CRIME & SAFETY
Firefighter, Navy Veteran Gets Jail Time For Multiple PA Arsons: DA
A US Navy Veteran and now-former firefighter has been sentenced for starting four fires, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli announced on May 1. Andrew Bischof, 21 of Arnold, pleaded guilty to all arson charges, including aggravated arson, risking catastrophe, and crimin…
Former Pennsylvania police officer, chief plead guilty to role in meth operation
(WJET/WFXP) — The former chief and another officer from western Pennsylvania have pleaded guilty in federal court for their alleged role in running a methamphetamine pill operation. The United States Attorney’s Office for Western Pennsylvania announced on May 1 that former Greensburg Police Officer Regina McAtee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She joins […]
Hempfield man's 'nonstop criminal activity' nets 3- to 6-year prison sentence
A Hempfield man was ordered to serve up to six years in prison for a series of crimes that included an assault against a police officer, two high-speed chases and possession of cocaine in his cell at the Westmoreland County jail. As Antjuan Dewayne Smith, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday, his...
Western Pennsylvania Nurse Sentenced to Consecutive Life Sentences After Pleading Guilty to Killing and Attempting to Kill Patients
HARRISBURG – Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a western Pennsylvania nurse will spend the rest of her life in prison, without the possibility of parole, for intentionally administering lethal doses of insulin to patients at numerous skilled nursing facilities. Heather Pressdee, of Natrona Heights, pleaded guilty to three...
Our Community, Your Stories: The 1978 Friedens train derailment
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Coal trains are a part of our landscape, and with that, unfortunately so are derailments. It was late November 1978 when a train hauling about 50 cars loaded with coal derailed in Friedens, in Somerset County. Our news crews were there after it happened,...
New Mexico man fights extradition to Florida after license plate readers used to track him to New Stanton
The lawyer of a man arrested this week at a Pennsylvania Turnpike service plaza told a judge he will challenge efforts to extradite his client to Florida to answer charges that he shot and killed his own brother. John William Tolbert, 58, of New Mexico, is expected to remain in...
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.