Allegheny category, Page 329
Westmoreland, Allegheny tech schools get grants for new equipment
Two Westmoreland County career and technology centers and another in Allegheny County will update their educational equipment with the help of state grants. The Department of Education this week awarded nearly $1.2 million in competitive matching grants to 32 such centers across the state, and to two school districts, for...
Serra Catholic moves to remote learning
Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport will move to remote learning because of an increase in covid-19 cases, the third case in the past three days, Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese said Wednesday night. The diocese said it is following guidance from the Allegheny County Health Department in making the decision to...
Covid spike prompts Carnegie Library system to halt in-person visits
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is closing all branches to visitors in response to Allegheny County’s newly imposed stay-at-home advisory to thwart the spread of the coronavirus. In a statement Wednesday night, Carnegie Library officials described the decision, effective immediately, as a “preventive measure” while covid-19 cases continue to climb...
Convicted felon obsessed with Nazis sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison
A convicted felon who authorities say has an obsession with Nazis and mass shootings was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for having guns when he wasn’t allowed to, federal officials said. Dennis Alan Riggs, 51, of Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood, previously pleaded guilty to one count of...
Allegheny County judge’s resignation sends message against systemic racism, experts say
The resignation of an Allegheny County judge on the eve of his misconduct trial for making racist comments should signal to other jurists and the community that the system is changing, experts say. “This will send a message to other judges that the system as a whole will get to...
Allegheny County advises ‘stay home except for essentials,’ warns of public health order
Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen issued a countywide stay-at-home advisory on Wednesday with the warning that a full-blown public health order could come next if case counts continue to rise. “For the past few weeks, I’ve asked people to follow the rules, curtail gatherings and parties, stay...
Commonwealth Court to Allegheny County: Don’t count — for now — disputed ballots in tight Brewster-Ziccarelli Senate race
An Allegheny County judge on Wednesday denied two petitions by Republican state Senate candidate Nicole Ziccarelli to throw out provisional and faulty mail-in ballots in her challenge against Democratic incumbent Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport. But the state Commonwealth Court on Wednesday night later ordered Allegheny County’s Board of Elections to...
Gateway School District to go remote from Nov. 23-Dec. 4
Gateway School District students at all buildings will move to a remote learning model from Nov. 23 through Dec. 4 because of the region’s spike in covid-19 cases, officials announced this week. Superintendent William Short called the increase in confirmed illnesses “significant and alarming.” Specific information on virtual schedules will...
Allegheny County sets another record for new coronavirus cases
Allegheny County set another high for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. There were 620 new covid-19 cases, bringing the county’s total to 21,434, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Of the new cases, 506 are confirmed and 114 probable from 2,797 PCR tests. The new cases put the daily...
Thomas Jefferson High School goes remote through Dec. 1
Thomas Jefferson High School students will attend class remotely through Dec. 1 as exposure to covid-19 cases rise in the West Jefferson Hills School District. Superintendent Michael Ghilani alerted families through a letter that the high school would begin 100% virtual learning on Nov. 16. This came after the district...
Plum students who attended parent-sponsored dance may not return to class until December
Plum School District students who attended a non-district homecoming dance should quarantine for two weeks due to possible covid-19 exposure, and not return to school until December, according to a notice sent to district families Tuesday. Officials had said a high school student with the virus attended a Class of...
Pitt chosen to lead NIH trials in covid-19 care for patients with blood clots
One of the many ways in which covid-19 wreaks havoc on the human body is by helping to cause abnormal blood clotting. A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes covid-19, seems to release mysterious antibodies that mistakenly attack the...
Oakmont Bakery closes its indoor dining, modifies hours due to rising covid cases
Oakmont Bakery officials have closed the bakery’s indoor dining areas and reduced operational hours due to rising covid-19 cases, according to the shop’s website. The bakery will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The cafe will be...
Federal judge to consider whether to dismiss case filed by Trump campaign in Pa.
A federal judge said he will take under advisement whether to grant a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by Trump for President against the Pennsylvania secretary of state and seven individual counties. Argument before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann lasted about four hours Tuesday and featured the newest Trump...
Oakmont food drive collected goods for hundreds of families
An Oakmont family’s food drive has collected enough goods to support hundreds of people in the borough and surrounding towns. The fifth annual Thanksgiving drive by the Hummel family concluded Tuesday at their business, Rev 22 Juice & Wellness Bar powered by Salud Juicery. It is in the former Oakmont...
Allegheny County Judge Tranquilli resigns before misconduct trial
On the eve of his misconduct trial, Allegheny County Judge Mark V. Tranquilli has resigned, his attorney said Tuesday. Tranquilli had been accused of making racist remarks about a juror. The judge, who won a seat on the court in 2013, was accused of six separate misconduct counts from his...
Judge rules no merit to claims that dead twin brother was Jeannette shooter
The appeal of a Penn Hills man serving life in prison for a murder he claims was committed by his dead twin brother was rejected Tuesday by a Westmoreland County judge. Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio, in an 11-page decision, called the appeal from Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee “without merit” and...
Allegheny County reports 288 new covid-19 cases
After record-setting case counts over the past week in Allegheny County, new covid-19 cases have come down a bit. The Allegheny County Health Department reported 288 additional cases Tuesday. The new cases are a near split, with 145 confirmed and 143 probable. In November, Allegheny County has seen a 30%...
Allegheny County judge to weigh mail-in ballot issue in Nicole Zicarelli challenge
An Allegheny County judge said that he’ll make a decision on Wednesday whether to count undated mail-in ballots that could impact the race for the 45th state Senate District race between incumbent Democratic Sen. Jim Brewster and Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli. Ziccarelli filed a petition against the county Election Board...
Steelers stars distribute holiday meals to area families
Thanksgiving is over a week away but Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward and center Maurkice Pouncey are distributing holiday meals to area families in need this week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a total of 400 families will receive holiday meals through a partnership between the Steelers and the Greater Pittsburgh...
Wexford pastor appointed as next bishop of Youngstown
Pope Francis has named the pastor of a church in Wexford as the next bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. The Rev. David J. Bonnar, 58, who serves as pastor of St. Aidan Parish, will be installed as the sixth bishop of Youngstown during an episcopal ordination Jan. 12...
Plum students who attended a parent-sponsored homecoming party Saturday should not come to school
Plum School District officials are asking students who participated in a non-district homecoming dance to stay home from school Tuesday after it was learned one of the students at the dance tested positive for coronavirus. A high school student with the virus attended a Class of 2021 Senior Parent Committee’s...
2 Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh schools temporarily closing
Two Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh schools are temporarily closing as coronavirus cases continue to spike across the state. Northside Catholic Assumption Academy, located in Brighton Heights, will close for one day after a person associated with the school tested positive for covid-19, officials said. According to Rosanne Kwiatkowski, Northside Catholic...
Allegheny County Sheriff postpones firearm-carry license application event, halts walk-in applications
An application event for licenses to carry firearms scheduled for Saturday in Ohio Township has been postponed, and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office is ceasing walk-in applications as well, officials said Monday. The changes are the result of spiking covid-19 cases in the county, said Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus. The...
Highmark CEO pay climbs to $8.15M, triple what he made in 2016
Highmark Health CEO David Holmberg’s total compensation last year was $8.15 million — more than triple what the nonprofit health system executive made four years ago, newly filed Internal Revenue Service records show. Holmberg’s salary and related compensation increased by about $660,000 in 2019, marking an 8.8% pay hike from...
