Western PA Local News category, Page 2562
Franklin Regional plans ‘back-to-school task force’ to plan for 2020-21 year
As of early May, there’s just no telling what education in Pennsylvania could look like in the fall. Whatever form it takes, and whatever may happen during the 2020-21 school year related to the coronavirus, Franklin Regional school officials want to be prepared. “Right now none of us have a...
Gov. Wolf signs order granting civil immunity to health care providers during covid-19 pandemic
Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive order Wednesday that could shield health care workers from potential lawsuits while confronting the covid-19 pandemic. The order grants civil immunity to individual licensed, certified and registered health care workers acting in “good faith” across all types of state-defined health care facilities — among...
Springdale High School grads get home delivered caps and gowns, congratulatory yard signsVideo
A customized “Congratulations Class of 2020, Ty Prior” yard sign was personally delivered Wednesday morning to the Springdale High School senior by the district superintendent, along with his cap and gown. “It was nice to see them,” Prior said of the Allegheny Valley School District administrators who showed up at...
Many new Allegheny County coronavirus cases linked to long-term care facilities
Nearly half of recent cases of the coronavirus reported in Allegheny County are linked to long-term care facilities, Allegheny County Health Department officials said Wednesday. Between April 20 and May 5, county health department staff started investigations on 352 new cases of covid-19. Of that total, 123 people, or 35%...
Senate bill would mandate safety protocols for Pennsylvania nursing homes
Long-term care facilities that have become the epicenter of Pennsylvania’s covid-19 fatalities would be subject to new safety protocols during emergency disaster declarations under a measure state Sen. Kim Ward is promoting. Pennsylvania has recorded 3,106 deaths from covid-19, with about two thirds of those coming from 495 nursing homes...
Big ‘thank you’: Cheswick resident and pizza shop owner feeds health care workers during National Nurses Week
Arslan “Allen” Ovezgylyjov came to the U.S. from Turkmenistan, central Asia, in 2008 in search of a better life. “I can’t say thanks enough to be living in the United States and to have my business and my family here,” said the Cheswick resident. “I have made a life here,...
Planned power outage set for Forbes Trail area of Murrysville on Thursday morning
West Penn Power officials are planning a brief outage in the Forbes Trail area of Murrysville on Thursday morning. The planned outage will be from about 9 a.m. to noon, in order to upgrade facilities. If the weather does not cooperate, the outage will be rescheduled for Friday. Anyone with...
Peduto: Coronavirus could bring pop-up drive-in theaters to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is looking for creative ways to allow safe social activities — including pop-up drive-in theaters — if coronavirus restrictions are necessary through summer months, Mayor Bill Peduto said Wednesday. Peduto, addressing reporters during a teleconference, said traditional activities such as Little League baseball, the city’s annual Fourth of July...
Suspect wanted for attempted homicide of S.C. cop arraigned for multiple vehicle thefts in Westmoreland
After Brian J. Stoltie fled South Carolina, where he was wanted for shooting at a sheriff’s deputy last year, members of the state police auto theft task force allege that he went on vehicle theft spree in Westmoreland County. State police captured Stoltie, 39, who has ties to Westmoreland and...
Pittsburgh’s Jewish Association on Aging will hold in-person Mother’s Day visits through windows
Mother’s Day visits amid coronavirus restrictions at nursing and personal care homes will be possible at the Jewish Association on Aging facilities in Pittsburgh. There’s no hugging, though. The in-person Mother’s Day visits at Charles Morris Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Weinberg Terrace and Weinberg Village will be held through plexiglass...
Cops: ‘Joyride’ in North Huntingdon causes $20K in damages, closes small airport
A North Huntingdon man arrested for DUI told police he was out “joyriding because he enjoys racing in the mud,” but the sloppy trip could leave him liable for nearly $20,000 in landscaping damages, according to court documents. Jonathan M. Galka, 39, was charged Tuesday with DUI, reckless driving and...
Pittsburgh HIV/AIDS advocate August Pusateri dies
August “Buzz” Pusateri played an integral role in the Pitt Men’s Study, a confidential research study of the natural history of HIV and AIDS. Not only did he believe in the importance of recruiting volunteers to help further research, he was one of the project’s first volunteers. Twice a year,...
Community garden in Vandergrift can be maintained during pandemic
Vandergrift will officially resume tending to community gardens, after a disagreement between council members broke out during Monday’s Zoom meeting. Under the town’s Declaration of Disaster Emergency, which went into effect in March and was extended Monday until Aug. 31, all parks in the town are closed to the public....
Some beaches popular with Pittsburghers have reopened, others waiting during pandemicVideo
Western Pennsylvanians eager to get to their favorite beaches once stay-at-home orders are lifted might have to wait a little longer as beach towns rebound from effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Down the East Coast from New Jersey to Florida, officials are working to determine the best times to reopen...
Rats are eating each other in Pittsburgh amid waste shortage caused by coronavirus closures
Turf wars among rats that are resorting to cannibalism because of less available garbage to scavenge isn’t something just happening in New York, New Orleans or some other far-away metro areas during the coronavirus pandemic. “It is no different here in Pittsburgh as just like these metro cities, with restaurants...
Derry Area High School plant sale offers curbside option
Plants from the Derry Area School District greenhouse will be sold to the public weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday through May 22. As part of covid-19 precautions, a maximum of four adults will be permitted in the greenhouse at a given time and are required to wear...
PWSA: Water in shuttered buildings could contain contaminants like Legionella
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is warning building owners that water in structures shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic could contain contaminants. PWSA advised owners Wednesday to develop a water management plan before reopening buildings for employees and the public. Water standing in pipes for long periods can contain contaminants,...
Police: Dispute over ‘intimate partner’ led to killing of Pitt coronavirus researcher
The recent murder-suicide in Ross Township that left two men dead from gunshot wounds was the result of a long-running dispute over an intimate partner, according to investigators. Bing Liu, 37, was shot to death inside his condominium at The Mews of Town North shortly after noon May 2. He...
Google’s Pittsburgh office raises $110,000 for families hit by coronavirus crisis
Google’s Pittsburgh office has raised over $110,000 for the GiveDirectly relief fund which will provide $1,000 direct cash payments to area families hardest hit by the covid-19 crisis. In all, the money donated by Google employees and Google.org will go to support 110 local families. Google.org’s seed donation is part...
Drive-thru plant sale culmination of student projects at Ligonier Valley greenhouseVideo
Plants grown by Ligonier Valley students soon will be taking root in home gardens in the area — and raising money for educational programs at the school district and at the Loyalhanna Watershed Association. The inaugural sale of herbs and flowering and vegetable plants, started from seed early this year...
4 new cases, no additional coronavirus deaths reported in Westmoreland County
Health officials reported four new cases of the coronavirus in Westmoreland County on Wednesday as the state’s death tally continued to catch up with the coroner’s count. The new cases bring the countywide total to 409, according to the state data. County Coroner Ken Bacha was reporting 31 covid-19 deaths...
Pennsylvania reports 94 new coronavirus deaths, 4th straight day with under 1,000 new cases
Another 94 Pennsylvanians have died from the coronavirus, state health officials said Wednesday, pushing the statewide death toll above 3,100. The state also added 888 new cases of covid-19 between 12 a.m. Tuesday to 12 a.m. Wednesday, officials said. The running state total is now 51,845 cases since the first...
Brighton Heights artist shares puppet costumes with Pittsburgh during pandemic
Giant puppets are popping up around Pittsburgh. One might see them standing near a front door, walking down a street or dancing to music. The colorful characters are courtesy of Brighton Heights artist Cheryl Capezzuti. She has hundreds of puppet costumes housed in her North Side studio. They’ve been used...
Pittsburgh to begin street repaving on Monday, advises residents to move vehicles
Paving crews will start resurfacing Pittsburgh streets on Monday, and city officials are asking residents to make sure to move vehicles in advance of the work. Workers will put fliers on vehicle windshields 48 hours before a street is paved and residents registered for telephone alerts from the Pittsburgh Water...
Outside sources charged in alleged scheme to get drugs into Westmoreland jail
Four women who investigators said acted as outside sources were charged Wednesday in connection with an alleged year-long scheme that used fake legal mail to deliver drugs to the Westmoreland County Prison. The women communicated with inmates to send them mail containing synthetic marijuana and pass them papers soaked in...
