Top Stories category, Page 990
Niece recalls Jim Rogers as father figure, demands charges against police in his death
Diamond Rogers said her uncle Jim Rogers played an important supportive role in her childhood. “Jim, he took me and (my sister) under his wing when we didn’t have a father figure in our lives,” said Diamond Rogers. “I don’t know what we would have done if it wasn’t for...
What makes a political map fair? Here’s what we learned during Pa.’s recent redistricting cycle
This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access. HARRISBURG — What makes a political map fair? It’s a question the...
Biden promises new Ukraine aid, warns Russia on chemical weapons
BRUSSELS — President Joe Biden and Western allies pledged new sanctions and humanitarian aid on Thursday in response to Vladimir Putin’s assault on Ukraine, but their offers fell short of the more robust military assistance that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for in a pair of live-video appearances. Biden also announced...
Jeannette officials continue discussion about use of federal covid relief cash
Jeannette officials have a lot of work to whittle down a wish list of projects that could be funded with what is left of the city’s $950,000 allocation from the American Rescue Plan. With $287,000 already earmarked, there are far more proposed uses than the $662,000 available will pay for....
Couple from Pittsburgh’s Shadyside accused of harassing Russian neighbor
A couple from Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood faces charges of ethnic intimidation after police said the man and woman harassed two people in their neighborhood, one of them a native of Russia. Police identified the couple as Robert Pfaffmann, 66, a prominent Pittsburgh architect, and Lisa Marie Haabestad, 64. Police said...
Penn Hills School District to hold town-hall meeting regarding mascot change
Penn Hills School District will hold a town-hall meeting on April 13 to discuss potentially changing its mascot name. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the Penn Hills Elementary cafeteria. Superintendent Nancy Hines said there has been discussion in the past about a change, but there has been...
Ketanji Brown Jackson on track for confirmation, but GOP votes in doubt
WASHINGTON — After more than 30 hours of hearings, the Senate is on track to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. But Democrats seem unlikely to confirm her with a robust bipartisan vote, dashing President Joe Biden’s hopes for a grand reset after...
Americans applying for jobless aid is lowest since 1969
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week fell to its lowest level in 52 years as the U.S. job market continues to show strength in the midst of rising costs and ongoing virus pandemic. Jobless claims fell by 28,000 to 187,000 for the week ending...
Cold, snowy weekend in store for Western Pa.
Don’t let the warm weather we’ve had this week fool you. Though the calendar has flipped to spring, the cold isn’t ready to let us out of its clutches just yet. The National Weather Service is calling for a significant temperature drop this weekend and snow flurries to boot, said...
Ukrainian president to press Biden, NATO for more support
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called on people worldwide to gather in public Thursday to show support for his embattled country as U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders met for talks focused on pressuring Russia to end the invasion that is entering its second month. “Come...
Pittsburgh Public Schools drop mask requirement for performing students only
Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Wednesday night that it is dropping mask requirements for performing arts students while they are on stage. Theater students and their parents have been urging board members recently to drop the mandate for performers. The announcement came at PPS’s March legislative meeting. “We revised the safety...
New Kensington preparing to tackle cost of replacing fire department’s aging aerial ladder truck
The New Kensington fire department hoped to have its aerial ladder truck back in service by the end of last week, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said Wednesday. After that, the job became figuring out how the city will pay the anticipated $1.5 million to replace the 24-year-old vehicle. “We...
People flock to Hempfield monastery to enjoy the silence of a retreat
There will be plenty of peace and quiet at St. Emma Monastery this weekend, for those who seek it out. About 70 people who are attending a silent retreat at the Hempfield community will bask in the quiet among the Benedictine nuns there. “People are bombarded by every spectrum of...
Biden seeks new sanctions, help for Ukrainians in EuropeVideo
BRUSSELS — As war rages on in Ukraine, President Joe Biden will huddle with key allies in Brussels and Warsaw this week to talk through plans for imposing punishing new sanctions on Russia and dealing with an extraordinary humanitarian crisis, while developing a consensus on how they would respond if...
AHN sending ‘urgently needed’ portable X-ray machine, medical supplies to hospital in UkraineVideo
Allegheny Health Network is donating medical supplies and a mobile X-ray machine to war-torn Ukraine. AHN radiation oncologist Alexander Kirichenko, a native of Kyiv, Ukraine, said he fielded several phone calls and correspondence last weekend from Dr. Sergey Zemskov of the Ukrainian National Medical University, pleading for medical supplies and...
District judge launches 22nd annual ‘Drugs Kill Dreams’ campaign aimed at Armstrong County children
When Ford City District Judge J. Gary DeComo launched a youth anti-drug campaign in 2000, he knew that helping kids make choices that lead them away from drug abuse would take more than a catchy slogan, a pep talk and handing out sports memorabilia. But it was a start. “Those...
Police: Mississippi duo scammed more than $10,000 from Rivers Casino roulette tables
A scheme of distraction and secret signals helped a Mississippi couple scam Rivers Casino out of more than $10,000 at the roulette tables over two nights last month, according to the charges against them. Shaun Benward, 33, and Denielle Derohan, 42, are both charged with theft by deception, conspiracy, and...
Plans announced to preserve iconic North Park water tank to serve as observation towerVideo
A casual visitor to North Park could easily mistake the 101-foot-tall, bullet-shaped structure near the Lodge pavilion as nothing more than a rusting, abandoned curiosity. Built in 1937 during the Works Progress Administration, the cylindrical steel tank along North Ridge Road — officially known as the Allegheny County North Park...
Landside terminal construction underway at Pittsburgh International Airport
Cranes and construction crews are making headway at the Pittsburgh International Airport, as work building a new landside terminal is well underway. Airport officials said progress for the $1.3 billion project is on schedule and the new, upgraded terminal is on track to open by 2025. In fact, Allegheny County...
Trial begins for jitney driver accused of killing man, dumping body in North Versailles
Using license plate reading cameras, security camera footage and a car rental agreement, Allegheny County Police detectives were able to identify Darrel Hardy Jr. as the man they believed killed Zack “Bud” Moore within hours of the 2018 shooting. Hardy, who worked as a jitney driver, is on trial this...
Planning Commission approves UPMC plan for 363-bed hospital in Oakland
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission signed off on UPMC’s plans for a new 363-bed hospital in Oakland on Tuesday, paving the way for finalized plans to go to the city’s zoning administrator for approval. UPMC said the new hospital, planned for the former Children’s Hospital site at the corner of Fifth Avenue...
Officials: 5 Pittsburgh police officers terminated after months-long investigation into death of Jim Rogers
Five Pittsburgh police officers were terminated as a result of their actions leading up to the death of Jim Rogers last year, though city officials on Wednesday offered scant information into the investigation and the decision-making process. Eight officers were recommended for discipline following the ultimately fatal interactions with Rogers...
Man found dead after North Versailles shooting; suspect shoots himself
One man is dead and the suspect in his death is in the hospital after an overnight incident in North Versailles. Allegheny County 911 received a call about a shooting in North Versailles around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night. First responders found Travis George Sanner, 38, dead at the scene in...
1 person dead after vehicle collides with train in Sutersville
One person died Wednesday morning in a crash between a vehicle and CSX train in Sutersville, railroad officials said. The collision occurred at 10:35 a.m. near Second Avenue and Fourth Street, according to the Westmoreland County dispatcher. The Westmoreland County coroner, who was called to the scene shortly after the...
Sen. Bob Casey tests positive for covid-19
U.S. Senator Bob Casey, D-Scranton, has tested positive for covid-19, but said he is not experiencing symptoms. In a tweet posted Tuesday night, Casey said it was during regular testing that he received his positive result. Although he is grateful to be asymptomatic, he said he will isolate for five...
