Local category, Page 2318
Federal lawsuits filed in Pittsburgh against insurance companies that didn’t pay for pandemic-related losses
Following on the heels of dozens that have already been filed across the country, three potential class-action lawsuits related to covid-19 were filed in federal court in Pittsburgh late this week. All three complaints were filed against insurance companies alleging that they failed to cover claims for losses their customers...
Lawsuit settled over misuse of Terrible Towel trademark on masks
The foundation that owns the Terrible Towel trademark has settled a lawsuit it filed last week against an Indiana County shop that had been marketing “The Terrible Mask” pandemic face coverings. On Friday, the Eamon Foundation, which previously operated as the AVS Foundation — part of the Allegheny Valley School...
Pennsylvania residents must apply for home energy assistance by month’s end
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is warning low-income residents about an impending deadline to apply for home energy assistance. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Recovery Crisis Program ends Aug. 31 and Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller issued a final reminder on Friday. “These are incredibly difficult times,...
Allegheny County increases pandemic outdoor gatherings limit to 100, no change for indoorsVideo
Outdoor gatherings in Allegheny County will be limited to 100 people, double the limit that has been in effect since mid-July, county health officials said late Friday afternoon. The new limit goes into effect Saturday, though all other virus-related restrictions will stand, said Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the county...
6 Elizabeth Forward students test positive for covid-19, high school will start fully remote
Elizabeth Forward High School students will attend 100% online classes for the first week of the school year after several students tested positive for covid-19, according to a Friday letter from superintendent Todd Keruskin. Six students and one part-time employee have tested positive for the virus, according to the letter....
North Hills Art Center emerges from covid shutdown with full schedule of fall classes, events
Despite restrictions placed on social gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials at the North Hills Art Center have been working to ensure that people who live the arts still have a way to add some color to their lives. “Like everybody else, we were mandated by the governor to...
New McCandless ethics policy holds employees, volunteers to same standards as elected officials
McCandless council is putting its employees and volunteers on notice that the positions are not to be used for personal gain. Council on Aug. 24 unanimously passed a resolution establishing a code of ethics that covers elected officials, volunteers, employees and people who are appointed to the town’s various boards...
Monroeville police log: Aug. 24-28
Monroeville police filed the following charges Aug. 24-28 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted: • Antwain Washington, 47, of Pittsburgh’s Homewood West neighborhood with retail theft. The charge was filed Aug. 28 in connection with an incident along the 4000...
Trump House creator savors president’s acceptance speech on the White House lawn
Leslie Baum Rossi still is amazed with everything she saw and heard Thursday night. Known far and wide as the “Trump House Lady,” Rossi, 49, of Unity was among the invited guests seated on the south lawn of the White House for President Trump’s nomination acceptance speech. “It was an...
Judge rejects bid to return $2,500 to witness in cop killer investigation
A Westmoreland County judge on Friday denied a Braddock man’s request to return money seized from him during the investigation into the murder of a New Kensington police officer. Tavon Harper, 30, who testified at the 2019 trial of Rahmael Holt, the man convicted of killing New Kensington Officer Brian...
Pitt promotes use of name pronunciation tool to help avoid uncertainty
It’s the ultimate in awkward moments and it happens all too often. A person has a name that might be difficult for others to pronounce. They are approached by someone who means well but proceeds to butcher their name. It usually leaves both parties feeling bad. But there are ways...
New Kensington-Arnold hires wife of acting superintendent as teacher
The same day Jon Banko was named acting superintendent of New Kensington-Arnold School District, his wife was hired as an elementary teacher in the district. Banko conceded the hiring of his wife, Nicole Banko, could appear inappropriate to some. But he said he was not involved in her interview nor...
Lower Burrell man awaiting trial in illegal used car scheme avoids return to jail
A Lower Burrell man awaiting trial on 67 criminal counts of using fake identities to sell cars as a licensed dealer avoided having his bond revoked Friday for allegedly “brokering” another car sale last month in Delmont, but was instead admonished by a judge. “From here on out, you are...
$900K car wash proposed for Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington
A car wash has been proposed to replace a building housing a pizza shop and cellphone store on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. For that to happen, the proposed project will need a variance from the city’s zoning, which does not allow a car wash at that location, said...
Bankruptcy looming for parent company of Westmoreland, Monroeville malls
After months of struggling to regain lost revenues after foot traffic was essentially choked off at malls across the country, mall owner CBL Properties announced a restructuring plan that could lead to a bankruptcy filing in the coming months. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company, which owns Monroeville and Westmoreland malls, is...
New Kensington to award contract for demolition of former bar, hotel buildings
A woman living across from a rundown New Kensington building that was once a bar is happy it will soon be gone, while a business owner whose garage is across from an empty former hotel in the city wonders how it got so bad that tearing it down is all...
Lawsuit: Monroeville nursing home fired administrator for whistleblowing false covid-19 numbers
The former administrator of a Monroeville nursing home, which shares the same owners of Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver County, said in a civil lawsuit filed this week he was fired for pushing back against false covid-19 reporting to state and county health officials. Ron Berlingo, 45, of...
Westmoreland continues to see drop in average new covid cases
Westmoreland County saw 11 new cases of covid-19 added to its total Friday, further reducing its seven-day average of new cases. The new cases, all of which have been confirmed, were announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Westmoreland County’s seven-day new case average now stands at 13. Westmoreland County...
Nurse says in lawsuit that Allegheny County Jail ordered her to change hair color or be fired
A former nurse at the Allegheny County Jail filed a federal discrimination lawsuit on Thursday, contending that she was ordered to change the color of her red hair or face termination. Angela Sisko, 41, of West Mifflin, includes claims for employment discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, and wrongful termination, asserting...
Allegheny County’s 7-day new covid case average drops to lowest point since June
Continuing a trend in recent weeks, Allegheny County’s seven-day average new covid case count dropped to its lowest point since June 26. The county’s Health Department announced 62 new coronavirus cases Friday from a total of 1,605 tests conducted Aug. 17-27. Of the new cases, all but three have been...
Week in Review: Latrobe attack, baby shot and coronavirus penaltiesVideo
Officials are pledging justice for a 1-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile bars and fraternities alike are being penalized for violating coronavirus guidelines. Here’s a look back at some of the week’s biggest stories. Lefty’s closed A popular Strip District bar was ordered by the Allegheny...
Frick Pittsburgh opens some of its exhibits, grounds
Portions of The Frick Pittsburgh have reopened. The East End museum is operating with limited hours and is opening in phases. Not everything is available because of social distancing constraints inside the Clayton House, the cafe and the greenhouse, said Frick spokesman Greg Langel. The Car and Carriage museum and...
Severe weather could return, but risk slight for Pittsburgh region
Areas already battered by Thursday night’s thunderstorms could be hit again Friday, but the Pittsburgh region is only at a slight risk for more severe weather, according to the National Weather Service. Rain could return to the region by late morning, with severe thunderstorms possible from 1 p.m. through evening....
Pittsburgh police: Man missing for more than month found safe
Pittsburgh police say they have safely located a man who was missing for more than a month. Authorities said Bryan Kisiel, 41, was last seen in Squirrel Hill North on July 6. Police reported Kisiel missing Aug. 26, and he was found by the next afternoon, according to the city’s...
Bridgeville police make drug arrest at Kona With the Cops event
Bridgeville police Wednesday arrested a man on charges of DUI and heroin possession at a Kona With the Cops event. Officers and a Kona Ice truck were handing out free frozen treats around the borough Wednesday afternoon. The arrest happened at the event’s final stop at Chartiers Park, according to...
