Top Stories category, Page 899
EPA: Chemical in medical-device cleanser poses cancer risk
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents who live near medical sterilizing plants in 13 states and Puerto Rico about potential health risks from emissions of ethylene oxide, a chemical widely used in their operations. Laredo, Texas; Ardmore, Okla.; and Lakewood, Colo., are among the communities facing the...
Indiana Rep. Walorski, 2 staffers killed in head-on crashVideo
WASHINGTON — Republican U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski was killed Wednesday in a car crash in her northern Indiana district along with two members of her congressional staff and another person, police said. The crash happened about 12:30 p.m. when a car crossed the center line on state highway and collided...
Kiski Township motorcycle crash claims 2nd victim
The wife of a man killed in a Kiski Township motorcycle crash July 3 also has died from injuries related to the wreck. The victim was identified as Kimberly Stasko, 64, of Indiana, according to the Armstrong County Coroner’s Office. Stasko’s husband, Anthony D. Stasko, 58, was pronounced dead at...
People donate $100K to help family of Penn Township boy who lost feet in lawnmower accident
The outpouring of community support has been overwhelming for the family of a Penn Township boy who was involved in a lawnmower accident over the weekend that resulted in the amputation of his feet. Ashley Dimperio said Wednesday she started a GoFundMe page to raise money for her nephew Liam...
Military service sways judge in gun case sentencing
A Mt. Pleasant man would have been given more jail time on a firearms conviction if he weren’t a wounded veteran, a judge said. Prosecutors argued for multiple consecutive sentences that totaled more than 40 years behind bars be imposed against Michael Charles Lint, 36, for convictions to charges that...
Alex Jones concedes Sandy Hook attack was ‘100% real’Video
AUSTIN, Texas — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones testified Wednesday that he now understands it was irresponsible of him to declare the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax and that he now believes it was “100% real.” Speaking a day after the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed...
Inflation weighs on back-to-school buying for many families
NEW YORK — To understand the impact of surging inflation on this year’s back-to-school spending, look no further than children’s rain boots with motifs like frogs and ladybugs made by Washington Shoe Co. Spending held steady for these evergreen items even after the Kent, Washington-based business was forced to pass...
How to recession-proof your life amid economic uncertainty
NEW YORK — Prices for gas, food and rent are soaring. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates to the highest level since 2018. The U.S. economy has shrunk for two straight quarters. Economists are divided over whether a recession is looming. What’s clear is that economic uncertainty isn’t going...
National Weather Service confirms 2 tornadoes touched down during storms
Two tornadoes touched down during storms Monday in the region, according to the National Weather Service’s Moon office. The twisters were confirmed Tuesday in Greene County and near the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They were the second and third confirmed tornadoes in the Pittsburgh office’s coverage area, which...
Glassport councilwoman accused of punching man at local bar
A Glassport councilwoman punched a man at a bar last week, according to charges filed Tuesday. The incident happened July 29 at a bar called Hott Rodz on Monongahela Avenue, police said. Katherine Handra, 41, is charged with misdemeanor simple assault and summary citations for public drunkenness and harassment, court...
Kansas voters protect abortion rights, block path to ban
TOPEKA — Kansas voters on Tuesday protected the right to get an abortion in their state, rejecting a measure that would have allowed their Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion restrictions or ban it outright. The referendum in the conservative state was the first test of U.S. voter sentiment about abortion...
Inbound Armstrong Tunnel to close periodically as part of larger project
The Allegheny County Department of Public Works has announced that the inbound Armstrong Tunnel in Pittsburgh will be closed periodically between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday. The closure is needed to allow investigation work being done by Duquesne Light. It’s all part of an upcoming comprehensive Armstrong Tunnel...
Senate approves bill to aid veterans exposed to toxic burn pitsVideo
WASHINGTON — A bill enhancing health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits won final approval in the Senate on Tuesday, ending a brief stalemate over the measure that had infuriated advocates and inspired some to camp outside the Capitol. The bill now goes...
Bellevue man wanted by several towns accusing him of shoplifting, accused of stealing nearly $12k in Frazer alone
Multiple warrants are out for the arrest of a Bellevue man accused of helping to shoplift nearly $12,000 worth of merchandise from the Walmart in Frazer last year. Police are looking for 46-year-old John Gehlert, who faces 32 felony charges of retail theft and conspiracy in retail theft. Police said...
$384 million in state money could expand pre-K programs across the region
Pre-K classes soon could be available at more schools throughout Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Several schools and child care centers from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties were chosen to receive part of more than $384 million Gov. Tom Wolf is aiming at early childhood education in the state. Among them are...
Arnold suspect arrested and charged in Fox Chapel burglary
An Arnold man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly participating in the burglary of Fox Chapel home last month in which a gold bar, jewelry worth thousands of dollars, an engraved wedding bank and three Rolex watches were stolen, Allegheny County Police said. Zachary Zeise, 27, was arrested in Cheswick by...
Mt. Pleasant Township woman works with police in sting to nab ‘agent’ in bail scam
An Ohio woman who police said was part of a bail scam was arrested last week during a sting operation in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to court papers. A township woman told police she received a call at 10:30 a.m. Thursday by a person claiming to be “Glenn Perkins” who...
U.S. sues Idaho over abortion law, cites medical treatmentVideo
BOISE — The Justice Department on Tuesday filed a lawsuit that challenges Idaho’s restrictive abortion law, arguing that it conflicts with a federal law requiring doctors to provide pregnant women medically necessary treatment that could include abortion. The federal government brought the lawsuit seeking to invalidate the state’s “criminal prohibition...
Pa. Supreme Court upholds no-excuse mail voting ahead of midterms
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 state Supreme Court has upheld Pennsylvania’s mail ballot law, preserving for the time being a popular voting method...
Penn State avoids questions over handling of sex extortion of student athletes
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town. STATE COLLEGE — More than two weeks after unsealed search warrants revealed at least one...
Pa. Turnpike tolls to go up for 15th straight year
Tolls along the Pennsylvania Turnpike will go up for the 15th straight year starting in January. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a toll increase of about 5% for E-ZPass and Toll by Plate customers, the same as last year. The new rates will go into effect on Jan....
Woman accused of shooting boyfriend at Penn Township home
An Allegheny County woman is accused of shooting her boyfriend at a Penn Township home early Tuesday, according to court papers. The 32-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and neck and was taken to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, authorities said. Police arrested Leah Hope Gillis, 33, of North...
About $15,000 worth of equipment stolen from Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company substation recovered
About $15,000 worth of equipment that had been stolen from Ingomar Volunteer Fire Company over the weekend has been recovered. The equipment had been taken from the fire department’s substation on Perry Highway in Wexford Flats, said Fire Chief Gregory Quatchak. It’s unclear exactly when the theft occurred, Quatchak said,...
Penn State implements hiring freeze as university attempts to balance budget
New employees at Penn State will be scarce until at least summer 2023 as the university has enacted a strategic hiring freeze to help defray a $191 million operating deficit. The freeze, which went into effect Monday, comes as Penn State attempts to balance its budget by summer 2025. Inflation...
8 Pa. congress members endorse GOP’s Doug Mastriano for governor
HARRISBURG — Eight of Pennsylvania’s representatives to the U.S. House, all Republicans who voted against certifying the state’s electoral results in the 2020 presidential election, formally endorsed state Sen. Doug Mastriano in the gubernatorial election. U.S. Reps. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, Mike Kelly, Lloyd Smucker, John Joyce, Fred Keller, Dan Meuser,...
