Alligators have been found roaming Pittsburgh on several occasions in the last year, and there is now a push to ban the sale and ownership of reptiles in the city. City Councilman Bruce Kraus introduced a bill on Tuesday. It would ban businesses and residents from selling, owning, adopting or exchanging turtles, alligators and crocodiles. Snakes would still be allowed. If caught violating the ban, people would be fined $1,000 for each reptile and could face jail time. Kraus’ proposed legislation would repeal an ordinance passed by city council last year that permitted the ownership of crocodiles, alligators and snakes, with restrictions such as having to keep them in containers or boxes at all times. But Kraus and animal rights groups said the prior ordinance was inhumane.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Westmoreland County man has been sentenced to 30-years-to-life terms in the slayings of his mother and younger brother when he was 14 years old. The Tribune Review reports that now-18-year-old Jacob Remaley of Greensburg apologized Tuesday in Westmoreland County Court as he pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the charges. Prosecutors said Remaley shot and killed 46-year-old Dana Remaley and her 8-year-old son Caleb in New Stanton in November 2016. The defense says Remaley has multiple personality disorder. The defendant alleges that one violent personality he called “Wrath” told him to commit the murders.

Police are searching for a man accused of robbing a McDonald’s and then taking off. The incident happened around 5 p.m. Tuesday at the McDonald’s on Rt. 228 in Cranberry Township. Witnesses told police the suspected robber ran from the restaurant before officers arrived, and the man was last seen running east toward Famous Footwear on that road. Police described the suspect as between 30 and 40 years old, wearing a gray pullover and a camouflage Under Armor baseball hat. Investigators also said he may have fled in a black Chevrolet Impala. During the robbery, police said no weapon was shown and no one was hurt. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

A Megabus carrying passengers from Pittsburgh crashed on Interstate 80 in New Jersey early Tuesday morning. Passengers told police they started screaming at the driver to pull over after the bus started swerving near State College, Pa. The driver pulled off the highway and told them it was the wind making the bus difficult to handle. Several hours later, Troopers with the New Jersey State Police said the bus rear ended a tractor trailer. According to police, the crash is under investigation.

A local college student who fell more than 80 feet from a cliff at a state park in Lawrence County and survived…is expected to be released from the hospital as early as today. 21-year-old Jocie Van Kirk – a student at Slippery Rock University – fell off the cliff at McConnells Mill State Park Sunday around 3 p.m. Van Kirk was hiking with friends when she slipped on a rock and leaves. She slid down the embankment, off the cliff and tumbled down – eventually coming to a stop in the creek. She had to be pulled up in a rescue basket and was flown to a hospital. She has fractures in her neck, back and pelvis. Doctors said Van Kirk’s injuries are minor.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26TH, 2020

 

 

TODAY – AREAS OF PATCHY FOG THIS MORNING. RAIN
LIKELY. HIGH NEAR 50.

TONIGHT – RAIN AND SNOW THIS EVENING TRANSITIONING
TO SNOW SHOWERS OVERNIGHT.
ACCUMULATION LESS THAN ONE INCH.
LOW – 26.

THURSDAY – CLOUDY AND BECOMING WINDY. HIGH
NEAR 30.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Supporters of former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg are escalating their attacks on Bernie Sanders over his record on gun control ahead of Tuesday night’s high-stakes Democratic debate in South Carolina. Five Bloomberg backers, all of them current or former black officials, are homing in on Sanders’ record on guns and criminal justice as particular areas of concern. As the Vermont senator becomes the front-runner in the Democratic presidential primary, the Bloomberg backers say, more scrutiny should be paid to his past votes against the landmark gun control law known as the Brady Bill and his opposition to legislation that would allow gun manufacturers to be sued.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a lawsuit filed by Catholic Social Services against Philadelphia, to be allowed to decline prospective foster families headed by same-sex couples. Andrea Sears reports…

Could the coronavirus outbreak have an effect on gas prices here in Western Pennsylvania? Matt Drzik has the story…

Duquesne Light has announced a power outage update for Beaver County. Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano has details. Click on ‘play’ to hear Sandy’s report…