Megan Guza stories
Squirrel Hill woman briefly hospitalized with county’s 1st human case of West Nile this year
A Squirrel Hill woman was hospitalized recently after contracting West Nile Virus, the first human case in Allegheny County this year, according to the county health department. The woman, who is in her 70s, was “briefly hospitalized before being released to recover at home,” health officials said in a statement....
5 things to know about updated covid-19 booster shots
Two weeks after the federal government signed off on covid-19 booster shots targeting the most dominant strains of the virus, clinics and health care providers in Southwestern Pennsylvania have begun offering the shots to eligible recipients. The newly authorized bivalent vaccines are updated boosters that specifically target the BA.4 and...
Thousands sign letter supporting CMU professor who wished ‘excruciating’ death on Queen Elizabeth II
More than 3,000 people have signed a letter rallying around Uju Anya, a Carnegie Mellon University professor whose tweet last week wished Queen Elizabeth II an excruciating death and sparked outcry from some and support from others. The signatures — just over 3,800 as of 5:30 p.m. Monday — came...
Remains found in Turtle Creek identified as man missing since last year
Remains found earlier this year in Turtle Creek have been identified as a man reported missing in Pitcairn last year, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The skeletal remains were discovered May 23 in a wooded area near Lynn Avenue. The medical examiner’s office on Monday identified remains...
Pitt, UPMC officials tap Dr. Freddie Fu recruit to fill ‘irreplaceable’ doctor’s orthopedic roles
The University of Pittsburgh and UPMC ended a yearlong search Monday for a successor for Dr. Freddie Fu, who helped catapult orthopedics at the university and health system to international renown during his tenure, which ran from 1998 until his death in 2021. Officials have tapped Dr. MaCalus V. Hogan...
East Hills woman charged with homicide in fatal shooting of friend’s brother
A woman who told investigators that she “wasn’t going to be hit by a man” is charged with homicide in connection with a shooting Thursday at an East Hills housing complex, according to a criminal complaint filed against her. Toddia Smiley, 25, of East Hills, said she was drinking in...
Suspect charged with shooting man in the leg on Downtown side of Rachel Carson Bridge
Pittsburgh police have taken into custody a man accused of shooting another man in the leg midday Friday in the city. Dremajjae Reddix, 26, is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Court documents did not list a...
Allegheny County expands eligibility for monkeypox vaccine
The monkeypox vaccine is now available to a wider swath of people in Allegheny County as health officials work to get the prophylaxis to those most at risk of coming into contact with the virus. In addition to those already eligible for the vaccine, which can prevent illness if received...
McKeesport man accused of shaking infant son, causing severe injuries
A McKeesport man who police said was exasperated with his crying infant son and frustrated that he had to look after him is accused of shaking the infant so hard that his brain bled. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday said Michael Barber, 29, gave witnesses and police several different explanations...
Brashear High School student caught with gun in backpack
Staff members at Brashear High School caught a student with a gun in their backpack Wednesday after noticing suspicious behavior at dismissal time, a Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman said. Spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said that as students were dismissed, a staff member noticed a student walk into a wooded area before...
No injuries reported in light rail car fire at T’s South Hills Village station, limited service continues
A light rail car caught fire with six riders on board Wednesday at the South Hills Village station, according to Pittsburgh Regional Transit. In a social media post shortly after 2 p.m., the transit authority said the Bethel Park station was evacuated because of “a fire on a rail car...
Pittsburgh police, first responders ready for Backyard Brawl, holiday weekend
Pittsburgh safety officials say they are ready for the estimated 70,000 fans set to descend on the city’s North Shore on Thursday for the return of the Backyard Brawl. The Pitt-West Virginia rivalry game, the first in more than a decade, will shut down multiple roads around Acrisure Stadium. Police...
Pittsburgh Police investigate string of business break-ins in Shadyside, Lawrenceville
Pittsburgh Police are investigating whether a string of business break-ins over the weekend in Lawrenceville are related to several similar incidents days earlier in Shadyside. The rash of burglaries began overnight Thursday into Friday, according to police. Two businesses on South Aiken Avenue were broken into and had goods taken...
Canonsburg couple who fled after infant’s death face homicide charges
Two Canonsburg parents that went on the run after their infant daughter died suddenly earlier this month will face homicide charges in connection with her death, according to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. The charges were announced Monday against Shannon McKnight, 23, and James May, 31. The couple’s 3-month-old...
Freeport alum killed in Armstrong County burn barrel explosion
An Alle-Kiski Valley native died in Armstrong County last week when something inside a burn barrel he was using exploded. Mark Liti, 48, was struck by debris in the explosion Tuesday and later died at ACMH Hospital. “He was a great family guy,” his brother, Chris Liti, told Tribune-Review news...
Hundreds turn out for backpacks, activities at Arnold Back to School Bash
Hundreds of students and families turned out Saturday for a back-to-school bash at Roosevelt Park in Arnold, a joint effort of several community groups meant to help kids in the area prepare for the start of classes. “It’s a way to give back to the community and ease the burden...
Suspect wounded by police gunfire after pursuit that killed Wilkinsburg biker
A man died Friday night when another man fleeing police struck his mini motorbike at a Wilkinsburg intersection, according to Allegheny County Police. The fleeing driver, Jack Sherwood, 48, was later wounded when he tried to run down an officer who in turn fired into Sherwood’s car, police said. Monroeville...
Authorities identify man pulled from Allegheny River
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office on Thursday identified a man found dead in the Allegheny River earlier this week. Dwayne Fletcher, 39, of Braddock, was pronounced dead around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Pittsburgh police responded to the North Shore near Art Rooney Drive around 7 a.m. for a report of...
Man accused of calling in bomb threat to Allegheny County Courthouse ‘didn’t want to go to court’
A man who didn’t want to face a judge for a probation violation hearing Monday instead called in a bomb threat, forcing hundreds to evacuate the courthouse as authorities conducted a meticulous, 90-minute sweep of the building. Brandon Hipps, 21, who is homeless, now faces a litany of charges that,...
Survey: Many at-risk youths in Allegheny Co. lose family to gun violence
A teenage girl whose sister was gunned down one Saturday night last year. A boy shot in the back at 17 who had to relearn to walk. They are among the children and young adults whose voices were heard in a recent survey focused on Allegheny County’s at-risk youth. The...
Glassport man charged with homicide by vehicle in fatal March crash
A Glassport man was driving 95 mph and sped through stop signs and red lights just before he crashed into another car in North Versailles, killing the other driver, according to charges filed this week. Shamar Roach, 24, is charged with homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter in connection with...
3 men accused of trafficking ‘mass amounts’ of fentanyl in Allegheny, Somerset
A yearlong investigation into drug trafficking in Allegheny and Somerset counties culminated Tuesday with charges being filed against three men who investigators say trafficked “mass amounts” of fentanyl in the counties. The investigation, overseen by the state Attorney General’s Office, recovered dozens of bricks of heroin and fentanyl and hundreds...
What to know about the poliovirus found in New York wastewater
Poliovirus has been found in New York City’s wastewater, sparking concerns about circulation of the virus, but an infectious disease expert cautioned that it is important to understand the type of poliovirus detected and the mass vaccination status of most of the country. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease...
UPMC Children’s Hospital employee diagnosed with monkeypox
A UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh employee who works in an outpatient clinic has been diagnosed with monkeypox, officials said Friday. “Precautions to prevent transmission were already in place and were followed, so we believe there is very low risk of exposure,” said Beth Mausteller, a spokeswoman for the UPMC...
Some Pittsburgh cops sidelined after failing firearms certification
Several Pittsburgh police officers are off the streets while they await retesting for annual firearms certification, officials said. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said in an email that she did not have the exact number of officers who failed to qualify during the current testing period, noting that it is...
