Local category, Page 2538
Butler County to furlough nonessential staff
Butler County officials announced nonessential county personnel would be temporarily furloughed starting Tuesday. Director of Human Resources/Chief Clerk Lori Altman said department heads still were evaluating staff Monday and they would have more definitive numbers Tuesday of how many of the county’s estimated 550 employees would be laid off. Cuts...
Animal care challenges mount for National Aviary, Pittsburgh Zoo as revenue sags during covid-19 shutdown
Most of the National Aviary’s nearly 500 birds wake as the sun comes up. So veterinarians and other animal care staffers arrived at the North Side facility around 7 a.m. Monday, about 15 minutes before sunrise, to begin making their daily rounds. Some checked up on specific birds, paying close...
Hempfield church pastor apologizes for open services on SundayVideo
The pastor of a Hempfield church apologized Monday after roughly 200 people attended a Sunday service at Word of Life Church, against the advice of government and health officials. “Please believe me when I say it was not out of arrogance or defiance, but solely for the purpose of praying...
Western Pa. school district leaders react to Gov. Tom Wolf’s closure extension
Public schools will be closed for two more weeks, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced Monday, extending Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandated closure to at least April 6. “The number of positive cases increases daily, and we’re seeing it spread to more counties,” Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said in a...
Carnegie Museums furlough workers
Anticipating deficits of nearly $1.4 million a month due the coronavirus closure, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh announced it is temporarily furloughing some staff members. In a statement Monday, Carnegie Museums said its Museums of Art and Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum would remain closed for...
More than 130 people receive covid-19 drive-thru testing in Pittsburgh Zoo lot
Cars wrapped around the main parking lot Monday at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a new covid-19 drive-through testing site. The Central Outreach Wellness Center offered drive-through testing in the lot between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. But the vehicles were lining up well before 10:30 a.m. The line...
Giant Eagle installing Plexiglas dividers to limit spread of covid-19, suspending use of reusable bags
Giant Eagle is installing clear Plexigas dividers at all of its checkout and customer service areas in an attempt to protect employees and customers from the spread of covid-19. The dividers will be installed at Giant Eagle groceries, pharmacies and GetGo stores. The company began installing the dividers over the...
Somerset state trooper, suspect injured in fall during chase
A state trooper and the suspect he was chasing were injured Saturday after falling into a 75-foot ravine in Somerset County. Trooper Justin Dorazio was injured during the foot pursuit with Christopher Eric Fisher, 45, of Rockwood, who was accused of assaulting and threatening another man with a handgun. Dorazio...
Pittsburgh official: Virus will have ‘deep, long lasting’ impact
The financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Pittsburgh city government will be “deep and long lasting,” potentially changing the course of capital projects and other initiatives for years to come, a city official said Monday. Dan Gilman, Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff, said the budget office is working...
In Greensburg area, empty streets, solitary scenes amid coronavirus pandemic
As the region practices social distancing and businesses temporarily close as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Tribune-Review photographer Sean Stipp explored Greensburg and the surrounding area on Monday. The attached photo gallery is some of what he saw....
Port Authority to reduce bus, light rail service by 25%
Bus and light rail service will be cut back because of decreasing use during the coronavirus pandemic, Port Authority of Allegheny County officials said Monday. The service will be decreased by about 25% starting Wednesday. The reduction comes after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that Allegheny County was among...
Hempfield couple who tested positive for covid-19 after cruise describe what it’s like to have virus
Lisa Duffy thought the cigarette smoke in the casino of the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship was responsible for the nagging cough she developed late in her trip to the Caribbean. When the ship docked March 14 in Port Canaveral, Fla., she felt great, with none of the fatigue she usually...
Allegheny River Boulevard to go down to single lane
Allegheny River Boulevard will be closed to a single lane through March 27, PennDOT announced Monday. The road will be reduced to a single lane from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. as crews from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority clean inlets along the road between Washington Boulevard and Nadine Road....
Long line of people in cars at Kennywood wait to get food donations
Kennywood Park was closed, but a long line of cars snaked their way into its parking lot Monday. Normally, when this many people show up at the West Mifflin amusement park, they are anticipating a day of fun. Instead, on a dreary Monday morning, they were here for food. For...
Westmoreland police departments begin ‘non-life-sustaining’ business checks
are enforcing Gov. Wolf’s order similar to all the other Westmoreland County Departments. Local police investigated a small number of reports of non-life-sustaining businesses still operating after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered enforcement of their closures starting at 8 a.m. Monday to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Wolf’s order prohibits...
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh works to fight blood shortage during covid-19 outbreak
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh is responding to the need for blood donations during the covid-19 outbreak by holding nine blood drives at its Squirrel Hill and South Hills locations in the coming weeks. The blood drives will be held in cooperation with Vitalant Pittsburgh, formerly known locally...
Westmoreland prison officials screening inmates to help avoid coronavirus outbreak
Westmoreland officials said Monday there are no comprehensive plans to reduce the inmate population at the county jail in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout Pennsylvania, officials have begun releasing inmates from local lockups. Westmoreland officials said there is no dire need to take similar action at the facility in...
Penn Hills native describes situation in Italy as ‘tragic, depressing and emotional’
Italy is in complete lockdown with residents confined to their towns and prohibited from venturing farther than 200 meters (about 650 feet) from their homes, according to a Penn Hills native who has lived in the country for more than 10 years. James Zanella, who lives in the northern Italian...
Police: Jeannette man threatened to stab state troopers after shoplifting arrest at Walmart
A Jeannette man angry after his arrest for shoplifting at a Walmart on Sunday threatened to stab police with a pen before troopers confiscated a knife hidden in his waistband, according to court documents. Anthony M. Inks, 32, was arraigned Monday before Export District Judge Charles R. Conway on charges...
Western Pa. teachers posting motivational, inspirational selfies for studentsVideo
Teachers in the region have taken to self-portraiture to let their students – or “kids” – know they care for them through the coronavirus pandemic. The teachers’ selfies have appeared in compilation videos made by staff at Deer Lakes and Mars Area school districts, and Penn Hills School District is...
PLCB: Wine, liquor sales set record day before state stores closed
Pennsylvania’s decision to close its Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores on March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic triggered the highest single-day sales in at least a decade, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The PLCB reported about $29.9 million in sales on March 16, the day the...
New Kensington-Arnold eliminates 3 food distribution sites
New Kensington-Arnold School District is eliminating three locations where grab-and-go meals for students can be picked up. The sites — Valley Junior-Senior High School, St. Joseph’s School and New Kensington city hall — are being closed effective Tuesday because of a lack of participation, the district said in a statement...
Lack of details on local coronavirus cases frustrates Westmoreland officials
Westmoreland County officials are frustrated with the lack of specific information disseminated about local coronavirus cases from the state health department. “We learn more from the media than from anywhere else,” Roland “Bud” Mertz, public safety director, said Monday. Mertz said he’s asked but has been unable to get any...
Peduto seeks support from state, federal government
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Monday called on state and federal government officials to approve financial aid for workers, small business and cities struggling to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Peduto, who has been in self-quarantine since March 14, signed letters asking Congress to provide $250 billion in relief for...
Carnegie Mellon, Carlow, Cal U and Slippery Rock cancel spring commencement
Carnegie Mellon, California, Carlow and Slippery Rock universities joined the growing list of colleges and universities across the country canceling or postponing spring commencement ceremonies. Those decisions follow growing urgency in pronouncements from public health experts cautioning against public gatherings of 10 or more people. Carnegie Mellon Monday morning announced...
