Local category, Page 2540
Gov. Wolf doesn’t rule out stay-at-home order; reaffirms plan to enforce business closure order
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf stopped short of issuing a statewide stay-at-home order Sunday evening, but he also left it on the table. “That’s something that has to be under consideration,” he said during a livestreamed news conference. “We can’t overload our health care system. We need to buy time.” Earlier...
University of Pittsburgh student tests positive for covid-19
A University of Pittsburgh student living in a campus residence hall has tested positive for covid-19, university officials said Sunday. “Late last night, we learned of a confirmed case of coronavirus disease, covid-19, in one of our Pittsburgh campus residence halls,” the university said in a message sent to the...
Nearly 10K Pennsylvania businesses apply for closure waiversVideo
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has been inundated with waiver requests from businesses looking to remain open despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s order for all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical locations. As of midday Sunday, the state had received nearly 10,000 waiver requests, according to the DCED....
Drivers honk to wish New Kensington boy, 5, a happy birthday
For Colton Belli, it was a birthday like no other. But it wasn’t the one his parents had envisioned. To celebrate Colton’s fifth birthday, Jennifer and Mike Belli of New Kensington had it all planned out: They would take their son to Disney World. Then the coronavirus outbreak happened and...
About 200 attend Hempfield’s Word of Life Church amid coronavirus shutdownVideo
About 200 people gathered to worship Sunday at Word of Life Church in Hempfield at a time when most other churches either canceled or livestreamed services and when government officials are urging gatherings of 10 or more people to be halted. Senior Pastor Tom Walters said he understands other churches’...
UPMC closing ambulatory care centers
UPMC announced Sunday it is closing all of its ambulatory surgery centers and consolidating surgeries and procedures into its hospitals. The decision reflects UPMC’s goal to only go forward with procedures that doctors have determined to be medically necessary, said UPMC spokesman Paul Wood. “These efforts will help us to...
2nd participant in Valley High School NYC trip tests positive for coronavirus
A second person who went on a trip to New York City with the Valley High School marching band has tested positive for the coronavirus that causes covid-19, the New Kensington-Arnold School District said Sunday. The second person is a district employee, the district said. The first is an employee’s...
State, Pittsburgh police to start enforcing Pa. business closures
Pennsylvania State Police will begin enforcing the closure of “non-life-sustaining” businesses starting 8 a.m. Monday, said Col. Robert Evanchick, state police commissioner. Pittsburgh police also announced Sunday that officers will be responding to 911 calls and other complaints about nonexempt businesses that ignore orders to shut down. Officers will investigate...
Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh to close for 2 months in response to coronavirus
The Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh will close for a little more than two months in response to the coronavirus pandemic. An emailed statement from Peter Strebel, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said the hotel will suspend operations Monday and stay closed through at least June 1....
Covid-19 cases in Allegheny County rise to 40; 4 people hospitalized
Allegheny County now has 40 positives cases of covid-19, the Allegheny County Health Department said Sunday. Of those cases, four people are hospitalized, health department officials said. The number of confirmed cases is expected to continue to grow. “The most important thing you can do to help stop the spread...
MSA, Highmark, AHN bringing 65K protective masks to Pittsburgh
Thousands of protective masks are being shipped to Pittsburgh to help support the region’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Sunday. MSA Safety Inc. has partnered with Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network to secure a shipment of 65,000 N95 protective masks to the region. Such masks have become...
Are play dates OK during coronavirus outbreak? Health expert weighs in.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert and a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, has been answering our questions throughout the coronavirus pandemic. We asked him six more on Sunday. Adalja, who has published papers on pandemic preparedness in the New England Journal of Medicine, stresses...
Future of Vandergrift’s historic Davis Field uncertain
Vandergrift officials are exploring what to do with the borough’s historic Davis Field now that Kiski Area School District is terminating its lease to use it. Kiski Area, which has leased the field for $1 a year but been responsible for its maintenance, submitted a letter to the borough this...
Rescue founder’s passion for matching pets with new homes knows no boundsVideo
Pamela Hoebeck loves to play with Peanut, a rescue cat, but she is hoping he’ll soon have someone to give him care and attention on a permanent basis. Hoebeck, 60, has been fostering the year-old cat at her Penn Township home since he was found as a stray about four...
Murrysville council moves to online meetings, public will still be able to participate
Some members of Murrysville council were sitting in the audience Wednesday night, in full observance of the recommended social distancing protocols. When they meet next, they’ll be sitting even farther apart, but neither they nor the public will need to worry about social distancing unless someone else is sitting too...
The Stroller, March 22, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Send cancellations to The Stroller The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days. If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood...
Olympic Trials put on hold for Fox Chapel swimmer Skirboll
Zoe Skirboll finished an in-pool workout last Saturday at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill knowing it probably would be the last opportunity to swim for several weeks. The Fox Chapel sophomore was in the midst of training for the USA Swimming Olympic Trials, still scheduled for June 21-28...
Senior care network launches greeting card program to brighten spirits of quarantined residents
The Presbyterian SeniorCare Network has launched an initiative to brighten the spirits of patients and their caregivers by sending them cards and notes of encouragement while they are under the state-mandated quarantine to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. “People are reaching out to us asking if they can...
Economists paint dire picture as coronavirus outbreak continues
Job layoffs, dark movie theaters and quarantined residents fearing the coronavirus and reluctant to venture beyond the front door could lead to one of the worst economic downturns in recent U.S. history, according to one area expert. “We’re headed for a recession, if we’re not in a recession already,” said...
SHIM, Bethel-St. Clair Meals on Wheels hosting emergency food drive
Two South Hills organizations are teaming up for an emergency food drive due to the coronavirus pandemic. South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) and Bethel-St. Clair Meals on Wheels will host the drive 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays beginning Monday at the Bethel Park Community Center, 5151 Park Ave. in Bethel Park....
Participant in Valley High School NYC trip tested positive for coronavirus
The spouse of a New Kensington-Arnold School District employee went on a bus trip to New York City with the Valley High School Marching Band and later tested positive for coronavirus, district officials confirmed Saturday. About 102 people — students, staff and chaperones — were in the group that was...
Giant Eagle will pay $10 million in bonus pay to workers during outbreak
Giant Eagle said Saturday it will be giving $10 million in bonus pay to employees during the coronavirus outbreak. In a press release, the company said the bonus pay will be offered to all those working at Giant Eagle, Market District, Giant Eagle Pharmacy and GetGo locations. In addition, those...
Excela Health, St. Clair Hospital prohibiting most hospital patient visits to slow coronavirus
Two hospitals in the region are prohibiting people from visiting patients in an effort to to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Excela Health’s new policy took effect Saturday and only allows patients and staff in the inpatient, outpatient or emergency departments of its facilities. Beginning on Sunday, visitors will...
Natrona food distribution takes place with coronavirus safeguards in place
The Building Block of Natrona food distribution for the disadvantaged took extraordinary measures to allow its distribution to take place on Saturday. Those participating at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Garfield Street in Natrona made precautions to defend against coronavirus. The organization distributed bags of produce and personal care...
Carnegie Mellon student tests positive for covid-19 after returning from spring break
A Carnegie Mellon University student has tested positive for covid-19 days after returning to Pittsburgh from spring break, university officials said. “This case of coronavirus in our campus community is a sobering reality, and it is a reminder that every group is potentially vulnerable to the spread of the virus,”...
