Pittsburgh All Local

Former nurse Heather Presdee entered guilty pleas this morning to three counts of first degree murder and 19 counts of attempted homicide. In all, 17 patients in five facilities died from insulin overdoses she administered. Five other victims survived. The 41-year-old serial killer was sentenced to three consecutive life terms. At least nine wrongful death lawsuits have been filed by victims' families against the nursing homes that employed Pressdee.

A hoarding problem at home in Plum Borough has become so bad various items are piling up outside the house on Shelbourne Drive. One neighbor calls the property an absolute mess, The front door is blocked and the driveway is filled to the street. The junk has also spilled into the backyard. Plum's mayor said the borough has tried code enforcement and tickets but nothing has worked. The county's Agency on Aging can only help if the homeowner asks for it.

Two contrasting scenes this morning in Pittsburgh and New York City. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators had left their tents near Pitt in Schenley Park. But at Columbia University, protesters refused to break up their encampments and then smashed windows in a building on campus, barricading themselves inside. This Jewish student was there and called on the group to stop: Columbia administrators closed off a large section of the campus allowing only students with school IDs.

The students protesting Israel's military action in Gaza are apparently planning to remain at Schenley Park for some time to come. NewsRadio KDKA's Timira Rush joins us live from Oakland with the latest:

The man released by a district judge on non-monetary bond and wanted on new charges has been captured. NewsRadio KDKA's Timira Rush has the latest:

[Hermas Craddock failed to show up in court Monday on charges linked to a dangerous high speed chase on Route 28. He was out on $25,000 bond on a gun charge at the time. Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus was dismayed Craddock was set free:

Craddock was arrested last night in Florida. The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office says detectives first located him in North Carolina and later learned he was in the Orlando area. Deputies were sent to a townhome complex last night and took him into custody. Sheriff Kraus will have more to say about Craddock’s arrest later today.]

Distracted driving crashes are a growing problem. NewsRadio KDKA's Timira Rush has the story:

[Last year, there were 1700 with 6 fatalities in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties. PennDOT's Yasmeen Manyisha told KDKA Radio cell phone use is the number one factor, but not the only distraction: The goal of PennDOT's 'Park the Phone' campaign is persuading drivers to take a pledge to put their focus on driving.] 

Pittsburgh Police have released new images of the person or persons linked to antisemitic vandalism outside a North Side home. NewsRadio KDKA's Timira Rush has the latest:

[According to police, a man wearing a white sweatshirt was seen ripping an Israeli flag down and throwing it in the garbage. Another incident took place on Sunday when a man dressed in black placed antisemitic messages on the victims front door and spraypainted the phrase "For Blood and Soil" on her sidewalk.Police say it's possible the person in the photos is the same individual. The victim reported four separate incidents that occurred at or around her home in the Mexican War Streets. Anyone with information about the people or person is asked to call Zone 1 officers or 911. Images of the man or men police want to question  can be found on our website at kdkaradio.com  Live in the news room Timira Rush News Radio KDKA.]

Primary election voting is underway in Pennsylvania. There's a competitive contest between two Democrats in the 12th Congressional District. First term incumbent Summer Lee is being challenged by Bhavini Patel. Lee is voting at this hour at the Swissvale Community Food Bank and NewsRadio KDKA's Timira Rush is there with a live report:

A bigot spray painted a Nazi rallying cry on the sidewalk in front of a North Side home over the weekend, a reminder of the hate and persecution Jews are facing. She says there have been three other incidents in recent weeks. Police have referred the case to the FBI.

A Beaver County woman shot and killed an intruder in her home Wednesday. It happened in the overnight hours at a house on 10th Avenue in Beaver Falls. The homeowner says the man broke open a basement window to get inside. She went to the basement with a gun and came face to face with the stranger and shot him three times. Beaver Falls police and county detectives are investigating. The name of the man who was killed has not been released.