Top Stories category, Page 514
Interest in local police work drops in Western Pa. despite jump in state police academy applicants
While the Pennsylvania State Police force is seeing increased interest from people wanting to become troopers, many suburban and rural departments in Western Pennsylvania are facing a challenge trying to attract new officers. Last year, Murrysville received 18 applications from people interested in becoming police officers for the municipality —...
Review: Dynamic guitar work shows Extreme is ‘More Than Words’ in Pittsburgh concert
Extreme may be best known for their two radio hits from the 1990s, “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted.” But the hard rock band out of Boston showed they’re much, much more than power ballads in an electric performance as part of their Thicker Than Blood tour Tuesday night at...
Aid package for Israel fails in the House, dealing another setback to GOP leaders
WASHINGTON — A bill to provide Israel with more military aid went down to defeat Tuesday in the House, spoiling Speaker Mike Johnson’s attempt to separate Israel from other national security priorities, including helping Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s military invasion and deterring crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. The vote...
House vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas fails, thwarted by Republican defections
WASHINGTON— In a dramatic setback, House Republicans failed Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, forced to shelve a high-profile priority — for now — after a few GOP lawmakers refused to go along with the party’s plan. The stunning roll call fell just a single vote short of...
Lawsuit claims that Allegheny County Jail guards broke inmate’s arm
An Allegheny County Jail inmate has filed a lawsuit alleging that guards broke his arm and put him in solitary confinement after he complained that the facility withheld pain medication. Aaron Tipton, 31, of Penn Hills is alleging civil rights violations in the complaint he filed Tuesday in federal court...
Westmoreland commissioners OK road trips for public meetings
The Westmoreland County commissioners are heading out into the countryside. Commissioners announced Tuesday they will conduct three public meetings outside of the Westmoreland County Courthouse this spring and summer. “We’ll, hopefully, have the public there,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said. Here are the locations, times and dates: • The activity center...
Pittsburgh Stadium Authority backs Steelers’ bid to host NFL draft
The City of Pittsburgh formally approved a bid by the Steelers to host the next available NFL Draft. The city’s Stadium Authority voted unanimously Tuesday to enter into agreements with the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers, marketing groups and municipal agencies to “support, effect or cause to occur an NFL Draft...
Penguins partner with Black Girl Hockey Club to promote sport as part of Black History Month
Renee Hess remembers her first Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game — she was in Orange County, Calif., had wonderful seats, and there was a hockey fight, a novelty she said rarely occurs now. She was enamored by the sport. Today, she is the founder and executive director of California-based Black Girl...
Defense lawyer in homicide trial tells jurors his client killed Pittsburgh U-Haul worker
Corey Dick was behind the counter at a U-Haul in Pittsburgh’s East End on July 27, 2021, getting ready to eat an early dinner. A man who had been in and out several times that afternoon asking about renting a pickup returned just after 4:30 p.m. and said that the...
Brownsville couple accused of keeping 6-year-old girl in dog crate
A Brownsville couple was jailed Tuesday for allegedly keeping a 6-year-old girl in a locked dog crate, restraining the child with plastic zip ties and beating her with a broom on multiple occasions, according to a criminal complaint filed by state police. The alleged abuse at the hands of Jacob...
Jury finds Michigan school shooter’s mother Jennifer Crumbley guilty of manslaughter
PONTIAC, Mich. — A Michigan jury convicted a school shooter’s mother of involuntary manslaughter Tuesday in a first-of-its-kind trial to determine whether she had any responsibility in the deaths of four students in 2021. Prosecutors say Jennifer Crumbley was grossly negligent when she failed to tell Oxford High School that...
Pittsburgh City Council OKs controversial $6 million master plan
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday approved a controversial proposal to spend about $6 million for a citywide master plan, overriding some members’ strenuous objections. Opponents raised alarms about the steep price tag and the lack of a clear implementation strategy. Supporters touted the plan as a blueprint for future budget...
Gov. Shapiro seeks billions for Pa. schools, development in budget that envisions legal marijuanaVideo
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s second budget proposes significant increases to education and economic development and would regulate adult use marijuana, while leaning heavily on Pennsylvania’s flush reserves to underwrite his vision. On Tuesday, the Democrat unveiled his budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which begins on July 1,...
Shapiro’s budget proposal seeks funding increase to merge state-owned universities and community collegesVideo
A unified system of 10 Pennsylvania state-owned universities and 15 community colleges would see a near-historic, 15% increase in state funding under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024-25 state budget, which was unveiled Tuesday. The increase would support his plan, announced last month, to overhaul the state’s higher education system and...
Pittsburgh halts free spay/neuter program after scam by suburban pet owners, officials say
Suburban pet owners, some with designer dogs, faked their addresses to access free, taxpayer-subsidized spay and neuter services meant for use by Pittsburgh residents, the city said Tuesday, as it announced an abrupt pause to the program. The suburbanites were using city addresses of friends and family members to get...
FAA tells Congress not to raise mandatory retirement for pilots until it can study issue
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is warning Congress not to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots until the agency can study whether older pilots would raise safety risks. FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a letter to two key senators that pilot fitness is critical to safety,...
Bloomfield’s Station restaurant set to close its doors
Time is running out to dine at Station in Bloomfield. After nine years, the restaurant is closing. The reason? Chef Curtis Gamble is moving to Tennessee later this year. “We’ve been through a lot in this space,” Gamble said in a statement. “The irony of this is that we’re doing...
Barcelona Wine Bar opens in the Cultural District
Pittsburgh, meet Barcelona Wine Bar. And you’re invited to the party. That’s the message from Barcelona general manager Autumn Williams. “Our goal is to have a party every night in the restaurant,” Williams said. “And to have a party, you need people at the party.” On that note, reservations are...
Court cases lead to new voting districts in some states. Could it affect control of Congress?
Since most Americans last voted for Congress, thousands of people have been added to certain voting districts — and subtracted from others — under new political maps enacted following court rulings. The sum of that redistricting math, assuming no major political shift in either major party’s direction, figures to provide...
Opioid settlement money is supposed to expand syringe services; Pa. nonprofit lost $150K because of them
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. BOLIVAR — Kim Botteicher decided to speak out about her work offering syringe services in Westmoreland County, hoping to prompt change that she believes would...
Madonna electrifies with theatrics in Pittsburgh ‘Celebration’ stop
Madonna certainly brought electricity to Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on Monday night in her “Celebration Tour.” The “Queen of Pop” performed a repertoire spanning her over-40-year career — all while sporting a knee brace. She kicked things off with “Nothing Really Matters” after a slideshow of pictures of her life...
Morning Roundup: Kennywood sets opening date; vehicle strikes pedestrian in Butler
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 6: Kennywood announces 2024 schedule Kennywood is scheduled to open its 126th season on April 20. The amusement park released its schedule for the season on its website. Ticket prices start at $39.99. Kennywood also is hiring...
Singer-songwriter Toby Keith dies after battling stomach cancer
NORMAN, Okla. — Toby Keith, a sometimes polarizing figure in country music who crafted an identity around his macho, pro-American swagger, has died. He was 62. The “Beer For My Horses” singer-songwriter, who was battling stomach cancer, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on...
Study finds elevated levels of forever chemicals in rivers near Western Pa. wastewater plants
Wastewater treatment plants in Western Pennsylvania are dumping what’s known as forever chemicals into Pittsburgh’s rivers, a new study shows. The report from the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment focuses on per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products. It found a higher...
Elementary principal named acting superintendent at Leechburg Area
Leechburg Area School Board members Monday appointed David Leech Elementary School Principal David Keibler as the district’s acting superintendent. The move was made after former acting superintendent Peter Emery D’Arcangelo abruptly resigned last week, citing “an erosion of trust” among himself and school board members. D’Arcangelo was set to start...
