete who defeated the WPIAL and PIAA in court almost three years ago has sued the organizations again, this time saying they violated his civil rights by racially discriminating against him. Kyrell Hutcherson filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court against the WPIAL, the PIAA, attorneys...
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aide
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly entered into a settlement agreement to resolve allegations of sexual harassment...
Pennsylvania is most ‘All-American’ state, survey says
Pennsylvania is the most “All-American” state in the nation, according to a survey commissioned by a Massachusetts-based travel company. The Keystone State landed a 9.05 out of 10 from Viator, a Tripadvisor company based in the Boston suburb of Needham, Mass. Viator based its scoring on metrics including home ownership...
Memorable moments from the Penn State-Ohio State rivalry
Penn State and Ohio State will meet for the 39th time at noon Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. One of college football’s most entertaining rivalries has gone the Buckeyes’ way of late. Ohio State has won the past six matchups and 10 of the past 11. Ohio State leads...
Springdale residents add Sunshine Act violation claim to reasons for stopping power plant implosion
Plaintiffs in the Springdale injunction case filed a motion in court Wednesday alleging that the issuing of a demolition permit for the former Cheswick Generating Station violated the state’s Sunshine Act. The complaint, filed by attorney John Kane, claims the violation is sufficient to block the implosion of the power...
2 teens charged in shooting of 4 near Homewood’s Westinghouse Academy
Two teens are facing charges in connection with a Valentine’s Day shooting that left four people shot near Westinghouse Academy in Homewood, city officials said Thursday. Police Chief Larry Scirotto and Mayor Ed Gainey touted the arrests as proof that relationships have improved between police and residents, leading to arrests...
Pa. higher ed system seeks 6.5% boost in state funding to maintain tuition freeze
The board overseeing Pennsylvania’s 10 state-owned universities said Thursday it aims to freeze tuition for a sixth consecutive year in 2024-2025, provided the state boosts the system’s funding by 6.5%. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s board of governors voted to send Gov. Josh Shapiro an appropriation request of...
GOP’s Jordan says he’s still running for House gavel, but there’s no plan for next action
WASHINGTON — Refusing to drop out, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan told GOP colleagues Thursday he would back a temporary U.S. House speaker for the next several months as he works to shore up support to win the gavel himself. Jordan delivered the message at a closed door meeting at the...
Hempfield casino fined $30K for allowing gambling access to underage, self-excluded patrons
Live Casino Pittsburgh has been fined $30,000 for allowing access to its Hempfield gambling floor by a man who was younger than 21 and by two women who were on a casino self-exclusion list administered by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. One of the women was on the gambling floor...
Sidney Powell vowed to ‘release the Kraken’ to help Donald Trump. She may now testify against him
NEW YORK — The Kraken has cracked. Lawyer Sidney Powell, who famously vowed to unleash a mythical sea monster of litigation to prove that Donald Trump didn’t lose the 2020 election, has now struck a deal with Georgia prosecutors admitting she conspired to wrongly interfere with the state’s election results....
U.S. Supreme Court notched big conservative wins. It’s a key issue in Pennsylvania’s fall election
HARRISBURG — The U.S. Supreme Court’s current conservative majority has delivered major victories for conservatives — and now liberal discontent over those rulings is playing a major role in Pennsylvania’s top-of-the-ballot election this fall. The Democrat running for an open seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has told audiences over and...
U mad, bro?: No Steelers game? No problem. Still plenty of fan agitation to go around
You might think that, because the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t play this past weekend, “U mad, bro?” would be lacking for content. You might think that. But if you live in Pittsburgh and follow our local sports teams, you know that couldn’t possibly be the case with our passionate fan base....
Jeannette woman killed in Hempfield crashVideo
A Jeannette woman died Wednesday after a two-vehicle crash along Route 66 in Hempfield, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Kazuko Werner, 61, was driving northbound at 2:40 p.m. when her vehicle collided with a southbound vehicle, police said. Werner attempted to make a left turn onto Oakford Valley Drive without...
Sold Taylor Swift concert tickets online? You may have to pay taxes
Over the summer, Swifties were willing to shell out notoriously high prices to get a seat at the Taylor Swift “Eras Tour.” Now, Uncle Sam wants to collect on those who resold their tickets on online marketplaces. This year, the Internal Revenue Service is requiring third-party businesses, like Ticketmaster, StubHub...
Authorities release name of man found shot to death in Penn Hills
Officials have identified a man found shot to death late Wednesday inside a vehicle in Penn Hills. Myles Gore-White, 31, of Pittsburgh, was pronounced dead in the 200 block of McGregor Drive, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The shooting was reported to 911 around 11 p.m. Allegheny...
Allegheny Township man spent 5 months in Ukraine, ‘helping the people who need it most’
The train ride from Krakow, Poland, into Ukraine was dark and cold. When the engine pulled into the Ternopil station, Allegheny Township truck driver Mark McLure immediately felt the terror of a war-torn territory. “The military gets on the train and they are armed with assault weapons and bomb-sniffing dogs,”...
Pa. bill to hike dog license fee after 27 years heads to governor’s desk
A bill increasing the cost of dog licenses in Pennsylvania for the first time in more than a quarter century is heading to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for enactment. The House on Wednesday, with no debate, voted 143-60 to approve the bill that passed the Senate in June, aimed at...
Bridge inspection, upgrades to restrict traffic in West Newton, Hempfield; I-70/51 exit also affected
Traffic restrictions are slated beginning Thursday during inspection of the Route 136 bridge across the Youghiogheny River in West Newton and beginning Friday as crews work to improve bridges on Route 30 in Hempfield. Additional restrictions are planned on Thursday as a PennDOT contractor continues restructuring of the Route 51...
Skateboarding teen hospitalized after being hit by vehicle in Ingram
A teenage boy is in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle while skateboarding Wednesday evening, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. First responders found the 15-year-old injured at the intersection of Winlock Avenue and Joel Street in Ingram around 5:45 p.m. He was taken to an area...
New Kensington’s Willie Thrower celebrated for breaking color barrier for NFL quarterbacks 70 years ago
Wednesday’s “1st Snap” celebration was 70 years in the making, and NFL pioneer Willie Thrower’s family and friends made the most of the anniversary. A steering committee worked nearly a year to the day to mark Thrower becoming the first Black quarterback to take a snap in an NFL game....
Pa. House OKs bill to move 2024 primary by 1 week in protracted fight
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed another bill to give an earlier date for its 2024 presidential primary, an effort that has become drawn out and politically charged in a battleground state still weathering former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims about a stolen 2020 election. The bill...
Tarentum man guilty in 2019 fatal stabbing
A jury on Wednesday found a Tarentum man guilty of third-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a woman with whom he had a relationship. Juan H. Hayden, 58, will be sentenced Jan. 16. He also was found guilty of tampering with evidence. Police said Hayden beat, strangled and stabbed...
