Top Stories category, Page 790
Special election preview: 3 House districts in Allegheny County to fill vacancies
A special election scheduled for Tuesday will fill vacancies in three Democratic-leaning House seats in Allegheny County. Voters in the 32nd, 34th and 35th state House districts will choose candidates to fill those seats. Registered voters who live in the districts have been able to vote over the counter since...
Unspecified threat led to early dismissal at Highlands Middle School last week
Highlands Middle School students were dismissed early Friday after a threat was made to the school, district leaders said Monday. Details of the incident and the nature of the threat were not released by the district. A statement from Superintendent Monique Mawhinney did not disclose who made the threat or...
Drop in oil prices brings first weekly decline in national average gas price this year
A sharp and sudden drop in the price of oil is the main reason behind the first weekly drop in the national average price of gasoline in 2023, an industry analyst said. AAA reported the national average at $3.47 per gallon Monday. That’s about 4 cents less than a week...
$747M Powerball jackpot up to 9th-largest as drawing nears
A $747 million Powerball jackpot will be up for grabs Monday night for players willing to risk $2 against the long, long odds of winning the big prize. No one has won the jackpot since Nov. 19, 2022, allowing the prize to grow larger with each of the game’s three...
China accuses U.S. of indiscriminate use of force over balloon
BEIJING — China on Monday accused the United States of indiscriminate use of force in shooting down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, saying it “seriously impacted and damaged both sides’ efforts and progress in stabilizing Sino-U.S. relations.” The U.S. shot down the balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed...
Above-average temperatures expected in Pittsburgh all week
A warmup is coming to the Pittsburgh region this week, along with some rays of sunshine and some rain showers that appear to defy Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter. Monday’s high will reach 40 degrees, which is about 10 degrees above average for this time of...
3.8 magnitude earthquake hits Buffalo
An earthquake struck near Buffalo, N.Y., early Monday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey preliminarily reported a 3.8 earthquake centered east of Buffalo in the suburb of West Seneca at about 6:15 a.m. Seismologist Yaareb Altaweel said it was the region’s strongest quake in at least 40 years. UPDATE: Rare magnitude...
Morning Roundup: Arrest made in fatal Christmas Eve crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023: Arrest made in fatal Sewickley Heights Christmas Eve crash An 18-year-old was arrested Saturday in connection to a fatal, single-vehicle crash that occurred in Sewickley Heights on Dec. 24. Luke Flowers, 18, was charged with...
Pa. agency explains why it enacted new ‘no force-on-force rule’ for Bushy Run, other sites
The end to battle reenactments at Bushy Run Battlefield has left many members of the community saddened and frustrated. But in Harrisburg, officials with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission consider the new “no force-on-force” policy a positive for state history. “There are more impactful and safer educational methods through...
Customers stunned as Kings in Allegheny Township permanently closes
For those who didn’t know, white sheets of paper taped Sunday to a glass front door told the story. “Attention Guests: Thank you for the opportunity to serve this community over the years,” one read. “Unfortunately, this location is now permanently closed.” Judging by surprised and annoyed customers arriving about...
Rescuers scramble in Turkey, Syria after quake kills 4,000Video
ADANA, Turkey — Rescuers in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria searched through the frigid night into Tuesday, hoping to pull more survivors from the rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 4,000 people and toppled thousands of buildings across a wide region. Authorities feared the death toll from...
Support for slain Brackenridge police chief, injured Tarentum officer continues with spaghetti dinner fundraiser
Zach Blume and Rebekka Schmid thought their VFW post in Tarentum should do something to express support for fallen Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire, wounded Tarentum police Officer Jordan Schrecengost and their families. So when the idea of holding a spaghetti fundraiser Sunday was settled on, they approached area businesses...
Summer Lee talks about her goals during 1st term in Congress
Pittsburgh has a new representative in Congress for the first time in nearly three decades. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, was sworn in last month to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, who did not seek reelection. Lee said she has hit the ground running and the region will continue...
Man found shot in head on Pittsburgh’s North Side dies in hospital
A 23-year-old man was found Sunday afternoon on Pittsburgh’s North Side with a gunshot wound to the head. Pittsburgh police said officers responded just before 1:15 p.m. to the 600 block of Chautauqua Street for reports of a man unresponsive inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head....
U.S. officials offer Congress briefing on Trump documents
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials have offered to brief congressional leaders on their investigation into the classified documents found at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence, people familiar with the matter said Sunday. A briefing could come as soon as this week. But it may not meet demands from lawmakers who...
Ohio officials urge evacuation near derailment, fearing explosionVideo
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Officials monitoring the smoldering, tangled wreckage of a train derailment in northeastern Ohio urgently warned hundreds of nearby residents who had declined to evacuate to do so Sunday night, saying a rail car was at risk of a potential explosion that could launch deadly shrapnel as...
U.S. states take control of abortion debate with funding focus
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Though the Insight Women’s Center sits at the epicenter of a reinvigorated battle in the nation’s culture wars, the only hint of its faith-based mission to dissuade people from getting abortions is the jazzy, piano rendition of “Jesus Loves Me” playing in a waiting room. The Republican-controlled...
Powerball jackpot grows to $747 million after no winner
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Powerball jackpot grew to an estimated $747 million after no one beat the odds and won the top prize in Saturday night’s drawing. The numbers drawn were: 2, 8, 15, 19, 58 and Powerball 10. The $747 million Powerball jackpot up for grabs Monday night...
Balloon bickering over Biden’s actions, China’s intentionsVideo
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers on Sunday accused China of deliberately surveilling sensitive U.S. military sites with a suspected spy balloon and said the Biden administration had given Beijing an intelligence opening by not downing the balloon during its high-altitude drift through American airspace. The balloon’s presence in the sky above...
Daycation: Things quiet down in winter in Ohiopyle
The streets of Ohiopyle bustle with visitors during the warm months, as people flock to the Fayette County community for its recreational opportunities, scenic views and dining options. In the winter, it’s a different story. Many days, there’s hardly a soul to be seen along Main Street in the tiny...
‘Opportunity to redefine’: 7 Westmoreland County communities envision a future free of blight
Seven Westmoreland County communities from Greensburg to New Kensington to Monessen are getting a unique opportunity — the ability to re-create neighborhoods and business districts free of blight. Using $10.4 million in federal money, the project calls for identifying as many as 500 properties for demolition, although some might end...
Derry Area student’s memoir wins competition
Derry Area sophomore Timothy Miller, 15, is one of 13 students to win the New York Times‘ 100-word personal narrative contest with his entry, “Baby Tim.” Miller entered the contest to complete a narrative writing assignment in his Advanced English II class. His teacher, Mark Curcio, enters his students in...
Downing of suspected China spy balloon draws threat from Beijing
WASHINGTON — China responded with harsh words Saturday to the U.S. military’s downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. China insisted the flyover was an accident involving a civilian aircraft and threatened repercussions. In its statement Sunday,...
Mars Area basketball coach describes scene when gunman reported outside school
The high school basketball gym had been packed for a game that took three overtimes to decide. After passing through a handshake line, the visiting South Fayette and the home Mars Area boys varsity teams headed downstairs to their locker rooms. It had been an near-ideal Friday night high school...
Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies pick up man wanted in connection with Bloomfield beating
A suspect accused of beating another man in Pittsburgh last September was picked up Saturday by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies. Matthew Derr, 48, no address given, was wanted in connection with an incident in which, authorities say, Derr punched a man and repeatedly beat him with a baseball bat. A...
