Local category, Page 2552
Allegheny, Westmoreland libraries closed amid coronavirus fears
Westmoreland County’s libraries and satellite offices will be closed until March 30 amid fears over the coronavirus, officials announced. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s locations will close Sunday until March 31. Guidance on the closure came from the Pennsylvania Department of Education Office of Commonwealth Libraries on Friday after Gov. Tom...
Wellness, healing the theme of Vandergrift’s annual arts festival in July
The Vandergrift Improvement Program is seeking wellness and therapy organizations to participate in this year’s Vandergrift ArtFest, an annual arts festival scheduled for July 25. The program is looking for 12-step groups, massage therapists, psychologists or other wellness professionals to operate informational booths in honor of this year’s theme, “Take...
Western Pa. voices from Italy give a glimpse of a locked-down life amid coronavirus pandemic
In Italy, the daily message on TV, radio and the internet is “Io resto a casa,” meaning, “I stay at home.” Streets are deserted. The Italian government has closed all non-essential establishment and events. Residents are restricted to their home villages and face a fine and possible imprisonment if caught...
2 Braddock men nabbed in drug raid
Two Braddock men were arrested Friday in a raid in Braddock where police seized 1,650 stamp bags of heroin and fentanyl worth $9,900 on the streets, a stolen gun plus $3,175 in cash, Allegheny County Police said. The county narcotics detectives arrested James Wise, 28, and Brandon Balthrop, 31, and...
Tedorski out as Arnold city fire chief
Arnold Council has abolished the position of city fire chief. Mayor Joseph Bia said the position was eliminated because the chief, J.C. Tedorski, responded to only four calls last year, none this year and has not been at a city council meeting for more than a year. Bia said having...
The Stroller, March 14, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local meeting notices, charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. Freeport Food...
Week in Review: Sporting events, theaters, schools taking steps to curb chances of exposure to coronavirusVideo
Over the course of just a few hours Friday, cases of the novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania jumped from 33 to 41 — including the first patient to test presumptive positive from Western Pennsylvania. Fears that it will spread prompted sports leagues, entertainment venues, schools and other organizations to take steps...
SeaBase in Greensburg announces temporary closure
SeaBase Family Fun Center will be closed through at least the end of March amid coronavirus concerns. The Greensburg facility is asking anyone who has a party scheduled there over the next few weeks to get in touch to either reschedule the date or cancel it, according to a Facebook...
No new jury trials to be picked March 16-20, Allegheny County judge says
Jurors summoned for service in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas for any day during the coming week will not be required to report for duty. No new jury trials will be picked from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, so those potential jurors will not be required...
Woman reported missing in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police seek public assistance in locating a missing woman. Authorities said Chakia Ausbrook, 35, was last seen Friday on Bunkerhill Street in Highland Park. She was wearing a maroon sweatshirt with white stripes down the sleeves and black sweat pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to...
Coffee Tree Roasters in operation at Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School students can enjoy Coffee Tree Roasters’ official caramel lattes and cappuccinos without ever leaving school. However, the officially licensed Coffee Tree Roasters that opened at the start of March to TJ students is about more than tasty beverages. The shop will serve as a learning lab...
Rivers Casino closes due to caution regarding coronavirus
The Rivers casino on Pittsburgh’s North Side will close for the next two weeks. The casino announced at about 9 p.m. Friday that it would close as of midnight Sunday, for 14 days. The process will begin Sunday night and continue into Monday morning. “Although there have been no known...
Expert: Prepping for quarantine should focus on basic nutrition
People are shifting to disaster mode as the coronavirus further impacts daily lives, with shelves of Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer and other products stripped clean at stores across the region. After President Trump’s speech on Wednesday night about his administration’s attempts to mount an effort to stop the spread of...
New Kensington police say officer killed suspect after he aimed shotgun at officers
Westmoreland County detectives continue to investigate the circumstances that led New Kensington police to fatally shoot a man Friday. Detective John Clark said the county district attorney’s office investigators are still interviewing witnesses and following up on information regarding the incident. Officers responded to multiple calls reporting a man with...
‘You’re in for it’: Western Pa. restaurants brace for coronavirus slowdown
Kevin Joyce said it’s “white knuckle” time for Pittsburgh’s hospitality industry. The owner of The Carlton Restaurant and Eadie’s Kitchen and Market, both Downtown, said food and beverage establishments across the city are feeling the impact of coronavirus. He said his restaurant was booked for Friday night with a Celine...
ATI pauses contract talks with steelworkers union, cites coronavirus impact
Allegheny Technologies Inc. has paused contract talks with the United Steelworkers union, citing a lack of progress and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, a company spokeswoman said Friday. About 1,300 USW members have continued working at nine ATI locations, including the hot rolling mill and processing facility in Harrison,...
District leaders lament ‘very poor planning’ in Gov. Wolf’s decision to close schools
It had taken all day, but finally, the New Kensington-Arnold School District had a plan. Schools would be closed to students Monday, just Monday, so teachers and administrators could prepare for a potential transition to online learning — a growing possibility as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the...
Westmoreland Museum of American Art closes for rest of March, citing coronavirus concerns
Coronavirus concerns have prompted the Westmoreland Museum of American Art to close its doors to the public beginning Saturday and continuing through the end of March. The decision was triggered by Gov. Wolf’s order on Friday closing all Pennsylvania schools for 10 business days. “We believe this decision is in...
Mayor Peduto bans gatherings of 250 or more in city; Allegheny County encourages sameVideo
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto declared a state of emergency in the city Friday evening and prohibited all public gatherings of more than 250 people. The ban on gatherings goes into effect at 9 a.m. Monday and is subject to City Council ratification. The emergency declaration is in effect for seven...
Monessen man gets 6-20 years for child sex assault
A Monessen man will serve up to 20 years in prison for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy. Michael Christofel, 39, pleaded guilty Friday to charges he had multiple incidents of sexual contact with the boy in October and November 2018 in Monessen. According to court records, the victim’s...
Travelers can now take up to 12 ounces of hand sanitizer through airport security
Transportation Security Administration officials announced travelers can bring larger amounts of liquid hand sanitizer on board with them in response to coronavirus concerns. Passengers can now pass security with 12-ounce containers of hand sanitizer in carry-on bags until further notice. The adjusted policy only applies to hand sanitizer. Limits on...
Washington County hit with 1st Western Pa. coronavirus case
Washington County is the first in Western Pennsylvania to have a presumed positive case of the novel coronavirus, according to state officials. The case was added to the growing list of Pennsylvania cases during a 5 p.m. update by the state Department of Health. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine...
Bonny Diver’s ‘Recipe for Hope’ expected to go on as scheduled
Most likely one of the few events happening Saturday is “Recipe for Hope.” The coronavirus pandemic has caused most regional events to be canceled or postponed. “I am being completely cautious about it,” said event founder Bonny Diver, traffic reporter for iHeart Radio. “We have taken all of the precautions....
Westmoreland halts most visits to county nursing home
Westmoreland County commissioners on Friday halted visitation for most residents at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield. Commissioners will conduct a news conference at 9 a.m. Saturday at the courthouse to unveil the county’s full response plan to the coronavirus pandemic. The new restriction at the 400-bed Westmoreland Manor started...
Western Pa. fish fries serve up precaution as coronavirus concern deepens
From fire halls to churches, organizers of the region’s extremely popular Lenten fish fries are employing a variety of precautions as concern over the spread of the coronavirus continues. “We are certainly stepping up our regular cleaning measures, which we take pretty seriously to begin with,” said Heather Dolhi, administrator...
