Local category, Page 2526
Adapting: The ‘second first day of school’
Editor’s note: Adapting is a regular series spotlighting the ways the global coronavirus pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. On Monday, students in many areas across Pennsylvania had their “second first day of school,” in the form of school districts’ online learning plan going into...
More than 600 inmates released from Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh to slow pandemic
Officials have released 622 inmates from Allegheny County Jail over the last two weeks in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus by reducing crowding in the jail, according to Allegheny County. That’s more than triple the 189 inmates that were slated for release March 19, and roughly one...
Litter piles up at Pennsylvania state parks
Sanitary wipes and disposable gloves are among the increasing amount of litter sullying some Pennsylvania state parks. Although the facilities, including restrooms, are closed at 121 state parks, a growing number of residents continue to visit them with few options available for outings under covid-19 restrictions. “Sadly, litter has kept...
Carnegie Museum researchers discover new reptile genus, species
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History might be closed to the public right now, but its staff is still busy with research — including the discovery of a reptile from the Late Paleozoic period that had a crucial role in shifting its species’ diet from eating insects to eating plants....
6 residents, 1 staff at Ligonier Gardens nursing home test positive for coronavirus
Six residents and a staff member of Ligonier Gardens Personal Care Home have tested positive for coronavirus, according to Bethlen Communities, the nonprofit organization that operates the home. Two other Bethlen employees who don’t work at Ligonier Gardens also have tested positive. One works in transportation, the other in home...
Sen. Kim Ward seeks state law change to provide covid-19 info to first responders
A Westmoreland County lawmaker wants to amend state law to require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to release the general location of covid-19 cases to first responders. State Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, is seeking co-sponsors for an amendment to require state health officials to release information about coronavirus cases by...
Washington County woman who coughed on trooper claimed she had covid-19
A Washington County woman who coughed on a state trooper Sunday, claiming she had covid-19 as she was being arrested, was charged Tuesday with making terroristic threats and related crimes. Jessica Lee Harvey, 37, of Houston, also is charged with harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness by state police Trooper...
Westmoreland DA opposes county-paid expert for Penn Township murder appeal
Westmoreland taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for an expert to testify on behalf of Greensburg woman appealing her 2006 murder conviction, according to the county’s top prosecutor. In court documents filed Wednesday, District Attorney John Peck said expert testimony is irrelevant in the pending appeal of Jennifer...
Allegheny County map shows where free food is being distributed
Allegheny County has created a map to assist those who may be seeking free food distributions during the coronavirus pandemic. The map breaks down the distributions into groups, including some that serve only students or only seniors. The map can also be filtered to include specific results. It includes school...
Cost savings of postponed primary in Westmoreland could be eaten up by mail-in ballots
The five-week postponement of Pennsylvania’s primary could save Westmoreland County taxpayers up to $84,000. Commissioners said they will rescind the deal to rent ballot scanners that are no longer needed for the primary but that additional costs still could be accrued to pay for an unanticipated increase in mail-in ballots...
Pittsburgh convention center assessed as alternate site for patients during coronavirus pandemic
The David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh has been assessed as an alternate site to care for patients during the coronavirus pandemic, Allegheny County officials said Tuesday. County Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said the assessment of the Downtown facility was conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of...
Girl missing from Hazelwood found safe
Pittsburgh police said Tuesday they found a 12-year-old girl who had been missing since March 29. Police said Davicia Thomas-Wright was returned home safely. Police had said she was last seen in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood wearing a white “FILA” shirt, cream-colored jacket, black shoes and navy sweat pants with...
Analyst: Egg prices jump as demand increases during pandemic
The price of an 18-pack of large eggs was $2.59 Monday at the Giant Eagle in the Edgewood Towne Centre. On Sept. 21, 2019, a similar package of eggs from the same store was $1.99. Nationwide, sales of eggs have doubled since January. People are buying more when they shop...
Church Brew Works, Sysco host produce giveaway in PittsburghVideo
Motorists lined up Tuesday along Liberty Avenue in Lawrenceville for a produce giveaway outside of The Church Brew Works. Sysco Pittsburgh partnered with 412 Food Rescue, The Church Brew Works and other volunteers for the event. “We understand that providing healthy meal options during this time can be especially challenging...
Woodland Hills School District seeking donations to provide laptops to all students
A high school principal has set out to buy 700 laptops, which could cost around $171,500, for his students so they can begin mandatory online instruction in April. Since launching a fundraising effort March 27, the Woodland Hills School District has received around $30,000 in donations from the community, according...
PennDOT to restart work on emergency highway, bridge projects
PennDOT said Tuesday it will get back to work on emergency and critical highway and bridge projects. On March 17, Gov. Wolf paused the normal highway and bridge construction program to minimize covid-19 exposure for PennDOT and private sector employees. Tuesday’s announcement means that some 61 emergency and critical road...
Adapting: Greensburg nursing home staffer helps residents adjust
Editor’s note: Adapting is a regular series spotlighting the ways a global pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. Excitement fills the halls of Greensburg Care Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays as bingo numbers are called over the loudspeakers, residents checking their cards while sitting in...
Allegheny County will alert first responders to addresses of covid-19 patientsVideo
Allegheny County will begin flagging the addresses of confirmed covid-19 cases in its 911 database as a way of notifying first responders about potential exposure. Dr. Debra Bogen, director of Allegheny County Health Department, said in a letter sent Tuesday to county Emergency Services Director Matthew Brown that the health...
State police warnings to non-life-sustaining businesses surpass 100
More than 100 businesses received warnings in the first eights days since Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the closing of all non-life-sustaining operations to slow the spread of covid-19, Pennsylvania State Police reported Tuesday. On Monday, state police issued 11 warnings, bringing the total to 107 since enforcement of the order...
Police responding to fewer calls as more people shelter in place during coronavirus outbreak
Police departments across Southwestern Pennsylvania are receiving fewer calls as residents stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. In Greensburg, police calls decreased by 27% for the last two weeks of March compared to the same period in 2019, said Chief Chad Zucco. Police received 818 calls during that period...
Walmart to temperature test employees, provide masks and gloves
Walmart will now perform temperature checks on its employees in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, company officials announced Tuesday. Employees will have their temperature tested when they arrive at work. Any employee with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be paid for coming to work...
Local governments grapple with public meetings in midst of covid-19
Coronavirus may have shut down some businesses and forced people to work from home, but it hasn’t lifted the requirement that local governments hold public meetings when voting on issues. That left local municipalities scrambling to find ways to follow the law while adhering to guidelines of social distancing and...
6 new cases in Westmoreland County, 14 more deaths statewide
Westmoreland County reported six new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday as the statewide death total jumped by 14 and new cases by more than 750, state officials said. The county total now stands at 61. The first cases were diagnosed March 19. The 756 new cases diagnosed across the state...
Pittsburgh looking for credit lines to help offset revenue losses
Pittsburgh is moving to secure lines of credit to offset tax losses that officials expect during the coronavirus pandemic’s economic shutdown. City Council on Tuesday advanced a resolution that would authorize the Mayor’s Office to secure lines of credit “for the purpose of maintaining and supporting continuous operations during and...
PNC, Eat’n Park team up to provide food with United Way of Southwestern Pa.
The charitable arm of Pittsburgh-based PNC is teaming up with the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to create a fund to help feed families in the region during the coronavirus pandemic. The PNC Foundation made a $1 million donation to the United Way to create the Students and Families Food...
