Top Local and National News Stories
Check out 6 rooftop spots for bites and drinks in Pittsburgh
As warmer weather arrives, Pittsburghers don’t have to dream about dining al fresco. For those looking for extra ambiance, the region is home to a number of rooftop bars and restaurants offering panoramic city views, elevated food and drinks, and a chance to snap golden hour photos. We’ve rounded up...
New cholesterol guidelines include earlier screenings, targeted intervention
New guidelines by the American Heart Association urge people to check their cholesterol earlier in life — in some cases, as young as toddlers — to stave off heart disease. Recommendations, in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology and updated in March for the first time since 2018, include...
Pa. is among 10 states that do not compensate the wrongfully convicted
Pennsylvania is one of just 10 states that has no compensation program for those who are wrongfully convicted. Of those 10, it is the most populous and has the most wrongful convictions, according to data kept by the National Registry of Exonerations. Since 1989, 148 people have been exonerated in...
The inside story of how a Bloomfield fatal arson conviction unraveled
Daniel Carnevale has always insisted he didn’t set the fire that killed three people in Bloomfield more than 30 years ago. That didn’t stop police from arresting him on what his lawyers say was flimsy evidence. Imprisoned for nearly 14 years after a jury convicted him of murder, Carnevale eventually...
Trading service weapons for social workers: New policing models emerge in Western Pa.Video
Police officers increasingly are asked to make a complex calculation in the field: Is the person in distress an alleged criminal to be handcuffed or a possible patient to be helped? Although police undergo occasional training on interactions with people experiencing a mental health crisis, a new paradigm in policing...
‘I don’t want golf to take over the park’: Squirrel Hill residents push back on plans to upgrade Schenley Park golf course
Meg Bernard bought her Squirrel Hill home, in part, because she loved the patio overlooking Bob O’Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park. The golf course is quiet and tranquil, with scenic views of greenspace. But she worries that proposed changes to the course — including the addition of a driving...
As Shapiro, Garrity set to face off for governor, here are 7 hurdles that could shape race
The campaign for governor is poised to kick into high gear now that the top of the ticket for Pennsylvania’s general election is set. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat from Montgomery County, and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis of West Mifflin, are facing Republican Stacy Garrity, the state’s...
Offbeat Pittsburgh: How artist Baron Batch turned Pittsburgh into his canvas
Baron Batch greeted me at his art studio with a handshake, a half-hug and a simple request: Leave the iPhone on a shelf in the hallway. I stepped into the studio, perched on a hill in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood, and was immediately swallowed by color — large canvases in progress,...
Delayed air quality permits from state, Allegheny County raise concerns about pollution
A new analysis by the Group Against Smog and Pollution found the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is late to issue at least 15 air quality permits, raising concerns that some of the state’s most prolific polluters may be operating without adequate oversight. Facilities that create significant air pollution must...
Harmar man guilty of forging signatures to get congressional hopeful on 2022 ballot
A jury on Friday found a longtime political volunteer guilty of forging signatures in a bid to help a Democratic congressional hopeful get on the ballot in 2022. Kirk Rice, 66, of Harmar was convicted of 38 criminal counts, including 14 counts of forgery and multiple counts of identity theft,...
Jacob Maloberti seeks plea deal in 2023 killing of Westmoreland County boy
A Delmont man accused in the 2023 killing of his wife’s 5-year-old adopted son is seeking a potential plea deal to lesser charges, his attorney told a Westmoreland County judge Friday. Jacob Maloberti, 36, appeared in court for what was labeled a disposition hearing on criminal homicide and other charges...
School cellphone ban can’t be OK’d fast enough for ‘fed up’ parents and teachers
Introduced in October, Senate Bill 1014 awaits House approval for its statewide “bell-to-bell” ban on cell phones during school hours. For concerned parents and teachers, action can’t come soon enough. Public support for the bill is widespread and growing, with 74% of U.S. adults backing a ban on cellphones in...
Tulsi Gabbard resigns as director of national intelligence, citing her husband’s health
WASHINGTON — Tulsi Gabbard resigned as President Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence on Friday, saying she needed to step away as her husband battles cancer. She is the fourth Cabinet official to depart during Trump’s second term. “Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” Gabbard wrote...
Minimum payments for filling prescriptions would aid pharmacies, Pa. insurance department says
A report released Thursday by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department shows setting a minimum payment to pharmacies for dispensing drugs would help stabilize small drugstores without substantially raising medication prices. Pharmacies are primarily paid for their work by pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, which are hired by insurers to oversee prescription...
Pittsburgh bill would tax skill games like poker, slot, claw machinesVideo
A Pittsburgh councilman plans to introduce a bill next week that would tax various skill games and amusement devices, ranging from poker machines to pool tables, slot machines to pinball. The legislation aims to increase revenue for the city without further burdening homeowners, who saw their property taxes jump by...
Piece of historic copper brew kettle stolen from Penn Brewery
An ellipse-shaped piece of copper from a boil kettle at Penn Brewery was stolen from the brewery’s brewhouse Sunday morning. The roughly 4-square-foot section of copper had been removed during repairs in July 2023, the brewery said Friday. Pittsburgh police have identified suspects and are working to recover the half-inch-thick...
New Kensington shelter dogs benefit from increased volunteerism — in part, thanks to MiaVideo
A year after New Kensington’s Animal Protectors of the Allegheny Valley adopted out a shelter dog named Mia, who went viral online for her three-year stay there, the organization has seen a residual boost in volunteerism. Animal Protectors took to social media with Mia’s story, and it caught widespread attention....
Mark Madden: Aaron Rodgers talk is everywhere and, ultimately, that’s our fault
Aaron Rodgers might now be a meh quarterback, but give him credit: He knows how to refresh the news cycle. For months, Rodgers had locals on the edge of their seats awaiting his decision: To play or not to play? Rodgers got ice cream, signed and showed up at OTAs....
Police: Ligonier Township man pointed gun at another driver on Route 30
A Ligonier Township man is behind bars after police said he pointed a gun at another driver during a road rage incident on Route 30. Ligonier Valley Police charged Michael A. Payne, 62, this week with attempted aggravated assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and simple assault. The driver of a...
Allegheny County Council president steps down from post amid mailer controversy
Pat Catena stepped down as Allegheny County Council president Friday amid continued fallout over a controversial campaign mailer tied to his unsuccessful bid for Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 45th House District. Council Chief Clerk Jared Barker said Catena informed fellow council members Friday morning that he would vacate the leadership...
ShotSpotter survives legal challenge in Pittsburgh case amid scrutiny of technology
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has ruled that a ShotSpotter alert can help justify police searches — but sidestepped whether the controversial gunshot detection system alone can establish probable cause, despite ongoing concerns about the technology’s accuracy, secrecy and oversight. The legal ramifications of Tuesday’s 5-2 ruling about a Pittsburgh case remain...
State-of-the-art parking, ‘elevated’ living touted at new Strip District apartment complex
A new upscale apartment building is now leasing units and offering state-of-the-art parking options in the Strip District. The Stanza has 84 units and 24 unique floor plans on seven floors at 2930 Smallman St. It’s the latest development project from The AM Group, a private construction, development and real...
Acrisure company to cut 2,250 jobs due to AI advancements
Acrisure — the company that holds the naming rights to the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium on the North Shore — is set to cut 2,250 jobs due to AI advancements. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based fintech (financial technology) and insurance firm announced the reduction Wednesday, saying it will happen in phases between...
Trump immunity from IRS audit shocks experts, who warn it could undermine trust in tax system
NEW YORK — Remember Donald Trump’s response in the 2016 presidential debate, when Hillary Clinton blasted him for paying virtually no federal taxes? “That makes me smart,” Trump said. By that logic, Trump is looking smarter than ever now. On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service agreed to drop all pending...
Westmoreland County water authority drops fees, offers free lead pipe replacementsVideo
Hoping that a price tag of zero will entice reluctant property owners, the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on Thursday dropped plans to charge residents to replace lead water lines and will instead offer the service for free. Just months after launching a program that could have cost homeowners and...
