Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 19
On the menu: Alligator meat grows in popularity in Western Pennsylvania
Muddy Waters Oyster Bar co-owner Diana Kucenic knows a thing or two about alligator. Her East Liberty seafood bar and restaurant, specializing in Cajun fare, has been serving up gator bites made from alligator tail since opening in 2015. “We put them on the menu because gator is more of...
McKeesport, Allegheny County to pay McKeesport trio who sued over civil rights violations
McKeesport will pay $127,500, and its police department will undergo training, as part of a settlement of a federal lawsuit by three residents alleging civil rights violations by police during a 2020 incident. Plaintiffs Courtney Thompkins, Ezra Dixon and Kim Neal will each receive $25,000 from McKeesport, while the American...
Westmoreland County overtime costs top $7.2 million in 2025
Overtime has paid off in a big way for some Westmoreland County workers. A TribLive analysis of overtime paid to county employees in 2025 found that for some, working additional hours has more than doubled their annual pay. One senior staffer, who has worked as a corrections officer at the...
Police: Man torches Plum home after it was seized by bank
Plum Police say a man who was evicted from his home in January returned late last month to set it ablaze. William Lee Gildernew, 23, is facing felony charges of arson, burglary, risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief. There is a warrant out for his arrest. In mid-January, the Allegheny...
Plum Council expected to vote Monday on ICE noncooperation resolution
Plum could be the next community to bar its police and staff from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. That’s if Plum Council on Monday opts to pass a proposed noncooperation resolution discussed at its March 2 meeting. Councilman Ray Rall said officials are still waiting for a final draft of...
Former Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Darlene Harris dies
Former Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Darlene Harris, a proud North Sider and colorful character who zealously advocated for children, animals and labor unions during a long career in public service, has died. Her former council colleague Theresa Kail-Smith said Harris died Friday from cardiac arrest. She was 73. Current and former...
Police arrest 2 after multiple attempted burglaries in Murrysville, Penn TownshipVideo
Two men accused of burglarizing a home in Murrysville and another in Penn Township on Friday morning were jailed after being arrested in Monroeville, according to court documents. The suspects, Sebastian M. Montano 24, of Chicago, and Kevin D. Piza-Alzate, 24, of Reading, were both charged with burglary and criminal...
State studying future of Duquesne City School District
The state’s Department of Education is studying the future of the Duquesne City School District, which could include a consolidation with a nearby district. Duquesne schools spokesman Jeremy Tepper said the district is “actively cooperating” in the study. “The district remains committed to providing a high-quality educational experience for its...
How springing forward to daylight saving time could affect your health
WASHINGTON — Most of America “springs forward” Sunday for daylight saving time. Losing that hour of sleep can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day; it also could harm your health. Darker mornings and more evening light knock your body clock out of whack — which...
Free parking ends for Palace Theatre patrons at Greensburg’s Bell Way Garage
Visitors to the Palace Theatre in downtown Greensburg can no longer park for free in the Bell Way Garage on Otterman Street. The Westmoreland Cultural Trust, the nonprofit that owns the theater, declined in January to renew its previous partnership with the city for parking at the garage, according to...
Police: New Kensington woman accused of stealing from an elderly man
An arrest warrant has been issued for Tasha Tierra Williams after she was accused of stealing from an elderly New Kensington man she was supposed to be helping. Williams, 44, of New Kensington faces five felony charges, including financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person. Williams met the...
Former area congressman Jason Altmire able to leave Dubai
Former U.S. congressman Jason Altmire managed to find a way out of Dubai after being stranded for several days earlier this week amid escalating military conflict in Iran and the Middle East. “I find did get out on March 5, on one of the limited Emirates Airlines flights that we...
Ultimate guide to Pittsburgh’s finest pizzerias during the NFL Draft
There are a few things visitors need to be aware of when traversing Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft: how to navigate the city’s bridges, how to properly use Pittsburghese slang and — most important, of course — where to find pizza that is cheesy, delicious and fit for a...
Mark Madden: Evgeni Malkin’s meltdown couldn’t have come at a worse time for the PenguinsVideo
Evgeni Malkin wants to play another season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He didn’t do that ambition any good via his actions in Thursday’s 5-1 home loss to Buffalo. Malkin is often petulant and occasionally selfish but took both concepts to an insane level of self-indulgence when he slashed the Sabres’...
Trump rules out talks absent Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ as Israel strikes Lebanon
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to rule out talks with Iran absent its “unconditional surrender.” Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut and Tehran as Iran launched more retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the seventh day of the war. The strikes in Lebanon were...
People love to hate changing clocks twice a year, but can’t agree how to fix it
Clocks will skip ahead an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday for daylight saving time in most of the U.S., creating a 23-hour day that throws off sleep schedules, plunges early-morning dog walks into darkness and inspires millions of complaints. Even though polls show most people dislike the system that has...
Fatal pedestrian crash shuts down William Penn Highway in Wilkins
A man was killed early Friday morning following a hit-and-run along William Penn Highway in Wilkins, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. At 4:43 a.m., dispatchers were notified of a body laying in the road in the 3400 block of the highway, according to police. First responders found the...
Drug plan middlemen face new oversight push as Pa. pharmacies close
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 — Some Pennsylvania lawmakers want to give the state’s top prosecutor more power to take on pharmacy benefit...
Upper Burrell residents uneasy over coming data center
Upper Burrell residents hadn’t expressed many concerns about an incoming data center — until this week. At Wednesday’s township supervisors meeting, they asked for assurances on health, noise and environmental concerns. The only assurance they got was news the township is writing an ordinance for the project — a process...
‘Deep negotiations’ ongoing for 2nd carrier at Palmer airport amid Spirit cuts, official saysVideo
Talks have intensified with a potential second commercial airline to fly out of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity, Westmoreland County officials said Thursday. But those negotiations for expanded service face stiffening headwinds as the airport’s longtime carrier scales back its local footprint. The cuts come amid growing industry consolidation...
Western Pa. colleges get boost to combat students’ food insecurity
Food insecurity among college students is often overlooked by the general public, but it is a real issue. “College is expensive, and people don’t realize that students — especially at private schools — can struggle to afford basic necessities,” said Heather Starr Fiedler, managing director of Point Park University’s center...
Penguins lose to Sabres, could lose Evgeni Malkin to suspension after slashing incident
For the past week, the Penguins have gotten a refresher on what life is like without the nonpareil Sidney Crosby, currently designated to injured reserve due to a suspected right leg injury. On Thursday, they endured a blunt crash course on what it’s like to skate without their other superstar,...
Jury deadlocks in trial of Hempfield man accused of rape of mentally disabled woman
A Westmoreland County jury deliberated more than seven hours Thursday and was unable to reach a verdict in the trial of a Hempfield man charged with the rape of a mentally disabled woman. Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio declared a mistrial in the case against Dennis Hertzog, 58, who prosecutors...
Justice Department publishes missing Epstein files involving uncorroborated claim about Trump
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Thursday released additional Jeffrey Epstein files involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump that the department said had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review. The department said last week that it was working to determine if any records were...
Pittsburgh leaders bullish on plans for Downtown leading up to, after 2026 NFL Draft
Pittsburgh officials on Thursday painted a bright picture of a Downtown in the midst of revitalization efforts that will allow the city to shine during the 2026 NFL Draft next month. They vowed also to build on efforts to make the Golden Triangle safe, clean and vibrant long after the...
