Local category, Page 2453
1 more covid-19 case reported in Westmoreland County, no new deaths
Westmoreland County on Wednesday continued to report no new deaths from the coronavirus, but it did see an increase in positive covid-19 cases. State officials said 432 people had tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday, up one from the 431 reported Tuesday. Neither the state nor the county...
Officials: Too soon to tell if reopening will lead to spike in coronavirus cases
Allegheny County officials said it’s too soon to tell if there has been a spike in coronavirus cases as Southwestern Pennsylvania settles into life in the yellow phase of the state’s reopening plan. It will likely take another 10 to 14 days before test results start to show whether more...
Man indicted on federal kidnapping charges in connection with Bethel Park woman’s death
An Oakmont native has been federally indicted in connection with the death of a Bethel Park woman. Authorities charged John Matthew Chapman, 39, with felony kidnapping resulting in death, according to federal documents filed Tuesday. He is accused of taking Jaime Feden, 33, on a trip to Nevada last September....
Greater Latrobe sets graduation options, plans survey to prep for fall instruction
Greater Latrobe School District is holding out hope for a belated commencement ceremony for the high school Class of 2020. But district officials note those plans, and options for instructing remaining students next fall, will depend on the status of the covid-19 pandemic. A survey is planned to solicit district...
In wake of coronavirus, Excela’s ink runs from black to red with nearly $36 million in losses
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the current title of Excela Health CEO John Sphon. Until early March, the financial turnaround that Excela Health officials had been expecting for the past year was in full swing. Just two months later, a nearly $3 million profit has turned...
Proposed New Kensington-Arnold budget has $1.2M deficit, 2.3% tax hike
New Kensington-Arnold’s proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year now includes a 2-mill property tax increase, but some board members are asking if it should be higher. Such a tax hike amounts to 2.3%. The school board discussed the budget during a virtual finance committee meeting Tuesday. It is scheduled...
Allegheny County reports no new coronavirus deaths, 29 new cases
Allegheny County officials reported 29 new covid-19 cases but no new deaths Wednesday afternoon. That leaves the total number of deaths countywide at 144, while the total number of confirmed and probable cases rose to 1,687. The county typically reports those daily figures around 11 a.m. but Wednesday’s report was...
Police charge 3rd person in murder of Armstrong County man in Arnold alley last June
A third person has been charged in the murder of an Armstrong County man in a drug deal gone bad in Arnold last year, police Chief Eric Doutt said Wednesday. Santyna Marie Bennett, 26, of Arnold is or was the girlfriend of Allen Duwayne Herring, 33, of Braddock, who is...
Memorial Day services in Baggaley and Youngstown canceled
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Youngstown Volunteer Fire Department announced this year’s Memorial Day services for Baggaley in Unity and Youngstown have been cancelled. Firefighter Anthony Matusky said the department opted to cancel the traditional services “due to concerns for the safety of our members and the community.” Matusky...
Western Pa. Gordmans stores could close after parent company files for bankruptcy
Several local Gordmans stores, including those in Allegheny Township, East Huntingdon and Rostraver, are at risk of closing for good, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic that left stores largely shuttered across the country. Houston, Texas-based Stage Stores Inc. — the parent company of Gordmans, which has been in operation...
Greensburg Central Catholic seniors receive cap, gown deliveries
More than 60 Greensburg Central Catholic seniors on Thursday received signs, caps and gowns and other congratulatory items from teachers and staff. School officials delivered the items to the seniors’ homes, titling the project #drivinmiles4seniorSMILES. The event followed an April announcement that graduation was postponed until July 21. A backup...
Swinburne Street reopens in South Oakland after $700K slide repair
People can fully use Swinburne Street in Pittsburgh’s South Oakland neighborhood again for the first time in seven months, city Department of Mobility and Infrastructure officials said. A $710,000 project stabilized a slope in the neighborhood that prompted the street to be closed in October between Greenfield Avenue and Edgehill...
South Hills Interfaith Movement to celebrate after-school students
South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) After School program volunteers, teachers, staff and students will ride past the homes of all 75 of the program’s students on Thursday. Nature Cat from WQED also will make an appearance. According to a news release, SHIM’s After School program offers support to students in...
The Porch restaurants to reopen in Pittsburgh area
There will be two additional options for takeout this Memorial Day weekend. The Porch at Schenley in Oakland and The Porch at Siena in Upper St. Clair are reopening for takeout beginning Friday. The restaurants, operated by Pittsburgh-based Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, have been closed since March 18. Curbside pickup...
Products from Somerset’s Moo Echo Dairy should be discarded, state says
Several products from a Somerset County dairy farm should be discarded because they were not properly pasteurized, the state Department of Agriculture said. Products from Moo Echo Dairy were sold at several Westmoreland and Somerset county stores including Lapp’s Family Market in Unity Township, Dormina’s Kitchen Cupboard in Jenner Township,...
Pair plead guilty to drug charges stemming from Salem traffic stop
Two Allegheny County residents pleaded guilty to conspiracy, drug and other charges in connection with their September 2018 arrest in Salem Township. Police said Joseph J. Baughman, 38, of Green Tree, and Samantina Maria Perri, 31, of Crafton, were passengers in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation...
Andy Davis Band will livestream charity concert to benefit Westmoreland County Food BankVideo
Country-rock group the Andy Davis Band will perform a livestreamed show Friday night, the proceeds from which will benefit the Westmoreland County Food Bank and two local theaters. “It’s going to be a live show with six different camera angles,” said Davis’ wife Victoria. “We’re following all the guidelines by...
Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto urges URA to approve plans for Civic Arena site development
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is urging members of the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority to approve plans for redevelopment of the former Civic Arena site that include a new $200 million headquarters for First National Bank. The URA meets again on Thursday. Last week, its board delayed voting on the plans,...
Free coronavirus testing available for uninsured Pennsylvania residents
The ability of uninsured Pennsylvanians to be tested for coronavirus was an early concern in the fight against covid-19. Now those without health insurance can be tested for free. Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that federal stimulus funds will be used to reimburse providers who test uninsured patients. Access to...
Carnegie Carnegie: Standing grand, standing proud
Anyone who has visited the grand building at the top of the hill can tell you it exudes personality. The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall’s facility, where our community has gathered for over a century, is so closely tied to what the library means to each of us....
Newlonsburg reconfigures year-end celebration for fifth graders
Fifth graders at Newlonsburg Elementary in Murrysville typically get a warm send-off as they leave for summer vacation and prepare to enter the middle school. “On the last day of school, we do sort of an indoor parade,” Principal Tina Gillen said. “Students and staff line the hallways, and fifth...
Forbes State Forest cave closures to continue
With no direct knowledge of whether the coronavirus can infect or sicken North American wildlife, including bats, the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will continue the ongoing closure of three caves in the Forbes State Forest. Lemon Hole and Coon caves in Westmoreland County, and Barton Cave in...
Peduto wants to block off streets for outdoor dining in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is exploring options to revive Pittsburgh’s restaurant scene with outdoor dining. “We’re in danger,” he said, when asked if some restaurants could close in the next year. “I think within the next month will be critical time. If we can get outdoor seating established this next...
WDVE’s Memorial Day 500 returns again this weekend
A pandemic can’t stop WDVE’s Memorial Day 500. The massive music countdown of the top 500 rock tunes of all time begins at 1 p.m. Friday and ends around 6 p.m. Monday, said John Moschitta, program director for WDVE/WXDX iHeartMedia Pittsburgh. (Update: The countdown began at No. 500 with “Everlong”...
Western Pa.’s libraries see e-books, audiobooks become more popular during pandemic
With libraries in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties closed since mid-March to stem the spread of the coronavirus, more patrons are using the electronic resources — books, audiobooks, movies and music, a trend that likely will continue when they reopen, library officials and library directors say. “There has been a significant...
