Top Stories category, Page 897
Senate Democrats approve big Biden deal; House to vote nextVideo
WASHINGTON — Democrats pushed their election-year economic package to Senate passage Sunday, a hard-fought compromise less ambitious than President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision but one that still meets deep-rooted party goals of slowing global warming, moderating pharmaceutical costs and taxing immense corporations. The estimated $740 billion package heads next...
Flash flooding forces residents from homes; cleanup underway
Kevin McCurdy returned to his mobile home early Saturday and took stock of the aftermath from flooding the night before. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” said McCurdy, who has lived on Forest Avenue in the village of Dorothy, just south of Latrobe, for 17 years. “The water was up...
Here’s what used to occupy some large Pittsburgh construction sites
It’s tradition for Pittsburghers to give directions to landmarks that no longer exist. “Turn right where Schenley High School used to be.” It is a quirk that showcases the region’s love for nostalgia and respect for its history. Dozens of construction projects are happening in the city. Buildings that housed...
Pittsburgh development is (mostly) booming. What to know now and what to expect next
Pittsburgh is experiencing a building boom worth billions. About 80 large construction projects are in the works or have been proposed in the city, according to Tribune-Review research and data from construction analyst firm Tall Timber Group. About half are under construction. The projects range from office space and multi-use...
Festa Italiana shines through the rain in New Kensington
Everybody is Italian, and everybody is family at Festa Italiana at Mount St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in New Kensington. That’s what parishioner Donna Muto of Arnold said at its kickoff Friday evening. “It’s nice to see people coming out after covid, everybody being here,” Muto said. She was among...
Fans enjoy Latrobe’s Steelers Fest before storms call off Friday Night Lights
Kimberly Bennett might live in Cleveland, but make no mistake: She’s a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. “Some people hide it; I don’t care,” Bennett said. “We’ve been told to go back to Pittsburgh because we like (the Steelers) so much.” Bennett was one of hundreds of Steelers fans who attended...
Storms, flooding hit hard in central Westmoreland County
Heavy rains flooded roads in Pittsburgh’s East End, the North Hills area and sections of central Westmoreland County as the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning Friday night for areas of Pittsburgh, the North Hills, central Westmoreland County and Butler County. Westmoreland County 911 was receiving numerous calls...
Alex Jones ordered to pay $49.3M total over Sandy Hook lies
AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas jury on Friday ordered Infowars’ Alex Jones to pay $49.3 million in total damages to the parents of a first-grader killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which the conspiracy theorist falsely called a hoax orchestrated by the government in order to tighten...
Fan’s ‘Sell the Team’ shirt draws double take from Pirates owner Bob Nutting in photo-opVideo
Things couldn’t have worked out much better Wednesday for a frustrated 18-year-old Pirates fan named Colin Witte who happened to wear his “Sell the Team” shirt under a Barry Bonds Pirates jersey when he and his brother went to PNC Park. It helped Witte make his point when he had...
Blaze kills Pa. firefighter’s 10 relatives, 3 of them children; criminal probe underway
NESCOPECK, Pa. — Fire tore quickly through a house in northeastern Pennsylvania early Friday morning, killing seven adults and three children and horrifying a volunteer firefighter who arrived to battle the blaze only to discover the victims were his own family, authorities said. The children who died were ages 5,...
2 teens charged in New Kensington homicide appear before judge for welfare hearings
Two of the five teens in custody and charged as adults in the July homicide of a man in New Kensington appeared before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on Friday. The hearings for Amir Kennedy, 14, and Avian Molter, 15, were held to check on their welfare as required...
Indiana Legislature 1st to approve abortion bans post Roe
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s Legislature became the first in the nation Friday to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has not indicated whether he will sign it. Indiana was among the...
PennDOT bridge inspections will change traffic near 4 Allegheny County bridges
PennDOT bridge inspections will affect drivers throughout Allegheny County through the end of the month, officials said Friday. Work begins Monday on four bridges, said spokesman Steve Cowan. The inspection work will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday. The work includes the following bridges:The overhead Union Railroad...
McKees Rocks woman accused in infant’s overdose faces more charges
A McKees Rocks grandmother already on the run after her infant grandson allegedly overdosed under her care faces additional charges after two more children for whom she cared tested positive for drugs, according to police. Robbie Boyer, 47, remains wanted in connection with a July 31 incident in which her...
Critics call water quality bill moving through Pa. legislature a back door to privatization
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 — Pennsylvania lawmakers are weighing legislation that would make it easier for private water companies to target municipal authorities for...
7 cars damaged after Jeep rolls in Downtown Pittsburgh crash
A man who ran a red light Friday morning in Downtown Pittsburgh could face charges after the collision ended with seven damaged vehicles, according to police. Authorities said the man, who police did not name, was driving a black Jeep when he ran a red light at Cherry Way and...
CDC: Allegheny, Westmoreland counties move to ‘high’ covid-19 level
Rising cases and hospitalizations pushed Allegheny and Westmoreland counties into the “high” covid-19 community level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which set standards for defining the amount of the virus within a community. Allegheny County, which recorded nearly 2,700 additional infections over the past week, was...
U.S. employers added 528,000 jobs; unemployment falls to 3.5%
WASHINGTON — America’s hiring boom continued last month as employers added a surprising 528,000 jobs despite raging inflation and rising anxiety about a recession. July’s hiring was up from 398,000 in June. The unemployment rate slipped to 3.5%. The U.S. economy shrank in the first two quarters of 2022 —...
Penn Township man accused of killing father, aunt, now accused of attacking jail guard
A Penn Township man accused of killing his father and aunt was arraigned Thursday on police accusations that he attacked a guard at the Westmoreland County Prison, according to court papers. Neal M. Hubish, 42, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and institutional vandalism. Westmoreland County detectives said Hubish...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Aug. 5-7
There’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy. Here are five things to do around the Pittsburgh area this weekend. Now you see it … Liberty Magic is putting the “Spotlight on the ‘Burgh” this weekend, with three shows featuring master magicians who call Pittsburgh home. Mr. Messado, Michael Misko,...
Fire breaks out in heart of Strip District at building housing new brewery
A brewery set to open soon in Pittsburgh’s Strip District neighborhood sustained a fire early Friday morning. Just after midnight on Friday, a passerby noticed smoke coming out of Bonafide Beer Co. at 21st Street between Penn Avenue and Smallman Street, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. The passerby called...
How Pennsylvania’s new minimum wage regulations will impact workers
For the first time in 45 years, Pennsylvania workers woke up to updated Minimum Wage Act regulations Friday morning. The new state regulations revise how employers pay tipped employees and process noncash tips, among other changes. They also align Pennsylvania regulations with federal ones. These regulations were proposed by Gov....
Democrats say they’ve reached agreement on economic package
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats have reached an accord on eleventh-hour changes to their top-priority economic legislation, they announced late Thursday, clearing their major hurdle to moving the measure through the chamber in coming days. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., a centrist who was seen as the pivotal vote, said in a...
Pittsburgh police: Woman in critical condition after being struck by vehicle
A woman was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle on Thursday afternoon in Pittsburgh. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said police were dispatched shortly after 4 p.m. for the incident near the intersection of Ward Street and Boulevard of the Allies. Cruz said a woman, believed to be in...
Police: 2 teens shot in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood
Two young women were rushed to a local hospital, one in critical condition, after being shot late Thursday morning in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller said officers were dispatched at 11:17 a.m. to the intersection of Brushton Avenue and Stranahan Street for reports of two people shot....
