Joe Napsha stories, Page 68
Pittsburgh region’s jobless rate falls to 5.9%; labor force shrinks
The Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate in October fell below 6% for the first time since the pandemic took hold of the economy in April 2020, a combination of more jobs being filled and, once again, fewer people in the labor force. “It’s just as if the economy is stuck in...
Winter heating costs rising, PUC advises customers to shop for rates
Western Pennsylvanians could be in for sticker shock this winter when they pay their heating bill, state and federal agencies warn. “There is a big swing in electric prices (this winter). The surge in natural gas usage is driving up wholesale natural gas prices” at a time when more natural...
Irwin to hold cookie tour Dec. 3, Santa to appear in horse-drawn carriage
There will be a sampling of cookies, an appearance by Santa Claus and a horse-drawn carriage circling downtown from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 during the Irwin Christmas Cookie Tour. Cookies samples will be available while supplies last at downtown Irwin’s churches, stores and restaurants. Visitors get the chance...
Bushy Run volunteer: 91 and still going strong in Penn Township
Jean Loughry started volunteering at the Bushy Run Battlefield some 30 years ago because she was interested in helping out at the historic site and was able to do it. At age 91, the Penn Township resident is still going strong as a volunteer at the Bushy Run Battlefield along...
Norwin seeks 30-day delay in releasing info on contracts
The Norwin School District says it will need 30 days to release details of the recently approved six-year contract with the Norwin Education Association and a five-year agreement with building principals and administrators not represented by a collective bargaining agreement. Norwin Superintendent Jeff Taylor stated in a Nov. 22 email...
Penn-Trafford area: Level Green lights up, food bank collection
Level Green plans Light Up Night Santa Claus will arrive on a fire truck during the Light Up Level Green event from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Level Green Fire Hall along Route 130 in Penn Township. The Penn Trafford Community Band will play holiday favorites and...
Norwin area events: Pirohi sale, Christmas celebration
Church to sell pirohi The St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church at 90 Bethel Road, North Huntingdon, will sell potato-cheese and sweet cabbage pirohi in the church hall beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 10. The price is $10 per dozen. West Newton Library to present Christmas celebration The West Newton Library...
Water line break on Pittsburgh’s Banksville Road causes icy conditions, crashes
A 6-inch waterline that broke early Wednesday on Banksville Road in Pittsburgh caused a section of the busy highway to freeze, a water company spokeswoman said. About 10 customers were affected by the water line break, said Jill Greenwood, a Pennsylvania American Water spokeswoman. The water company placed salt along...
State police seeking red SUV in connection with Key Bank robbery in Greensburg
State police in Greensburg are looking for a man they say robbed an East Pittsburgh Street bank Wednesday morning. The robbery at the Key Bank branch at 800 E. Pittsburgh St. occurred at 10:09 a.m., according to surveillance video footage. Investigators believe the suspect exited the bank and...
3 injured in Jefferson Hills bar shooting
One man was shot in the back and two others were injured from bullet fragments early Wednesday morning during a fight inside a Jefferson Hills bar, Allegheny County police said. The man shot in the back at the Rum Monkeys Pizza & Pub Bar on State Street at about 1:30...
Fire extinguished at West Mifflin scrap metal plant
A fire that broke out in machinery at an industrial scrap metal plant in West Mifflin early Wednesday was extinguished by mid-morning, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV reported. The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. at the TMS International plant on Delwar Road. Firefighters extinguished the fire by 5:30 a.m. No...
Process of pending Pennsylvania election audit remains shrouded in secrecy
An Iowa-based firm that has never conducted an election review will delve into a forensic audit of Pennsylvania’s contentious 2020 general election results and this year’s May primary. How it intends to determine election integrity remains shrouded in secrecy. Steve Lahr, president of Envoy Sage LLC, on Tuesday declined to...
Norwin goes back to mandatory masking policy
Nine days after Norwin lifted its mask requirement for students, staff and visitors, the school district said Friday it would reinstate mandatory masking on Monday because of state court decisions. Superintendent Jeff Taylor made mask-wearing optional Nov. 10 in response to a Commonwealth Court ruling that found the state’s acting...
Pitt group seeks solution to Appalachia ‘brain drain’ in Connellsville study
A University of Pittsburgh study is looking at how Connellsville and other distressed communities in Appalachia can use their resources to spur economic development and turn around a decadeslong “brain drain” — where college-educated residents leave to go elsewhere for better jobs, higher pay or a different lifestyle. “Brain drain...
North Huntingdon holds line on property taxes next year
North Huntingdon officials adopted a tentative budget for 2022 that holds the line on local real estate taxes, while maintaining services. Township commissioners this week unanimously approved a general fund budget of $14.62 million. That’s up from this year’s $13.9 million, although Acting Township Manager Michael Turley said they cut...
Ministry groups serve Thanksgiving dinner to needy in Southwest Greensburg
Heather Carl sat down in a Southwest Greensburg church and shared a hearty Thanksgiving meal with family and friends — a full week before the actual holiday. “We came here for the fellowship,” said Carl, 48, a Jeannette resident who was accompanied Thursday by her son, Heath Rowe, and her...
North Huntingdon OKs new pact with public works employees
North Huntingdon’s unionized public works employees will get pay raises ranging from 25 cents per hour next year to 95 cents per hour in 2026 under terms of a new agreement the township ratified. The five-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) covers 35...
North Huntingdon construction firm to provide Thanksgiving meals for needy
Bella Construction & Development Co. of North Huntingdon, a roofing and siding company, plans to cook amnd deliver a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal — turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, bread and a slice of pumpkin pie — to a number of neighbors in need. Those who are interested...
Norwin area: High school show; toy collection, breakfast with St. Nick, more
A drive-thru holiday music and laser light show will be held in the parking lot at the Norwin Knights Stadium, 11091 Mockingbird Drive, at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 and 27. The Electric Light Fantasy Vol. II is open to those who make advanced reservations through the North...
Penn-Trafford area: Blood drive, holiday celebration, TV giveaway
Level Green club to hold blood drive The Community Women’s Club of Level Green will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Level Green Community Building, 123 Murrysville Road. Vitalant will handle all aspects of the blood drive. All donors must be preregistered as...
Overly’s Country Christmas is a year-round venture for the holidays in Westmoreland County
Workers have been scrambling this week to string lights for the displays spread across the Westmoreland Fairgrounds near Norvelt, unpack countless late-arriving boxes of holiday gifts and shelve them at Overly’s General Store in preparation for Thursday’s opening of Overly’s Country Christmas. Visitors to the annual show will see many...
State Education Department says Norwin’s ‘masks optional’ move is a misinterpretation of court ruling
The Norwin School Board’s decision this week to maintain the policy of allowing students the option of wearing a mask could cause school officials to “lose the sovereign immunity and may personally face lawsuits from those who may be affected by any official’s attempt to ignore the order,” the state...
Norwin historical group to hold virtual house tour
The Norwin Historical Society’s annual Holiday House Tour will again be held virtually Dec. 4-5, coupled with a special Dec. 4 indoor “watch party” of the locations with music, a light dinner, wine tasting, and basket raffle planned from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Greenhouse Winery, 2155 Gracin Lane,...
Norwin increases pay for cafeteria workers
Forced to compete with area restaurants for employees, the Norwin School District will increase the starting wage for cafeteria workers from $10.80 an hour to $14.80 an hour under terms of a contract approved by the board this week. The district’s contract with the Service Employees International Union 32 BJ...
Norwin board OKs 6-year teacher contract; pay hikes average 3%
Norwin’s teachers will enjoy wage hikes averaging 3% for this school year and the next five school years under the terms of a six-year agreement that both the teachers and the Norwin School Board approved on Monday. The board voted 8-0 to approve a contract with the Norwin Education Association...
