Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1041
See how the final Pa. state House map scores in every key area
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 — A panel has approved a new Pennsylvania House map that...
NTSB report: Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge collapse started on Squirrel Hill side
The collapse of Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge likely started on the west, or Squirrel Hill, side of the span, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board released Monday. The brief report notes only facts surrounding the collapse and the bridge itself. It does not draw any...
Small plane makes emergency landing at Arnold Palmer airport; no injuries reported
No injuries were reported when a small plane made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff Monday morning at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The chartered plane carrying nine passengers and three crew members experienced smoke in the cockpit about 20 miles into its flight, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of...
Pittsburgh to receive $30M for public transit in 1st infrastructure bill allocation
The Pittsburgh region is receiving more than $30 million in transit funding from the infrastructure law passed in November, but it remains unknown how the region’s largest transit agency will use the money. The money is coming from the $234 million allocated for Pennsylvania and is earmarked for the first...
Route 31 in Donegal Township closed for hours after chain- reaction crash involving 3 trucks
Jesse Bash had stopped his black four-wheel drive pickup truck on Route 31 in Donegal Township Monday to make a left turn into a furniture outlet store where he works when the driver of a tri-axle truck behind him “began really laying on his air horn.” “I was really starting...
Pittsburgh looks to add more plows to address concerns about snow, ice removal
Pittsburgh is looking to address complaints about snow and ice removal by adding a dozen plows to its fleet. “We’ve come to the conclusion that we just need more vehicles, more safely operating vehicles,” Councilman Anthony Coghill said, explaining that the measure would “help our fleet get up to the...
Man knocked out, 1 person arrested after South Side fight
A man is in the hospital with head injuries after being knocked unconscious Monday during a fight on Pittsburgh’s South Side, police said. Mueller said police responded to the incident at 12:50 a.m. Monday in the 1500 block of E. Carson Street. A suspect was taken into custody and was...
Accused Pa. bootleggers with ‘legendary’ moonshine recipe busted by state police
A couple’s alleged 30-year bootlegging business in Centre County has been busted by Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement officers after a year-long undercover investigation. As WJAC-TV in Johnstown reports, the couple, identified as Glenn and Barbara McCleester of Port Matilda, allegedly told undercover liquor control enforcement investigators...
Pittsburgh ranked as top city for football fans
For those who bleed Black and Gold, the idea that Pittsburgh is the best city for football fans is just about the least shocking notion ever. But WalletHub, a personal financial website, went ahead and just made it official — again. For the fourth year in a row, Pittsburgh stood...
Greensburg police looking for suspect in ‘smash and grab’ theft at Lynch Field
Greensburg police are looking for a man accused of smashing the window of a vehicle parked Sunday at Lynch Field and taking a purse. A woman reported the incident just before 2 p.m. outside The Aerobic Center, according to Capt. Shawn Denning. A center manager told investigators that the suspect’s...
Frontier bids $2.9 billion for rival budget airline Spirit
Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines are proposing to combine in a $2.9 billion deal that would create a larger discount airline to compete against the nation’s dominant carriers and, they say, promote lower fares. Both are ultra-low-cost carriers that tempt travelers with rock-bottom prices for no-frills service but often generate...
Pa. bans sales of Ravenna grass and 2 species of buckthorn trees
While spring gardening might not be foremost on residents’ minds during a snowstorm, the state announced Friday it will ban plant sales of certain pampas grasses and two varieties of buckthorn. The state Department of Agriculture added three species to the state list of noxious weeds, which are non-native invasive...
Mexican food truck owner opening restaurant in New Kensington
A Mexican chef known for his tacos, quesadillas and burritos who brought his food truck to New Kensington’s monthly Fridays on Fifth last year will be establishing a restaurant in the city. Jose Tecuanhuehue plans to open Taqueria El Pastorcito in March. It will be at 929 Fourth Ave. in...
Police: Kiski Township man arrested after armed standoff
A Kiski Township man is in custody after an armed standoff with police on Sunday, according to a news release from the Kiski Township Police Department. Joshua Reilly, 36, of Water Street was charged with terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, flight to avoid apprehension, discharge of a...
Hershey Co. raising candy prices, including Kit Kats, Reese’s
Sorry chocolate lovers, even your favorite candy isn’t immune from inflation. The Hershey Co. announced recently it is planning “list price increases across all segments” as a way to drive sales growth. The company said the hikes will offset rising labor and ingredient costs. “Pricing will be an important lever...
Trucks, plows destroyed in fire at McKeesport public works garage
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon in the aftermath of a fire that destroyed the city’s public works garage. Officials said the fire was first reported shortly after 6 a.m. at the facility where public works vehicles and other equipment is stored. Four large dump...
Top Biden aide says Ukraine invasion could come ‘any day’
WILMINGTON, Del. — White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine “any day,” launching a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost.” The senior adviser to President Joe Biden offered another stark warning the day after U.S. officials confirmed that Russia has...
Pittsburgh council members grant themselves 6.3% raise
Pittsburgh City Council members will earn more in 2022 than the year before but less than what was originally proposed by the outgoing mayor. Council unanimously, by a 9-0 vote, approved a resolution during a special meeting Saturday afternoon that set the pay for city workers and ultimately raised the...
Ottawa declares state of emergency over covid-19 protestsVideo
TORONTO — The mayor of Canada’s capital declared a state of emergency Sunday and a former U.S. ambassador to Canada said groups in the United States must stop interfering in the domestic affairs of America’s neighbor as protesters opposed to covid-19 restrictions continued to paralyze Ottawa’s downtown. Mayor Jim Watson...
What to watch for in Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf will pitch his eighth and last budget proposal to lawmakers Tuesday, as the Democrat pushes Republicans to spend more federal pandemic relief aid now and Wolf looks to cement his public school legacy by securing a big boost in state aid. The state’s bank accounts...
Needs vary this time of year at Western Pa. charity thrift stores
At the Goodwill store in the Hollywood Square shopping plaza just off Route 22 in Salem, things have been busy the past few months. “We have way more business here than we did in the Murrysville location,” said assistant manager Jenny Desport. Part of it, she said, is due to...
Bear reports spike during pandemic as harvests also rise in Western Pa.Video
Looking at the statistics, it appears there are more black bears in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. But state officials aren’t sure if that really is the case. For the public, however, it seems black bears are popping up all over urban settings. In late December, a Pennsylvania Game Commission game...
IRS wants cut of internet sales topping $600 or more per yearVideo
Online sellers who hope to cash in on anything from baseball and football card collections to a valuable old toy may now have to pay a portion of the proceeds to Uncle Sam if they use a third-party payment platform to collect the proceeds. “It will be a change for...
Officials: Russia at 70% of Ukraine military buildup
WASHINGTON — Russia has assembled at least 70 percent of the military firepower it likely intends to have in place by mid-month to give President Vladimir Putin the option of launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials say. The officials, who discussed internal assessments of the Russian buildup on...
Weather can be second foe for firefighters battling blaze on frigid winter day
Darting in and out of a smoke-filled building in search of occupants and scaling a ladder to the roof as flames roar is dangerous work, even in the best weather conditions. Add frigid temperatures, whipping wind and falling snow, and the dangers multiply dramatically for firefighters trying to save lives...
