Local category, Page 2389
More Allegheny County court staffers test positive for covid-19; judge orders more video hearings
A Pittsburgh Municipal Court employee and probation office staffer have tested positive for covid-19, Allegheny County court administrator Christopher Connors announced Tuesday. He said the court employee’s test was taken July 5 and the probation office worker was tested June 30. The announcement comes a day after other Allegheny County...
Station House 7 in Delmont home to weekly food truck afternoons
It could be some time before Jodi Colella is able to host the full-sized wedding receptions, graduation parties and baby showers she’d like to at Station House 7 on Greensburg Street in Delmont. But while she waits for covid-19 health and safety restrictions to ease, she is looking to bring...
Trash collection problems discussed in Oakmont
Missed pickups, scattered rubbish and other issues with Oakmont’s garbage collector have borough officials talking trash. “There’s an issue with trash, and on Wednesdays I talk trash all day,” said Phyllis Anderson, assistant to the borough manager, at Monday night’s council workshop meeting. “There’s things that County Hauling should address...
Fireworks show at Westmoreland Fairgrounds raises money for fire departments, fair board
Thousands of people attended a drive-in fireworks show at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds to celebrate Independence Day, donating more than $4,000 to benefit local fire departments and the county fair board. “It was a big success,” said Jessica Skinner, who helped organize the event with her fiance, Marcus Wisneski. “I think...
Allegheny County may amend restaurant restrictions
Allegheny County Health Director Debra Bogen said she plans to revisit a ban of on-site service at restaurants as soon as Wednesday. At a Tuesday press briefing, Bogen said officials were reconsidering the order, and may update it in some way before it expires Thursday. “I’m considering modifying the event...
Ross police officer under review after reports of questionable social media posts
A Ross Township police officer’s social media posts are under review after a Pittsburgh radio station raised questions about them. According to a story by WESA-FM on Tuesday, Sgt. Joseph “JJ” Serowik appears to have commented on Facebook posts that mocked protesters and joked about running them over. Serowik works...
Lower Burrell Eagle Scout recognized for creating fitness stations
A Lower Burrell councilman and others surprised Eagle Scout Scott Fennell when they stopped by his high school graduation party to proclaim Sunday as Scott Fennell Day. They honored the teen for his volunteer Eagle Scout project constructing four outdoor work-out stations in the city’s Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park....
State expected to prohibit indoor dining in Westmoreland, Allegheny as covid-19 cases rise
Pennsylvania officials are expected to put new restrictions on dining and gatherings in five counties around Southwestern Pennsylvania — including Westmoreland and Allegheny — as coronavirus cases in the region continue to rise. The new rules will take effect Thursday, according to two Westmoreland County officials familiar with the proposal,...
Bayernhof Museum in O’Hara closes for 2nd time amid rise in Allegheny County covid-19 cases
One of the Lower Valley’s most unique attractions has shut down for the second time after a rise in covid-19 cases in Allegheny County. Bayernhof Museum in O’Hara posted Monday on its Facebook page that the eclectic facility will be closed temporarily. “We will open back up but for now...
Pittsburgh Diocese eliminating positions, moving offices as it struggles with financial impact of covid-19
The Diocese of Pittsburgh cited ongoing challenges caused by the covid-19 pandemic as reasons for staff layoffs and the relocation of its central administration. A staff realignment includes eliminating 11 positions and reducing hours for two positions, the diocese said in a news release Tuesday. Diocesan operations are being moved...
North Huntingdon Double Wide restaurant reopens with limited capacity, menu
A North Huntingdon restaurant that’s been closed for more than three months reopened Tuesday with the help of federal covid-19 funding. Co-owner Steve Zumoff said he hopes to keep it open, at least for the near future, although he expects the eatery will be squeezed later this week by new...
Adaptive bikes, strollers, devices unlock new potential for Westmoreland County childrenVideo
Aiden Rogers beamed Tuesday morning as his mother Melissa Burke helped him into the bright green adaptive bike that is destined to become a new friend. The 10-year-old Greensburg boy, who will be a fifth grader this fall at Clairview School in Hempfield, battles multiple challenges every day. In the...
Pittsburgh Housing fund providing new roofs for 24 city homeowners
Twenty-four Pittsburgh homeowners are getting new roofs this summer through the city’s Housing Opportunity Fund and a significant charitable donation, the Mayor’s Office reported Tuesday. The “Roof-a-Thon” program has so far replaced a dozen roofs across Pittsburgh since it began in early June. Owners receive grants ranging from $30,000 to...
Pittsburgh Council creates LGBTQ commission, passes bill to address racial inequities
Pittsburgh City Council Tuesday unanimously approved legislation designed to help erase Pittsburgh’s racial imbalances and make the city more welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people. Members passed the separate bills unanimously and without discussion. Councilmen Ricky Burgess and R. Daniel Lavelle pushed legislation that includes a five-point platform for improving conditions for...
Rising gas prices hit a wall as surging covid-19 cases cause drop in demand, analyst says
After nine straight weeks of increases, gasoline prices may stop rising due to a drop in demand caused by covid-19 cases surging in some states, an industry analyst said. “So far this summer, both holidays have seen the lowest prices since 2004, and its possible that if things don’t improve...
Plum man sentenced to 12-24 years on child porn charges
A Plum man was sentenced to 12-to-24 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to child pornography charges in Westmoreland County. Antonio R. Pampena, 37, pleaded guilty before Westmoreland Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio to two counts of disseminating photos of child sex acts, 35 counts of possessing child pornography and one...
Shaler road to close for bridge repair
Motorists who travel along Wetzel Road in Shaler should allow extra time as a portion of the road is expected to be closed for up to four months. A bridge that crosses Little Pine Creek is being replaced, PennDOT officials announced. Project cost is $1.4 million and will include drainage...
Diabetes education program in Tarentum canceled due to covid-19 surge
A Tarentum nurse has canceled a series of talks on diabetes because of the recent increase in covid-19 cases. The talks with Denise Kissell, a registered nurse and certified diabetes care and education specialist, were scheduled to begin today in Riverview Memorial Park in Tarentum and be held each Tuesday...
Pa. reports nearly 1,000 new covid-19 cases
Pennsylvania reported nearly 1,000 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 91,299. The state Department of Health reported 995 new cases and 33 new deaths from covid-19, totaling 6,787 deaths statewide. Allegheny County reported 204 new coronavirus cases Tuesday and Philadelphia County reported 288 coronavirus cases...
Man flown to hospital after SUV crashes into tree in Indiana County
A man was flown to a Monroeville hospital after his sport utility vehicle crashed Tuesday morning in Indiana County. The wreck happened before 9:45 a.m. on Route 286 in Conemaugh Township, about a mile east of Clarksburg. Crews had to free the man from his Ford Escape, which was totaled...
Pittsburgh Catholic schools plan temperature checks, masks for students
Elementary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh are set to reopen Aug. 27, and high schools have staggered start dates, the diocese announced Tuesday. Daily temperature readings will be required for students, teachers and staff; school buildings will be disinfected regularly, classrooms will honor social distancing and a mask...
Pittsburgh researchers seek blood plasma donations as coronavirus research expands
Pittsburgh area doctors and blood banks are looking for blood plasma — and lots of it — from patients who have recovered from covid-19. Blood plasma from recovered patients is being used to treat those who are fighting the disease in Western Pennsylvania and across the country. Allegheny Health Network,...
2 popular Pittsburgh restaurants close their doors
The past 24 hours have brought permanent closure announcements from two popular Pittsburgh eateries, Downtown’s NOLA on the Square and East Liberty’s Spoon. Spoon’s announcement came yesterday through Facebook, though the rationale is more complicated than just the financial pressures which have accompanied covid-19 restrictions. According to Spoon’s part-owner and...
Police: Woman who went missing and was thought to be in West Mifflin found safe
A woman thought to be in West Mifflin who was reported missing from San Francisco has been found, West Mifflin police said. Dawn Manson was last seen in California, and West Mifflin police over the weekend reported that she might be in the area. She wasn’t, police said. She was...
Morningside’s Bulldog Pub closes temporarily after employee tests positive for coronavirus
Bulldog Pub in Morningside announced that the restaurant is closing until further notice after an employee on Tuesday tested positive for covid-19. The employee showed no symptoms, according to Jesse DiRenzo, owner and general manager of Bulldog Pub. “She had no symptoms whatsoever, but last week, I had asked my...
