Top Stories category, Page 4
A mother’s fight to save son shows tragic consequences of Pa.’s failure to build better mental health system
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. Sign up for our free newsletters. Editor’s note: Sue, Robert, and Jonathan are pseudonyms. Their names and some details have been changed to protect their...
Police: 2-year-old child drowns in Stowe Township pool
A 2-year-old child drowned in a pool in Stowe Township, according to police. Allegheny County Police said the drowning occurred in the 1100 block of 12th Street shortly after 7 p.m. Monday. They said first responders found residents performing CPR on the child, who was taken to a nearby hospital...
Delmont man expected to blame wife for son’s torture slaying
A Delmont man charged along with his wife for the alleged torture and murder of their adopted son wants a separate trial, his lawyer said during a court hearing on Monday. Defense attorney Ken Noga told a county judge that evidence suggests that Lauren Maloberti was the person who beat...
Gunman who killed 4 in New York was trying to get to NFL offices and claimed to have CTE, officials say
NEW YORK — A gunman who killed four people inside a Manhattan office tower blamed his mental health problems on the National Football League and intended to target the league’s headquarters there but took the wrong elevator, officials said Tuesday. Investigators said Shane Tamura, a Las Vegas casino worker, was...
Westmoreland inmate accused of stabbing mother should have kosher meals, she says
Although her son stands accused of trying to kill her, the mother of a Westmoreland County Prison inmate wants him to receive a special kosher diet based upon his religious beliefs. Rose Eckman asked members of the county’s prison board on Monday to allow her son — jailed for the...
Charges filed in connection with vandalism of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s satellite office
A Sharon man is facing multiple charges in connection with the vandalism of the Hermitage office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly. According to Hermitage police Chief Adam Piccirillo, the department received reports of the vandalism just before midnight Friday. Expletives, disparaging accusations and derisive comments directed toward the Republican from...
Game Commission adds 10 Sundays to fall hunting seasons
Pennsylvania hunters can now spend 13 consecutive Sundays in the woods this fall. In a unanimous decision at its Monday meeting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission voted to instruct its executive director to open up 10 Sundays for hunting starting Sept. 14 and ending Dec. 7. That’s in addition to the...
Parts of Allegheny County achieve new air quality milestones
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that parts of Allegheny County have made significant improvements in air quality levels, however some local environmental groups say there is still a long way to go before the air is clean. On Thursday, EPA announced the approval of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s...
Scorching summer will mean higher electric bills, regulators warn
Utility regulators are warning extreme heat since mid-June will mean higher electric bills for Pennsylvanians. The state’s Public Utility Commission said Friday scorching weather has brought demand on the regional power grid to its highest level in 14 years, a fact that will soon be reflected in electric bills. “Whether...
‘Hot mess’: Dire state of Pittsburgh’s city fleet prompts annual report on upkeep
Pittsburgh will now release an annual report that details the state of the vehicle fleet amid concerns that essential vehicles are becoming old and difficult to maintain. City Council on Monday unanimously approved a measure — sponsored by Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side — that will mandate an Annual Fleet...
Judge blocks Trump administration’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood
A federal judge on Monday says Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nation’s largest abortion provider fights President Donald Trump’s administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. The new order replaces a previous edict handed down by...
Allegheny County reports more West Nile Virus seen in mosquito samples
Allegheny County Health Department officials Monday announced additional mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus, spurring additional mosquito treatments throughout the area. The health department will treat areas in the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Point Breeze, Regent Square, East Hills, Homewood and Highland Park. Also treated will be the...
Southmoreland High graduate battling cancer adds scholarship to foundation efforts
A Southmoreland High School graduate who is battling cancer has joined in the fight against the disease and now wants to inspire a younger generation of students to make a difference in the lives of others. Corey Rhodes of East Huntingdon, through his Rhodes Cancer Foundation, has established a $2,500...
1st inductees named to Pittsburgh Walk of Fame
The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame announced its first inductees, who will be honored this fall in a Hollywood-style installation at The Terminal in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The inaugural honorees are:George Benson, a famed jazz musician born in the city’s Hill DistrictNellie Bly, a pioneering investigative journalist, who was born in...
Morning Roundup: Man shot in the head in Hill District; bicyclist injured in collision with car outside OpenStreetsPGH event
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Monday, July 28: Man in critical condition after Hill District shooting A man was left in critical condition Sunday night following a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood. Police responded around 11:45 p.m. to a single-round ShotSpotter alert in...
Iron City Distilling serves those who serve: active-duty military, veterans, first responders
Iron City Distilling threw open its doors in East Deer on Sunday, welcoming active-duty military, veterans and first responders to hang out as they showed some love to those who serve and have served the country. Between 180 and 200 were expected for the first-time, free event, which featured spirit...
Pittsburgh area wasn’t woman’s 1st foray in being an ‘impostor nurse,’ authorities say
It appeared not many authorities in Pennsylvania knew Shannon Nicole Womack was bouncing from nursing home job to nursing home job over the past year, despite allegedly lacking the professional license to do so. In fact, it wasn’t until an April traffic stop that Womack, 39, of Pittsburgh was found...
TV Talk: How media companies are responding to political, legal pressure from Trump
As some media companies and personalities facing political or legal pressure from President Donald Trump are capitulating to his demands or censoring themselves, others are standing firm or lashing out defiantly against the administration, media observers say. Some of the companies and personalities just don’t want the headaches. Others are...
Man drives to Pittsburgh police station after being shot in chest in Bedford Dwellings
A man drove himself to a Pittsburgh police station Sunday night after being shot in the chest in the Bedford Dwellings neighborhood, according to Pittsburgh police. Police received a report of four shots being fired in the 2500 block of Chauncey Drive around 7:45 p.m. While officers from the Zone...
Penn-Trafford community mourning sudden death of freshman football coach TJ Detruf
The Penn-Trafford community is mourning the sudden death of one of its high school football coaches. TJ Detruf, an assistant freshman football coach at Penn-Trafford for three years, died Saturday at his home in Hempfield, Penn-Trafford head football Coach John Ruane said. He was 41. The cause of death and...
Passengers flee smoking jet on emergency slide after apparent landing gear problem at Denver airport
Passengers slid down an emergency slide of a smoking jet at Denver International Airport because of a possible problem with the plane’s landing gear, authorities said. American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a “possible landing gear incident” during its departure from Denver on Saturday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The...
Israel begins daily pause in fighting in 3 Gaza areas to allow ‘minimal’ aid as hunger grows
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military Sunday began limited pauses in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, part of measures including airdrops as concerns grow over surging hunger and as Israel faces criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war. The military...
Westmoreland Museum of American Art entices new visitors with interactive Art Maze exhibit
Haddie Simpson, 6, of Irwin, was in charge of navigating the way through an art-covered maze Sunday afternoon. A pamphlet directed Haddie and her father, John Simpson, through multiple activities including a scavenger hunt inside an interactive art gallery called The Art Maze hosted by The Westmoreland Museum of American...
Will Doug Mastriano run for governor again? He says the decision will be made on his timeline
Doug Mastriano might run for governor. He also might not. However, two things are certain for Mastriano — he’s not going to stop teasing an entrance into the gubernatorial race on his social media accounts, and he’s not going to listen to Republican magnates telling him not to run. Unless...
Authorities seek to file terrorism and assault charges against suspect in Michigan Walmart knife attack
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A man accused of entering a Walmart in Michigan and randomly stabbing 11 shoppers before being detained by several bystanders in the store parking lot is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said Sunday. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive...
