Western PA Local News category, Page 2455
Franklin Regional looks to unify online learning with Schoology system
Google Classroom and a patchwork of other educational tools helped Franklin Regional staff and students through the final months of a hectic school year. But district administrators are looking to bring all of those tools into the same shed for students who may be learning from home in the coming...
Irwin business owner perseveres pandemic shutdowns to add Dog spot to her Cat shop
Chrys Sebula knew exactly how she wanted her new store to look. She planned to set up her hand-painted glassware and slate pieces around an empty Irwin storefront that would be connected to Curious Cat, her longtime Main Street country market, gift and craft shop. Sebula aimed for an April...
2nd Westmoreland County worker tests positive for the coronavirus
A second positive case of the new coronavirus was reported in a Westmoreland County employee on Thursday, according to human resources director Amanda Bernard. That employee did not have contact with anyone in the 48 hours prior to developing symptoms, Bernard said. She would not say in what department or...
JCPenney stores to remain open in Monroeville Mall, Beaver Valley Mall
Two JCPenney stores in Western Pennsylvania will survive the retail giant’s restructuring that includes shuttering more than 100 stores nationwide. The stores, which originally were on the list of stores to close but will now remain open, are located in the Monroeville Mall and the Beaver Valley Mall in Center...
Letter to Editor: McCandless rules on raising chickens is for the birds
I am a McCandless resident with five chickens residing in my household and I would like to share my thoughts on the new law outlined in the June 10 article by Tony LaRussa, “McCandless considers chicken ordinance that doesn’t run afoul of the law.” Why would anybody think it right...
Deadline extended to submit name corrections for Harrison World War II memorial
Delays in the restoration of Harrison’s World War II Honor Roll memorial brought on by the covid-19 pandemic are allowing more time to make sure its names are spelled correctly. “Since there has been a delay, we have extended the time period where residents can check the accuracy of the...
Parents sue Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild over mask requirements
The parents of four children with medical conditions are suing Kennywood, Sandcastle Waterpark and Idlewild & SoakZone, contending their ownership violated federal law and Pennsylvania Health Department coronavirus orders by requiring all patrons to wear face masks. The federal lawsuit contends that Palace Entertainment, parent company of the parks, has...
Police continue probe of fatal motorcycle crash July 4 in Hempfield
State police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist July 4 on Route 66 in Hempfield. Charles L Burkholder Jr., 67, of Acme, died of his injuries Monday at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, where he was taken after the 9:45 p.m. crash, according to the Allegheny County Medical...
New Florence road to close for railroad maintenance
A section of Huff Road in New Florence will be closed for work on a railroad crossing beginning Wednesday. The road will be closed at 8 a.m., between Power Plant Road and Route 711, so Norfolk Southern Railroad crews can do crossing maintenance. PennDOT will detour motorists using Power Plant...
Unity OKs plan for new Adelphoi girls’ housing
Adelphoi will be allowed to add a new housing facility for at-risk girls at its main campus in Unity. Township supervisors this week approved a site plan for Middle Creek IV, a proposed 7,500-square-foot building for housing up to 15 girls on the nonprofit’s campus, which straddles Unity and the...
Unions cancel Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day Parade
The coronavirus pandemic has torpedoed Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day Parade. Officials on Friday announced that the parade held for decades in Downtown Pittsburgh would be replaced with volunteer community service programs conducted by union members throughout Labor Day weekend and a major blood drive and food giveaway on Labor Day....
Murrysville Woman’s Club awards $7,750 in scholarships
The Murrysville Woman’s Club awarded $7,750 in annual scholarships to Westmoreland County women seeking to further their education. The club on July 8 presented scholarships to Heather Lake of New Alexandria, Bobbi McVay of Greensburg and Jenna Maroadi of North Huntingdon. The club, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2020,...
Fayette County man accused of injuring infant
A five-month investigation by Fayette County authorities resulted in criminal charges being filed this week against a Brownsville man who allegedly broke the arm of an infant girl in February. Brownsville police obtained an arrest warrant Thursday for Frances W. Lee III, 37, who is charged with two counts of...
Franklin Regional athletic director: Prepping for fall sports ‘an uphill battle’
A meeting is planned next week between regional and state high school sports officials and athletic directors “to discuss possible alternatives, like moving fall sports to the spring season and thinking outside the box in ways we haven’t before,” Franklin Regional Athletics Director Zach Kessler said. Kessler called the challenges...
Pa. reports more than 1,000 new covid-19 cases for 1st time since May 10
For the first time since May 10, the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday reported more than 1,000 new cases of covid-19. There were 1,009 new cases and 32 new deaths from covid-19 reported Friday, bringing the totals to 93,876 cases and 6,880 deaths statewide. On May 10, there were...
Sewickley-area student news for July 10
Emma Huckestein of Sewickley graduated from Centre College with a bachelor of science degree in chemical physics and physics. Huckestein graduated summa cum laude, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society for Overall Achievement and Sigma Pi Sigma National Honor Society for Physics, received The Marshall Wilt Physics...
Bats with covid-19? Pennsylvania researchers are trying to find out
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is studying if covid-19 has been contracted by local bats who are recovering from white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus that has been decimating populations. If the state’s fragile but recovering bat population contracts covid-19, it could create another stressor for the night...
Kennywood welcomes visitors with covid-19 safety measures
A Pittsburgh staple reopened Friday — but Kennywood will be a little different this summer. Visitors will have to pass a temperature screening to enter. Face masks are mandatory. And visitors will have to stand 6 feet apart while they wait in line for rides. Following the well-known guidelines for...
Initiative offers free lunches at 35 stops along Penn Hills school bus routes
Free lunches are available to pick up three days a week at 35 school bus stops throughout Penn Hills. The initiative grew out of an existing effort to get food to people in need during the coronavirus pandemic, said Jace Ransom, a Penn Hills-based community outreach specialist for the Allegheny...
Learn how to kill the spotted lanternfly
As the invasive spotted lanternfly moves into Allegheny and other counties, Penn State Extension is offering a live webinar at 3 p.m. on July 15 about methods to get rid of the invasive insect. The cost is $10 for professionals and the public. The colorful moth-like invasive insect swarms and...
35 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday reported 35 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County. The numbers bring the countywide case total to 952 and death total to 39. That includes 26 probable cases. Probable cases are “patients who have a positive serology test and either...
Allegheny Valley Regional Police force moves office over covid-19 concerns
The Allegheny Valley Regional Police moved its office from the Springdale Township municipal building to Cheswick’s borough building as a precaution to prevent the spread of covid-19 and to make more room for other township employees. “This is more a shift to an office than a move,” said Michael Girardi,...
Police: Man arrested in Mt. Lebanon had 30 improvised bombs, detonators in car
A man arrested Thursday night in Mt. Lebanon in connection with online threats had more than 30 improvised bombs in his Mercedes along with homemade detonators and chemicals used to make explosives, investigators said in a criminal complaint. Kurt James Cofano, 32, of Whitehall, faces felony charges related to weapons...
Student news from the North Hills for July 10
Harry Kramer of Wexford was one of 25 students inducted into the Elmira College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The society recognizes achievement in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service, social and religious activities, and campus government; journalism, speech and the mass media; and the...
Franklin Regional school board approves reopening, health-and-safety plans
Franklin Regional school board members have a plan for reopening school in the fall with proper health and safety measures in place. “We see this as our starting point,” said Jennifer DiFulvio, special services supervisor. “Now that we have this plan, we need to figure out as an administrative team...
