Top Stories category, Page 628
Planned reduction of Medicare drug costs could ease burden on cash-strapped seniors
Susie Bell of Penn Township dreads this time of year. It’s not the hot weather that bothers her, but the fact that by early summer, she’s fallen into the “doughnut hole,” a colloquial term for the annual Medicare coverage gap — when the health care plan contributes far less toward...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Sept. 1-4
It’s a Labor Day holiday weekend, three days off for some. If you aren’t going to the Miller Lite Kickoff and Rib Festival outside Acrisure Stadium, here are some other ways to spend it — the weather should be perfect with temperatures in the 80s. WWE World Wrestling Entertainment’s “Payback”...
120-year-old St. Ladislaus church is coming down in Natrona
Harrison resident Ron Pastorek spent nearly 45 years attending Mass at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church in Natrona, the most recent of which were his fondest. “My wife and I would buy the flowers for the grounds. And the last couple years, our grandson, Jordan, was able to help me plant...
5 things to watch in Week 1: A red-letter day in Aliquippa as the new Heinz Field opens
Not only is Aliquippa’s new football stadium named Heinz Field, but like its North Shore namesake, the Red Zone should be popular. When the Quips cross the 20-yard line, the stadium’s new LED lights will flash red, Aliquippa athletic director Jennifer Damico said. The first game at the new stadium...
Woman offers gas imaging camera service to Rustic Ridge residents
A certified thermographer said Thursday she hoped to give residents in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood some peace of mind by volunteering to use hydrothermic technology to look for possible gas leaks in homes. Christina Digiulio of Chester County visited Rustic Ridge and offered to use a hydrocarbon imaging camera to...
Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell can continue with his work schedule, congressional physician says
WASHINGTON — The attending physician to Congress said Thursday that he had cleared Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to continue with his planned schedule after evaluating an incident in which McConnell appeared to freeze up at an event in Kentucky. But the health episode — his second in public this...
Harmar House fire leaves clients scrambling to find alternate venues
Bride-to-be Ashley Pometo spent most of Wednesday night in shock — and in tears. Pometo, 23, of New Kensington thought the plans for her Sept. 23 wedding were neatly squared away until a fire swept through Futules’ Harmar House on Wednesday evening, leaving the popular family-owned event venue considered to...
CCAC to offer free courses in computer information technology
The Community College of Allegheny County will offer free, for-credit courses in computer information technology starting next week at its Homewood-Brushton Center. The menu of 12- and 14-week, in-person courses have two start dates: next Tuesday and on Sept. 18, officials said Thursday. Costs for tuition, fees and textbooks are...
Governor touts Connellsville as an example of success investing in outdoor recreationVideo
Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln needs only to look around if he wants to see the impact that outdoor recreation has had on the Fayette County city. There’s a restaurant and event center being developed near the Connellsville Comfort Inn, along with another new restaurant nearby. Independence Health System is working...
For more than 50 years, Bill Hillgrove’s voice has been ‘the soundtrack to our sports memories’
Before he called Tony Dorsett’s 303rd rushing yard against Notre Dame in 1975, Kenny Pickett’s fake slide in the 2021 ACC championship game or M.J. Devonshire’s pick-6 against West Virginia last year, Bill Hillgrove’s first venture behind a microphone required him to play the part of a brat. It was...
Penguins announce new name for AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
When news broke this week that Penguins owner Fenway Sports Group would buy AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh from Warner Bros. Discovery, a name change seemed like a given. On Friday, the Penguins formally announced the deal and the new name of the channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh. The Penguins will remain on the...
Home purchases by corporations increase in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
As Pittsburgh’s real estate market heats up, a new study shows corporations are buying up residences at increasing rates, driving up competition with local residents. A study by the nonprofit Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group shows the share of Allegheny County homes sold to corporate entities nearly doubled over the past...
Squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend? Expect crowded airports and full flights
DALLAS — By some measures, air travelers have enjoyed a less stressful summer than last year, but canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that this will be the third busiest holiday weekend...
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter arrives at federal death row in Indiana
The man who killed 11 people at a Squirrel Hill synagogue has been moved to federal death row at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind. Robert Bowers, 50, was sentenced to the death penalty on Aug. 3 after a jury heard from 51 witnesses over nine days of testimony...
Ex-Proud Boys organizer sentenced to 17 years in prison for plot to keep Trump in power
WASHINGTON — A former organizer of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced on Thursday to 17 years in prison for spearheading an attack on the U.S. Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election. Federal prosecutors had...
Harmar House may be total loss after fire; 40 events canceled
Alle-Kiski Valley residents are in shock at the loss of Futules’ Harmar House after the landmark banquet hall that would have celebrated its 25th year in business on Monday went up in flames Wednesday night. The Harmar business was known for hosting a variety of events, from wakes to weddings,...
McConnell’s latest freeze-up incident highlights seniority of Congress
WASHINGTON — Wednesday’s incident in which Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had difficulty speaking in a public setting comes at a time of heightened concern about the health and ages of U.S. political leaders. But the Kentucky Republican is not even among the 10 oldest members of the current Congress....
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks stages ‘Cleopatra’ with all-woman cast
William Shakespeare was not averse to including a ballad or two in his plays. Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is going the Bard one better this year, adding modern dance numbers to its production of “Cleopatra & Antony.” Audience members will hear snippets of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring...
Groups seek to use Constitution’s ‘insurrection’ clause to block Trump from 2024 ballots
As former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the Republican presidential primary, some liberal groups and a growing number of legal experts contend that a rarely used clause of the Constitution prevents him from being president after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The 14th Amendment bars...
Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in September
Pittsburgh will see an extremely busy September at PPG Paints Arena, with 11 shows there during the month. Here’s a look at the most notable shows coming to the area in September: September’s top shows Sept. 6: Aerosmith, The Black Crowes at PPG Paints Arena The veteran Boston rockers will...
Building fire in Johannesburg leaves at least 73 dead, many homeless, authorities say
JOHANNESBURG — A nighttime fire ripped through a rundown five-story building in Johannesburg that was occupied by homeless people and squatters, leaving at least 73 people dead early Thursday, emergency services in South Africa’s biggest city said. Some of the people living in a maze of shacks and other makeshift...
Tropical Storm Idalia descends on North Carolina after pounding Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
PERRY, Fla. — Tropical Storm Idalia descended on the Carolinas on its way out to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction throughout the Southeast that stretched back to its landfall as a hurricane in Florida. Rescue and repair efforts continued in the areas the...
Morning Roundup: Feds say 3 Panama residents scammed $1.5M from Pittsburgh, U.S. residents
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 31: Feds say 3 Panama residents scammed $1.5M from Pittsburgh, U.S. residents Three men were extradited from Panama and had initial appearances in Pittsburgh federal court Wednesday on police accusations that they took part in orchestrating a...
Squonk Opera uses New Kensington digs to prepare a ‘Brouhaha’Video
New Kensington has a new claim to fame: home of the first “Squonkcordion.” The device — described as “an enormous musical instrument powered by behemoth bellows topped with towering tuba bells” — will make its public debut at the Kickoff and Rib Festival on Sunday and Monday outside Acrisure Stadium...
Hempfield lifts probation for West Point Volunteer Fire Department
The West Point Volunteer Fire Department will be taken off probation for the first time in more than two years following a unanimous vote by the Hempfield supervisors this week. Hempfield fire Chief Anthony Kovacic recommended the move. Kovacic said the department missed five calls over the last seven months....
