Local category, Page 2388
Trafford councilman says he will not resign over comment regarding health secretary’s gender
A Trafford councilman said he is sticking around after a fellow council member asked him to resign over derogatory Facebook comments regarding Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. Zack Cole last month responded to a Father’s Day greeting post on Gov. Tom Wolf’s Facebook page by wishing a Happy Father’s...
Covid-19 cases in 19- to 24-year-olds on the rise in Pa.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 849 new cases and 25 new deaths from covid-19 on Wednesday, totaling 92,148 cases and 6,812 deaths statewide. Allegheny County reported 230 new coronavirus cases Wednesday and Philadelphia County reported 90 coronavirus cases Wednesday, accounting for almost 40% of the state’s total new cases....
Bridge work to restrict traffic on Route 28 in Harmar
Two lanes of northbound Route 28 in Harmar will be closed from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, PennDOT announced. The lanes are scheduled to be closed in the area of the Hite Road bridge over Route 28 from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday while crews work on the...
33 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported 33 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County, bringing the countywide case total to 896 and death total to 39. That includes 27 probable cases. The department reported 35 new cases Tuesday, 27 new cases Monday, 27 new cases...
Illegally lit fireworks to blame for fire at vacant Penn Hills houseVideo
A vacant house in Penn Hills was a casualty of the weekend’s at-home fireworks displays, the municipality’s fire marshal said Wednesday. “There was debris from fireworks all over the place,” said Chuck Miller, the municipality’s fire marshal. “Big bottle rockets, mortars that go up in the sky and explode –...
Fern Hollow offers summer programs
Fern Hollow Nature Center, 1901 Glen Mitchell Road, is offering summer programs for children and families. With the “Rent a Naturalist” program, small groups can accompany a naturalist on a discovery trek. The program is customizable, with topics including fishing, archery, creek exploration, bird watching and more. Treks are two...
Tarentum to resume utility shutoffs Aug. 1
Tarentum will resume shutting off water and electric services for customers who aren’t paying their bills on Aug. 1. Council on Tuesday approved a resolution stating it will no longer voluntarily comply with a March 13 emergency order from the state Public Utility Commission prohibiting utilities from being shut off...
Heat advisory issued for Thursday as 90-degree streak to continue in Pittsburgh region
Southwestern Pennsylvania will continue to sizzle in the 90s through Friday before finally seeing some relief, according to the National Weather Service. Both Thursday and Friday could be 91 or hotter, according to NWS meteorologist Myranda Fullerton. Highs for the region could reach the 90s both days, according to forecasts...
Indiana Township to consider application for Hartwood Meadows expansion plan
Indiana Township Supervisors will consider an application for the expansion of a planned residential development near Hartwood Acres. A public hearing regarding Hartwood Meadows will be at 6:30 p.m. July 14 in the township building, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd. Supervisors are expected to vote during their regular meeting immediately following. Developers...
Allegheny County reports 230 new covid-19 cases, 2 new deaths
Allegheny County health officials reported 230 new covid-19 cases, two additional deaths and eight more hospitalizations on Wednesday. This brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Allegheny County to 4,209. Of those, 4,028 are confirmed and 181 are probable. Wednesday’s numbers are the product of 1,997 test results, health...
Group led by Fox Chapel students distributes meals to children in Sharpsburg, Blawnox, Millvale
The Summer Youth Café is open in three Lower Valley communities to offer free lunches to local children. Aimed at providing healthy meals to anyone 18 or younger, the program is run by the Youth Empowerment Project in Sharpsburg. “We have a group of kids from Fox Chapel Area’s high...
Chestnut Ridge firemen kick off scaled-down fair in Stahlstown, fireworks to close show
The Chestnut Ridge Community Volunteer Fire Company’s 59th annual fair in Stahlstown will be “a whole lot different” from past events — except for the traditional fireworks display to wrap things up. The coronavirus pandemic brought the department’s usual fundraising efforts, including weekly bingos, to a standstill and forced firefighters...
Pennsylvania health officials warn of ticks, Lyme disease
Pennsylvania state health officials on Wednesday issued a warning reminding Pennsylvanians to protect against tick and mosquito bites. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, which, if not treated, can cause severe symptoms that affect the heart, nervous system and joints. In 2019, Pennsylvania recorded 9,000 confirmed and probable cases of Lyme...
Cal U, Clarion target adults who left without degree as part of new coalition in higher education
Two Western Pennsylvania universities struggling with declining enrollments are hoping to tap a pool of adult students with some college credits but no degree as part of a new, national network targeting adult learners. California and Clarion universities, part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, are among 13...
As time ticks down on eviction ban in Pennsylvania, crush of court cases expected
A flood of landlord-tenant complaints could be on the way in courts across Pennsylvania as a moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent is set to be lifted Friday. Jobs have been lost or hours cut during statewide shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving some renters in a precarious...
City Books on Pittsburgh’s North Side to reopen
City Books on Pittsburgh’s North Side is reopening Wednesday. “It is both exhilarating and petrifying,” said Arlan Hess, owner. “I’ve been taking things slow. I did not rush to reopen June 5 (when allowed by Gov. Tom Wolf). I feel like with just two days being open a week that...
PennFuture lawsuit says EPA must update federal regulations for coke ovens
A coalition of environmental groups has prevailed in a federal lawsuit asserting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency failed to regulate pollution from coke ovens around the country, including the Clairton Coke Works. An EPA spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the decision. PennFuture, a statewide advocacy organization with an...
Man identified who was killed in early-morning shooting in North Versailles
A 29-year-old man found dead after a shooting at a North Versailles apartment complex early Wednesday morning has been identified. Jamey Green of West Mifflin died around 2 a.m. after being shot along the 500 block of East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard, Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office reported. Officers with the county...
The Stroller, July 8, 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 or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free webinar to explore how to operate a small business...
$600 weekly unemployment federal check runs out at end of July
While Dylan Altemara finishes his master’s degree in human resources and looks for a job, the $600 unemployment weekly benefit boost from the federal government has been a lifesaver. “The additional stimulus money makes everybody whole,” Altemara, 27, of Belle Vernon said of the check he receives under the federal...
Moon teen wins national songwriting competitionVideo
Maleena Dominick had already written a song about how she felt losing the last few months of her senior year at Moon Area High School to the covid-19 shutdown. So when the 18-year-old heard about the “Living in a Covid World”-themed Robbie’s Hope Foundation songwriting contest, she immediately entered. Dominick’s...
Possible solutions for Oakmont Commons flooding to come out soon
Solutions for flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons neighborhood are expected to be announced in the coming months. Senate Engineering submitted plans and models earlier this year to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for review in order to determine the next course of action in alleviating concerns of dozens...
Export planning to host annual borough festival in August
Export officials are planning to hold the borough’s annual Ethnic Food and Music Festival on Aug. 15 in hopes that the covid-19 pandemic will subside in time to host the annual event with proper health and safety guidelines in place. “We can move forward with planning without a lot of...
Fire damages 2 homes in ArnoldVideo
A vacant Arnold house is believed to be a total loss, and neighboring family was displaced from their home as a result of a fire Tuesday night, officials said. Firefighters from Arnold, New Kensington, Lower Burrell and Murrysville responded shortly before 8:30 p.m. for the blazeat 1616 Fourth Ave. in...
Strip District Meats closes after employee tests positive for covid-19
A Strip District butcher shop announced Tuesday it is temporarily closing after an employee tested positive for covid-19. Strip District Meats, at 2123 Penn Ave., made the announcement on its Facebook page. “Despite our strong efforts to avoid it, an employee of ours has unfortunately tested positive for covid-19,” the...
