Local category, Page 2501

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh officials have ordered parishes to cease all fish fries to help combat the coronavirus outbreak. “As a clarification of a previous announcement regarding the cancellation of all parish activities in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, fish fries and the Stations of the Cross are to be cancelled...

A Republican will continue to represent the state House 58th District. Eric Davanzo, 43, of South Huntingdon won a special election to fill the seat left vacant by the January resignation of Republican Justin Walsh. With all 66 precincts reporting, Davanzo received 52% of the vote. Democrat Robert Prah Jr....

A man hit by a car Tuesday on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington apparently stepped into the road before the crash, said police Chief Bob Deringer. “No charges will be filed against the driver at this time,” Deringer said Wednesday, but that the investigation is continuing. Deringer said the...

Nobody was hurt when a vehicle flipped and landed between two homes in Hempfield Township Tuesday evening, according to Westmoreland County 911. The single-vehicle crash happened at 8:19 p.m. on the 1000 block of Carbon Road, a dispatcher said. The SUV was coming around a curve when it lost control...

The National Park Service on Tuesday closed visitor centers at its Western Pennsylvania sites until further notice to promote social distancing as part of coronavirus-related precautions. Restrooms and trails remain open to the public at all locations, including Friendship Hill National Historic Site. The following features also are open: •...

Federal and state prosecutors are cracking down to stop those trying to use schemes to fraudulently profit from the coronavirus outbreak. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady named Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaun Sweeney, a senior litigation counsel, the covid-19 fraud coordinator. Sweeney will lead the prosecution of scammers who may be...

Nearly 8 out of 10 seniors who left their Highmark insurance plans last year because they feared losing access to UPMC hospitals and doctors have since switched back, Highmark Health CFO Saurabh Tripathi said. “A majority of our customers came back to us; we are seeing really good growth in...

People who have bought time-based passes to use the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s bus and light rail system can be reimbursed for the unused value on their card. They won’t receive cash, but the Port Authority will use a pro-rated schedule to transfer the unused value of the card...

Ten more people died from influenza in Pennsylvania in the last week, increasing the total number of flu deaths this season to 93, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday. As of the week ending March 14, most of the people who died — 64 — were 65 or older....

Cheswick has closed its borough offices for visits from residents because of coronavirus concerns, but residents can reach out to the borough by telephone and email, officials said. Office staff can be reached during normal business hours by calling 724-274-5125 or sending an email to boroughsecretary@cheswick.us or assistantsecretary@cheswick.us. Residents can...

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office won’t opposed the release of nonviolent inmates deemed to be at high risk of contracting the coronavirus from the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh, a spokesman for the office said . Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., said his office...

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board will meet as scheduled Wednesday, but just how that will be done will be a bit unusual in these unusual times. Agency Solicitor Scott Avolio said board members will call in from home or other locations to allow the water and sewer utility...

Highlands School District will now accept applications for a vacant school board seat via email. The district had previously specifically prohibited people from submitting application electronically. The Region 2 seat became vacant when Misty Chybrzynski, former board president, resigned after moving out of the district. Region 2 covers Brackenridge and...

Greensburg will close all city facilities to the public “until further notice” effective Wednesday, though some city employees will report to work as usual and the rest will work from home, officials said. City leaders decided on the policy after meeting with county health officials and representatives from Excela Health...

The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills will close at 6 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed “until further notice,” the mall announced on its Facebook page. The closure applies to the enclosed mall only. The mall advised shoppers to check with other stores outside the mall about their status. “In response to...

Enjoying the great outdoors is getting more difficult at some public parks as organizations are closing some park facilities, canceling events and making some parks off-limits altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has closed facilities including restrooms and buildings at all 121...

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission continued stocking trout this week, but without the help of volunteers. “We realize that many of our stocking volunteers look forward to helping us, but we must take these necessary precautions to ensure public safety during this vital period,” said the commission’s Executive Director...

Some police departments in the Alle-Kiski Valley will be responding to some nonemergency calls over the phone. New Kensington officers “will use their discretion” in deciding if a nonemergency call can be handled with a phone call or if they need to respond to the scene, police Chief Robert Deringer...

The University of Pittsburgh has postponed all in-person spring commencement ceremonies at the main campus in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher announced Tuesday. “This decision was not made lightly,” Gallagher said in a statement. “We know this news will be upsetting both to graduates, who have worked so hard...

Pittsburgh Brookline and Milliones schools will receive deep cleaning this week after the district announced students at the school may have come in contact with the coronavirus. A relative of students who attend Pittsburgh Brookline is believed to have covid-19, Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Tuesday. The district notified families of...

Hempfield Area School Board members are planning a third roof restoration project, this time at West Hempfield Elementary School. School board members approved the project during Monday’s meeting. According to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, the project will begin at the end of the school year and is expected to be finished...