Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 567
2 teens shot in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood neighborhood
Two teens were shot in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood neighborhood late Saturday, police said. Police said they found the wounded teens after responding to the 500 block of Fairywood Street for a reported shooting around 10:15 p.m. Police said a 16-year-old boy had been shot in the stomach, while a 17-year-old boy...
65th anniversary exhibit at Westmoreland Museum showcases organization’s history
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will celebrate its 65th anniversary with a trip through the museum’s years of history. With “65 Artists, 65 Years: An Anniversary Exhibition,” the museum plans to highlight artists from its collections, return to points in its past and include commentary from community members and...
Despite rising salaries, there’s a shortage of qualified superintendents. Politicized school boards and covid fallout have contributed
Superintendents of two of the largest school districts in Westmoreland County — Hempfield Area’s Tammy Wolicki and Norwin’s Jeff Taylor — announced last week they would be leaving their posts. Their departures come on the heels of Leechburg Area Superintendent Tiffany Nix’s resignation. She announced in December that she would...
Study: Pennsylvania is the fat dog capital of America
PHILADELPHIA — Ralphie fell in love with lobster at first bite. Steak too. But the pounds started creeping up. And up. In time, Ralphie’s doctor confirmed what his family already knew: At 30% overweight, the time had come for the South Philly bullmastiff to go on a serious doggie diet....
Gerald McGinnis, Respironics founder who invented CPAP machine, dies at 89
Thanks to Gerald McGinnis, millions of people across the world can breathe easier. The international businessman and founder of Respironics, which created the first machine to treat sleep apnea, died Thursday. He was 89. McGinnis was born in 1934 in Ottawa, Ill. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering...
Muzzleloader fans revel in bevy of black powder long rifles at collectors show
Tim Claypool admired the handiwork of the craftsmen who made black powder muzzleloader rifles dating to the late 1700s and 1800s and replicas on display at a collectors show Saturday, but he was aiming to see the man who was customizing a long rifle for him. “I’ve made four guns...
Plenty of options available as Steelers pursue competition for Kenny Pickett at QB
Taking Mike Tomlin at his word during his end-of-season news conference, Kenny Pickett has reclaimed his role as QB1 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin, of course, also promised “competition.” That term is open for interpretation, as are the Steelers’ methods for evaluating options in providing that aforementioned competition. It can...
Police seek car involved in fatal hit-and-run on the West End Bridge, victim thrown over the side
Pittsburgh police detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify a car they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident early Saturday on the West End Bridge. The car is described as a “blue or black small sedan with silver wheels; possibly a Hyundai or Honda.” Police say...
Justice Department expands claims against Pa. courts in opioid addiction treatment case
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 — The U.S. Department of Justice has broadened its accusations that Pennsylvania courts discriminate against people with opioid use disorder by restricting access to...
Prominent aid worker for Palestinian causes drums up support during Monroeville visit
A prominent figure in Palestinian humanitarian aid circles visited the Pittsburgh region Thursday, the first stop on a national tour to drum up support for a new nonprofit formed in the wake of the latest Israel-Hamas war. Steve Sosebee, the co-founder and former president of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund,...
Get Healthy Pittsburgh gets folks curious about a plant-based diet
It can be quite difficult to make a lifestyle change, but at least 70 people did just that with Get Healthy Pittsburgh when they embarked on a seven-day challenge of plant-based eating. It was a challenge created by Humane Action Pittsburgh. They had their celebration and reveal night this week...
Bob Casey acknowledges ‘long, tough race,’ ahead of him in match-up with McCormick
PHILADELPHIA — This race will be different for Bob Casey. The three-term senator has faced challengers before but never one as well-funded and with as much early GOP support as Dave McCormick. And the Pennsylvania Democrat made the stakes known at the first rally of his campaign in Philadelphia on...
Pa. Senate leaders back Texas governor’s immigration fight, blast Biden
Pennsylvania Republican state Senate leaders have joined a growing chorus of conservatives across the country who are publicly backing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s controversial efforts to thwart illegal immigration into his state. In a joint statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Majority Leader Joe Pittman and Appropriations Committee Chairman...
Appellate court says state attorney general, and not local DAs, had authority to settle opioid claims
A Pennsylvania appellate court on Friday said that the state Attorney General’s Office had the authority to settle claims against opioid manufacturers over the harms caused by the abuse of the medication. The Commonwealth Court ruling, against the district attorneys of Allegheny County and Philadelphia, wrote in their opinion that...
Westmoreland Register of Wills faces contempt of court allegations
Westmoreland County Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton has been ordered to appear before a judge in early March to respond to contempt of court allegations. Common Pleas Judge Jim Silvis said Hamilton violated requirements that her office promptly file adoption records. Hamilton, a Republican from Hempfield, was unopposed when...
NRA chief Wayne LaPierre takes the stand in his civil trial, defends luxury vacations
NEW YORK — Longtime National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre took the stand in his New York civil trial Friday, defending himself against allegations that he violated the trust of the group’s 5 million members by spending tens of millions of dollars to enrich himself and close associates. Under questioning...
U.S. Steel settles lawsuit over 2018 fire, power outages in 2019, 2022
U.S. Steel officials have entered into a consent decree with the Allegheny County Health Department and two environmental groups to address a 2018 fire at its Clairton facility that crippled the plant’s pollution controls and caused power outages at the plant in 2019 and 2022. The agreement will include nearly...
PIAA officials acknowledge competitive balance formula has ‘room for conversation’ in future
A football team that reaches the state finals or semifinals two years in a row “is the cream of the crop in that class,” said PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi, explaining why health and safety concerns are excluded as grounds for appeal under the competitive-balance rule. “It’s tough to make...
Justice Department finds Cuomo sexually harassed employees, settles with New York state
ALBANY, N.Y. — The U.S. Justice Department reached a settlement with the state of New York on Friday to resolve a sexual harassment investigation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, confirming allegations from the damaging misconduct probe that led to the Democrat’s resignation. The agreement details a series of reforms made...
Bill decriminalizing drug test strips in opioid-devastated West Virginia heads to governor
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that would decriminalize all strips used to test drugs for deadly substances in West Virginia, the state with the nation’s highest overdose rate, is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Jim Justice. Justice hasn’t said publicly if he supports the bill, which has received...
Jury: Trump must pay additional $83.3M to E. Jean Carroll in defamation case
NEW YORK — A jury has awarded an additional $83.3 million to former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, who says former President Donald Trump damaged her reputation by calling her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault. Friday’s verdict was the second time in nine months a jury...
Driver to stand trial in fatal ‘drag-racing’ crash that killed Serra Catholic student
It took just two minutes and 18 seconds. A crowded Pittsburgh courtroom fell silent Friday as dash cam footage — time-stamped two seconds after 7:22 a.m. Sept. 20 — showed school van driver Richard Alan Maleski waiting at a stop sign and preparing to enter the intersection at Third Street...
Shapiro’s higher education overhaul plan and $1,000 tuition proposal draws intrigue, skepticism
Already there are questions about the cost to cap tuition and fees for many state university students at $1,000 a semester and who would pay — not to mention bringing state universities and community colleges under one umbrella. There are regulatory, legal and logistical hurdles, all in a state whose...
TV Talk: WPXI-TV hires weekend morning anchor, faces retransmission spat with DirecTV
WPXI-TV hired New Kensington native Jatara McGee to be the station’s new weekend morning anchor beginning in mid-February. Current weekend morning anchor Alyssa Raymond will move to anchor the weekday noon newscast on Channel 11 after Katherine Amenta and Gordon Loesch took on an additional 7 a.m. weekday newscast on...
Buttigieg pushes for rail safety, touts infrastructure bill in Pittsburgh visit
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Pittsburgh on Friday to tout funding for improvement projects along the Parkway East corridor, part of the Biden Administration’s signature infrastructure funding effort. He also called for enhanced regulations ahead of the first anniversary on Feb. 3 of the East Palestine train...
