Top Stories category, Page 15
Retired contractor completes years-long build of high-tech home in O’Hara
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was a state-of-the-art custom home on the market in O’Hara. Retired homeowner, civil engineer and general contractor Lou Marsico originally kicked off construction on the more than 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom residence in 2022. At that time, the house was intended for Marsico’s adult...
2 large holes close North Craig Street in Oakland
Part of North Craig Street in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh was shut down because of two large holes in the road, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. North Craig Street was closed near Bayard Street. It’s unclear what caused the holes. WTAE reported that Pittsburgh Water was at the...
Westmoreland County air show on hiatus for 2026 as authority seeks headliner amid facilities update
Westmoreland County’s annual air show could be grounded in 2026. Gabe Monzo, executive director of the county’s airport authority, on Friday reaffirmed a recommendation he made earlier this week to implement a one-year hiatus of the two-day event at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport that draws tens of thousands of spectators....
Church Nativity scenes add zip ties, gas masks and ICE to protest immigration raids
DEDHAM, Mass. — One baby Jesus lays in a manger in the snow, wrapped in a silver emergency blanket with his wrists zip-tied. Mary stands nearby outside the Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois, wearing a plastic gas mask and flanked by Roman soldiers in tactical vests labeled “ICE.” In...
Pittsburgh Public Schools enrollment continues to shrink
Student enrollment at Pittsburgh Public Schools this fall declined 2% over last fall, and 23 of the district’s schools enroll less than 250 students, according to data released this week by the school district. PPS enrolled 17,937 students from Kindergarten to 12th grade this fall; a decline of 375 students...
2 charged after 4 children found living in deplorable conditions in Knoxville
Two adults face criminal charges after four children were found living in deplorable conditions in the Knoxville section of Pittsburgh. India McKnight, 34, and Earl Kenney, 45, both of Pittsburgh, are charged with endangering the welfare of children and criminal conspiracy in connection to a police investigation that began in...
Allegheny County courtroom clash embroils judge, public defender
An Allegheny County judge who oversees hearings on people’s competency to stand trial has barred a public defender accused of unethical behavior from practicing before her — a controversial remedy several legal experts said is not within the judge’s authority. The clash quietly playing out in the court system has...
Local farmers skeptical about impact of ‘bridge payments’ on bottom line
New Alexandria’s Fred Slezak said many farmers like him have a strong independent streak. “We don’t particularly care to get payments from the government,” said Slezak, 71, owner and operator at Lone Maple Farms off Route 119. “But there’s just a whole host of struggles that we’re battling out here.”...
Hampton woman accused of stealing $130K from Deer Lakes School District
A Hampton woman is facing multiple felony charges after being accused of stealing nearly $130,000 in student activity fees while serving as the Deer Lakes School District’s accounts receivable/payable clerk. Rachel Rominski, 53, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, misapplication of entrusted funds and receiving stolen property. Rominski was...
Leetsdale hikes property taxes 5.5% next year
Leetsdale property owners will have to pay about 5.5% more in real estate taxes next year. Council voted 6-0 on Thursday to approve its 2026 budget. Councilman Roger Nanni was absent. A separate motion to set the millage rate at 9.5 mills, a 0.5-mill jump, passed 5-1. One mill equals...
Twin blazes near West Penn Hospital displace at least 20 residents
A pair of late-night residential fires broke out Thursday near West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, displacing at least 20 tenants and sending three people to the hospital. The injured — two city police officers and one resident — were being treated for smoke inhalation. There were no other injuries from...
Trump plans to push for cannabis rescheduling as less dangerous
President Donald Trump is expected to direct his administration to move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that could represent one of the biggest shifts in U.S. policy toward cannabis in decades. Trump has discussed the idea with marijuana...
Tenants confront property managers over unsafe living conditions in Pittsburgh, region
LaTonya Smith, 57, said there are days when she gets home from work and just sits in her car to avoid the stress and problems awaiting inside her Pittsburgh apartment. “For like two hours I am like ‘oh I do not want to go into this building. I can barely...
Indiana Republicans block Trump’s redistricting push in rare break with the president
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s Republican-led senate voted against a redrawn congressional map Thursday that would have favored their party in the 2026 elections, despite months of pressure by President Donald Trump for a rare mid-cycle redistricting. Twenty-one senators from the Republican supermajority and all 10 of the chamber’s Democrats voted down...
Man who shot Parkway West driver in the face pleads guilty, gets prison
The man who repeatedly shot at a fellow motorist last year while the two drove on the Parkway West — leading the victim to lose his left eye — is headed to prison for 4 to 8 years, according to a plea agreement. Rashawn Hall, 23, of McKeesport agreed to...
Homeland Security Secretary Noem defends Trump’s hard-line immigration policies under scrutinyVideo
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defiantly defended the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies on Thursday during a House committee hearing, portraying migrants as a major threat faced by the nation that justifies a crackdown that has seen widespread arrests, deportations and a dizzying pace of restrictions on foreigners....
Shapiro admin subpoenaed for records detailing use of public funds to upgrade governor’s private home
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. HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania Senate panel has taken the rare and dramatic step of subpoenaing the Shapiro administration for...
The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk appears in court for 1st time as judge weighs media access
PROVO, Utah — The 22-year-old Utah man charged with killing Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys push to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case. A Utah judge is weighing the public’s right to know details in the prosecution of Tyler Robinson...
Justice Department again fails to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A grand jury declined for a second time to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, refusing to resurrect a mortgage fraud prosecution encouraged by President Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter. It’s another major blow to the Justice Department after...
Firearms deer hunting season to wrap up in Pennsylvania
The window of opportunity to go hunting for deer in Pennsylvania is quickly shrinking, as firearms deer season closes this Saturday. The Pennsylvania Game Commission reminded hunters to make the most of the final days in the woods. After Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill in the summer lifting the...
Highmark announces affiliation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
Highmark is adding more than 1 million members through an affiliation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, the health insurers announced Thursday. The deal, which is expected to close next year pending regulatory approval, will make Highmark the third largest Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization in the country...
Heating costs $6,000 per month during Irwin office construction
Irwin will be paying $12,000 to provide heat this month and in January for the workers converting a former storefront into administrative offices at the borough building on Main Street. Borough council this week agreed to pay Sunbelt Rental of North Huntingdon for a temporary heating furnace at a rate...
Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year. As Republicans and Democrats have failed to find compromise, senators voted on two partisan bills instead...
Steelers star T.J. Watt spends night in hospital for lung ailment evaluationVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt spent Wednesday night at a local hospital and remained hospitalized well into Thursday after experiencing lung discomfort. After Watt missed practice Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin characterized his status for Monday night’s Steelers game against the Miami Dolphins as “up in the air.” Update on #Steelers...
Valley Jr.-Sr. High School teacher accused of provoking fight between students faces charges
New Kensington police say a Valley Jr.-Sr. High School math teacher prodded students to fight during a geometry class in October. Bradley Reiher, 45, of Tarentum is charged with misdemeanor corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. The charges stem from an incident Oct. 27 during which, police...
