Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 744
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority approves entertainment venue, parking at Lower Hill District site
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority board on Thursday unanimously approved plans for an entertainment venue and parking garage on the former Civic Arena site in the Lower Hill District. Their vote clears the way for construction to start. The $110 million project is slated to built on a 2.6-acre site near...
CitiParks announces Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park schedule
The City of Pittsburgh has announced the 2023 Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park summer schedule. All movies are free of charge and begin at dusk. The movie season begins in June with a monthlong schedule of pop-up films at a variety of parks throughout Pittsburgh. To learn when and...
Safe travels: History Center exhibit highlights the ‘Green Book,’ for African Americans taking road trips
The building that housed the former Scotty’s Service Garage, an Esso gas station and car repair shop on Centre Avenue in the Hill District, is still there. It was more than a place to take a car — it was a safe and welcoming space for African Americans. An image...
Fire, hazmat officials clean up fuel spill in Hempfield
County hazmat crews, firefighters and other emergency officials were working late Saturday morning to contain a fuel spill on South Center Avenue in Hempfield. Hempfield Assistant Chief Don Thoma said a truck delivering a piece of heavy equipment to Case Construction crashed and began leaking fuel. Firefighters were laying down...
‘All we want is to be safe’: Migrants push north after end of Title 42
MEXICO CITY — For weeks, Solangel Contreras raced. The Venezuelan migrant and her family of 22 trudged through the dense jungles of the Darien Gap and hopped borders across Central America. They joined thousands of other migrants from across the Hemisphere in a scramble to reach the United States-Mexico border...
Police: Philadelphia prison escape aided by man charged in deadly cheesesteak shop brawl
PHILADELPHIA — Authorities say two escaped prisoners in Philadelphia were helped by a fellow inmate who’s charged with murder in a brawl outside a famed Philadelphia cheesesteak shop. Police said late Friday afternoon that 35-year-old Jose Flores-Huerta has been arrested at the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center and charged with felony...
Longtime newsman Gregory Brown remembered for high standards, good humor
Gregory Brown was both a hard-nosed journalist and a man of good humor and community spirit. “Greg was always one of those people who was very committed to local news and the news product,” said retired journalist Tom Bickert of Elwood City, who was a fellow editor with Brown at...
Editorial: The discouraging infighting among Democrats in Allegheny County
Allegheny County government is proof that political fights can have nothing to do with party lines. The 15-member county council is overwhelmingly Democratic. Only at-large member Samuel DeMarco and District 2 member Suzanne Filiaggi are Republicans. Every county row officer is a Democrat too, including County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. So...
World’s best golfers to face more daunting test after renovations at Oakmont Country Club
When Scottie Scheffler steps up to the tee box for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, some of the world’s most notable greens might look a bit farther away. As Jon Rahm eyes an approach shot, he will have to navigate around certain bunkers a bit differently. Rory...
Allegheny County primary race for DA offers clear differences between candidates
Longtime Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is facing chief public defender Matt Dugan in a Democratic primary race featuring candidates with widely divergent views. Zappala has garnered headlines during the campaign for targeting security measures at Kennywood amusement park, while Dugan has been boosted by large sums...
Latrobe man killed in motorcycle crash identified
A 79-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash on Route 981 near Latrobe on Friday afternoon, according to the Westmoreland County coroner. Bruce Santella of Latrobe was traveling southbound on a 2011 Harley-Davidson Triglide when his bike hit the center median, causing him to lose control, according to Coroner Tim...
Ed Harrell, former president of Tribune-Review Publishing, dies at 83
Known for his loud, distinctive laugh, Ed Harrell could easily be heard in a crowded room. Once, he was in New York on business and failed to tell his sister that he would be in town. His schedule was pretty booked. They found themselves in the same restaurant, unaware of...
Jewish community steels itself for Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial
If they couldn’t erase the deeds, some chose to erase the alleged perpetrator. “For the past 4 1⁄2 years there’s been an effort to not speak the name of the defendant, to not look at photos of the defendant,” Jordan Golin, president and CEO of Jewish Family and Community Services,...
Cruisin’ Tikis Pittsburgh boats return for a 6th season
The tiki boats are back for a sixth season. “I call it a tropical staycation,” said Dale McCue, of Eighty-Four, who co-owns the tiki boat company with fiancee Joa Campise. “It’s two hours of feeling like you are on an island … but you don’t have to get on a...
TV Talk: Former President Barack Obama visited Pittsburgh to film Netflix’s ‘Working’ documentaryVideo
Inspired by the 1974 non-fiction Studs Terkel book “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do,” the four-episode Netflix docu-series “Working: What We Do All Day” not only counts former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as executive...
Oakmont man guilty of 3rd-degree murder in 3-year-old daughter’s death
An Oakmont man was convicted of third-degree murder in the starvation death of his daughter. Bella Seachrist, 3, died June 9, 2020, after she became unresponsive and was taken to UPMC St. Margaret hospital near Aspinwall. In addition to the homicide charge, Jose Salazar-Ortiz Sr., 32, was found guilty of aggravated...
Pa. deer hunter who mistakenly shot Centre County man in the head gets jail time
BELLEFONTE — A Centre County man who tried to shoot a deer on the crest of a hill but instead shot his older neighbor in the head lost his bid Friday to stay out of jail. Michael Lloyd, 41, of College Township was sentenced by Centre County President Judge Jonathan...
Kiski Township supervisor candidate’s Only Fans page sparks criminal investigation
Only Fans strikes again. A candidate for Kiski Township supervisor is the latest person forced to contend with leaked news that she has a page on the social media site featuring racy photos of herself. But it might not be supervisor candidate Brittany Hilliard who ends up paying the price...
$4.4 million East End property retains century-old charm, grandeur
The 14,000-square-foot residence in Pittsburgh’s East End known as the Kelly House can comfortably accommodate a party of 100 guests or more. Despite its size, it also has a cozy feel that makes it perfect for family gatherings. Set on a 1.4-acre lot at 1145 Beechwood Blvd., the grand brick...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: May 12-14
It’s Mother’s Day weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Pittonkatonk The 10th annual Pittonkatonk PGH is from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday at Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park. The event will feature music and food including local, national and international performers from Burkina Faso, Congo,...
30 years after on-ice collision, former Penguin Kevin Stevens relives that moment and his long comeback
Ask anyone associated with the 1993 Pittsburgh Penguins what they remember about the Patrick Division Final against the New York Islanders. Any player. Any coach. Any fan. Any vendor at the Civic Arena. The responses will be nearly universal. Overtime loss. Game 7. David Volek. 4-3. Strangely, though, the one...
Airfares take a dip ahead of summer vacation season
Airfare is down a bit from this time last year for Americans eager to travel again. But it’s still more expensive to pack your bags and board a flight than before the covid-19 pandemic. The overall cost of travel is up 18% compared with April 2019 and up 2% versus...
Ligonier Township supervisors question work done by fellow board member’s company
Two Ligonier Township supervisors are raising concerns after a company co-owned by a fellow board member did about $15,500 worth of work for the municipality over four years. But Supervisor John Beaufort said he was trying to leverage his background in construction and project management in an effort to help...
Giant Eagle no longer king of Western Pa. grocery market as Walmart, other stores draw more shoppers
Shoppers may have more options for where they buy their eggs and butter these days, but two grocers dominate Southwestern Pennsylvania by far. Walmart and Giant Eagle together took nearly half of the grocery dollars in the region last year. Despite O’Hara-based Giant Eagle being the hometown grocer, Walmart has...
Failures aside, banks remain a safe bet for most people’s money
Despite the high-profile failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank this year, most bank deposits are safe because of federal insurance, local bank officials and a financial expert said. “The majority of the deposits are safe because they are insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance...
