Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 861
It’s now law in Pennsylvania: Clear those cars of snow and ice
Rachel Cravotta doesn’t think a new state law regulating snow- and ice-covered vehicles will change the way she gets her Mercedes GLS 550 ready on snowy mornings this winter. “I have a pretty big SUV — even if I gave it my all, I don’t think I could reach the...
Coroner seeks information on couple killed in East Huntingdon house fireVideo
Two people were killed in an East Huntingdon house fire Friday night, the Westmoreland County coroner said. The fire was reported at 8:20 p.m. in a home on Espey Run Road. Coroner Tim Carson confirmed authorities are trying to find family members of Ernest Elmer Wright Sr., 87, and Nancy...
Teen missing from Knoxville neighborhood found safe
A teenager missing from Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood was found safe. City police sought help from the public to find the 13-year-old boy who was last seen Thursday afternoon. He was found Friday, according to police....
Lawsuits request hand recounts of votes for governor, senator
Lawsuits alleging fraud and requesting hand recounts of results in the races for Pennsylvania governor and U.S. Senator have been filed in Westmoreland County and across the state. As of Friday, four cases were filed in Westmoreland County from voters in Lower Burrell, Delmont, Hempfield and Loyalhanna. One case was...
Penn State president asks for ‘time and grace’ to meet diversity, inclusion goals
Penn State’s top official on Friday met with a handful of faculty to discuss concerns over the administration’s controversial decision to slash plans for a center designed to promote diversity and equality on campus. President Neeli Bendapudi participated in an online town hall-style meeting with six members of the faculty...
Thomas G. Stanko ordered to stand trial in death of Cassandra Gross
Homicide charges against a Unity man suspected of killing Cassandra Gross were held for court Friday, despite unsuccessful searches for her body or remains in the last four and a half years since the Unity woman went missing. “Can you tell us how she died?” asked Marc Daffner, defense attorney...
No injuries reported in New Kensington crash that closed Tarentum Bridge Road
A portion of Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington was closed for a short time Friday morning after an SUV flipped between Leechburg Road and Carl Avenue. No injuries were reported, according to New Kensington Fire Department No. 2. Emergency crews responded to the crash just after 7 a.m. near...
Garland names special counsel to lead Trump-related probes
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Merrick Garland named a special counsel on Friday to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and efforts to undo...
Probation office ignored alert that North Side funeral shooting suspect shed ankle monitorVideo
Two days before police say Shawn Davis shot five people at a North Side funeral on Oct. 28, Allegheny County Adult Probation received an alert that his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet had been removed. No action was taken. “We get a lot of alerts,” Probation Supervisor Jason Bright testified in...
U.S. home sales fell in October for 9th straight month
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in October for the ninth consecutive month to the slowest pre-pandemic sales pace in more than 10 years as homebuyers grappled with sharply higher mortgage rates, rising home prices and fewer properties on the market. Existing home sales fell 5.9% last month from...
Survey asks Duquesne students about race, gender, sexuality as classroom topics
Students at Duquesne University received emails this month asking them to take a short survey to identify topics — such as race, gender and sexuality — that can make them uncomfortable when raised in class. It asks them to describe cases where professors responded well or poorly. “Recently, students have...
Pa. report shows a drop in sales at state liquor stores
The pandemic period of unprecedented home booze consumption in Pennsylvania appears to be over, but that doesn’t mean overall alcohol consumption is down. After record spirit and wine sales at state stores in the 2020-21 fiscal year, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board reported the 2021-22 fiscal year saw retail dollar...
The Democratic takeover of the Pa. House will be a little messy to start. Here’s why.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — The Democrats have won control of the Pennsylvania House, but the party will need to rely on Republican support...
Police: Greensburg woman tried to kill 8-year-old girl with fentanyl
A Greensburg woman is being held without bail after police said she gave an 8-year-old girl the powerful opioid fentanyl in an effort to cause her death, according to court papers. Authorities said they found Skye C. Naggy, 29, and the girl Oct. 25 in a wooded area near Loyalhanna...
Merger of Excela, Butler health systems to be finalized by year’s end, officials say
Excela Health and Butler Health System completed another step toward becoming one by entering into a definitive merger agreement, moving forward with a plan expected to generate more than $1 billion in revenue. The two networks signed a letter of intent to merge on June 1. The agreement announced Friday...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 18-20
Holiday shopping, animal encounters and parties celebrating art and history are on tap this weekend in Pittsburgh. German-style market The Peoples Gas Holiday Market opens Friday in Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh, with hours from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Inspired by the original German Christkindlmarkts (or “Christmas Markets”), the...
Murrysville man sold drugs out of Monroeville pretzel shop, police say
A business owner has been arrested for selling prescription pain pills out of his drive-thru pretzel shop window in Monroeville, officials said. Police and federal agents said they observed Brian Schlagel of Murrysville buy and sell pills out of his business and home over the course of several months, according...
New Kensington residents mark 5th anniversary of police officer Brian Shaw’s death in line of duty
It has been five years since New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw was killed in the line of duty. For many, like police Chief Robert Deringer, it feels like yesterday. “They say time heals all wounds,” Deringer said, standing across the police station after a memorial service Thursday night. “It...
Trump announcement sparks excitement among local Democrats
As local Democrats continue to celebrate their party’s success in last week’s elections, former President Donald Trump’s newest bid for the White House is providing some with even more confidence moving forward. Trump on Tuesday announced his third bid for the presidency, raising concerns among local Republicans about a fractured...
Jeannette man not guilty of attempted homicide of neighbor
A Jeannette man was found not guilty Thursday of attempted murder and aggravated assault charges in connection with allegations he fired a rifle at his neighbor nearly three years ago. Dale A. Shaw, 66, was convicted of lesser misdemeanor offenses of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and terroristic threats in connection...
Victim in fatal Rostraver shooting identified
A Philadelphia area man has been identified by the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office as the man who was shot to death Nov. 5 at a Rostraver shopping complex. The victim, Boyke Budiarchman, 49, was shot to death outside the Lowe’s store at the Rostraver Square shopping center off the intersection...
Biden administration to ask high court to take up student debt plan
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration plans to ask the Supreme Court to reinstate the president’s student debt cancellation plan, according to a Thursday legal filing warning that Americans will face financial strain if the plan remains stalled in court when loan payments are scheduled to restart in January. The Justice...
Democrats get nominal control of Pa. House with win in Montgomery County
State Rep. Todd Stephens, R-Montgomery County, has conceded in his race for a seventh term representing the 151st District, giving Democrats at least a nominal majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the first time since 2010. Democratic challenger Melissa Cerrato holds a 16,800 to 16,741 lead according to...
Bell Acres CEO of accounting firm pleads guilty to defrauding IRS of over $15M
When Joseph Nocito Sr. reviewed the invoices for the construction of his 34-room mansion in Bell Acres, federal prosecutors said, he’d place hand-written sticky notes on them, directing his bookkeeper to pay the costs from one of his 35 companies. Among the expenses illegally paid, the government said Thursday, were...
Ticketmaster canceling next Taylor Swift concert ticket saleVideo
NASHVILLE — Ticketmaster says it is canceling the planned general public sale on Friday for Taylor Swift’s upcoming stadium tour because it doesn’t have enough tickets. The decision was made two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and left many fans without tickets. The ticketing company...
