Julia Felton stories, Page 63

After nearly scrapping the event due to pandemic restrictions, Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company has decided to host its 83rd Saxonburg Carnival. The event, a longtime fundraiser for the fire company, will be hosted from Aug. 18-21 at Saxonburg VFC Firemen’s Grounds, said Carnival Chairman Paul Donaldson, who serves as an...

The Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) is encouraging people to invite just one person to register to become an organ donor. Through the Just One campaign, CORE, an organ procurement organization, is taking to social media to spread the word about organ donation. Each day, CORE asks people...

Masks will be optional this school year in Freeport Area School District, though some other covid-19 mitigation measures will remain in place, according to the Health and Safety Plan passed unanimously by the school board Thursday night. Masks are not required for students, staff or visitors, though anyone may choose...

Despite a slight increase in pediatric covid-19 hospitalizations at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, health experts said they think students can safely return to the classroom for the upcoming school year. Pediatric covid-19 hospitalizations have increased slightly over the past month, although the number of children admitted to UPMC Children’s...

Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network officials said Tuesday they are taking strict measures to ensure their more than 43,000 employees get vaccinated against covid-19. The health systems said they expect to reach a 100% vaccination rate for all eligible employees by the end of September unless they have a...

The University of Pittsburgh named a new director of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs — someone who is very familiar with the many benefits students can reap from the cultural staple. Kati Csoman, who received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Pitt, assumed the role on Tuesday. She...

Students and faculty at Pennsylvania State University are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against covid-19, but the university is not mandating the vaccine, university officials said during a virtual presentation Tuesday. “While we are not currently requiring vaccinations, Penn State is not impartial when it comes to getting vaccinated,” Penn...

No shot, no service. Two North Side restaurants will require proof of vaccination for diners beginning on Wednesday. Lola Bistro and Leo. a public house — both owned and operated by Michael Barnhouse, who also serves as the chef, and his wife Yelena — announced new vaccination requirement in a...

Nine Western Pennsylvania counties are experiencing “substantial” levels of covid-19 transmission that fall under federal recommendations calling for people to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Washington, Armstrong, Indiana, Clarion and Somerset counties are all experiencing “substantial” covid-19 transmission, according to the Centers for Disease...

Emergency crews rescued a kayaker who got stuck on rocks in the Kiski River Sunday evening. Emergency units were helping the kayaker, who got stuck in Bell Township, around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The kayaker was injured. “They located her and they’re helping her...

A man was fond dead in the Monongahela River on Sunday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the man as Michael Devonta Mason, 27, of Akron. A 911 caller directed first responders to a body in the river. River Rescue, EMS and police discovered him floating in the water...

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s office said a Jeannette couple was killed in a crash Saturday on Agnew Road in Hempfield Township. Catherine M. and Walter J. Gardner, 58 and 61, were pronounced dead at the scene of the 5:45 p.m. single-vehicle crash on the 400 block of Agnew Road, according...

Sheetz is offering a consolation gift to University of Pittsburgh students disappointed that a store is in fact not coming to Oakland. Throughout the month of August, Pitt students can treat themselves to a free fizz drink or coffee at regional Sheetz locations. The offer for Pitt students comes after...

National broadcast journalist and Pittsburgh native A.J. Ross has returned home to cover the Pittsburgh Steelers during training camp and preseason for KDKA-TV. Ross, of Highland Park, said she grew up playing sports at the Shadyside Boys and Girls Club and cheering for Pittsburgh’s favorite teams. Returning to Pittsburgh to...

Students in Pittsburgh Public Schools will have to continue wearing masks during the upcoming academic year, according to the district’s health and safety plan. The plan — which requires masks indoors and keeps many covid-19 mitigation measures in place for the 2021-22 school year — was passed during Wednesday’s school...

The family of a Woodland Hills High School student who was found shot to death in November is hosting a basketball clinic this weekend to honor his memory and raise awareness about gun violence. Micah Graham was 16 when he was killed Nov. 4 in Les Getz Memorial Park. He...

Churchill Borough’s ongoing public hearing regarding a potential Amazon distribution center is likely to stretch several more days. During the public hearing — which began Monday and continued Thursday evening — Texas-based Hillwood Development is outlining their proposal for an Amazon distribution center at the former site of the George...

PennEnergy will be installing a well site in Buffalo Township after gaining approval from township officials. Construction at the site, located at 765 Ekastown Road, is slated to begin later this summer, said Amanda Peterson, a stakeholder relations manager with PennEnergy. Some township residents have voiced concerns on social media...

Driving through Pittsburgh’s narrow, car-lined streets can pose a challenge to even experienced drivers. It’s a particularly difficult situation to teach to autonomous vehicles without a human driver behind the wheel. A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers at the Argo AI Center for Autonomous Vehicle Research developed an algorithm...

Entrepreneur and philanthropist John G. Rangos Sr. died Wednesday, one week shy of his 92nd birthday. Rangos died following a brief illness, according to a news release from the John G. Rangos Sr. Charitable Foundation. The release said he died surrounded by his children — John Rangos Jr., Alex Rangos...

The closure of Cheswick Generating Station — Allegheny County’s only coal-fired power plant — has been postponed until spring. Houston-based GenOn Holdings LLC, which owns the plant, said in June that the plant would be permanently retired by Sept. 15. The company last week moved the plant’s retirement date to...

Woodland Hills School District appointed one of the high school’s assistant principals to be the school’s interim principal. The school board on Wednesday approved naming Shelly Manns as interim high school principal. She joined the district in September 2020 and served as an assistant high school principal last year. Manns...