What you need to know about Highmark First Night in Pittsburgh
Downtown Pittsburgh will put on its holiday best to host the annual Highmark First Night, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The Cultural District will be ringing in the new year with a jam-packed lineup of performances, activities, fireworks and a midnight ball-raising. Tens of thousands of people are expected...
U.S. military strikes 3 more alleged drug boats, killing 3, possibly leaving survivors
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said Wednesday it struck three more boats that were allegedly smuggling drugs, killing three people while others jumped overboard and may have survived. The statement by U.S. Southern Command, which oversees South America, did not reveal where the attacks occurred. Previous attacks have been in...
Unity supervisors agree to double property tax, increase fire tax by 50%
Unity Township’s supervisors agreed Wednesday to double the township’s general purpose property tax to 4.4 mills, expecting to raise an additional $600,000 in revenue to cover rising expenditures. Supervisor Mike O’Barto noted the increase in that tax is the first approved in more than 50 years. And the resulting millage...
What to look for in 2026 in Western Pennsylvania
Big things are on the horizon in Western Pennsylvania in 2026. With 2025 wrapping up, here is a look at 10 major things set to shape the region in 2026. Pittsburgh to host the 2026 NFL Draft In April, Downtown Pittsburgh will be the nexus of what is expected to...
Trump says he’s dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon, for now
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort. Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that he’s removing the Guard...
Top political stories of 2025
An unprecedented political comeback. A mayor on his way out after one historic term. Government inaction in Washington and Harrisburg. A political rebuilding effort. Here’s a look at some of the year’s biggest political stories from Western Pennsylvania to Washington: Trump returns In a political comeback like none other in...
Up to 5 inches of snow possible by New Year’s Day
Western Pennsylvanians heading to Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening for First Night festivities should prepare to ring in the new year with snowfall and temperatures in the teens. About 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected to accumulate between mid-afternoon Wednesday and early Thursday morning, said Mike Kennedy, meteorologist...
Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress
WASHINGTON — The Jan. 6. riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers earlier this month in characterizing the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020...
Penn Hills man charged in shooting at South Hills Village Mall
A Penn Hills man has been charged in connection with a shooting Tuesday night at South Hills Village Mall. Elijah E. Brown, 18, is charged with aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and attempting to elude police,...
Pittsburgh City Paper closes
Pittsburgh City Paper is closing after 34 years of operation. Employees at the alt-weekly Pittsburgh City Paper publication posted on social media that the news outlet was closing. Colin Williams, news editor at the City Paper, posted on Linkedin on Wednesday saying “It’s the end of an era — ownership...
Ousted after 1 term, Ed Gainey leaves complex legacy as Pittsburgh’s 1st Black mayor
Ed Gainey swept into office four years ago as Pittsburgh’s first Black mayor, vowing to be a changemaker who would reimagine policing, make the city affordable for everyone and uplift minority voices. He strode into City Hall with bold ambitions. He was immediately confronted with challenges. Gainey had been in...
Residents escape early morning duplex fire in Unity
Four people escaped unharmed early Wednesday from one side of a burning duplex in Unity, according to Lloydsville fire Chief Brian Schultheis. Firefighters arrived at the Beatty Village Road home, located just off Route 30, around 4:30 a.m. to find flames shooting from the rear of the structure. A neighbor...
Brandy Melville’s Shadyside opening rekindles debate over size exclusivity
Emily Anderson remembers feelings of shame and self-consciousness in what she refers to as the “universal experience growing up fat or plus size” while trying to shop at size-exclusive clothing stores. “As a teenager I didn’t feel like I belonged in clothing stores,” said Anderson, a yoga therapist for All...
Amid conflicting vaccine recommendations, Americans are less likely to trust Trump’s CDC, a Penn study finds
After a year of major shifts in the federal government’s policy toward vaccines, Americans are now more likely to trust the American Medical Association than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when the two conflict on vaccine guidance, a new survey shows. The survey, conducted by the University of...
U.S. Steel’s contract dispute with Canadian company heads to arbitration
U.S. Steel’s lawsuit accusing a Canadian company of refusing to pay for millions of tons of iron ore pellets is heading to arbitration. The October lawsuit, filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, claimed Ontario-based Algoma Steel violated its agreement to buy the pellets from U.S. Steel. The deal was signed...
What to know about the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 as the search resumes
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than a decade ago, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished without a trace, sparking one of aviation’s most baffling mysteries. Despite years of multinational searches, investigators still do not know exactly what happened to the plane or its 239 passengers and crew. On Wednesday, the Malaysian...
Charges withdrawn against Butler County man previously accused of raping child
Nearly a dozen charges against Michael Garrett Saunders, including rape of a child, have been withdrawn by the Butler County District Attorney’s Office. Saunders, 49, of Winfield was arrested in October 2024 before his case was dismissed without prejudice in July 2025 by Judge Joseph Kubit. Butler County authorities refiled...
No parade for this year’s Highmark First Night Pittsburgh event
The annual First Night parade will have a different look this New Year’s Eve. Instead of a single parade route on Dec. 31, there will be roaming performers throughout the Cultural District, according to an announcement by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on Wednesday. The change is due to construction in...
Flu, respiratory illnesses rising in Pennsylvania
Flu infections are surging across Pennsylvania. The state’s Department of Health has logged more than 35,000 cases since the start of October, with nearly 14,000 coming between Dec. 21 and Saturday. Department spokesman Neil Ruhland described the rise as a “normal annual occurrence” caused by people spending more time indoors,...
Firefighters battle blaze in East Huntingdon homeVideo
An East Huntingdon home was destroyed by fire Wednesday morning and firefighters contended with snow and cold temperatures while extinguishing the blaze. Three people escaped the Mt. Pleasant Road home around 7 a.m. as flames spread through it. East Huntingdon fire Chief Rich DeForrest said it was fully engulfed when...
New Year’s Day: What’s open? Retailers. What’s closed? Government and banks.
While schools, government and banks are closed on New Year’s Day, most major retailers across the U.S. will be open, with many offering discounts on older inventory to clear the way for newer products. But before you run out the door on New Year’s Day to peruse deals, it’s wise...
Will Menards still build in Hempfield? Extension discussed for Route 30 site
Hempfield officials are continuing discussions with home improvement chain Menards as a site plan for a new store is set to expire Dec. 31, said township manager Aaron Siko. “We have no documents and no signed agreement as of this date,” Siko said Tuesday. “The board is continuing to talk...
Top January concerts for Pittsburgh: Big Time Rush, The Dead Milkmen and more
As usual, the 2026 concert season for Pittsburgh will start off slowly in January. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t shows worth checking out. Here’s a look at the top concerts coming to the area in January: Top concerts Jan. 9: The Dead Milkmen, Lylyth at Jergel’s The Dead Milkmen,...
Westmoreland County officials sworn in; new judge, register of wills take office
Judge Harry Smail Jr. knows how well-versed Katie Pecarchik is in the operation of the Westmoreland County Register of Wills Office. As a clerk, she left a lasting impact on him when he as a young attorney filing estate matters. She again impressed him after taking over as acting register...
Police release details about South Hills Village Mall shooting incident
An altercation in which a gun was fired near the AMC Theatre at South Hills Village Mall led to the arrest of three suspects after an ensuing police chase ended in Dormont. Bethel Park police initially responded to a report of an attempted shooting. Officers arrived to find a male...
