Top Local and National News Stories
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...
Brackenridge water tap-in fees see steep increase
Water tap-in fees are set to skyrocket in Brackenridge, even though there’s typically little to no new construction in the borough. The move is meant to replace an outdated rate structure and stop the borough from losing money, officials said. New residential tap-in fees will quadruple, from $500 to $2,000....
TV Talk: Stephen Colbert bids a sci-fi-infused farewell to ‘Late Show’
Throughout Thursday’s final episode of CBS’s “The Last Show with Stephen Colbert,” a green light appeared behind and around Colbert’s desk accompanied by a static sound, foreshadowing a comedic, sci-fi twist to the show’s swan song, perfectly tuned to Colbert’s interest in science fiction and fantasy. Eventually Colbert goes backstage...
Woodland Hills district begins formal hearing against suspended superintendentVideo
Two Woodland Hills School District administrators testified Thursday their professional opinions were undervalued or undermined while working for Superintendent Joe Maluchnik, during a hearing investigating if he should be fired for cause. A statement of charges, read by attorney Allison Genard who represented Woodland Hills, alleges Maluchnik engaged in gender-based...
Steelers brush off concerns about Aaron Rodgers’ age: ‘He can throw it with anybody’
Eleven current NFL head coaches are younger than Aaron Rodgers, but how many can toss a perfect pass at practice? The future Hall of Famer, who has thrown for the fifth-most yards and fourth-most touchdowns in NFL history, got compliments from his coaches and teammates this week. With Rodgers putting...
Rubio doubtful of diplomacy with Cuba as Trump raises new threat of military actionVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and America’s top diplomat on Thursday again raised the specter of U.S. military intervention in Cuba, a renewed threat that takes on greater weight a day after the administration announced criminal charges against the island’s former leader, Raúl Castro. Trump said previous U.S. presidents have...
Täkō in Downtown Pittsburgh to temporarily close for renovationsVideo
Born just over a decade ago, Täkō — a Mexican and Japanese fusion restaurant located on Sixth Street in Downtown Pittsburgh — just announced its temporary closure, effective June 28. It’s closing for a “full revamp” and renovation of the street food-driven restaurant. Inside, there is a street kitchen window...
Jury begins deliberations in forged-signature trial tied to 2022 congressional race
The attorney for a Harmar man accused of forging signatures on a politician’s election form said in closing arguments Thursday that the case came down to one point: prosecutors did not present enough evidence to convict. Jurors who will decide the fate of Kirk Rice resume deliberations in the trial...
Backlash to Trump’s $1.8B settlement fund delays GOP immigration billVideo
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington on Thursday without voting on a roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies, frustrated with the White House and at an impasse over whether to try to block a new $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they...
John Fetterman’s chief of staff resigns before new report on the senator’s relationship with Israel ally
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s chief of staff resigned this week, the latest departure in the office of a controversial Pennsylvania Democrat who has struggled at times to retain staff. The resignation of Cabelle St. John, who held the top position in Fetterman’s office since June, came before a report that...
