Top Stories category, Page 302
Steelers offense prepared to face Jets with Russell Wilson the starting QB
More than seven months after the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson to be their quarterback and seven weeks into the regular season, teammates on offense finally completed a week of practice preparation and entered a game weekend with the knowledge Wilson would be their starter. “He’s loud, and he’s gonna...
Tapped from pandemic struggles, Buffalo Township brewpub Cellar Works to close
It’s almost last call at Cellar Works Brewing Co. in Buffalo Township. After more than seven years of business, the craft brewery will close Oct. 26. Members of the Cellar Society, an annual subscription that comes with discounts, presale priority on beer and more, are invited to a final party...
Police: Wilkins man was driving nearly 90 mph before fatal North Versailles crash
A Wilkins man charged with homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter turned himself in at Pittsburgh Municipal Court on Friday, according to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office. Aaron J. Butler, 20, of Wilkins was driving in North Versailles on April 7 when police said he struck another vehicle. The other...
Sewickley Township man accused of dousing neighbor, houses and vehicles with flammable liquid
A Sewickley Township man ordered last month to be released from jail to inpatient treatment in connection with an incident involving his neighbor was arrested Thursday night after state police said he lit a fire outside of a home in his neighborhood, according to court papers. Kurtis C. Baker, 33,...
Citizens Bank in New Kensington Giant Eagle slated to go virtual
Citizens will replace its bank branch inside the New Kensington Giant Eagle with a virtual assistant in January. The “interactive teller machine” includes two-way video communication, said Mark Rendulic, Pittsburgh market president for Rhode Island-based Citizens. With it, customers can do about 90% of what they would do in a...
Purple Tour pumps up music, Pitt students, during early voting at Soldiers & Sailors
Music was bumping outside Pittsburgh’s Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum on Fifth Avenue Wednesday as part of a dance party encouraging people to vote early in the presidential election. Dubbed Party to the Polls, the event was part of a 40-stop nonpartisan Purple Tour across the country encouraging...
Questions arise over whether Elon Musk town halls violate election law
Billionaire Elon Musk is planning to hold a town hall soon in Pittsburgh — one of several scheduled in swing state Pennsylvania — to boost former President Donald Trump’s chances of returning to the White House. But some, including writers for Slate, Popular Information and the New Republic, have raised...
Alle-Kiski towns to upgrade water, sewer facilities thanks to state funding
Low-interest loans from the state will pay for repairs to deteriorating sewage and water facilities in Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Allegheny Township. The Municipal Authority of Lower Burrell was awarded $9.55 million through PennVEST funding for the Chartiers Pump Station Project, state officials announced this week. The loan fully...
Is an end to Pa.’s 163-year ban on fortune telling in the cards? A tarot reader is suing to make it happen
It’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to witches, hauntings, and all manner of supernatural goings-on. But if accepting money to tell fortunes is part of your spooky season plans, tread carefully: It’s illegal in Pennsylvania. According to a state law from 1861, “Any person who shall pretend,...
Lawsuit: Greensburg woman sickened when overhead sewage pipe burst at Live Casino Pittsburgh
A Greensburg woman was playing slots at Live Casino Pittsburgh when an overhead pipe burst, covering her with raw sewage, according to a lawsuit filed this week in Westmoreland County Court. Rita Romagnoli contracted bacterial pneumonia and was a hospital patient for 15 days, the suit states. She and husband...
Morning Roundup: Police seek man who shot at officers in Penn Hills; man reportedly falls from Pleasant Hills balcony
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Oct. 18: Police seek man who shot at officers in Penn Hills Allegheny County Police are seeking help from the public in finding a Wilkinsburg man who they said shot at Pittsburgh police Thursday morning in Penn Hills....
About 270 jobs will be lost when Pyrex plant closes, many before Christmas
Bernie Sobek of Perryopolis had a job at the Charleroi glassmaking plant that appeared, on the surface at least, to last forever. After all, the plant has been making glass for about 130 years. Sobek’s 44-year career at the Corelle Brands Inc. plant and its predecessors Anchor Hocking, Corning Glass...
Voting probe launched in Westmoreland County over 2020 fraud claims pitched by GOP lawmakers
Lauren Elliott suspected the worst when she listened to a voice message left for her last week by a Westmoreland County detective. When she was told the reason for the inquiry, her worry turned to anger. Elliott was among the handful of voters contacted last week as part of an...
Hundreds gather at Penn State to hear from former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
UNIVERSITY PARK — Hundreds of Penn State students and community members stood in line on campus to hear former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speak and do a Q&A with audience members Thursday evening as part of Turning Point USA’s “You’re Being Brainwashed” tour. The event room in the Sparks...
6 adults, 2 children displaced by Hempfield house fire
The Red Cross is assisting six adults and two children who were displaced by a fire Thursday evening at their home in Hempfield. The fire victims were being provided temporary housing and other needs, according to fire officials. More than a half dozen fire companies responded to the fire Thursday...
Texas appeals court reverses judge’s order to delay execution in shaken-baby case, last appeal filed
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A Texas appeals court lifted a judge’s order that had delayed Thursday night’s planned execution of a man who would become the first person in the U.S. put to death for a murder conviction tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. The reversal left supporters of...
Pittsburgh police chief’s decision to resume part-time refereeing draws criticism
Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto announced Thursday he will return to his passion of refereeing college basketball games part-time — apparently reversing an agreement with Mayor Ed Gainey not to officiate while serving as chief of Western Pennsylvania’s largest police force. Scirotto’s news came out of the blue in a...
Cleveland mayor: Browns will move from lakefront home
CLEVELAND — The Browns are moving out of their lakefront home. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said Thursday he met with Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who announced their intent to relocate the NFL team to suburban Brook Park despite the city’s efforts to keep it in Cleveland. The Browns...
Equipment, staffing make Allegheny County faster counting votes than Philadelphia area
This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeat’s free newsletters here. A few relatively minor changes would allow Philadelphia to process mail ballots much faster and finish counting them much sooner after polls...
Firefighters use foam to snuff out persistent smoke from hay bales in Hempfield
Greensburg and Hempfield fire crews Thursday put an end to smoldering from a fire that destroyed a storage barn Saturday afternoon at a Hempfield equestrian center. The fire briefly closed a section of Business Route 66 Saturday and ravaged a storage barn after a stubborn fire broke out, burning about...
PPG to lay off 1,800 employees as paints and coatings maker aims to cut costs; local effect unclear
NEW YORK — PPG Industries plans to lay off about 1,800 employees amid efforts to cut costs, with the paints and coatings maker also inking a deal to sell a sizeable chunk of its architectural business. Pittsburgh-based PPG said Thursday the job cuts would primarily impact positions in the U.S....
Greater Latrobe moves ahead with $2.6M stadium project as teachers contract talks continue
Greater Latrobe School Board is moving forward with an estimated $2.6 million upgrade to the running track and other features at Memorial Stadium, but one board member and at least one parent think the district should delay that investment. Parent Josh Cunningham, who also is a teacher at the nearby...
Panel looking into Trump assassination attempt says Secret Service needs ‘fundamental reform’
WASHINGTON — An independent panel investigating the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally says the Secret Services needs fundamental reform” and that “another Butler can and will happen again” without major changes in how candidates are protected. The review faulted the Secret Service for poor communications...
Harris and Trump say America tanks if they lose. So why the exuberance at their rallies?
Shortly after taking the stage 91 minutes late for his Atlanta rally this week, Donald Trump did what he can’t help doing — go off on a tangent. This was clearly going to be a night at the improv. He marveled at length about how Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket booster...
Morning Roundup: 3 firefighters injured in Ross blaze; 2nd gun found this week at Pittsburgh airport
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Oct. 17: 3 firefighters injured in Ross blaze A smoky fire at a Ross auto service station Wednesday evening sent three firefighters to a hospital with minor injuries, Trib news partner WTAE reported. The blaze at Tao’s Auto...
