Megan Guza stories, Page 12
Experts say too soon to tell what drop in covid counts means for Western Pa.
As some countries and major U.S. cities emerge from suspected omicron peaks, experts and health officials in Southwestern Pennsylvania say it’s too soon to say whether this region also has passed the worst of omicron. Cases have flattened in New York City, according to The New York Times, as well...
Man from Pittsburgh’s Greenfield charged in infant’s 2020 death said he was sleepwalking
A man from Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood who police said told investigators that he dropped his infant son down the stairs while sleepwalking is facing homicide charges two years after the child’s death, according to police. Cory Neidert, 31, also is charged with reckless endangerment and child endangerment in connection with...
Student in custody after gun found at Pittsburgh’s Carrick High School
A student was taken into custody Tuesday at Carrick High School after a gun was found in the school, according to Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh. The Parkfield Street school went into lockdown after a social media post circulated indicating there was a gun in the school. City and...
Police: Pittsburgh man killed woman, hid remains in Knoxville shed
A man charged with homicide in the killing of a woman in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood had been arrested for alleged assaults against the woman four times prior, according to charges filed in the case. Montel Reed, 26, is accused of killing Crystal Leschner, 28, in late December and hiding her...
Port Authority to require covid-19 vaccination for all employees by mid-March
Port Authority of Allegheny County leaders will require all employees to be vaccinated against covid-19 by mid-March or face firing, officials said Monday. There will be no option for increased testing requirements for those who aren’t vaccinated. The policy goes into effect Feb. 1, and employees must be fully vaccinated...
Police: Triple homicide suspect in Pittsburgh’s Homewood had child with one of the victims
A man who Pittsburgh police say is responsible for a New Year’s Eve triple homicide in Homewood had been in a relationship with one of the victims and the two had a child together, according to a criminal complaint against him. Ronald Steave, 29, is charged with three counts of...
Warrant issued in Homewood triple homicide
Pittsburgh police filed charges in a triple homicide in Homewood on New Year’s Eve. Ronald Steave, 29, has been charged with three counts of homicide in connection with the shooting deaths of Nandi Fitzgerald, 28; her son, 12-year-old Denzel “Buddy” Nowlin Jr.; and Tatiana Hill, 28. Police responded to reports...
Gunfire at North Versailles custody exchange injures 2, including 6-year-old girl
A custody exchange in the North Versailles police parking lot ended in gunfire Wednesday, leaving one man and a 6-year-old girl wounded, according to police. Shawn Coles-Lundy, 29, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and five counts of reckless endangerment after police said he fired into an SUV...
Covid positivity rate in Allegheny skyrockets to 26% as omicron spreads
The covid-19 positivity rate in Allegheny County has skyrocketed over the past week as the omicron variant spreads, and Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said the fast-spreading variant likely makes up most of the county’s cases at this point. The seven-day average for positive PCR tests in the county is...
Pittsburgh City Council must vote whether Wilkinsburg annexation will appear on borough’s ballot
Pittsburgh City Council must vote within three months to decide whether the city’s possible annexation of Wilkinsburg will be on the neighboring borough’s ballot later this year, a judge ruled Wednesday. The ruling came as supporters of the potential merger, in anticipation of the ruling, gathered outside the City-County Building...
Friends remember dance coach gunned down in Wilkinsburg on New Year’s Day
Friends of Amariey Lei said she exuded positivity, making sure those around her were happy and knew they were loved. “She was a blessing, to our team and to our lives,” said Jazmaine Wade, a coach for the Lady Diamonds hip hop and majorette dance team, of which Lei was...
12-year-old boy, 2 women killed in Pittsburgh’s Homewood remembered in tearful vigil
Friends and family members gathered Monday night in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood to remember the 12-year-old youth football player the neighborhood knew as “Buddy Business.” “He was the first up at the field and the last to leave,” said Mubarik Ismaeli, president of the Homewood football team, the Bulldawgs. Denzel “Buddy”...
Irwin man charged with homicide in woman’s death at a Monroeville hotel
An Irwin man accused of killing a woman in a Monroeville hotel told police he “made a mistake” and “didn’t like murdering a woman” but he “had to do what I had to do,” according to the charges filed against him. Matthew Gribschaw, 37, is charged with homicide, abuse of...
Man charged with homicide in death of Stowe toddler
Police charged a Stowe man with homicide on Friday in connection with the death of a 2-year-old girl the day prior. Kyrell Morgan, 19, is also charged with child endangerment in the death of Brielle Olivia Swinton. Stowe police said they arrived at the home on Woodward Avenue about 3:45...
Notable deaths in Pittsburgh and Western Pa. in 2021
A look back at some notable Pittsburgh-area people the world lost in 2021. Joanne Rogers, a concert duo pianist and wife of the late Fred Rogers “She wasn’t going for the spotlight but she was very happy to respond to the national and worldwide interest in what Fred was offering...
Surging covid prompts some Pittsburgh-area restaurants to cancel holiday service
As covid-19 cases skyrocket, many Pittsburgh-area restaurants and bars have temporarily closed their doors for safety issues after staff illnesses. At Roundabout Brewery in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, owners made the decision to move to take-only over the weekend. Co-owner Dyana Sloan said a staff member tested positive last weekend. All...
UPMC receives limited supply of preventative antibody treatment for the most immunocompromised
George Spine Jr. thought it was a scam when he first got a call from UPMC around 7:45 a.m. Thursday offering a new antibody treatment meant to protect the most immunocompromised before they’re exposed to covid-19. “I thought it was a scam, so I gave the girl a hard time,”...
Allegheny County covid cases skyrocket as omicron spreads
The number of new covid-19 cases in Allegheny County has grown exponentially this week, with nearly 2,000 new cases reported Thursday — a sign health director Dr. Debra Bogen said is a likely due to the quick-spreading omicron variant. From Monday to Tuesday, the county recorded 654 new cases, followed...
Pittsburgh public safety leader will not be part of new mayor’s administration
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said he’s been informed that he will not be retained under Mayor-elect Ed Gainey’s incoming administration. “We’ve seen lots of change, and even trying times together, and hopefully we were able to make a positive difference over these past six years,” Hissrich said Thursday...
Wilkinsburg man charged after police said they found missing children in his apartment
A Wilkinsburg man faces charges after police said multiple missing juveniles were found in his apartment. Tyron Scott, 21, is charged with four counts of child endangerment and one count each of corruption of minors and reckless endangerment. Police from Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg responded early Monday to a report of...
Parents of Penn Hills teen who shot, killed 5-year-old brother surrender to police
The parents of a 13-year-old who allegedly shot and killed his little brother with his father’s unsecured handgun have turned themselves in to police Wednesday, authorities said. Thomas Wolfe, 35, and Sara Gerwig, 37, both face multiple counts of endangering the welfare of children in connection with the shooting last...
Mother, 2 adult children face neglect charges after elderly family member found in deplorable conditions
A mother and two children in Forward Township face neglect charges after an elderly family member in their care was found covered in waste, suffering with head lice and with toenails so long they “appeared not to have been maintained in years,” according to police. Lori Giacomelli, 56, Rachael Giacomelli,...
Pennsylvania, Allegheny County report record covid cases
Allegheny County and Pennsylvania as a whole reported record-breaking covid-19 case counts on Friday, posting numbers above even the height of the late 2020 surge, data shows. The state Department of Health reported 13,286 new covid cases, topping the previous record of 12,884 set in December 2020 before vaccines were...
Steelers great Franco Harris receives key to Pittsburgh on anniversary of Immaculate Reception
On the 49th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, Mayor Bill Peduto awarded the man who made the catch an honorary key to the city. Peduto called Franco Harris a hero not only for his football career, but also “for how he exemplifies everything that’s good about Pittsburgh.” “He’s a hero...
Peduto promotes longtime bodyguard to assistant chief of Pittsburgh police
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, in his last police promotion ceremony as mayor on Thursday, promoted his longtime bodyguard from sergeant to assistant chief, leapfrogging the ranks of lieutenant and commander. Peduto defended the relatively unorthodox move before Phil Carey was even sworn in as an assistant chief. “Many people ask...
