Local category, Page 2551
Average gas prices in Pittsburgh area remain over $2 a gallon
Pennsylvania is among a dozen states where average gasoline prices remain over $2 a gallon, despite nine straight weeks of declines. Pennsylvania’s statewide average is about $2.03 a gallon, according to the price-tracking service GasBuddy. The average price is slightly higher in the Pittsburgh area, at $2.15 a gallon, GasBuddy’s...
Pennsylvania officials issue guidance on resuming elective surgeries
Hospitals and surgical centers in Pennsylvania can resume elective procedures that have been halted for weeks by the coronavirus pandemic. State Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said Monday such surgeries and procedures may begin again as long as hospitals still would be ready for a potential surge in covid-19 cases....
Officials: Pennsylvania coronavirus reporting largely lacks mandated race, ethnicity data
Health care systems still aren’t providing crucial race and ethnicity data when reporting coronavirus cases to the Department of Health, leaving a wide swath of some vulnerable populations unaccounted for, officials said Monday. A mandate from Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine says facilities and providers include demographic data along...
Construction projects can begin in Pittsburgh on Friday
Pittsburgh will allow construction projects to begin in the city starting on Friday under protocols established by the state and construction industry, the Mayor’s Office announced Monday. Gov. Tom Wolf last month shuttered most construction projects to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The governor last week announced that...
Pittsburgh councilwoman says coronavirus has led to more discrimination complaints
Pittsburgh would ban discrimination based on a person’s citizenship or immigration status under legislation City Council is scheduled to introduce on Tuesday. Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, the sponsor, said the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission has experienced an uptick of discrimination complaints since the coronavirus pandemic began. The complaints contend people have...
Confiscated note unravels drug scheme at Westmoreland jail, investigators report
A sheet of paper left in the Westmoreland County Prison library helped investigators unravel a yearlong scheme that used mail to deliver drugs to the Hempfield lockup, officials reported in court documents. Corrections officers listened to inmate phone conversations to intercept pieces of mail, and county detectives staked out the...
Monroeville, Pitcairn coronavirus cases provided by county, state
There have been 23 positive cases of covid-19 in Monroeville, according to latest state and county figures. Pitcairn, a borough surrounded by Monroeville and within the Gateway School District, reports one positive case. The county’s map also shows there have been 384 tests given in Monroeville and 42 in Pitcairn....
Amtrak extends train service for Pittsburgh to Philadelphia until at least May 18
Amtrak has extended the suspension of its passenger rail service between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia until at least May 18 — instead of May 4, as previously reported. With Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order extended until May 8, the Pennsylvanian and Keystone trains will not be resumed next week as tentatively...
Hempfield homes evacuated after construction crews strike gas line, no injuriesVideo
About 20 Hempfield residents were evacuated from their homes Monday as a precaution after an unidentified construction crew reportedly struck a gas line, according to Westmoreland County dispatchers. The incident occurred just before noon along Millersdale Road. No injuries were reported. The residents were evacuated as a precaution while the...
Police: Somerset man severely beaten, subjected to Russian roulette at ‘house party’
Pennsylvania State Police say a 21-year-old Somerset County man was duped into attending a “house party,” where he was severely beaten and subjected to “Russian roulette.” Charles D. Sleasman, 22, of Plum and Eric Flamm, 24, of Somerset were arraigned on assault charges after allegedly tying the man’s hands and...
No bird-banding this year at Powdermill because of coronavirus concerns
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Bird Banding Laboratory, whose efforts have helped researchers uncover information about avian migration patterns, population shifts, productivity and more. For the first time in six decades, however, spring migration won’t be documented by the bird-banding operation at the Powdermill Nature Reserve...
FNB donates $50K to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
First National Bank’s parent company, FNB Corp., is donating $50,000 to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for use in its covid-19 emergency food relief effort. The donation, announced Monday, is part of FNB’s $1 million commitment to support efforts throughout the seven states the Pittsburgh-based bank serves. “Providing food...
Pennsylvania reports fewer than 900 new coronavirus cases, 47 deaths
Dozens of new coronavirus deaths in Pennsylvania have pushed the statewide death toll to nearly 1,600 and hundreds more people tested positive, according to state health officials. The 47 new deaths reported to the Department of Health throughout the day Sunday brought the confirmed total to 1,597. Another 885 people...
Meadowcroft postpones season opener because of pandemic
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, part of the Senator John Heinz History Center system, postponed Saturday’s scheduled opening of its 52nd season because of covid-19 concerns. Meadowcroft, a National Historic Landmark located in Washington County, is the oldest site of human habitation in North America. It features a massive rock...
Allegheny County reports 6 new coronavirus deaths, 14% of cases in health care workers
The Allegheny County Health Department reported six new deaths and 13 additional cases of the coronavirus Monday. Of the total 79 deaths, 72 are listed as confirmed cases of covid-19, while seven are considered probable. Those deaths come after the county reported zero new deaths Sunday. The new diagnoses bring...
Murrysville Area Soccer Association cancels spring season
Murrysville Area Soccer Association officials have canceled the spring 2020 in-house and travel-team season. PA West Soccer, the sanctioning body for MASA, announced last week that it was canceling all spring competitions. “MASA is currently working with its website administrator regarding the processing of refunds for the spring 2020 season...
FBI warns about ‘money mule’ recruiters preying on people working from home
The FBI’s Pittsburgh office is warning people to be wary of offers to earn money working from home during the mandated shutdown to help curb the spread of coronavirus. “Watch out for ‘work from home’ fraud schemes that take advantage of uncertainty to promise easy money for little or no...
3 new Westmoreland coronavirus deaths bring toll to 30
Three new deaths in Westmoreland County related to the coronavirus have been reported by Coroner Ken Bacha. All three were women, bringing the death toll to 30, according to statistics updated early Monday. Bacha has said the majority of the county’s deaths are tied to nursing and personal care homes....
Repair projects causing lane restrictions along Allegheny County roadways
Road repair projects will cause lane restrictions in several Allegheny County locations this week. Here are some of the major projects underway: • Pavement improvement work along northbound Interstate 79 in Franklin Park began Sunday night and is expected to continue through May 2. The restrictions will occur 7 p.m....
With commencements postponed, Class of ’20 becomes Class of Covid-19
This was supposed to be a big weekend — the kick-off of college commencement season that would culminate in graduation ceremonies for about 15,000 students at colleges and universities across the region over the next month. Pitt and Point Park University were poised to lead the way this weekend with...
The Stroller, April 27, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Did your neighbor call and check on you, or bring a mask or groceries? The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time. Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they helped you, your family or...
Food bank to hold drive-up distribution in Duquesne
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will hold another drive-up food distribution Monday afternoon at its facility in Duquesne. The distribution will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at 1 N. Linden St. The entrance is at the intersection of South Linden Street and South Duquesne Boulevard. Each vehicle...
Police: Man shot in leg in McKees Rocks
Allegheny County police detectives are assisting in the investigation of a shooting Sunday afternoon in McKees Rocks. At about 3:23 p.m. McKees Rocks police responded to a shooting in the 500 block of Meyers Street. Officers arrived and learned that a man suffered a gunshot wound to his lower leg....
Herman Dupre, of Seven Springs fame, dies at 87
Herman K. Dupre, a winter sports pioneer behind the growth of Seven Springs Mountain Resort, died Saturday, April 25. He was 87. A cause of death had not been made public. Dupre’s death was confirmed in a Facebook post by Seven Springs resort. ”The Seven Springs family is saddened by...
Latrobe native Sean Knaus named Ligonier Country Club pro
Latrobe native Sean Knaus grew up working on a golf course. In his senior year in high school, the 2008 graduate won the Class AAA Section 1 title at Latrobe Elks Golf Club, where he worked. Knaus recently was hired as head golf professional at Ligonier Country Club to replace...
