Top Stories category, Page 913
Doctor’s lawyer defends steps in Ohio girl’s cross-state abortion
INDIANAPOLIS — The lawyer for an Indiana doctor at the center of a political firestorm after speaking out about a 10-year-old child abuse victim who traveled from Ohio for an abortion said Thursday that her client provided proper treatment and did not violate any patient privacy laws in discussing the...
First details of Swinburne Bridge replacement project revealed by city
Pittsburgh officials held a public meeting on Thursday evening to provide the first details about the project to replace the Swinburne Bridge, which connects the city’s South Oakland and Greenfield neighborhoods. The Swinburne bridge is 107 years old and in poor condition. There is deterioration to the bridge, which carries...
Pair face homicide charges in 2021 killing of Uber driver
Two men are accused of murdering an Uber driver in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood in March 2021, Pittsburgh police said. The suspects, Kendall McKoy, 20, of the Hill District, and Da’rohn Winmon, 23, of Penn Hills are accused of shooting Kristofer Metzger, 35, of Pittsburgh. The two face charges of criminal...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to about 9 years for federal drug and gun crimes
A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to nearly nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug and gun crimes, authorities announced Thursday. Vaughn Malone, 35, of the city’s Spring Hill neighborhood, admitted to possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and methamphetamine and possession of...
Watchdog: Secret Service deleted Jan. 6 text messagesVideo
WASHINGTON — Secret Service agents deleted text messages sent and received around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol even after an inspector general requested them as part of an investigation into the insurrection, the government watchdog has found. The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General,...
Pittsburgh looks to convert unused office space into residential units
Pittsburgh City Council is considering using $2.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to convert unused Downtown office space into residential units. This money had been earmarked for a guaranteed basic income pilot program proposed by former Mayor Bill Peduto. That initiative was to run through OnePGH, a nonprofit...
‘Blight monster’ brewery site in West Jeannette to be torn down
The former Fort Pitt Brewery in West Jeannette is slated to be acquired by the Westmoreland County Land Bank at a judicial sale next month. Brian Lawrence, director of the land bank and county Redevelopment Authority, said the buildings will be demolished, calling it a “unique opportunity” with American Rescue...
Pa. AG Josh Shapiro says his office will protect abortion providers, out-of-state patients from prosecution
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro vowed Thursday to protect the state’s abortion clinics and patients seeking abortions in Pennsylvania, which is seeing an increase in out-of-state patients following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe V. Wade. During a stop at a Pittsburgh abortion clinic, Shapiro called the Supreme...
Old Stone Tavern holds unique place in Pittsburgh, U.S. history
It has been situated at the corner of Greentree Road and Woodville Avenue in the West End since at least 1782, making it the oldest commercial building in Pittsburgh. Now celebrating what is believed to be its 240th birthday, the Old Stone Tavern has seen its share of history, hosting...
Judge agrees to Penn State’s request to seal entire case concerning search warrants involving student victims
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 — At the request of Penn State, a Centre County judge has agreed...
Plane goes off runway at Rostraver Airport
Firefighters and a hazardous materials team were called to Rostraver Airport Thursday for a report of a plane that went off the end of the runway, according to a county 911 dispatcher. The call for assistance went out about 3:50 p.m. Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said...
Altmeyer’s chain files for bankruptcy after 81 years; all locations closed
Altmeyer’s, a family-owned retail home goods chain that started in the basement of a New Kensington tavern 81 years ago and grew to multiple locations in the region, has filed for bankruptcy. The company’s board of directors on Sunday, July 10, authorized its president, Robert Altmeyer, who is the grandson...
Attorneys for accused Tree of Life shooter argue against jury death penalty qualification
Attorneys for accused Tree of Life synagogue shooter Robert Bowers on Thursday made another run at sparing him the possibility of the death penalty, this time arguing that qualifying jurors to consider death will create a jury that is inherently biased toward conviction and capital punishment. In the 80-page motion,...
Detectives allege investment counselor bilked $135K from South Huntingdon widow
A Fayette County man is accused of bilking an 82-year-old South Huntingdon widow out of $135,000. Steven A. Hoffman, 46, of Fayette City was supposed to be investing the money for her since 2015, according to court documents. Hoffman was arraigned this week on charges of theft, dealing in proceeds...
Beltzhoover man shot ex-girlfriend through window of her Clairton home, police say
A Beltzhoover man spent Wednesday harassing his ex-girlfriend via text and through phone calls before he opened fire through the window of her Clairton home, according to charges filed Thursday. Timothy Wallace, 37, is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and weapons charges. The shooting happened shortly after...
Quecreek Mine rescue anniversary events begin Saturday
Several activities are planned starting this weekend leading up to the 20th anniversary of the Quecreek Mine rescue. The plans include a car cruise and celebrations at the Somerset County rescue site, among others. The events will commemorate the rescue of nine miners after they accidentally broke into an abandoned...
Long lines are back at U.S. food banks as inflation hits high
Long lines are back at food banks around the U.S. as working Americans overwhelmed by inflation turn to handouts to help feed their families. With gas prices soaring along with grocery costs, many people are seeking charitable food for the first time, and more are arriving on foot. Inflation in...
Sewickley native saves 5 in Alaska river rescue
Sewickley native Will Harbison, a guide on the Taiya River in Alaska, saved five people after an emergency call to his colleague’s radio on June 5. While preparing for the day at the river’s port, Harbison received word of a minor accident regarding a guest on Chilkat Guides Ltd., another...
South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh charged with murder in death of wife, son
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was charged with murder Thursday in the deaths of his wife and younger son, who were fatally shot outside their home more than a year ago. Murdaugh is already jailed and faces dozens of criminal charges that have piled up in...
Historic Herbst House in Sewickley may be coming down
The Herbst House, a former Catholic school, convent and private residence along Broad Street in Sewickley, may soon be demolished after standing for more than 137 years. Divine Redeemer Parish officials want to raze the property in the historic district due to safety concerns. The parish includes St. James Church...
Is Twitter down? Service appears to return after outage
Twitter appears to be returning for some users after experiencing an hourlong outage that affected both its app and website on Thursday. Individuals attempting to use the social media platform were met with a message saying “Tweets aren’t loading right now. Try again.” According to Downdetector, users began reporting the...
Pittsburgh City Council tweaks redistricted maps as finalization nears
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday amended redistricted council maps so that the Polish Hill and Bon Air neighborhoods would remain in their existing districts. The nine-member Reapportionment Advisory Committee — formed in late September — drew up a proposed map based on the 2020 census. Their map aimed to ensure...
1 dead in Hill District shooting
A shooting left one man dead early Thursday in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, authorities said. A passerby initially believed the man, who was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle near Fifth Avenue and Vine Street in Crawford-Roberts, was overdosing. The passerby administered the overdose-reversal drug Narcan and called 911 shortly...
U.S. regulators OK new covid-19 shot option from Novavax
The United States is getting another covid-19 vaccine choice as the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday cleared Novavax shots for adults. Novavax makes a more traditional type of shot than the three other covid-19 vaccines available for use in the U.S. — and one that’s already available in Europe...
Pittsburgh cocaine dealer sentenced to 15 years in prison
A former Pittsburgh man who distributed at least five kilograms of cocaine to drug dealers who sold it lower-level dealers and users over almost three years was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in a federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh said. Cadee Akins Sr., 50, formerly of the...
