Top Stories category, Page 967
Benedum Center marquee to receive ‘much needed’ restoration
From its ornate interior to its classic marquee design, Downtown Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center harkens back to an era when going to a theater for a play, movie or concert was an experience in itself. One look at the marquee over the main entrance — with its white block letters against...
State Supreme Court rejects appeal for man sentenced to die for 2017 fatal shooting of New Kensington cop
The state Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously upheld the death sentence for a man convicted of fatally shooting New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw in 2017. A Westmoreland County jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes on Nov. 12, 2019, to find Rahmael Holt, 33, of Harrison, guilty on all...
Pittsburgh, Western Pa. high schools make U.S. News & World Report best list
U.S. News & World Report has compiled its annual review of more than 24,000 public high schools across the United States, with 718 in Pennsylvania making its best rankings list. The top 3 schools in the Keystone State are:Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia, #10 nationally)Downingtown STEM AcademyRadnor High School...
Prosecutors to seek death penalty against man accused of killing Uber driver in Monroeville
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office filed notice Thursday that it will seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing an Uber driver after she picked him up for a fare. Calvin Crew, 23, of Pitcairn, is accused of shooting Christi Spicuzza, 38, in a wooded area off...
Pittsburgh scraps plans for guaranteed basic income program
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is scrapping plans to use American Rescue Plan funding for a guaranteed basic income pilot program in the city. Former Mayor Bill Peduto had proposed using $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding for a pilot program to offer $500 monthly payments to 200 low-income Pittsburgh...
Climate change may increase risk of new infectious diseases
Climate change will result in thousands of new viruses spread among animal species by 2070 — and that’s likely to increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans, according to a new study. This is especially true for Africa and Asia, continents that have been hotspots...
Anti-bullying protest at Deer Lakes canceled because of bullying, student organizers say
A scheduled walkout by some Deer Lakes students to protest bullying at the high school has been canceled because of backlash from the community, organizers said. Student Abygail Cacurak said a private meeting with district administration is being planned in lieu of the protest. “After much deliberation and thought, we...
2 charged after farm animals removed from deplorable conditions in Hempfield
Two people were arrested Thursday in connection with numerous neglected farm animals, some of which were dead, that were seized from a Hempfield property, according to court papers. Authorities said a veterinarian concluded most of the animals had pneumonia and a sheep found dead had a ruptured eye and suspected...
Explosions rock Kyiv again as Russians rain fire on Ukraine
IRPIN, Ukraine — Russia pounded targets from practically one end of Ukraine to the other Thursday, including Kyiv, bombarding the city while the head of the United Nations was visiting in the boldest attack on the capital since Moscow’s forces retreated weeks ago. Several people were wounded in the attack...
Pittsburgh region ties record low temperature of 29 degrees
A freeze warning for the Pittsburgh region expired around 9 a.m. Thursday — but not before temperatures tied an 88-year-old record low. The temperature dipped to 29 degrees overnight, tying a record set in 1934, National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier said. “It’s possible that locations around Pittsburgh dropped even...
4 leading GOP governor candidates look for ways to differentiate themselves in latest debate
The four leading Republican primary candidates for governor agreed on the questions they faced in an hourlong debate Wednesday night inside the WHTM/abc27 studio in Harrisburg, so much of the time was spent trying to separate themselves from their opponents. State Sen. Doug Mastriano took frequent jabs at Tom Wolf...
Moderna seeks to be 1st with covid shots for littlest kids
Moderna on Thursday asked U.S. regulators to authorize low doses of its covid-19 vaccine for children younger than 6, a long-awaited move toward potentially opening shots for millions of tots by summer. Frustrated families are waiting impatiently for a chance to protect the nation’s littlest kids as all around them...
NFL Draft Guide 2022: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers select a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time in 18 years tonight? Ben Roethlisberger, a future Hall of Famer, retired after the 2021 season, fueling speculation the Steelers might draft a signal-caller on the first day for the first...
Shooter threat closes Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh’s East Hills
A threat of violence has closed a private Pittsburgh school Thursday. Imani Christian Academy in the city’s East Hills section is closed due to a shooter threat, according to an alert on the school’s website. Pittsburgh police are investigating. School officials were not immediately able to be reached, but classes...
Farmers markets reopening in Westmoreland County
Farmers markets are springing up in the region, including a sale this Saturday in Greensburg. About 15 vendors will be selling their homemade products at the farmers market from 9 a.m. to noon at Lynch Field in Greensburg, said Paul Sarver, manager of the Farmers Market Association of Central Westmoreland,...
Democratic lawmaker: Biden suggests he’ll ease student loan burden
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and further extend the federal moratorium on repayments, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday. The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to...
Federal judge halts preparations for end of U.S. asylum limits
NEW ORLEANS — The Biden administration must stop what amounts to the phasing out a pandemic-related public health rule allowing the expulsion of migrants without giving them an opportunity to seek asylum, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled Wednesday. The administration plans to end the policy outright on May 23....
Lawyer for Greensburg shooting suspect claims self defense
The lawyer for a man awaiting trial for attempted murder told a judge his client acted in self defense when he fired one shot during a melee outside Rialto Cafe in Greensburg. Defense attorney T. Brent McCune said 23-year-old Evan Curley of Greensburg was acting to protect himself as bullets...
Josh Shapiro’s vast donor base has positioned him to enter general election campaign flush with cash
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 — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro has raised nearly $18 million in campaign contributions over the past 15 months —...
Avian flu hits ducks, chickens, eagles in Pa.; officials ask public to report dead birds
Avian flu cases in wild birds, including eagles and ducks, are growing in Pennsylvania. The first detection at a poultry farm, where birds are especially vulnerable to the flu, was flagged April 16 in Lancaster. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced more detections in three commercial flocks, also in...
Greensburg Night Market opens with larger footprint, more vendors
The monthly Greensburg Night Market returns Thursday for its fourth year, with an expanded footprint covering three downtown city blocks. Set for 5:30-9 p.m., the market will stretch along South Pennsylvania Avenue from West Otterman Street to West Third Street. About 80 vendors will be present. “We’ve been wanting to...
Fauci: ‘Pandemic phase’ over for U.S., but covid still hereVideo
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday the coronavirus is under better control in the United States. but the pandemic isn’t over — and the challenge is how to keep improving the situation. “We are in a different moment of the pandemic,” said Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, in an...
Hempfield family unhurt in what they describe as explosion that sounded ‘like a gunshot’
A Hempfield home was damaged Wednesday morning after an incident that its occupants described as sounding “like a gunshot,” according to homeowner David Elliott. Firefighters were called to Cree Drive in the township’s Fort Allen neighborhood around 8 a.m. and found the home’s windows had been pushed out of their...
Pittsburgh area experts have mixed reactions to Elon Musk’s Twitter purchase
It was Remington shaver spokesman Victor Kiam who famously said, “I like it so much, I bought the company.” For Elon Musk, the opposite is true. The world’s richest man, according to Forbes Magazine, Musk reached an agreement to buy Twitter for $44 billion on Monday and then said he...
Therapy dogs ease stress for college students during finals
The perfect remedy to college finals stress? Puppy love. On Tuesday, Pitt-Greensburg students gathered in the Fireside Lounge to hang out with a posse of pups — including a Dalmatian, beagle and sheepadoodle — from Youngwood Top Dog Services. Therapy dogs have become increasingly popular on college campuses to bring...
