Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 867
Suit seeks to have mail-in votes lacking dates counted
HARRISBURG — Several Pennsylvania groups represented by the American Civil Liberties Union have filed suit in federal court seeking to have votes from mail-in or absentee ballots counted even if they lack proper dates on their return envelopes. The suit filed Friday night in Western Pennsylvania by state chapters of...
In Pittsburgh rally with Fetterman, Obama says GOP is unprepared to tackle inflation, crime
Former President Barack Obama rallied with Democratic U.S. Senate nominee John Fetterman on a warm Saturday in Pittsburgh in front of thousands of supporters. But he highlighted his speech by trying to get those less politically involved to join the movement and support Democrats in the party’s closing argument to...
1.4M Pennsylvanians asked to vote by mail — here’s what that means for Election Week counting
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — More than 1.4 million people in Pennsylvania requested to vote by mail for the Nov. 8 election, but county...
Wolf signs hastily passed $2B tax package that encourages natural gas production in Pa.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a $2 billion tax credit package for the hydrogen production, milk processing, and biomedical...
Airfare takes off this holiday season — priciest in recent years
Airline ticket prices are set to soar this holiday travel season. Domestic airfare for Thanksgiving is expected to increase by more than 17% per round-trip ticket, according to travel booking group Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg. International fares have increased 30% compared with last year, with a round-trip ticket this...
Northview Heights shooting victim dies
One of the two men who were shot on Friday night in Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights neighborhood has died. Jemar Pharr, 38, of Pittsburgh, died Saturday, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Pharr and another man were shot Friday night, city police said. Police said they found two men in...
Police: Parks Township man stabs his adult son in chest with steak knife during argument, gives brash statement
A Parks Township man stabbed his son in the chest with a steak knife during an argument Wednesday, according to state police. The victim was flown by emergency medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian hospital; his condition was unknown Friday. A UPMC spokeswoman said they could not give out patient information....
Judge denies bias, upholds sentence in 2010 Greensburg torture killing
The 60-years-to-life prison sentence imposed on one of six Greensburg roommates convicted in the 2010 torture and slaying of a mentally disabled woman will stand, a judge ruled Friday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Rita Hathaway said the lengthy prison term imposed against 29-year-old Angela Marinucci was not a result...
Harrison man charged with DUI in Fawn rollover crash that injured 6 people in June
A Natrona Heights man was jailed Friday for allegedly driving under the influence when his pick-up truck rolled over in June in Fawn, severely injuring a boy, Allegheny County Police said. Kevin Harrison, 35, surrendered to authorities Friday and was placed in the Allegheny County Jail. He was awaiting arraignment...
Plans for 2 apartment buildings in Pittsburgh’s Strip District move forward
Two apartment complexes are planned for construction in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The city’s Planning Commission this week approved two separate developments that will bring additional housing to the area. “Neighborhoods like the Strip District have an incredible opportunity to add abundant housing and become more vibrant communities by adding more...
Pittsburgh officials hoping to move homeless people from encampments to new shelter
As a new shelter is scheduled to open in Downtown Pittsburgh in the coming weeks, officials said they are hoping to move homeless people from encampments to the new site. Dubbed Second Avenue Commons, the 45,000-square foot, five-story facility will have 43 single-room apartments and operate year-round. It will be...
Police: Couple caught having sex in truck tractor idling along Route 28 on-ramp; gun, drugs found inside
State police accused a man of selling drugs and illegally carrying a gun after a pair of troopers pulled up on a truck tractor parked on a Route 28 on-ramp in Harrison while the man was in the cab having sex with a woman. William Bruce Greiner, 49, of the...
Pro-Israel group floods airwaves with ads attacking congressional candidate Summer Lee
A pro-Israel political action committee is spending nearly $1 million to air ads attacking Democratic congressional candidate Summer Lee in the final stretch of the race. Some local and national Jewish groups are calling out the ads from United Democracy Project, a PAC tied to the American Israel Public Affairs...
Reschenthaler urges feds to declare Oakmont teacher jailed in Russia as ‘wrongfully detained’
An Oakmont teacher who has been held in a Moscow detention center for more than a year should be designated as “wrongfully detained,” U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, said in a resolution introduced Thursday in Congress. Marc Fogel, 61, was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport on Aug. 14, 2021, after...
Comprehensive Healthcare backed out of multimillion dollar settlement in civil case
The embattled company whose executives are facing criminal charges of health care fraud agreed to settle a U.S. Department of Labor civil claim against it for $15 million before reneging on the deal in September, the federal agency said in a court filing. Before walking away from the deal, Comprehensive...
Powerball jackpot up to $1.6 billion, new lottery record
DES MOINES, Iowa — Strong sales boosted a Powerball jackpot to an estimated $1.6 billion on Friday, making it the largest lottery prize in history. A drawing will be held Saturday night for the Powerball prize, which hasn’t been won in more than three months. That string of 39 consecutive...
On 1st anniversary, Las Hachas patron set to vie in world axe throwing championships
A New Kensington ax-throwing venue is marking its first year in business at the same time one of its patrons is preparing for a world championship competition. Las Hachas held its grand opening at 1043 Fifth Ave. on Nov. 6, 2021. Its owners — brothers Brian and Zach Heidenreich and...
Suspect in Penn Hills homicide arrested in Georgia
Police in Georgia arrested a suspect wanted in connection with a September homicide in Penn Hills. U.S. Marshals and sheriff’s deputies apprehended Michael D. Wade, 36, in DeKalb County after an arrest warrant was issued on a charge of criminal homicide, Allegheny County Police said. Wade is accused of shooting...
Salem woman killed in Route 22 crash
A Salem woman was killed Friday morning in crash on Route 22 in Salem when her vehicle was hit by a flatbed tractor trailer carrying a concrete beam, the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office said. The victim, Sandy L. Jones, 79, of Old William Penn Highway, died of blunt force injuries...
With winter approaching, PennDOT seeks snowplow drivers
On a dry, sunny day this week at PennDOT’s maintenance yard off Route 981 in Unity, several snowplow truck drivers were navigating an obstacle course through the 11-acre property. They were honing their skills for the day or night in the not too-distant future when they will be required to...
‘They complete the love,’ Jeannette mom says at adoption hearing to add 3 more to family
Trudy and Jennifer Parke of Jeannette had taken a break from fostering children after adopting four biological siblings in 2018. But, when they found out three more biological siblings — children whom they knew — were in need of a home, they stepped up. On Thursday, the couple adopted Nevaeh,...
Oprah endorses Fetterman over Oz
HARRISBURG — TV icon Oprah Winfrey on Thursday endorsed Democrat John Fetterman in Pennsylvania’s hotly contested Senate race and rejected Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, whom she had helped launch to stardom nearly two decades ago when she brought him on her popular daytime talk show as a regular guest. Until...
5 things to watch in Week 10 of high school football
In WPIAL Class 5A, is eight enough? Consider, Gateway and Upper St. Clair each lost only once in conference play, yet they’re matched head-to-head in the first round of a brutal WPIAL Class 5A bracket that was reduced this season to eight teams. “It’s hard to complain wherever you ended...
Suspect flees Mt. Oliver traffic stop, hits officer; drugs recovered from vehicle
A Pittsburgh police officer was injured early Friday in Mt. Oliver after authorities said a suspected impaired driver hit the policeman while fleeing a traffic stop. The driver was pulled over at 3 a.m. at McKinley Street and Grogan Avenue. Police said the driver provided a name and date of...
Liquidation sales begin at bankrupt home goods retailer Altmeyer’s
Bankrupt home goods retailer Altmeyer’s started a liquidation sale at four of its locations Thursday. Stores in New Kensington, Greensburg, Uniontown and West Mifflin are open for the sale, which offers discounts of 20% to 50%. Stores in Butler and Johnstown are not open. The sale is authorized by an...
