Pittsburgh news

• Ex-Sergeant Pleads Guilty In False Tax Returns Case

  26-04-2017 23:54
  
  PITTSBURGH (AP) – A former U.S. Army sergeant has pleaded guilty to using hacked information from four University of Pittsburgh Medical Center employees to file false tax returns seeking IRS refunds.
  Twenty-six-year-old Justin Tollefson, who was a staff sergeant at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of false claims against the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 30.
  Authorities said Tollefson was unsuccessful in his schem
  
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• No One Injured In Partial Building Collapse In Swissvale

  26-04-2017 23:46
  
  SWISSVALE (KDKA) — A partial building collapse sent emergency crews to Swissvale Wednesday afternoon.
  According to emergency dispatchers, the collapse happened in the 7000 block of Orchard Way.
  There were no injuries.
  However, the Red Cross is helping an adult and child with lodging and other needs.
  Stay with KDKA-TV News for the latest on this developing story.
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• Crews Called To Partial Building Collapse In Swissvale

  26-04-2017 23:46
  
  SWISSVALE (KDKA) — A partial building collapse sent emergency crews to Swissvale this afternoon.
  According to emergency dispatchers, the collapse happened in the 7000 block of Orchard Way.
  There’s no word yet if anyone was hurt.
  Stay with KDKA-TV News for the latest on this developing story.
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• Anthony Joshua: ‘Wladimir Klitschko Is Underrated’

  26-04-2017 23:05
  
  Bryan Altman
  On Saturday afternoon, 90,000 spectators will pack Wembley Stadium in London, England to watch local boy and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs) defend his title against 41-year-old boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs) in the biggest heavyweight bout in quite some time.
  The highly anticipated fight will air live on Showtime on Saturday, April 29 beginning at 4:15 p.m. ET from Wembley.
  After losing his WBO heavyweight belt to Tyson Fury in 2015, and havi
  
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• Police: Captive Woman Found In Pit In Man’s Backyard Shed

  26-04-2017 22:58
  
  BLANCHESTER, Ohio (AP) – Police say an Ohio man with mental health problems kidnapped a neighbor and kept her trapped in a small grave-like pit in his backyard shed, where her cries for help alerted other people living nearby and led to her rescue.
  Blanchester police say Dennis Dunn has a history of mental health issues and was hospitalized. The woman was treated at a hospital and released.
  Police say the woman was reported missing about 2 a.m. Wednesday and neighbors called them about 4 a
  
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• Medical Marijuana Licensing Draws Hundreds Of Applicants

  26-04-2017 22:35
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Regulators say Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program remains on schedule after hundreds of applications poured in from those who want to grow, process and dispense the drug.
  Health Secretary Karen Murphy said Wednesday her agency has received more than 500 packages, some containing multiple applications.
  Teams are sorting, evaluating and scoring the applications with a goal of issuing permits by the end of June. Licensees will have six months to get up and r
  
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• Experts Stress ‘Look Before You Lock’ To Help Prevent Hot Car Deaths

  26-04-2017 22:30
  
  PITTSBURGH – It’s a startling statistic. Hot summer weather hasn’t even officially arrived, and already five children have died in the United States this year in hot cars.
  On a warm day, the temperature inside a vehicle can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. A child dies after being left in a hot car every nine days in this country. Pennsylvania senators are currently working to reintroduce a bill that would grant immunity to anyone who breaks into a locked vehicle to r
  
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• President Trump’s Team Unveils Tax Reform Proposal

  26-04-2017 22:17
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump proposed dramatic cuts in corporate and personal taxes Wednesday in an overhaul his administration asserts will spur national economic growth and bring jobs and prosperity to America’s middle class. But his ambitious plan is alarming lawmakers who worry it will balloon federal deficits.
  The plan would reduce investment and estate taxes, helping the wealthy. But administration officials said several other tax breaks that help well-to-do taxpaye
  
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• NFL Teams Announcing Day 3 Draft Picks From Grand Canyon, A Zoo, And Outer Space

  26-04-2017 21:57
  
  Bryan Altman
  NFL fans that usually just tune in for the first round of the NFL Draft, and nothing more, might want to rethink that strategy for this year’s draft festivities.
  In an effort to spruce up the usually boring third day of the NFL Draft — which includes teams’ fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh-round selections — the league has announced that a number of NFL teams will be revealing their draft picks from some unbelievable locations.
  >>MORE: CBS Loc
  
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• House Votes To Toughen Animal Cruelty Laws, Tethering Rules

  26-04-2017 21:50
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – A set of revisions to Pennsylvania’s criminal laws concerning cruelty to animals is on its way to the Senate after passage by the state House of Representatives.
  The bill approved Wednesday 167 to 20 would establish grades of violations up to a felony for intentionally torturing an animal or neglect or abuse that causes it severe injury or death.
  State law currently makes animal abuse a felony only if it involves animal fighting, severe abuse to zoo animals or
  
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• 'Silence of the Lambs' director Demme had warm feelings for Pittsburgh

  26-04-2017 21:43 via post-gazette.com
  
  Even before shooting what would become one of the most decorated films in Oscars history, Jonathan Demme had his eye on Pittsburgh.
  
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• Demme had warm feelings for Pittsburgh

  26-04-2017 21:43 via post-gazette.com
  
  Even before shooting what would become one of the most decorated films in Oscars history, Jonathan Demme had his eye on Pittsburgh. The award-winning director died Wednesday in Manhattan at age 73.
  
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• House OKs Bill To Aid Challenges To Local Gun Ordinances

  26-04-2017 21:36
  
  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – The Pennsylvania state House wants to enable gun owners and groups such as the National Rifle Association to launch legal challenges to cities’ firearms regulations.
  State representatives voted 134 to 53 on Wednesday for a bill similar to a measure that passed the Senate a day earlier, and to a law that was thrown out last year on technical grounds.
  Pennsylvania generally prohibits firearms ordinances that are more restrictive than state law.
  Both proposals wou
  
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• 11 Investigates: Lack of lead testing in children

  26-04-2017 21:19
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• DPW asks Pittsburgh's OK to expand 'smart' trash can program

  26-04-2017 20:43 via post-gazette.com
  
  The city's Department of Public Works has asked City Council to approve expansion of a trash can monitoring program it says would allow workers to spend more time and energy on other projects.
  
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• Former ‘Dance Moms’ Star Abby Lee Miller Undergoes Weight Loss Surgery

  26-04-2017 20:25
  
  PITTSBURGH – Penn Hills native and former reality TV star Abby Lee Miller recently had weight loss surgery.
  The former “Dance Moms” star had gastric sleeve surgery last week. The procedure reduced her stomach’s size by 80 percent. Miller’s stomach went from from the size of a football to the size of a banana.
  Now, fans of the show are questioning why Miller had the surgery in the first place. She is scheduled to be sentenced on fraud charges next month after pleadin
  
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• Ex-Army sergeant pleads guilty in stolen UPMC ID tax-return case

  26-04-2017 19:53 via post-gazette.com
  
  A former U.S. Army sergeant admitted Wednesday in federal court that he used stolen UPMC employee identifications to file bogus tax returns for IRS refunds in a case stemming from an investigation of 62,000 W-2 forms that hackers swiped from the giant health system’s computer system. 
  
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• New city-county program targets lead paint

  26-04-2017 19:49 via post-gazette.com
  A $4 million city-county program opened Wednesday to reduce the risk of childhood lead exposure and poisoning from lead paint chips and dust in older homes and apartments.
  
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• Lead Safe Homes program open for business

  26-04-2017 19:49 via post-gazette.com
  
  Homeowners, tenants and landlords can now apply to participate in the Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced Wednesday. Designed to reduce lead poisoning in children, the program offers participants a lead-based paint inspection, risk assessment and help to reduce or remove lead hazards in residences.
  
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• More Than 300 Cannonballs Filled With Black Powder Unearthed At Construction Site

  26-04-2017 19:47
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Work began to remove hundreds of Civil War-era cannonballs from a construction site in Lawrenceville.
  It is a delicate process that will take a few days.
  Crews initially found a few of the black powder filled cannonballs, but that quickly changed to more than 300.The hundreds of cannonballs buried underground are a stark reminder of history, but when they show up during excavation for new apartments, that’s a little different.
  “Even though these things are 2
  
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• Dunlap: Will Martavis Bryant Play It Straight This Time?

  26-04-2017 19:42
  
  PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) – I am rooting for Martavis Bryant.
  But I wouldn’t bet on him.
  That’s just the reality of all this.
  Certainly I would like the young man to wise up, play it straight, walk the good side of the line and have it all figured out this time. I would love that for his sake and for the Steelers’ sake. Who wouldn’t?
  But would you bet on that happening? I don’t know. That seems to be a pretty tough proposition.
  Imagine if someone made you pick
  
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• IUP Student To Stand Trial In Frat Brother’s Death

  26-04-2017 19:31
  
  INDIANA (KDKA) – An Indiana University of Pennsylvania student will stand trial in connection with the death of a fraternity brother following a fight.
  Brady DiStephano appeared in court Wednesday morning, where he was held for trial on charges of aggravated assault and criminal homicide.
  In February, DiStephano got into a fight with 19-year-old Caleb Zweig on a street near the IUP campus.
  “There was an altercation. The defendant was said to have went to the ground with the victim an
  
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• Chipotle Warns Customers To Check Card For ‘Unauthorized Activity’

  26-04-2017 19:14
  
  CBS Local — After reporting better than expected sales this quarter — a bounce back following widespread Norovirus issues that plagued the company in 2016 — Chipotle has now given their customers a different kind of scare, this one concerning their payment information.
  Chipotle reports that they have detected ‘unauthorized activity’ for its customer payment system and the company suggests that customers who have used credit cards at their st
  
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• Pa. Inspector General files welfare fraud charges against 77 people in February

  26-04-2017 18:52
  HARRISBURG, Pa.-Pennsylvania's Office of the Inspector General announced Wednesday that welfare fraud charges were filed against 77 people across the state during the month of February. "February's cases range from a low of $69.52 in SNAP trafficking in Harrisburg to a high of $97,793.59 in combined SNAP, medical assistance and LIHEAP fraud by two individuals in Cameron County," Inspector General Bruce R. Beemer said.
  
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• FirstEnergy must pay rail firms for breaking coal contract

  26-04-2017 18:22 via post-gazette.com
  
  FirstEnergy Corp. can’t use federal environmental standards as an excuse to break its contracts with several railroads that were supposed to be hauling coal to now shuttered power plants, an arbitration panel ruled.
  
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• TSN’s Darren Dreger Gives Edge To Penguins Over Capitals

  26-04-2017 18:05
  
  PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan)-The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals will meet in the Eastern Conference semifinal round for the second consecutive season starting Thursday.
  TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger joined “The Fan Morning Show” on Wednesday to help provide a series preview. Darren gives the slight edge to the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins in this series, but says it will be close.
  “I just expect that Pittsburgh is ultimately going to win this series.
  
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• Ian Baker-Finch On Zurich Classic: ‘Some Chances For Scoring’

  26-04-2017 17:58
  
  By Dave Shedloski
  The last time the PGA TOUR held an official team event using a team format was 1981 at the Walt Disney World National Team Championship in Orlando. And if you remember Vance Heafner and Mike Holland were the winners, then you earn bonus points.
  Last November the TOUR voted to revive the format for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which returns this week to the Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana, a player-friendly layout in suburban Avondale, Louisiana. Brian Stuard is the d
  
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• Study: Pittsburgh Drivers Ranked Worst In Country

  26-04-2017 17:55
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Pittsburgh is used to making “best of” lists, but this is one list Pittsburghers probably don’t want on top of.EverQuote has released their annual report of the worst drivers in the country, and according to our news partners at the Post-Gazette, we’re tied for worst in the country.EverQuote studied 11-months of driving habits through the beginning of March for 150,000 drivers who use their EverRide app.
  The rankings were based on five driving ac
  
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• Authorities believe slain McKeesport teen was shot accidentally by cousin

  26-04-2017 17:30 via post-gazette.com
  
  Authorities believe that a 14-year-old boy killed Tuesday inside a McKeesport home was the victim of an accidental shooting by his cousin.
  
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• Missing Carnegie Man Found Safe

  26-04-2017 17:00
  
  CARNEGIE (KDKA) – A missing man in Carnegie has been found safe and sound.
  According to police, Jeremi Eppley was last seen Sunday. He returned home on Wednesday.
  No other details were released.
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• Carnegie Police Seek Help Locating Missing Man

  26-04-2017 17:00
  
  CARNEGIE (KDKA) – Carnegie Police are asking for the public’s help to locate a missing man.
  According to police, Jeremi Eppley was last seen Sunday.
  He is described as being a white male, standing 5-feet-2-inches tall and weighing 125 pounds.
  Eppley has a tattoo down his spine. He also has two tattoos on both sides of his pelvis.
  Anyone with information is asked to contact Carnegie Police at (412)-279-4589.
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• Jury To Begin Weighing Sentence For Police Ambush Killer

  26-04-2017 16:42
  
  MILFORD, Pa. (AP) – A jury is expected to begin weighing the sentence for a gunman who targeted Pennsylvania state troopers at their barracks, killing one and leaving a second with devastating injuries.
  Eric Frein could be sentenced to death in the 2014 ambush that killed Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and wounded Trooper Alex Douglass. His lawyers are trying to keep him off death row, arguing for a sentence of life in prison without parole.
  Prosecutors are scheduled to call their last witness Wedn
  
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• Daughter: Bill Cosby ‘Is Not Abusive, Violent Or A Rapist’

  26-04-2017 16:17
  
  PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Bill Cosby‘s youngest daughter has come to the comedian’s defense ahead of a looming sexual assault trial.
  Evin Cosby writes in an opinion piece for the National Newspaper Publishers Association published Wednesday that her father “is not abusive, violent or a rapist.” She says he “loves and respects women.” Cosby acknowledges that her 79-year-old father had affairs, but says he and her mother “have worked through it and moved o
  
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• Rep. Murphy Thinks President Trump’s Tax Plan Is Off To A Good Start

  26-04-2017 15:43
  
  PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) – President Donald Trump has a plan he says will stimulate job growth.
  He wants to slash the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent and create more deductions for individuals.
  Pennsylvania Congressman Tim Murphy tells the “KDKA Morning News” he thinks the president is off to a good start.
  “I think [the president is] on the right track in terms of cutting taxes, but I believe in a more comprehensive review,” said Murphy.
  Mur
  
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• Butler School District To Close Wells, Use City Water After Lead Issue

  26-04-2017 15:14
  
  BUTLER, Pa. (AP) – A western Pennsylvania school district is scrapping water wells and opting for city-treated water so it can reopen an elementary school shuttered after high levels of lead were found in its water.
  The Butler School District closed Summit Elementary School in February and moved pupils to Broad Street Elementary School, which had been shuttered.
  Summit was first closed for two days in January after high levels of lead were found in its water. Further testing found E. coli
  
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• Rick Sebak's "NEBBY" series exceeds crowdfunding goal

  26-04-2017 15:09 via post-gazette.com
  
  Pittsburghers love to be “Nebby.”
  
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• PTL Links: April 26, 2017

  26-04-2017 15:01
  
  Visit the links below for more on today’s guest & topics:
  Highway 4
  Rania’s Catering
  Rania’s Recipes: Sauce Tomate
  March Of Dimes
  Winning Plate With Leslie Bonci
  AARP Shredding Event
  
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• Think Pittsburgh drivers are bad? Turns out they're the worst

  26-04-2017 15:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  This is one category where Pittsburghers didn’t want to be tied with New York City residents: worst drivers in the country, according to a report released this morning by EverQuote Inc., an online insurance marketplace.
  
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• Rania’s Recipes: Sauce Tomate

  26-04-2017 14:57
  
  Rania Harris stopped by PTL to show off another delicious sauce recipe!
  Sauce Tomate
  2 ounces salt pork, chopped
  2 cups onion, diced
  1 garlic clove, chopped
  1 cup carrots. diced
  1 cup celery, diced
  2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes (I used San Marzano)
  1 quart veal stock (I make my stock from Demi Glace)
  1 ham bone
  Herb Sachet:
  1 teaspoon dried thyme
  3-4 sprigs fresh parsley
  1 bay leaf
  10 crushed black peppercorns
  Directions:
  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  In a heavy oven safe Dutch oven, over me
  
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• The Digs: The Fort Pitt Blockhouse Lodge and Aunt Mollie

  26-04-2017 14:51 via post-gazette.com
  
  For 60 years the lodge served as home to custodians of the Fort Pitt Blockhouse grounds. One was Aunt Mollie Beck. She was a Scottish immigrant who, at age 10, took a job a North Side cotton mill after the death of her father. Read her story here.
  
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• Woman ODs, Man Arrested, Child Found In Car In Police Parking Lot

  26-04-2017 14:15
  
  PITTSBURGH (AP) – A woman has apparently overdosed on drugs, a man is in custody and a child found in their car has been turned over to his grandparents after all three were found in a car parked in a Pittsburgh police station lot.
  Police didn’t immediately identify any of the people found in the car outside the Zone 1 station about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Officers noticed the car because it was parked oddly, then found the people inside along with unspecified drug paraphernalia.
  Police
  
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• Officers Find Glass Pipe, 2 Kids In SUV After 2 Adults Pass Out In Police Station Parking Lot

  26-04-2017 14:15
  
  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man and woman are facing charges after they were found passed out in a vehicle in a Pittsburgh Police station parking lot.
  Officers found them overnight at the Zone 1 police station, with two young children also in the car.
  Police say they believe the two people who were inside the parked Mercedes Benz SUV just after 1 a.m. were high and passed out. Officials say the man told the officers that he pulled into the station parking lot after his female passenger passed ou
  
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• Pennsylvania School Rules Require Vaccinations Within 5 Days

  26-04-2017 14:05
  
  PITTSBURGH (AP) – New Pennsylvania Department of Health rules require school students to be fully vaccinated within five days of the beginning of the school year.
  The Tribune-Review says the new rules take effect in August.
  Students who don’t have their vaccinations in time must have a doctor provide a written medial plan to outline when the vaccinations will occur.
  Loren Robinson, the deputy secretary and health promotion and disease prevention, says the rules mostly affect kinderga
  
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• Renovations Continue at the August Wilson House; Second Annual Birthday Block Party Announced

  26-04-2017 13:46
  In its second year, the August Wilson Birthday Block Party promises to become a tradition, uniting Pittsburghers and visitors in a happy event in honor of the great playwright. On Sat., April 29, Noon-5 pm, the party will take over several blocks extending eastward from the August Wilson House at 1727 Bedford Ave. The free event is for all ages.
  
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• TRAFFIC: I-79 northbound crash slows morning commute

  26-04-2017 12:07 via post-gazette.com
  
  A crash is blocking a lane on Interstate 79 northbound Wednesday morning at the Wexford exit.
  
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• TRAFFIC: I-376 road work near airport prompts lane restrictions

  26-04-2017 12:07 via post-gazette.com
  
  Motorists can expect lane restrictions on westbound Interstate 376 in Findlay near Pittsburgh International Airport for most of the year.
  
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• One wounded in Wilkinsburg shooting

  26-04-2017 12:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  One person was wounded in a shooting overnight in Wilkinsburg, and police later took one person into custody after stopping him on the Parkway East
  
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• Man, 23, critically wounded in Wilkinsburg shooting; suspect arrested

  26-04-2017 12:00 via post-gazette.com
  
  A 23-year-old man was shot multiple times overnight while in a car in Wilkinsburg, and police later took the suspected shooter into custody in Oakland after he contacted them and claimed responsibility, investigators said Wednesday morning.
  
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• Mount Lebanon Police Hiring More Officers

  26-04-2017 11:20
  
  MOUNT LEBANON (KDKA) – Mount Lebanon Police are accepting applications to fill multiple open officer positions in the department.
  All applications must be received no later than 4 p.m. on April 28.
  Those who are interested can pick up an application during regular business hours at the police station at 555 Washington Road, or visit the Mount Lebanon Police Department’s website.
  
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