Top Stories category, Page 760
Biden signs bill on covid origins declassification
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of covid-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic. The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the...
Morning Roundup: Police say Butler County woman arrested in fatal shooting
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, March 21, 2023: Police say Butler County woman arrested in fatal shooting Pennsylvania State Police said they arrested a Butler County woman in the case of a fatal shooting Monday at a home near the North Washington Rodeo...
Trump waits out grand jury as New York braces for protests
NEW YORK — Facing the possibility of criminal charges, Donald Trump waited it out in Florida on Tuesday as New York braced for disruptions that could follow an indictment. Republican contenders in the 2024 race sized up the impact a prosecution could have on a campaign in which the former...
Editorial: What is the value of tradition in deer hunting?
The start of deer season is not just a date on the calendar. It is a lot more complicated than that. It involves the science behind how deer move and feed, where they live and when they breed. It is part of a management process that looks to keep a...
Mothers embrace as Export man pleads guilty to Vandergrift woman’s murder
Two mothers embraced as they shared a moment of grief and understanding Monday morning in a Westmoreland County courtroom. Lisa Rodgers offered an apology for her son, who had just pleaded guilty for his role in the violent murder of Beverly Richason’s daughter nearly six years ago. “I know you...
Fox Chapel to update borough code to remove derogatory term for Native Americans
An outdated and derogatory term for a Native American woman will be removed from Fox Chapel’s borough code where it appeared as part of names for some streets, geographical fixtures and other items. Fox Chapel Council approved the change Monday March 20. About 15 sections of the borough code will...
Woman killed, several injured in Fayette County crash involving school van
A Dunbar woman was killed and school van driver seriously injured Monday afternoon during a three-vehicle crash in Fayette County, according to state police. Trooper Kalee A. Barnhart said Brenda Dewitt, 56, was traveling west on Furnace Hill Road in Dunbar around 3:30 p.m. when she tried to pass a...
In Trump probe, grand jury hears from potential last witnessVideo
NEW YORK — A grand jury heard from a potential final witness Monday in the investigation into Donald Trump as law enforcement officials accelerated security preparations in advance of a possible indictment and as fellow Republicans staked out positions in a criminal probe expected to shake up the 2024 presidential...
Trump’s lawyers move to quash Georgia special grand jury report
ATLANTA — Lawyers for Donald Trump launched a broad attack on a Fulton County criminal probe into election interference in Georgia, arguing in a court filing Monday that the conduct of the prosecutor, the judge and a special purpose grand jury tainted the investigation. The former president’s legal team asked...
Olshan nominated to be U.S. Attorney for Western Pa.
President Joe Biden has nominated a longtime assistant U.S. Attorney to become the top prosecutor in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Eric G. Olshan has served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Pennsylvania for more than six years. The district covers 25 counties in the western...
Highmark reports loss in 2022, citing investment losses, supply chain and staffing woes
As with many health care systems, inflation, supply chain woes and staffing challenges took a bite out of Highmark Health’s finances during 2022. Highmark reported a net loss of $346 million on $26 billion in revenue. Excluding investment losses, the organization reported net earnings of about $47 million. Meanwhile, the...
Pa. legislators frustrated with Norfolk Southern CEO’s appearance before Senate committee
Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw’s appearance before a state Senate committee on Monday focused heavily on the decision to purposely burn the leaking chemicals, which sent a plume of ash and smoke into Pennsylvania. Shaw’s repeated insistence that a “unified command” group of government and agency officials, led...
Candidate for Allegheny County’s top elected office calls for stricter campaign finance laws
Allegheny County has no campaign finance limitation, but one candidate for county executive is proposing a change. Former Allegheny County Councilman Dave Fawcett, a Democrat from Oakmont who is seeking the county’s top elected office, said Friday that he would support more stringent and rigorous campaign finance regulations if elected....
TSA finds 2 handguns at Pittsburgh airport checkpoint
Transportation Security Administration officers stopped two Pennsylvania residents — one of them an employee — from bringing guns through the security checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport over the weekend. On Saturday, the airport employee, whom the TSA did not name, was caught with a 9 mm handgun loaded with 10...
Trump calls for protests, but even supporters dismiss idea
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump’s calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated mostly muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap. The ambivalence raises questions about...
Police: Hempfield man beat woman, stole her car after she refused to take him to work
A woman was hospitalized Friday after state police said a Hempfield man beat her, according to court papers. Troopers said the woman had three broken teeth and severe injuries to her mouth and face. Richard J. Lantzy, 22, was being held without bail at the Westmoreland County Prison in connection...
Amazon cuts 9,000 more jobs, bringing 2023 total to 27,000
NEW YORK — Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday. The job cuts would mark the second largest round of layoffs in the company’s history, adding to the 18,000 employees the tech giant said...
$3M scratch-off lottery ticket sold at Monroeville Sheetz
A Monroeville convenience store is getting a $10,000 bonus after Pennsylvania Lottery officials said it sold a scratch-off ticket that won $3 million. The winning ticket, sold at the Mosside Boulevard Sheetz, was the top prize in a $30 Snow Bank game. The person with the winning ticket claimed the...
Man taken to hospital by helicopter after being struck by tree in Allegheny Township
A man was transported to a hospital by medical helicopter for treatment Monday morning after he was hit in the head by a tree that was being cut down in a heavily wooded area of Allegheny Township, according to authorities. Emergency responders were dispatched about 9:30 a.m. to the 1500...
First day of spring will see temps climb after chilly weekend
Those flowers and plants that have started sprouting will be able to get to work this week as temperatures will be back around the seasonal average. It’s just in time, too — Monday is the first day of spring. The spring equinox will officially begin at 5:24 p.m. National Weather...
Digital literacy: Can the republic ‘survive an algorithm’?
SEATTLE — Shawn Lee, a high school social studies teacher in Seattle, wants to see lessons on the internet akin to a kind of 21st century driver’s education, an essential for modern life. Lee has tried to bring that kind of education into his classroom, with lessons about the need...
Central Pa. school board rejects ‘Addams Family’ musical
A Central Pennsylvania school board last week voted against allowing high school students to perform “The Addams Family” musical next year, according to WITF. School directors debated for about 30 minutes before the majority concluded that the musical promotes bad values and is inappropriate for families, the news outlet reported....
Man wanted in Ohio faces drug, gun charges after traffic stop in Irwin
A traffic stop in Irwin last week resulted in state police finding multiple firearms, drugs and a man who was wanted in Ohio, according to troopers. Justin D. Grandison, 32, of White Oak was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. Police said they conducted a traffic stop...
Opponents of Saturday deer opener cite negative economic, social impacts
A few years ago, Randy Santucci’s deer hunting season would begin at a leisurely pace once Thanksgiving was over. “People would start trickling into camp on Saturday, we’d do a campfire Saturday night, my brother would fly in from South Carolina with a bunch of dove breasts from hunting, and...
Slippery Rock’s incoming president says university is well-positioned for success
The woman poised to become Slippery Rock University’s next president said she passionately believes that education is fundamental to success in life. “It changes lives,” said Karen Riley, whose career in education has spanned nearly four decades. Currently the provost of Regis University in Denver, Riley, 60, began her career...
