Top Stories category, Page 6
Control the uncontrollable: Here’s why people stock up before a snowstormVideo
People throughout the region expect their grocery stores’ parking lots to be packed, checkout lines to be long and milk coolers to be depleted right before a snowstorm. Worried that they’ll be snowed in, shoppers stockpile bread, eggs and toilet paper. People fill their fridges and pack their pantries. Many...
Churches in Western Pa. excuse Mass attendance as snowstorm approaches
The Catholic dioceses in Pittsburgh and Greensburg granted dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass over the weekend because of the impending winter storm. Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman and Greensburg Bishop Larry J. Kulick announced the exemption Friday, urging parishioners to prioritize safety when considering weekend travel. “No one...
North Huntingdon man involved in Salem vehicle crash has died
A North Huntingdon man died Friday following a vehicle crash along Route 22 in Salem. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified the driver as 47-year-old Scott W. Sellitto. According to the coroner, Sellitto was traveling west along in a GMC Acadia SUV Route 22 when the vehicle left the roadway...
Stocking up: Residents race to get supplies ahead of winter storm
The rush for milk and bread is well underway. Residents across the region are heading to grocery and hardware stores in advance of what could be the biggest snowfall the area has seen in more than 15 years. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Moon Township predict the region...
Allentown business owners request permanent light rail service for Pittsburgh neighborhood
Kelly Braden lives directly across from Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Fallowfield Station light rail stop in the city’s Beechview neighborhood. A recent detour sent the light rail system, better known as the T, through Allentown — dropping her off directly outside The Weeping Glass, the shop she owns. It eased her...
Penguins score 3 goals in 37 seconds — and didn’t break the franchise record
The Pittsburgh Penguins scored three goals in 37 seconds Thursday during their 6-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers — and it didn’t even come close to breaking the franchise record. The franchise mark for the three fastest goals is 27 seconds, established during a 10-4 win against the St. Louis...
O’Connor says Pittsburgh preparing for snow with additional trucks, staffing
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor on Friday said the city is preparing for a major winter storm that could drop up to a foot of snow by preparing additional trucks and calling in extra workers. The mayor also is prepared to declare a state of emergency if needed. That would slash...
Westmoreland County kicks off America’s 250th with courthouse light-up ceremony
Westmoreland County will launch its celebration of America’s 250th birthday this weekend with a symbolic light-up ceremony at the heart of the county seat. On Saturday afternoon, officials will illuminate the “Westmoreland” sign in front of the courthouse in Greensburg. The event serves as the official kickoff for a yearlong...
PETA proposes replacing Punxsutawney Phil with giant hologram
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is again advocating for retiring Pennsylvania’s beloved forecasting groundhog from his meteorology duties. And Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is not a fan. In a social media post this week, Shapiro seemed to reject PETA’s latest suggestion to replace Punxsutawney Phil with a...
Road restrictions expand across Pennsylvania as forecasters warn of dangerous winter storm
PennDOT and Turnpike officials have announced road restrictions ahead of this weekend’s projected snowstorm. The restrictions include prohibiting commercial vehicles, school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and cars towing trailers on major highways. Passenger vehicles including SUVs and pickup trucks will still be allowed to travel, but the...
Late salt deliveries could hamper storm response in some towns
Some last-minute road salt deliveries Thursday will get a few Allegheny County towns through this weekend’s expected winter storm, but officials still may have to take a hard look at which roads get that salt and which may not. Until Thursday afternoon, Springdale was “critically low” on salt supplies, said...
What’s canceled, rescheduled because of impending snowstorm
Events in the region that are canceled, postponed or rescheduled because of the expected inclement weather this weekend: Send cancellation information to vndnews@triblive.com. Saturday and Sunday •In Fox Chapel, the borough recycling bins for residents will be closed. Sunday • In Indiana, a meeting to discuss the proposed artificial intelligence...
East Liberty becomes stage for anti-ICE protests
Hundreds of anti-immigration enforcement demonstrators protested Friday afternoon in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood — with the intention of speaking with management at the local Target store. “Target says its mission is to help all families discover the joy of everyday life, but families cannot experience joy when they are being...
Penguins surge past Oilers, Tristan Jarry for 3rd consecutive win
Members of the Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t terribly jubilant when management decided to trade starting goaltender Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12. Affectionately known as “Jars” by his teammates, Jarry was popular with the Penguins. Presumably, they were happy seeing Jarry once again Thursday. At least that’s what...
Anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church leads to arrests but no charges for journalist Don LemonVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — A prominent civil rights attorney and at least two other people involved in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church have been arrested, Trump administration officials said Thursday, even as a judge rebuffed related charges against journalist Don Lemon. Vice President JD Vance,...
Crews brace for snow: Here’s how roads are prioritized during snowstorms
In the borough of Export, Stephen Opsitnick Jr. spent much of Wednesday leaning over the open hood of a public works truck, checking oil and hydraulic fluid levels with the deliberate focus of a man preparing for a long siege. As the head of public works, Opsitnick and his single...
House Republicans barely defeat war powers resolution to check Trump’s military action in Venezuela
WASHINGTON — The House rejected a Democratic-backed resolution Thursday that would have prevented President Donald Trump from sending U.S. military forces to Venezuela after a tied vote on the legislation fell just short of the majority needed for passage. The tied vote was the latest sign of Republican House Speaker...
Man flown to hospital following apparent explosion at Delmont apartmentVideo
Ed Smith bolted out of his house in Delmont when he heard a loud explosion, followed shortly by a second blast on Thursday afternoon. “I found a gentleman (lying) in the snow outside the garage with no clothes. Half his clothes were burnt,” Smith said. “The second explosion blew the...
Coraopolis man’s death ruled a homicide nearly a year after Butler County altercation
Nearly a year after a Coraopolis man was killed in an altercation, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled his death a homicide. It remains unclear if prosecutors in Butler County, where the fatal incident took place, will file criminal charges in the death. Donald P. Miller, 59, was...
Jack Smith defends his Trump investigations at public hearing, saying, ‘No one should be above the law’Video
WASHINGTON — Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations of President Donald Trump at a congressional hearing Thursday in which he insisted that he had acted without regard to politics and had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought. “No one should be above the...
Data center meeting postponed in Upper Burrell
An informational meeting on the data center project in Upper Burrell has been postponed because of expected inclement winter weather. Township Secretary Melissa Cortileso said the meeting with data center developer TECfusions was postponed at their request because of the possibility of a significant snow event this weekend. The meeting...
Colorectal cancer leads cancer deaths among younger people for 1st time
For the first time, colorectal cancer is the top cause of cancer deaths among people younger than 50 in the U.S., according to a study from the American Cancer Society. Researchers relied on National Cancer Institute data from nearly 1.3 million people in this age group who died of cancer...
Hearing for Valley teacher accused of provoking student fight waived to court
A Valley Jr.-Sr. High School teacher accused by New Kensington police of provoking students to fight in a geometry class in October waived his preliminary hearing. Court records indicated Bradley Reiher, 46, of East Deer waived the hearing Thursday morning before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. Reiher’s attorney, Brian...
Some Post-Gazette workers call for new union leadership
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s union appears to be divided, with some employees claiming that the union’s efforts against management were never as “broadly supported” as it claimed publicly. A letter signed by 49 Post-Gazette employees calling for new union leadership was released Thursday. “We are seeking new elections for leadership within...
Touchless ID coming to Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport is among the airports next on the list to receive TSA PreCheck Touchless ID. The new security option will be available in March at the airport’s main security checkpoint, according to Ian Cava, TSA spokesman. Though there are 12 security lanes overall at Pittsburgh International Airport, it...
