Local category, Page 2308
Outer Banks sees low covid-19 numbers; remains popular vacation spot despite pandemic
Counties that make up the Outer Banks barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina have mostly been spared by the covid-19 pandemic, and Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday moved the state into the next phase of the tiered reopening plan. The next phase, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, is...
The Stroller, Sept. 5, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on Twitter @VNDStroller for a daily link to The Stroller. Christopher’s Light charity accepting donations Children’s charity Christopher’s Light...
Lower Burrell councilman tapped for homeless veterans’ nonprofit with $4 million in grantsVideo
Lower Burrell Councilman Robert Hamilton has been named executive director of the Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard in East Liberty, an organization that helps homeless veterans. Hamilton, 32, said he has had a deep passion for helping at-risk veterans. Hamilton served in the National Guard as a military police officer....
Western Pa. veterans divided by report Trump disparaged military
Local veterans are divided in their reactions to a report President Trump disparaged fallen service members, with some defending the president’s record and others condemning his attitude toward the military. “If he said that, and I don’t know if it’s true or not, but if he said it he doesn’t...
Pa. to distribute $300 weekly jobless benefit checks next week
The state said it will start next week to distribute the $300 weekly checks the Trump administration approved as the replacement for the $600-a-week benefits the jobless received before that funding expired at the end of July. The money from the federal Lost Wages Assistance program will be distributed to...
Sheriff’s sale dashes Harrison woman’s plan for bakery, cafe in Natrona
Linda Gromley has operated her home business, “Fifty Shades of Cake,” out of her kitchen in Harrison’s Natrona section for two years, baking everything from pies and cookies to bread and, of course, cakes. She had hoped to grow beyond a home business by putting in a commercial kitchen and...
Scaffolding atop of Gulf Tower’s pyramid signals 2-year restoration will end soonVideo
Plenty of people driving past the Gulf Tower are wondering what’s going on at the tippy-top of the pyramid crowning the 44-story skyscraper in Downtown Pittsburgh. Scaffolding is obscuring the view of the top of the stepped pyramid during the day and altering the look of the colored LED lights...
Vandergrift councilwoman continuing with lawsuit against borough, 5 colleagues
The legal battle among members of Vandergrift Council continues. Recent case filings show a back-and-forth between Councilwoman Karen McClarnon and her peers, and a refusal to drop a civil lawsuit filed in late May. The defendants, five other council members and other officials, filed to dismiss the suit in late...
Oakmont family to stand trial in toddler’s death
The last months of 3-year-old Bella Seachrist’s life were spent stationary, allegedly forced to sit for so long on her training potty that her feet became swollen and purple, detectives testified Friday at a preliminary hearing for the three adults charged with her homicide. The girl’s father, Jose Salazar-Ortiz, his...
Here is covid-19 data from Western Pa. colleges
Western Pennsylvania is home to several colleges and universities, attracting students from around the state and country. During the coronavirus pandemic, many are tracking the number of positive covid-19 cases as they emerge on campus. University of Pittsburgh Enrollment: Approximately 35,000 students Number of new cases: There were 40 new...
Scottdale places shuttered swimming pool up for auction
A Scottdale landmark where generations of local kids learned to swim is on the auction block. Online bids are being accepted for the borough-owned swimming pool building through 4 p.m. Oct. 7, on the Municibid website. Constructed in the early 1970s by the local YMCA, the brick-and-block building is located...
Projects, big and small, help to revitalize Export
When Export lost its post office in 2008, more than 200 people packed a public meeting to appeal for its return, which never happened. It was largely seen as a bad sign for the small Westmoreland County borough, which was once home to Thomas Mellon, father of industrial giant and...
Westmoreland County hiring poll workers to handle heavy expected voter turnout
Westmoreland County will hire as many as 1,800 poll workers for election day. Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said recruiting has been underway for the last several weeks to have each of the county’s 307 voting precincts fully staffed on Nov. 3. “We’re going to take as many poll workers...
Multiple fire units dispatched to Youngwood house fire
Multiple crews were called to a dryer fire Friday in Youngwood that spread into the wall of a home, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The fire on the 1000 block of Depot Street was reported at 2:25 p.m. No injuries were reported, the dispatcher said. Depot Street was...
Westmoreland controller’s office to put audits online
For the first time, audits from the Westmoreland County Controller’s Office are available online. Controller Jeffrey Balzer said financial reports compiled by his staff will be made public, a departure from past practices that required formal requests under the state’s open records laws to review the department findings. “I have...
North Huntingdon to hold hearing on backyard chickens ordinance
The debate about keeping chickens in North Huntingdon’s residential areas will continue. Township commissioners scheduled a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Town House, 11279 Center Highway, to hear another round of what has been heated discussion on the subject, including where residents can have chickens and how...
‘Mutt Strut’ to benefit Springdale-based animal rescueVideo
A foster-based animal rescue headquartered in Springdale said it needs help finding homes and providing medical attention for cats and dogs. Paws Across Pittsburgh will hold its second annual “Strut With Your Mutt Walk” at West Deer’s Bairdford Park on Saturday, Sept. 12. Founder and President Jackie Armour understands the...
Feds terminate ventilator contract with Philips Respironics that had drawn criticism
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently terminated multiple contracts to add ventilators to the country’s Strategic National Stockpile. And, while federal health officials say they now have enough ventilators to meet maximum national capacity in a crisis, one of the terminated contracts — awarded to Philips Respironics,...
Laurel Highlands fall foliage ranks 3rd in USA Today voting
The Laurel Highlands is among Readers’ Choice Winners for the Best Destination for Fall Foliage category in the 2020 USA Today 10Best Travel Award Contest. The Laurel Highlands placed third overall in voting amid a field of 20 nominees that also included Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Top 10: 1. Upper Peninsula...
Twirl Time Studio relocates from Pittsburgh Mills mall to The Clement in TarentumVideo
Moving into the Pittsburgh Mills mall went so well for Marianne Rieg that her dance studio, Twirl Time, grew to fill two storefronts serving 200 kids. Covid-19 changed that. Her studio shut down in March. Although the Frazer mall reopened, its earlier closing time didn’t work for her business, primarily...
Ingomar Garden Club announces winners of student contest
Each year members of the Ingomar Garden Club help local school students cut through the red tape of submitting entries for contests by doing preliminary judging — and awarding prizes — before sending them off to state and national competitions. The chair of the 74-year-old organization’s awards committee and several...
Lower Burrell considers hiring mowing contractor for city parks
Lower Burrell Council is considering hiring a private contractor to mow grass at the city’s two largest parks. Council members are expected to discuss the proposal when they meet virtually Tuesday. The council canceled both of its August meetings because it lacked adequate meeting space during the renovation of City...
Mine cleanups in Cook, Fawn townships among those targeted by state program
An abandoned mine drainage treatment system meant to remove pollution from a tributary of the Loyalhanna Creek near Rector will be replaced and a highwall at the popular Tour-Ed Mine and Museum in Fawn will be made safer via a state program. “It’s a win-win all around,” said John Wenzel,...
Public input sought on reinventing former Ligonier Beach pool
Ligonier Township officials have scheduled a second meeting, with pandemic precautions in mind, to take public input on proposed recreational reuse of the former Ligonier Beach entertainment site. The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 in the open garage bay of the township building to...
West Deer increases property tax rebate for seniors
West Deer Supervisors have increased the amount of money that senior citizens can have reduced from their property taxes each year. The board voted unanimously to amend West Deer’s Senior Citizen Property Tax Relief Program, which provided a $10 reduction from the township’s property tax bill for eligible seniors. The...
