Today's Tribune-Review

Religious organizations plan to be heard by G-20 summit

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Religious leaders are meeting in Pittsburgh to work on plans for a religious side of the summit, including an interfaith blessing at the convention center and a gathering to ask world leaders to remember the world's hungry people.

Defense orders Pennsylvania House members to appear at Bonusgate hearing

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:38:32 -0400

At least eight Republican House members and a supervisor in the attorney general's office have been subpoenaed by defense lawyers to appear at a pretrial hearing tomorrow in the Bonusgate case.

New cable option may finally appear in Pittsburgh

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:53:35 -0400

A tentative agreement between Verizon and city officials could allow the company to install a fiber-optic network that would provide Internet, phone and cable access throughout the city, known as FiOS, within about six years.

Wilkins, former police chief settle federal whistleblower lawsuit

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:39:51 -0400

Keith Guthrie, 56, retired in March as part of a deal, which also paid him nearly $100,000 and provided full health insurance for him and his wife until age 65.

Arson investigators probing latest Sheraden fire

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:37:34 -0400

Authorities responded to another suspicious fire in Sheraden early this morning, bringing to seven the number of homes police believe have been purposely set in the neighborhood during the past month.

Uniontown woman pleads guilty to embezzling from Brownsville hospital

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:34:04 -0400

Ellen Pocratsky, 53, of Uniontown pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling from a health care program. U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry in Pittsburgh scheduled sentencing for Oct. 9.

Motorcyclist dies in McKeesport accident

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:40:24 -0400

A motorcyclist died after an early-morning accident in McKeesport, an Allegheny County emergency dispatcher said.

Closing Shuman Juvenile Detention Center could be fraught with troubles

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

When Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato threatened to close Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, he broached an option he and his lieutenants would rather not use.

Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta draws 500,000 happy attendees

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:36:46 -0400

Pittsburgh's three-day regatta opened with rain clouds swirling above a death-defying, high-wire act and closed Sunday with country music performances under sunny skies.

Beer drinkers swing to former teacher's Bavarian polkas at Hofbrahaus

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

A former high school science teacher dressed in lederhosen and playing the accordion would seem to be an unlikely candidate to rock the weekend crowd at one of South Side's hottest bars.

Witness' plea unable to stop Downtown killing on holiday

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

A Fourth of July outing turned deadly when a 20-year-old Baldwin woman shot and killed her boyfriend at a Downtown bus stop despite a bystander's plea, police said.

Crafton officer remains on force after hit-and-run charges

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Patrolman Donnie L. Breeden was arrested and charged Friday by Pittsburgh police with involuntary manslaughter and driving a vehicle involved in an accident causing death or personal injury.

Teen found dead of gunshot in Robert E. Williams Memorial Park

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Malik Scott, 16, of Webster Avenue was found dead of a gunshot in the torso near the rear of the recreation building in Robert E. Williams Memorial Park when officers responded to a call of a shooting shortly before midnight Saturday.

Harrison man seriously hurt when car struck

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

A Harrison man was seriously injured Sunday when another car rammed into his, causing it to roll over several times, police said.

Deer Lakes High School main entrance closed for renovation

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The main entrance to Deer Lakes High School will be closed until the end of August because of a school renovation project. The closing took effect July 1.

Penn Hills man involved in Tarentum crashes arrested

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:29:39 -0400

Police arrested a 66-year-old Penn Hills man Sunday on suspicion of drunken driving after he allegedly hit three vehicles, seriously injuring one driver.

Mt. Lebanon attorney focused efforts on helping people

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Pittsburgh attorney W. Theodore Brooks died in his Mt. Lebanon home on Saturday, July 4, 2009, surrounded by his family. He was 65.

Newsmaker: David Katz

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Murrysville artist Bolick's exhibit gives 'visual voice' to wrongly convicted men

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The stories of wrongly convicted men inspired "Resurrected," Daniel Bolick's first solo art exhibition, at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. His acrylic-and-latex paintings feature the faces of 10 men.

Jury selection to begin in Latrobe roommate's killing

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Jury selection is scheduled to begin this morning in the murder trial of Jay Jones Baird, 28, of Latrobe, who is accused of robbing and killing roommate Bradley N. Holnaider in early 2008 over a dispute about drugs.

Penn State trustees to meet at Upper Burrell campus

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The Penn State University Board of Trustees will meet Thursday and Friday at the Upper Burrell campus for the first time in 30 years.

2 puppies, dog food stolen from Uniontown shelter

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:32:28 -0400

Two 6-week-old puppies were stolen from the Steve Courson Humane Society of Fayette County over the weekend. Police said the burglar broke a window in the lobby and a glass door to gain access to the two black and white mixed-breed puppies.

DeHaas outpaces Vernon nearly 2-to-1 in campaign spending for judge

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Combined spending by the two candidates for Common Pleas Judge in Fayette County topped $200,000 for the first half of the year, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Department of State.

Uledi man stable after being shot

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

A Fayette County man was hospitalized after being shot in the right shoulder early Sunday morning at his home in South Union, state police at Uniontown said.

Free black lung testing to be offered in four counties

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is providing the free health screenings to working underground coal miners in 13 counties in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia.

Police find pyrotechnic devices in Washington Township house raid

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

An unspecified number of pyrotechnic devices were discovered Saturday at the Washington Township home of a New York man who is accused of carrying a homemade bomb and threatening to blow up a school, authorities said Sunday.

Autopsy planned for Erie fire victim

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

An autopsy is planned on the body of a woman who died in a fire in her Erie home. Erie County Deputy Coroner Korac Timon has identified the victim as Tina Basile, 50.

Muddy Creek secretary charged with $108K theft from township

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

State police have accused a former Muddy Creek secretary of stealing $108,848 from the Butler County township over 3 1/2 years.

Police chase ends when Butler biker hits police cruiser

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Police chased a motorcyclist in Butler on Friday evening for a series of alleged traffic violations that ended with the man crashing into a state police car.

Ohio governor fights tax hike for budget deficit, unlike Rendell

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed a 16 percent income tax increase to cover a deficit. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has pitched lopping $2.4 billion from his original budget proposal and a plan for slot machines to raise almost $1 billion.

U.S. Supreme Court ruling gives priority to special education

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that forced an Oregon school district to reimburse parents of a special-needs student for private tuition opens doors for students in other states, education officials say.

McNair's wife may have been unaware of affair until husband's death

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:42:43 -0400

The wife of slain quarterback Steve McNair may have only learned about the gridiron star's affair with a gorgeous young woman after the clandestine couple's grisly deaths, sources close to the football player said Sunday.

Obama, Medvedev agree to pursue nuclear reduction

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:44:10 -0400

President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev struck a preliminary deal Monday to reduce their nations' stockpiles of nuclear warheads to as few as 1,500 each.

Director bashes 'ridiculous' Megan Fox

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:12:11 -0400

Megan Fox's hotness may have most of the nation's male population frothing at the mouth, but her former director Michael Bay rolls his eyes at the budding actress.

Lower Burrell family's Weiner earns honors as fastest dog

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:38:20 -0400

With her ears flapping in the wind and face flush with grit determination, Sadie Lady once again showed that she is among the fastest Weiner dogs in Pittsburgh.

Indiana Township couple works to bring SUDEP awareness

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:37:16 -0400

Shannon Bursick thought she had everything covered caring for her 7-year-old daughter with epilepsy.

Penn State New Kensington awaits trustees

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:27:09 -0400

The Penn State University Board of Trustees will meet at the Upper Burrell campus for the first time in 30 years.

Aspinwall brick streets come at a price

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:31:26 -0400

As local governments and their road crews survey what they will pave and patch this year, Aspinwall can count on devoting some dollars to re-bricking.

Springdale Scout's project changes attitudes

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:41:28 -0400

Kris Cummings was sure his Eagle Scout project would change what had become an eyesore, but he didn't realize it would change people as well.

Former NFL QB McNair's death a homicide

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Shot twice in the head and two more times in the chest, former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was the victim of a homicide, police declared Sunday.

Pirates' Sanchez picked for All-Star Game

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

It is the Bucs' Freddy Sanchez's third All-Star selection. He's the only player to play second, third and shortstop in the All-Star Game.

Nolasco, Marlins shut down Pirates' offense

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Without much of a fight, the Pirates were suffocated, 5-0, by Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco in the final game of their series.

Bucs catcher Doumit on the way back

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit isn't expected back until after the All-Star break, but manager John Russell did not rule out a return this weekend.

Scouting the Astros

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The Houston Astros play host to the Pirates for a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Red Sox's Wakefield earns first All-Star nod

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The Boston knuckleballer was named to his first All-Star team, coming in his 17th season in the major leagues.

Penguins work deals with Conner, Lee

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:32:20 -0400

The Penguins bolstered their organizational depth by agreeing to contracts with forward Chris Conner and defenseman Chris Lee.

The future of crossbow is still up in the air

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Game commissioners are scheduled to vote Thursday on a proposal to limit crossbows to the first two weeks of the statewide archery season.

Notices from the outdoors

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

A listing of notices for outdoor activities around the region.

Junker: Pens continue to win in free agency

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Instead of concentrating on the players the Penguins lost last week, how about the three they kept?

Highly rated offensive lineman picks Pitt

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Matt Rotheram, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound offensive lineman from North Olmstead (Ohio) in suburban Cleveland, picked the Panthers over Indiana and Purdue.

Fuhrer invitational set to tee off today

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Thirty-five professionals and five amateurs will begin play today in the lucrative Frank B. Fuhrer, Jr. Invitational at Pittsburgh Field Club.

Tiger uses late birdie to win AT&T National

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Tiger Woods made it a hat trick of victories in tournaments hosted by PGA Tour stars, this one the most meaningful of all because it was his own.

Holiday atmosphere prevails in Leechburg

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The third annual Christmas in July celebration promises to be stellar this year as the event's sponsor, the Leechburg Area Community Association, will team with the town's fire department carnival running Tuesday through Saturday.

Fanfare: Lucky fans get to meet Lord Stanley

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:42:03 -0400

Lord Stanley, Lord Stanley, oh how much we've missed your brandy! It's been a long time, Fanflairs, but this year we hockey fan-atics were dancing in the streets after our boys in black and gold skated away with the holiest of hockey grails following almost two decades of separation.

Trib tested: Windshield Wonder

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The claim: The new Windshield Wonder is a chemical-free way to clean and shine windshields inside and out, with just plain tap water.

Go east for a historical good time

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

For a historic day trip, consider driving to Ligonier, in Westmoreland County, where you can shop, take in the fort, learn about famous battles fought in the area, like Bushy Run and the Seven Years War, and admire the scenery.

Reader wonders how she can get her fianc� back

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:26:46 -0400

My fianc� and I just broke up. He moved back in with his ex-wife, because my son was very crabby and unhappy; it drove him away.

Out and About: Patriotism Abounds in Latrobe

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

In Latrobe, they really know how to celebrate the Fourth of July. For the past 40 years, they've been taking a whole week to do it.

The Conyers' affair: A case for reform

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The disturbing conduct of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and his wife, Monica, in relation to a hazardous waste project in his district represents -- at the very least -- an appearance of impropriety that typifies the rot at the heart of this nation's industrial-political complex.

A U.N. farce

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

The United Nations this month expects to roll out a new sanctions system to punish corrupt suppliers in its befuddled multibillion-dollar procurement division.

Media Monday

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

ere are some of the latest outrageous, sometimes humorous, quotes from or about the liberal media, courtesy of the Media Research Center.

Flight of the terrapins

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

I felt like JonBenet's mother at the dog show up on the boardwalk.

Another inspector's railroading

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

Watchdogs are an endangered species in the Age of Obama. The latest government ombudsman to get the muzzle: Amtrak Inspector General Fred Weiderhold.

Why they mock Palin

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400

With genuine respect to legitimate rocket scientists, it doesn't take one of them to sift through the recent language of David Letterman and U.S. Sen. John Kerry to divine a reason for their recent attacks on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her family.