Top Stories category, Page 796
U.S. infiltrates big ransomware gang: ‘We hacked the hackers’Video
WASHINGTON — The FBI and international partners have at least temporarily disrupted the network of a prolific ransomware gang they infiltrated last year, saving victims including hospitals and school districts a potential $130 million in ransom payments, Attorney General Merrick Garland and other U.S. officials announced Thursday. “Simply put, using...
Duquesne calls a foul on DoorDash prankster who interrupted game
There were all the sounds one would expect during Wednesday night’s nationally televised basketball game at Duquesne University’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse — sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor, cheers from the crowd and referees’ whistles. There also was something not so ordinary. Early in the second half of the men’s...
New York City bike path killer convicted, could face the death penaltyVideo
NEW YORK — An Islamic extremist who killed eight people with a speeding truck in a 2017 rampage on a popular New York City bike path was convicted Thursday of 28 federal crimes and could face the death penalty. Sayfullo Saipov bowed his head as he heard the verdict in...
Man identified who was shot in the head and found in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are investigating a fatal shooting that left a Dravosburg man dead in the city’s Elliott neighborhood. Police said they responded around 9:30 a.m. Thursday to reports that a man had been found in a wooded area near Herrod and Bond streets in Elliott. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s...
Registered sex offender arrested on North Side on new sex assault charges
The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday arrested a fugitive registered sex offender who it said was wanted on bench warrants and new sex assault charges. Youssiff Howie, 26, is a Tier 1 registered sex offender who is required to register with authorities for 15 years. He last registered in...
NASA marks 20 years since space shuttle Columbia disaster
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA marked the 20th anniversary of the space shuttle Columbia tragedy with somber ceremonies and remembrances during its annual tribute to fallen astronauts on Thursday. More than 100 people gathered under a gray sky at Kennedy Space Center to remember not only Columbia’s crew of seven,...
Police: Wanted man arrested after pulling stolen gun on couple arguing outside Harmar motel room
Harmar police accused a convicted felon who is not allowed to possess a gun with pulling a stolen pistol on a couple who were arguing outside their motel room at 2 a.m. Police said the gun had been altered to fire like a machine gun. Vincent Johnson III, 22, of...
New Kensington police arrest wanted man found sleeping in car with loaded pistol on seat
New Kensington police arrested a man on a felony charge after an officer said he found him sleeping in a running car with a loaded pistol on the seat. Jermaine Landell Jett, 23, of Harrison was charged with a felony count of carrying a firearm without a license along with...
Sheetz reviewing ‘smile policy’ that says employees can’t have visible dental issues
If you need to have a little dental work done, and want to take a job to help save some cash for that, Sheetz would not be the place to apply. At least not right now. According to a recent report, the popular convenience store and gas station has a...
Victim in Parkway East crash near turnpike early Thursday has been identified
A passenger in a van was killed Thursday morning in a crash on the Parkway East in Monroeville, according to state police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Fannie Stoltzfus, 84, of Romulus. The van was traveling near the on-ramp for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Troopers said...
Snow bands could impact evening commute in W.Pa. region
The Western Pennsylvania region can expect about an inch or two of accumulated snow from an incoming trough of lower pressure this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said the region should expect possible snow bands starting this afternoon about 1 and lasting until...
NTSB releases new Fern Hollow Bridge data; still no cause of collapse
Federal investigators on Thursday released more than 2,000 pages of records they have examined as part of their investigation into the collapse of Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge nearly a year ago, but many critical details, such as the cause of the catastrophic failure, remain undisclosed. The update, which includes only...
Penn Hills officials welcome 10 new police officers, all full-time
Penn Hills officials welcomed new police officers to the municipality when Mayor Pauline Calabrese swore in 10 full-time patrolmen and women at the Jan. 23 council meeting. “This is such a tremendous evening,” Calabrese said. “I’m so proud of seeing you all stand here, and we are so grateful and...
How classified documents became a Franklin Park schoolgirl’s show-and-tell
WASHINGTON — On a winter’s day in 1984, a briefcase stuffed with classified government documents showed up in a building in Pittsburgh, borne by someone who most certainly wasn’t supposed to have them. That someone was 13-year-old Kristin Preble. She took the papers to school as a show-and-tell project for...
Morning Roundup: Pa. Game Commission brings back black bear livestreams
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023: Pennsylvania Game Commission announces wildlife livestreams Ever wonder what a bear does in the woods? Now you can know. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has reintroduced its 24-hour black bear webcam for the first time since...
Latrobe couple to serve probation for helping juvenile group home runaway
A Latrobe couple has been ordered to serve probation for assisting a 17-year-old runaway from a juvenile group home in 2021. Eric L. Mallin, 52, and his wife, Michele, were charged with corruption of a minor based on accusations they gave the teen a place to stay before they drove...
Some local medical experts split on benefits of yearly covid shot
Federal health officials want to simplify covid-19 vaccinations and make the procedure similar to an annual flu shot. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday floated the idea of allowing most adults and children to get a yearly shot to protect against the mutating virus. Local medical experts had...
DA: 5 Memphis cops ‘all responsible’ for Tyre Nichols’ deathVideo
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Five fired Memphis police officers were charged Thursday with murder and other crimes in the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black motorist who died three days after a confrontation with the officers during a traffic stop. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy told a news conference that...
Charges against Leetsdale councilman withdrawn due to ‘improperly filed’ complaint
Charges filed against Leetsdale councilman Wesley James were withdrawn Jan. 25 at a preliminary hearing in Forest Hills. Mayor Sandra Ford had accused James of disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with an incident at a council workshop meeting Nov. 3. She filed a private criminal complaint at the office...
Duquesne men’s hoops game interrupted by apparent food delivery attempt
Following Duquesne’s 72-58 comeback win over Loyola Chicago on Wednesday evening at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, coach Keith Dambrot and his players might have to give credit to an unlikely source for sparking their rally. With 16:10 to play during the second half between the Dukes and Ramblers, officials stopped play...
Winter storm rips into mobile home, topples trees, wires in Derry Township
Wednesday’s winter storm ripped through Derry Township during the afternoon hours, toppling trees and utility lines and damaging buildings. Areas of the township were pummeled by high winds roaring down from Derry Ridge to the east, said Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine. “We had a lot of trees and wires...
Questions persist on source of George Santos campaign fundsVideo
NEW YORK — Of all the questions swirling around U.S. Rep. George Santos, one of the most serious has been how he amassed the personal fortune he claimed to have used to finance his campaign. The Republican fabulist filed new campaign finance reports this week that only elevated the confusion...
Greensburg police chief’s arrest shocks community
Federal drug charges filed against Greensburg police Chief Shawn Denning caught community members by surprise Wednesday. Westmoreland County Park police Chief Henry Fontana, who worked 22 years as a Greensburg police officer and detective, had no indication Denning was being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. “I’m as shocked as...
Donald Trump reinstated to Facebook after 2-year ban
Facebook parent Meta is reinstating former President Donald Trump’s personal account after a two-year suspension following the Jan. 6 insurrection. The company said in a blog post Wednesday it is adding “new guardrails” to ensure there are no “repeat offenders” who violate its rules. “In the event that Mr. Trump...
Police: 2 juveniles recovering after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are investigating the shooting of two juvenile boys in the city’s Homewood neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller said officers were dispatched at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday for a Shotspotter alert along the 7200 block of Susquehanna Street. First responders located two boys who had been shot in...
