Western PA Local News category, Page 2586
Westmoreland County adds 31 new cases of covid-19; state, local death tolls still don’t match
Westmoreland County reported 31 new cases of covid-19 on Saturday, for a total of 280 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease, state health department data show. The state continues to under-report the number of deaths attributed to covid-19 when compared to local data. As of midday Saturday, the state health...
Pennsylvania reports 80 new deaths from covid-19, total cases now crest 31,000
Eighty more people in Pennsylvania have died of covid-19, hiking the statewide death toll from the coronavirus disease up to 836, state health officials said Saturday. The state’s total number of confirmed cases has crested 31,000, with 1,628 new cases reported between Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. Positive cases of...
Allegheny County coronavirus cases top 1,000; county notes more test results
Allegheny County saw a jump of 62 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours. New data released Saturday morning revealed that a total of 1,009 cases of the virus have been reported in Allegheny County since March 14, when the first positive case was identified. That compares to 22...
Sheetz designates special hour for high-risk shoppers
Sheetz stores will set aside one hour each on Sunday for customers who are high risk to contract covid-19. Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. will be reserved for those who are at a higher risk to contract the disease brought on by the coronavirus. The program will be...
Officials taking closer look at Westmoreland inmates’ medical conditions for possible release
Westmoreland court officials plan to meet Monday to go through a list of about 70 jail inmates who have diagnosed medical conditions that could make them susceptible to the coronavirus. But it’s unclear how many will be eligible for release. “The medical condition is only one factor,” District Attorney John...
The Stroller, April 18, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Sitting at home all day, many of us are asking ourselves how we can help others during this pandemic. Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com....
Report: 14-year-old girls charged with setting 4 fires in McKeesport
McKeesport police say two 14-year-old girls kept a notebook of properties they wanted to burn down, and the list included four houses where fires have been set in recent months. According to the Trib’s news partner WPXI, the two teens have been charged with four counts each of arson and...
Westmoreland family wrestles with the ‘unfair way’ virus-stricken father diedVideo
Even as her memory increasingly slipped, James Bower Sr. insisted on caring for his wife and keeping the couple together on their three-acre homestead. But time was taking a toll on them both. Finally, about three years ago, his five children — four sons and a daughter — convinced him...
Franklin Regional sets potential dates for prom, graduationVideo
Tonight students from Franklin Regional would have been at their prom. But school district officials are hoping it can still happen, having set potential dates for a postponed prom and graduation ceremony. “We want these things to happen for you guys,” said high school Principal Ron Suvak in an address...
Youth minister at St. Bonaventure in Shaler tests positive for covid-19
A youth minister at St. Bonaventure Parish in Shaler has tested positive for covid-19, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh reported Friday. The person tested positive for the coronavirus disease on Thursday, but has not been around any parish youth members or involved in any parish gatherings since March 15...
Idled restaurant, salon workers get helping hand from Latrobe food donorsVideo
The city of Latrobe and its police department have joined forces with Latrobe-headquartered Robindale Energy, other businesses and families to provide much-needed food and household essentials to residents who are out of work because of coronavirus-related business restrictions. The food and supplies will be distributed Saturday to about 80 targeted...
Greater Latrobe School Board plans virtual meeting Tuesday, web link for public
Greater Latrobe School Board will conduct its voting session on Tuesday as a virtual meeting, amid recommendations for social distancing to combat the covid-19 pandemic. Members of the public who want to attend the session via web link are asked to provide the district with their name, physical address, email...
Homewood homicide suspect, from Clairton, arrested by U.S. marshals in New Jersey
A Clairton man wanted in connection with a Homewood homicide was arrested Friday by U.S. marshals in New Jersey, according to Pittsburgh police. Sanders Barber, 44, was taken into custody by marshals and New Jersey State Police, on a Pittsburgh arrest warrant. Barber was charged April 8 with the fatal...
Harrison fire causes stir but little damage in Natrona row house
Residents of a Harrison row house can remain in place after an electrical fire caused a stir in one of the four units. Hilltop Hose Fire Chief Mike Krzeminski said no one was displaced or injured in connection with the incident around 6:15 p.m. Friday at 78 Pond St. in...
Greensburg Salem makes tentative plans for June commencement
Greensburg Salem School District has postponed its graduation ceremony until June — though plans for the big day are subject to change depending on the status of coronavirus-related restrictions. The district also plans to replace prom with a Senior Ceremony. The current plan is to allow only the Class of...
Fire leaves 6 New Kensington residents, their pets homeless
A lit candle knocked over by cats is being blamed for a fire that left six New Kensington residents and their pets homeless Friday afternoon. Fire Chief Ed Saliba said three of the six people living in the house were inside at the time of the blaze at 638 Fifth...
Allegheny County to send mail-in ballot forms to every voter; Gov. Wolf mulls pleas for mail-only election
Allegheny County elections officials have begun sending every resident eligible to vote in the June 2 primary election an application for a mail-in ballot — whether or not they requested one. Citing concerns over the highly contagious coronavirus , Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald is urging everyone to consider voting...
Pitt plans for fall could include hybrid semester
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher is broaching the possibility that Pitt, one of the region’s biggest universities and a major factor in the local economy, may not be able to reopen for business as usual this fall. Like schools across the nation, Pitt was forced to close its campuses...
Over 450 people benefit from free meals provided by Greensburg restaurant
Jim Bosco has lofty goals for his Greensburg restaurant, Major Stokes: provide 50 free meals to community members in five hours every day. “I’ve really seen, over the last several years, so much divisiveness and people not being engaged in the community anymore, not looking out for their friends and...
Westmoreland leaders ‘not giving up’ on trying to get more specific info on coronavirus cases
County officials’ hopes to share more details with the public about the locations of Westmoreland’s confirmed coronavirus cases are in limbo. Commissioner Sean Kertes said Friday that the nondisclosure agreement the state department of health is requiring in exchange for the information is a significant roadblock. “They’re making it almost...
Unity opera prodigy to enjoy national spotlight on ‘Little Big Shots’Video
Victory Brinker has appeared at Carnegie Hall and has hit her mark before the camera for three yet-to-be-released films. On Sunday evening, the 8-year-old soprano will display her talents for her largest audience yet, singing a German-language aria from the opera “The Magic Flute” for millions viewing NBC’s “Little Big...
Franklin Regional will implement pass/fail grading system for remainder of academic year
The Franklin Regional School District will implement a pass/fail grading system for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, but school board members had a lengthy discussion about its merits and shortcomings. “I would rather our teachers focus on creating assignments and lessons to engage students instead of focusing on...
Robert Morris students raise money for food bank with gaming marathon
A Robert Morris University student club is hosting a virtual gaming marathon this weekend to raise money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Nearly 100 students and faculty will tune into the platforms Discord and Twitch to participate in the 48-hour marathon, playing a variety of games independently and...
Giant Eagle to convert Parkway Center store to curbside pickup, delivery only
Giant Eagle announced Friday that it will convert its Parkway Center Mall location near Green Tree into a curbside pickup center, allowing the grocery giant to increase pickup and delivery orders its employees fill. “As we’ve been piloting creative solutions to increase our curbside pickup and delivery capacity, we have...
5th Port Authority employee tests positive for coronavirus
A fifth Port Authority employee has tested positive for covid-19, officials said Friday. The employee works in maintenance at the authority’s garage in West Mifflin. The person, who was not identified, last worked on April 10 and has been in self-quarantine on paid leave since then. The Port Authority said...
