Local category, Page 2483
County officials say Allegheny County on track for reopening
Allegheny County data on cases of the coronavirus show that the county is on track to start reopening, but decisions about that timeline will be made at the state level, county officials said during a press briefing Wednesday. “Our numbers are encouraging and look to be in line with what...
Pittsburgh doctors say coronavirus patients having strokes, blood clots
When Allegheny Health Network doctors studied images of Mark Romutis’ brain, they made an unusual but significant discovery. The covid-19 disease afflicting Romutis, the interim police chief of Ambridge, had somehow triggered blood clots. The doctors likened them to a traffic jam in the bloodstream. “It’s as if the Fort...
Pittsburgh Public School Board leaves grading guidelines up to the superintendent
The Pittsburgh Public Schools Board refrained from establishing new grading guidelines for the district Wednesday afternoon, leaving the decision up to Superintendent Anthony Hamlet. In a legislative session Wednesday that was livestreamed, board member Cynthia Falls, of District 7, moved to uphold a long-standing policy that leaves all grading guidelines...
Restaurants become pop-up grocers as FDA restrictions loosen during pandemic
The Carlton restaurant, a mainstay of Downtown Pittsburgh, has found a creative way to generate much-needed revenue since the coronavirus pandemic forced its closure. Early this month, the upscale eatery in the BNY Mellon Center began curbside sales of wine from its extensive cellar. It’s now offering packaged steaks, chicken...
Part of police memorial inspired by slain officer Shaw taken in New Kensington
A large part of a New Kensington memorial honoring police officers that has been vandalized before is now missing entirely. Donna Pater said she and her husband, Steve, put up the concrete statue of a police officer with a dog near their home in the Mount Vernon neighborhood about two...
Westmoreland adds just 3 new coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County added just three more coronavirus cases on Wednesday as an update in the state’s death numbers brought their total more in line with the county coroner’s number. The county now has 386 covid-19 cases with 30 deaths. The state as a whole added 479 covid-19 deaths, though Secretary...
Tips lead troopers to man who allegedly stole car, dumped it in Unity lake
Tips from the public led state police to the man who was arrested Wednesday for stealing a car and dumping it in a lake in Unity Township. Damien J. Kolas, 47, of McKees Rocks, was arraigned on burglary, theft, criminal mischief and related charges in connection with the theft of...
Former South Greensburg secretary denied early release from jail
South Greensburg’s former borough secretary will remain in jail after a judge on Wednesday rejected his request for an early parole. Dennis Lee Kunkle Jr., 56, sought his release from the Westmoreland County Prison more than a year before the end of his nearly two-year sentence for stealing money from...
Police: Teen hospitalized after being shot in Homestead
A 17-year-old boy was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after being shot in Homestead, officials said. Emergency dispatchers received a 911 call about a shooting in the 200 block of 14th Avenue shortly before 2 p.m., Allegheny County Police said in a statement. Medics found the wounded teen and rushed him to...
Westmoreland officials planning for when state eases restrictions
Westmoreland County officials said they don’t know when Gov. Tom Wolf will lift the state’s stay-at-home order for the county but planning is under way for what the anticipated reopening will look like. “We’ve been told by the governor’s office that Westmoreland County (government) can reopen anytime,” Commissioner Chairman Sean...
1-year-old boy dies after ingesting heroin-fentanyl mix in Sharpsburg home; no charges, arrests
A 1-year-old boy died in September after ingesting a mix of heroin and fentanyl at a Sharpsburg home, authorities said Wednesday. Few details are available regarding the death of the boy, who was identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office as Latayvis Kane LeRoy Gervasoni. Emergency dispatchers received a...
Nursing homes plagued by shortages of masks, gowns and testing
Shortages of masks and gowns, as well as a lack of tests, contributed to the coronavirus outbreaks that claimed 1,428 lives in Pennsylvania nursing homes and personal care facilities so far, an industry leader said Wednesday. Nursing homes and personal care facilities across Pennsylvania have been hot spots for infection,...
Swimming pools across Western Pa. looking to dive in when allowed
While some pools across the region have already decided to remain closed, including at least one in the Alle-Kiski Valley, others remain in a holding pattern in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Springdale Township’s Bouquet Park Pool will not open this year — and could possibly close for good,...
Personnel cuts possible as New Kensington-Arnold struggles with budget deficit
New Kensington-Arnold School District is considering personnel moves such as offering teachers an early-retirement incentive as administrators and school board members grapple with a projected budget deficit. Business Manager Jeff McVey told the board Tuesday that personnel is the only area in the budget where significant savings can still be...
VisitPittsburgh names new president/CEO
VisitPittsburgh on Wednesday announced the selection of Jerad Bachar as its new president and CEO. Bachar, 50, of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, served as interim CEO after former CEO Craig Davis resigned in December to take a similar position in Dallas. Since January 2019, he served as VisitPittsburgh’s executive vice president....
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy debuts ‘Parks on the Go’ digital education program
Each year, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy educates people of all ages about the value of healthy habitats and the relationship between humans and nature through public programs at the Frick Environmental Center. This year is no different, but the delivery mechanism is changing with the establishment of the Parks on...
New Kensington-Arnold awards contract for Hunt Elementary roof work
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has awarded a contract to replace part of the roof at one of the district’s elementary schools, while holding off on work at other buildings until it has the money to pay for it. The district will pay Design-Build Solutions, a subsidiary of Garland Industries,...
American Heart Association addresses CPR during coronavirus pandemicVideo
Covid-19 fears have altered most aspects of daily life, especially physical human contact. The American Heart Assocation realizes that people may be reluctant to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — a lifesaving act that requires direct physical contact. A senior director with the regional AHA, Gina Hrach, said they are “currently...
Monroeville personal care home parade will allow residents to see loved ones
A personal care facility in Monroeville will host a parade so its residents can see family and friends who have not been able to interact face-to-face for weeks. Independence Court is hosting the parade on Friday, with residents as onlookers while their family members line up in parade fashion. The...
Penn-Trafford students still holding out hope for high school musical coronavirus put on holdVideo
They memorized their lines, perfected their dance steps and were hitting their marks on stage night after night as 43 Penn-Trafford High School students rehearsed for their spring musical “Footloose.” Jen Haberberger, a high school art teacher, was in her fifth year as faculty sponsor of the PT Drama Guild’s...
Charley Family Shop’n Save donates $50,000 in food vouchers to Westmoreland food bank
A local grocery store owner is pitching in to help residents in need get food amid the coronavirus pandemic. Charley Family Shop’n Save officials presented $50,000 in food vouchers to the Westmoreland County Food Bank earlier this month, in the form of 2,500 vouchers valued at $20 each. “It’s a...
2 men accused of assault following fight, shooting at Greensburg woman’s house
A Greensburg man admitted to city police he fired “at least one, but maybe two shots” from a handgun at a man to protect himself during an altercation at a woman’s home , according to court documents. Both the alleged shooter, Aaron M. Cicio, 36, and the intended target, Jeremy...
Allegheny County reports 38 new coronavirus cases, adjusts death total
The Allegheny County Health Department reported 38 additional cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, bringing the countywide total to 1,273. That’s compared to 13 confirmed or probable cases reported Sunday, 13 reported Monday and 11 reported Tuesday. Of those cases, 1,229 are confirmed and 44 are listed as probable. A case...
No injuries reported in Arnold fire
No one was injured in a fire Wednesday morning along Arnold’s Victoria Avenue. Arnold Volunteer Engine Co. No. 2 Fire Chief Keith Dziobak said no one was home when crews responded to the fire in the 1500 block of Victoria Avenue at about 7 a.m. The fire appeared to start...
Hempfield supervisors waive penalty fee, extend discount period for property taxes
Hempfield residents will not be penalized this year for property taxes paid after August. Township supervisors voted unanimously Monday to pass a measure that waives the fee and extends the discount period by four months. Now, property owners will have until Aug. 31 to pay a discounted rate, and Sept....
