Top Local and National News Stories
New mental health diagnosis could impact guilty plea in St. Clair murder-for-hire case
A new mental health diagnosis could impact the planned guilty plea of a 20-year-old man who admitted to killing a St. Clair woman in her home at the request of her daughter. Robert Jack, 20, was the key witness during a weeklong trial in Westmoreland County court in February. His...
Pittsburgh faces longer allergy seasons, study finds
Allergy season in Pittsburgh kicks off in spring, but symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes and congestion are starting sooner and lingering longer, a study shows, as warmer temperatures extend the pollen season. Climate Central, a nonprofit organization that researches climate science, released a study that showed Pittsburgh’s freeze-free season, which...
How a single word caused a Pittsburgh homicide mistrial
The witness’s testimony was supposed to be simple. Pittsburgh police Officer Andrew Dice was expected to describe for jurors an interaction he’d heard at the Allegheny County Jail when dropping off a homicide suspect. Ambrose Sample Jr., charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend during a child custody exchange on...
United Arab Emirates briefly closes airspace as Israel strikes Lebanon and Tehran
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Explosions sounded over Dubai early Tuesday as the United Arab Emirates’ military worked to intercept incoming Iranian fire that caused the country to briefly close its airspace as Israel launched new strikes in war in the Middle East. The Israeli military said early Tuesday it...
What happened to Daphy? Haitian woman’s death prompts Pittsburgh immigration lawyer to question ICE procedures
An immigration attorney is raising questions about a Haitian woman’s death in Pittsburgh this month days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took her into custody and then released her with an electronic ankle monitor. Daphy Michel, 31, of Charleroi was found unresponsive at a bus shelter on March 2...
O’Connor’s budget headaches included inheriting millions in unpaid Pittsburgh Water bills
Last summer, the City of Pittsburgh got a $5.2 million water bill for six months of service. It didn’t pay. So when Mayor Corey O’Connor took over from Ed Gainey in January, he took on both that debt and the rest of Pittsburgh Water’s 2025 charges. The total owed to...
Storms cancel more flights as TSA remains under pressure from partial government shutdownVideo
ATLANTA — Thousands of flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed Monday as powerful storms swept across the eastern half of the country and a partial government shutdown affecting airport security screeners dragged into a second month. The disruptions come at an already challenging time for air travel, in...
Penn Hills mother now charged with homicide in death of son, 3
Police on Monday charged a Penn Hills woman in the death of her 3-year-old son. Lagomau Malu, 23, was arrested last week after her son Devin died at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Doctors at the Lawrenceville hospital told police the boy had suffered 11 fractures, which “are indicative of...
Nathan Salem to seek insanity defense in fatal shooting of Mogie’s Irish Pub tavern owner
A Lower Burrell man accused of killing a popular tavern owner plans to use an insanity defense at his murder trial. Nathan Salem, 47, is scheduled for trial in Westmoreland County court in June for the Dec. 21, 2023, fatal shooting of David “Mogie” Magill. Prosecutors say Magill, 64, was...
Judge blocks U.S. government from slimming down vaccine recommendations
A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child, and said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in revamping a key vaccine advisory committee. The decision halted an order by Kennedy — announced in...
Acme pair charged with murder after toddler dies of methamphetamine overdose
Two Acme residents are facing third-degree murder charges after a 15-month-old child died from a methamphetamine overdose in a home investigators found was freezing and filled with waste. Michael Blasser, 34, and Ashley Makarsky, 31, were arraigned Monday on charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. The charges stem...
UPMC warns embattled data exchange Health Gorilla may have improperly pulled patient records
UPMC says its medical records may have been improperly accessed by Health Gorilla, a patient data gatekeeper accused in federal court of mismanaging sensitive information. Health Gorilla requested data “under the pretext of providing treatment to shared UPMC patients and claimed it had permission to do so,” according to a...
Allegheny YMCA reopens on North Side after $26M renovation
Crowds were eager to get a glimpse of the newly renovated Allegheny YMCA on Pittsburgh’s North Side on Monday. The historic 1926 facility at 600 W. North Ave. opened to excited patrons before dawn, following a $26 million, yearlong renovation. “It’s gorgeous,” said Linda Scott, membership services coordinator. “We’re getting...
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has breast cancer but will keep working through treatment
WASHINGTON — White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer but plans to continue working through her treatment, retaining her place as one of President Donald Trump’s closest aides during a period of political turbulence. Wiles, 68, announced on Monday that she had...
Heinz Endowments to help fund Pittsburgh’s controversial 25-year master plan
A controversial master plan meant to guide Pittsburgh’s zoning policies through 2050 will get funding from a local foundation, saving taxpayers from footing the entire bill. Mayor Corey O’Connor on Monday announced The Heinz Endowments, partnering with The Pittsburgh Foundation, will provide $750,000 for the multimillion-dollar project. “It’s important that...
Canonsburg’s Coen Markets eyes sale to U.K.-based convenience store giant
Canonsburg-based Coen Markets could soon be part of a convenience store empire. Coen’s 50-plus stores in and around Southwestern Pennsylvania are being acquired by United Kingdom-based EG Group, the companies announced Thursday. EG Group owns more than 1,500 U.S. convenience across 10 brands, including Turkey Hill, Minit Mart and its...
Citizens Live at the Wylie announces opening lineup, including Wiz Khalifa as 1st show
Wiz Khalifa will headline the first show at Citizens Live at the Wylie later this year. The Pittsburgh-raised rapper will perform on Oct. 2 at Pittsburgh’s newest music spot, as Live Nation on Monday announced the initial lineup for the Lower Hill District venue. The music acts represent a wide...
Tricky negotiations begin Monday to renew a trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada
WASHINGTON — Every day more than $4 billion worth of goods cross the United States’ borders with Canada and Mexico — U.S. auto parts headed for car factories in northern Mexico, cartons of Mexican avocados bound for California supermarkets, Canadian aluminum destined to become cans of Campbell Soup. Much of...
College of 2nd chances: Professor who has taught at CCAC since it opened reflects on 60-year tenureVideo
Microbiology professor Francis Maxin has taught at Community College of Allegheny County since it opened its doors 60 years ago. He has no plans to retire anytime soon. “How can I retire? The college can’t afford my retirement present,” Maxin joked. “I want a BMW with a heated steering wheel.”...
2 former Westmoreland coroners back on the county payroll
Westmoreland County’s last two elected coroners are back on the payroll. Former Coroner Tim Carson started this month in a newly created human services position to serve as coordinator of the county’s opioid prevention program. Meanwhile, current Coroner John Ackerman — who ousted Carson in last year’s Republican primary and...
More damaging wind gusts possible ahead of 1-day cold snap
After being buffeted by winds that knocked out power for thousands this weekend, the Pittsburgh area is expected to get blasted again Monday followed by a one-day cold snap this week. A wind advisory began at midnight and is expected to end at 11 a.m. Monday for Western Pennsylvania. Winds...
St. Patrick’s Day is 1 of several times when sobriety checkpoints, roving DUI patrols are activated
If Castle Shannon police don’t make any arrests during a sobriety checkpoint, Chief Ken Truver won’t be upset. “We don’t want to do the enforcement. We will, but we don’t want to,” he said. “This campaign is all about educating the public and doing the safe and responsible thing.” Greensburg...
TV Talk: Winning host Conan O’Brien keeps Oscars moving
In his second consecutive year as Oscars host, Conan O’Brien proved his first time was no fluke. If O’Brien is to become the new Billy Crystal of the Academy Awards, that’s A-OK. Although a post-telecast bit naming him “Oscars Host for Life” ends with O’Brien being gassed (like the ending...
Resignation comes from Pittsburgh Episcopal priest accused of stealing baseball cards at Walmart
The head priest of a Pittsburgh Episcopal church accused of stealing baseball cards from a Walmart has resigned. The Right Rev. Ketlen Solak, the Episcopal bishop of Pittsburgh, announced she accepted the resignation of the Very Rev. Aidan Everett Smith, dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Downtown Pittsburgh, in a...
CEOs of top airlines demand Congress restore funding to Homeland Security and pay airport workers
NEW YORK — The CEOs of the nation’s top airline companies, including American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue, are imploring Congress to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and embrace a bipartisan solution to pay federal aviation workers including airport security officers during the partial government shutdown. “Once again,...
