Regional category, Page 136
Gas prices heading back toward $4 after 5 weeks of increases
The average price of gas in the U.S. has increased more than 10% in the past month and could reach $4 per gallon again, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy. The national average price of gasoline Monday was $3.51 per gallon, according to AAA. That’s 9 cents higher than last week,...
Mon-Fayette Expressway’s next phase will help test innovative road concepts
Paul Metzler of Murrysville isn’t confident that truckers will voluntarily limit their use of “jake brakes” on the stretch of Route 22 situated down the hill from his home in Manordale Farms. “Between the ribbed concrete that the highway is made of and the increase in trucks that all use...
As pandemic tax credits fade, prepare for shrinking tax refunds
The clock has started ticking for people to file their tax returns but this year, there’s one thing to brace for — smaller refunds. That’s because many of the benefits put in place to help people weather the pandemic — such as boosting the child tax credit and earned income...
High school robotics teams gear up for a new season of ‘FIRSTs’Video
Franklin Regional Superintendent Gennaro Piraino wanted to know what junior Rory Messersmith considered to be more valuable to his academic future — being a member of the high school’s robotics team, or studying for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests. “I’m not sure if I should answer that,” Messersmith...
Local water systems prepare to deal with stricter regulations for ‘forever chemicals’
New regulations that place stricter limits on the presence of “forever chemicals” in Pennsylvania’s public drinking water are not expected to heavily impact the local water supply, officials said. While the revised standards dramatically reduce the levels of two forms of the toxic chemicals that collectively are known as PFAS,...
Morning Roundup: State police look into fake digital coupon used at Hempfield 7-11
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023: State police investigate coupon fraud in Hempfield According to the Facebook page of the Westmoreland County Pennsylvania District Attorney’s office, Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a retail theft in which the actors used a digital...
Man gets 17 years in federal prison for abusing residents of Beaver County care facility
Karen Pennell showed the court a picture of her son. She said he was a sweet, loving boy who had meningitis as an infant. He developed seizures, had many surgeries, lost his vision on one side and had to relearn to walk. Over the years, Pennell told the judge, her...
Sheetz reviewing ‘smile policy’ that says employees can’t have visible dental issues
If you need to have a little dental work done, and want to take a job to help save some cash for that, Sheetz would not be the place to apply. At least not right now. According to a recent report, the popular convenience store and gas station has a...
Snow bands could impact evening commute in W.Pa. region
The Western Pennsylvania region can expect about an inch or two of accumulated snow from an incoming trough of lower pressure this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. Meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said the region should expect possible snow bands starting this afternoon about 1 and lasting until...
Morning Roundup: Pa. Game Commission brings back black bear livestreams
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023: Pennsylvania Game Commission announces wildlife livestreams Ever wonder what a bear does in the woods? Now you can know. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has reintroduced its 24-hour black bear webcam for the first time since...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh detectives look for missing 72-year-old
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023: Pittsburgh detectives seek missing 72-year-old Detectives with the Pittsburgh police Special Victims Unit are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 72-year-old man. Melvin Wilson was last seen at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday in...
Morning snow transitions to rain across Western Pa.
Snow that coated roads in the region Wednesday morning was changing to rain, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. Nearly all locations in southwestern Pennsylvania will change to rain by noon as warm air moves in, meteorologist David Shallenberger said. The high temperature will be rising into the mid-40s. The...
With more ways to tip, customers willing to pay it forward
Desiree Singleton recalled her late father, Bill Ringler, having her, her brother and sister figuring out a tip on a bill when the family dined out. “He talked to us about the service we got and how much we should tip,” Singleton said Tuesday inside her business, Harvest Moon Coffee...
McKean County woman found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges relating to 2021 Capitol breach
A McKean County woman who breached the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection that attempted to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election has been found guilty of federal charges. Pauline Bauer, 55, of Kane, was found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges for...
Westmoreland DA says catalytic converter theft ring probe ongoing
Three Chicago men charged this week with stealing catalytic converters from dozens of businesses and individuals in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Fayette counties are likely part of a larger theft ring that is still active, investigators said Tuesday. “The brazen acts of these suspects not only cost innocent drivers and business...
After 35 years, police ID woman killed in fiery Turnpike crash in Somerset County
Forensic genealogy testing helped investigators finally identify a 26-year-old woman as the second victim in a 1987 double-fatal crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, authorities said. Linda J. McClure, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, was a passenger in a tractor-trailer that crashed Oct. 22, 1987, while traveling east near mile marker 119.4 in...
Pennsylvania gambling revenue hit another record high in 2022
Pennsylvania’s legalized gambling industry raked in another record haul in 2022 with revenue nearly half a billion dollars higher than the previous year. In 2022, the combined revenue of slot machine, table games, sports wagering, iGaming, video gaming terminals and fantasy contests totaled $5.21 billion compared to $4.73 billion in...
Morning Roundup: Police say Sewickley man stole postal truck, drove wrong way on I-79
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023: Police say Sewickley man stole postal truck, drove wrong way on I-79 Pennsylvania State Police say a postal worker from Sewickley stole a mail truck from Allegheny County and drove it into Greene County, leading...
Oil prices, refinery challenges contribute to rising gas prices, analyst says
Oil prices and refinery challenges impacting supplies have contributed to average gasoline prices rising across most of the country, an industry analyst said. A surge in new covid cases also has not slowed demand much in China, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “In addition, releases...
Morning Roundup: Crash injures 1, shuts McKnight Road lanes for hours
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023: Crash injured 1, closes McKnight Road lanes At least one person was injured following a crash Monday morning that left all northbound lanes closed to traffic on McKnight Road in Ross for more than four...
Crows, crows and more crows among interesting results of Christmas Bird Count
While volunteer bird enthusiasts counted cardinals and robins for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count from Pittsburgh to Harmar, the most common bird found was the American crow — 20,000 strong, accounting for about half of the birds seen. The Christmas Bird Count was held in some areas in the region...
Area couples wait longer to adopt from pandemic-curtailed pool of newborns
The stars were aligned when Rob and Samantha Lauricia added a baby boy, Sal, to their family last February. After a little more than a year of preparation and paperwork, the Irwin couple became eligible to adopt a child on Jan. 19, 2022. When they welcomed Sal into their home...
How can college students stay safe? Regional college officials weigh in
Since November, the murders of four University of Idaho students have captivated cable news audiences, permeated social media dialogues and caused some college students to question their safety on and around their campuses. The four students were fatally stabbed in their off-campus rental home in the early hours of Nov....
Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin weds at age 93
Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man to walk on the moon, proved that one is never too old to be married when, on his 93rd birthday, he wed his longtime girlfriend, a University of Pittsburgh graduate. Aldrin, who made his fourth trip into matrimony, married Anca Faur,...
How Maggie Hardy caught Immaculate Reception ball for Dad
It was another fairy tale ending for the Immaculate Reception ball. The same ball that Franco Harris miraculously caught 50 years ago to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in franchise history inspired another happy, though bittersweet, outcome. For the past half-century, the ball had been in the possession...
