Top Stories category, Page 515
Senate Republicans resist advancing on border policy bill, leaving aid for Ukraine in doubt
WASHINGTON — Facing a torrent of criticism from conservatives, Senate Republicans on Monday resisted advancing on a bipartisan proposal intended to clamp down on illegal border crossings, signaling a likely defeat in Congress that would leave leaders with no clear path to approve wartime aid for Ukraine. In a dramatic...
With climate change, is it time to consider a Category 6 hurricane?
In a warming world where rising ocean temperatures give fuel to a new breed of ultra-strong hurricanes, does a wind scale that maxes out at Category 5 go far enough? Or could there be a Category 6 hurricane? Researchers raise those questions in a study, released on Monday, that analyzes...
Pennsylvania Capitol protest against state investing in Israel bonds ends with scores of arrestsVideo
HARRISBURG — Police took more than 100 people protesting the Pennsylvania state government’s investments in Israel into custody Monday, shutting down a demonstration on the steps of the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. A spokesperson for the Department of General Services, which includes the Pennsylvania Capitol Police, said 126 people were...
Raising taxes on the table as Pa. weighs how to pay for education court ruling
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. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania likely needs billions of dollars to shore up its public schools following a landmark court ruling, but lawmakers are entering a new...
Walnut Grill in Collier getting a makeover
Walnut Grill in Collier is temporarily closed. The establishment is expected to reopen in a few months with a new name, a new look and a new menu concept. “It is time for something different,” said Kirk Vogel, president and co-founder of Walnut Grill Holdings, which owns the restaurant. “We...
Bob Beckwith, retired firefighter in famous image with Bush after 9/11, dies at 91
NEW YORK — Bob Beckwith, a retired firefighter whose chance encounter with the president amid the rubble of ground zero became part of an iconic image of American unity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has died. He was 91. Beckwith died Sunday night in hospice care after dealing with...
North Strabane man pleads guilty to killing bald eagle, half of ‘magical’ pair
For 18 years, Linda Carnevali stood almost every day at the kitchen window of her Washington County townhouse and watched a pair of bonded bald eagles who lived in the tree across from her home. They would soar from their large nest, swoop into the lake to fish and rebuild...
Dartmouth reinstates SAT test requirement. Will Pa. colleges follow?
The pandemic that drove students from campuses in March 2020 also accelerated a decadeslong shift away from using the SAT/ACT in college admission. By last spring, more than 8 in 10 colleges nationally and in Pennsylvania no longer required standardized tests. That trend could be reversing itself — at least...
Pittsburgh ends pilot potty program Downtown as permanent facilities open
The temporary public bathrooms that rolled out several months ago in Downtown Pittsburgh are gone, replaced by a more permanent solution. New public restrooms have opened inside the nearby Smithfield-Liberty Parking Garage, Richard Hooper, a spokesman for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, said Monday. The nonprofit Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Mayor...
King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, will halt public duties as he undergoes treatment
LONDON — Britain’s King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch will suspend public engagements but will continue with state business, and won’t be handing over his constitutional roles as head of...
Bethel Park McDonald’s franchisee sued over sex assault by manager settles with teen victim for $4.35M
A $4.35 million settlement announced Monday for a former McDonald’s employee who was sexually assaulted at age 14 at her Bethel Park workplace by her manager, a registered sex offender, is one of multiple legal actions embroiling the Pittsburgh-area franchisee. The franchisee — Rice Enterprises, a Baldwin Borough-based company that...
Americans have saddled themselves with credit card debt. Now renters and the poor are falling behind
NEW YORK — While the U.S. economy is broadly healthy, pockets of Americans have run through their savings and run up their credit card balances after battling inflation for more than two years. Experts worry that members of these groups — mostly lower- and middle-income Americans, who tend to be...
Cyberattack takes down some online services for Pennsylvania Court
Portions of the Pennsylvania Courts’ website that had been down since Sunday as a result of a cyberattack appeared to be back in operation Monday afternoon. A statement released by Chief Justice Debra Todd on Sunday said the attack affected online services such as filing systems, docket sheets, electronic payment...
New Greensburg Central Catholic principal aims to ‘be a part of moving it into the future’
For Theresa Szmed, the past month has been all about listening. Szmed was hired as principal for Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in November and took the reins in January, with assistance from interim Principal Sharyn Zalno. “It’s been a fantastic adventure, and it’s been overall positive,” said Szmed,...
Morning Roundup: Security ramped up at Woodland Hills after Swissvale shooting
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Feb. 5: Security ramped up at Woodland Hills after Swissvale shooting A juvenile was shot in Swissvale on Sunday evening, according to Allegheny County police. County 911 was notified of a shooting at the 2200 block of Woodstock...
Senators release a $118 billion package that pairs border policies with aid for Ukraine, Israel
WASHINGTON — Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, setting off a long-shot effort to push the bill through heavy skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. The proposal could be...
Trump isn’t calling shots on GOP border stance, Speaker Mike Johnson saysVideo
Speaker Mike Johnson vehemently denied that former President Donald Trump is setting the Republican congressional agenda on immigration and U.S. border security. Johnson was asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether Trump — who has said Republicans would be making a mistake if they support an emerging bipartisan Senate deal...
MLK Jr. memorial service in New Kensington highlights mission to love mercifully
The guest speaker Sunday at the 56th annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial service delivered a straightforward message to the crowd of about 40 people. “We must recapture our humanity,” said the Rev. Terrance Davis Sr., pastor at Three Rivers Metropolitan Church in Pittsburgh. “We have to stop living in...
Record-setting storm dumps heavy rain on Los Angeles, with flash flood alerts still in effectVideo
LOS ANGELES — A storm of historic proportions dumped a record amount of rain over parts of Los Angeles on Monday, sending mud and boulders down hillsides dotted with multimillion-dollar homes while people living in homeless encampments in many parts of the city scrambled for safety. About 710,000 people statewide...
2 people killed, 4 injured in Denver shooting, police say
DENVER — Two people have died following an early morning shooting on Sunday in a residential area of Denver that left four other people injured, police said. A man and a boy were killed, said police department spokesperson Sean Towle. The injuries to the other victims were not specified. “We...
Dive teams search river for guns stolen from RC Firearms in New Kensington
Dive teams returned to the Allegheny River on Sunday to search the murky water for guns stolen Jan. 22 from RC Firearms in New Kensington. More than 30 people set up a command scene on the Braeburn riverfront in Lower Burrell to help police and agents from the U.S. Bureau...
Referee who died at game remembered as sports-loving man who enjoyed sports, coaching children
The quiet time driving to refereeing assignments at Friday night high school football games was when brothers Mike and Dave Roebuck could catch up. Their conversations often turned to sports and their families — the two subjects were so intertwined, recalled Dave Roebuck of West Newton. In addition to being...
Haley uses her appearance on ‘SNL’ to poke fun at her Civil War gaffe and jab at a stand-in TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley poked fun at herself over a campaign misstep, but her primary target during a “Saturday Night Live” appearance was Donald Trump, joining in a skit that mocked a stand-in for the former president over his refusal to debate her and questioned his mental...
Asked if he supports RNC chairwoman, Trump suggests there will ‘probably be some changes made’
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump issued a warning to the Republican National Committee’s chairwoman in an interview aired Sunday, saying when asked about her that there would “probably be some changes made.” Trump had been asked by Fox News host Maria Bartiromo about Ronna McDaniel, who has been...
Restaurant at New Kensington Quality Inn reopens as Leo’s Roadhouse
It has been about a decade since the restaurant inside New Kensington’s Quality Inn shut down. Dan Leo is hoping to bring it back as he opens Leo’s Roadhouse with the help of Chef Lenny Verosky. Together, they face the challenge of bringing people through the hotel’s doors not for...
