Here are among the newest information objects from this morning, Wednesday, July 8:
Pittsburgh man faces felony arson fees
A Pittsburgh man has been arrested in connection to a fireplace that began inside an condominium alongside the 300 block of Wood Street in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Jacob Aaron Cooper, 22, faces fees of aggravated arson, three counts of felony arson, inflicting or risking disaster, legal mischief and recklessly endangering one other particular person, court docket paperwork mentioned.
Emergency responders had been known as to the condominium simply after 4:40 a.m. Monday for a fireplace that had been contained then extinguished by a sprinkler.
Police mentioned there was injury to a sofa, a pair of tennis footwear and a bicycle wheel. After investigating, they mentioned they had been in a position to rule out pure or unintentional causes for the hearth, TribLive information companion WTAE reported.
Authorities consider the sofa was set on fireplace with a lighter or a match, then unfold to the footwear, WTAE mentioned.
A warrant was issued Monday for Cooper’s arrest. Downtown Public Safety Center officers took him into custody Tuesday afternoon, the police blotter mentioned.
Pittsburgh police are directing anybody with data to contact Fire Investigation Unit detectives at (412) 782-7646.
Moon space swim coach suspended
A longtime Moon space swim coach has been quickly suspended by the U.S. Center for SafeSport following allegations of misconduct.
Jeffrey Berghoff, a coach with Tiger Aquatics, a nonprofit aggressive swim membership based mostly in Moon, was issued a temporary suspension on June 29, in accordance with the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Centralized Disciplinary Database.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport Centralized Disciplinary Database is a public listing that lists adults who’re barred, suspended or quickly restricted from collaborating within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic actions as a consequence of sexual, bodily or emotional misconduct, in accordance with the web site.
The nature of Berghoff’s suspension was unclear Wednesday morning.
Berghoff has served as the pinnacle swim coach at Moon Area High School for a few decade and for the 2026-27 college 12 months, in accordance with Moon Area School District board of trustees assembly minutes.
“We do not discuss personnel matters,” mentioned Alan Alcalde, athletic director for Moon Area School District, when requested whether or not Berghoff could be persevering with to teach following the momentary suspension.
He was additionally listed on-line because the coach and swim teacher for the Montour Heights Country Club swim staff.
A TribLive reporter tried to succeed in the Tiger Aquatics’ Board of Directors, The Montour Heights Country Club and Berghoff, however they didn’t reply to a direct request for remark Wednesday morning.
Nonprofit blood providers supplier wants Western Pa. donations
The nonprofit blood providers supplier Vitalant mentioned it’s going through a crucial scarcity of sort O blood with blood provide lately dropping to a two-year low since May.
On Monday, 1000’s of donation appointments had been nonetheless accessible nationwide via the top of July and must be crammed to spice up the blood provide, Vitalant mentioned in a information launch.
Amie Rawson, Vitalant senior vice chairman of donor providers mentioned Type O blood is all the time in excessive demand as a result of it’s probably the most versatile and incessantly used blood sort for transfusions.
“Patients with type O-positive blood make up about 39% of the population, but they can only receive type O blood,” Rawson mentioned. “When there’s a shortage, doctors may have to decide who can receive it immediately and who can wait. That is why maintaining an adequate supply of all blood types is essential to ensure every patient gets the blood they need, especially when seconds count.”
Vitalant operates round 10 brick-and-mortar donation facilities in Western Pennsylvania, in addition to quite a few rotating cellular blood drives.
Pittsburgh-area areas may be discovered within the North and South Hills, Harmar, Green Tree and Downtown; further facilities are in Cranberry Township, Coraopolis, Monroeville, Butler and Greensburg, in accordance with the web site.
Officials mentioned America’s 250th birthday compounded an already low blood provide as journey and vacation associated actions affected donor turnout.
Vitalant collected a number of thousand fewer blood donations throughout that point.
Vitalant is providing all donors who present as much as donate by Friday to obtain their selection of T-shirt whereas provides final. Those who schedule an appointment utilizing promo code JULYGIFT-2026-V will obtain a $20 reward card in Vitalant Donor Rewards and now via Aug. 8, all Vitalant donors will mechanically be entered to win a automobile valued as much as $30,000, a information launch mentioned.