Regional News category, Page 182
Gasoline nears historic high in Western Pa., topping $4 per gallon in some places
Gasoline now costs more than $4 per gallon at some local stations, thanks to an overnight price spike of about 13 cents per gallon. The abrupt jump, after weeks of steady price increases, is something not usually seen, even in times of economic uncertainty. “That’s very drastic and a direct...
Man dies following mine incident in Somerset County
SOMERSET — A miner is dead after he was injured Wednesday in an underground incident in Hollsopple. According to Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees, the incident was reported just before 11 a.m. and the man, whose name has not been released, was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, where he...
Fayette priest gets prison term for sexually abusing altar boy
UNIONTOWN — A western Pennsylvania Roman Catholic priest who sexually assaulted an altar boy for several years has been sentenced to 2 1/2 to five years in state prison. The Rev. Andrew Mark Kawecki of Greensburg will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years once he’s...
Talks at home, school can help children process Ukraine war images, information
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been dubbed the TikTok war by some, as videos of the violence have surfaced across that and other social media platforms favored by many of today’s youths. “It makes it more real for them, not just some distant event,” said Jaime Rininger, who teaches geography...
IUP cleared for fall tuition break, drops mask mandate for most buildings
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has been approved to offer a tuition break next fall to Pennsylvania residents. IUP officials also dropped a mask mandate for most areas on its main campus, in accordance with the latest guidance on covid-19 precautions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Pennsylvania...
State trooper in New Stanton charged with possessing child porn, jailed on $500K bond
A state trooper assigned to the turnpike detail in southwestern Pennsylvania remains in jail after investigators allege he possessed dozens of computer files containing child pornography, including on a personal cellphone he was carrying when arrested Tuesday at the New Stanton station. Sean R. McKenzie, 37, a corporal, is charged...
Pittsburgh-area steelworker Joseph Burgess gets front-row seat at State of the Union address
You’re minding your business, going to your job at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, and the next thing you know, you have a front-row seat for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. How does that happen? For Joseph “JoJo” Burgess of Washington, Pa., it started with an...
Ohio woman embezzled $2.1M from Beaver credit union to buy 4-wheelers, farm animals, FBI says
An Ohio woman sentenced in January on charges of embezzling more than $2 million from a Beaver credit union spent much of it on agricultural purchases, including attempting to start a pig farm, federal investigators said. Stacey Shaw of Salem, Ohio, was sentenced to more than four years in prison...
2 men charged in connection with PNC Bank robbery in Washington
Two Pittsburgh-area men were indicted Monday on charges of robbing a PNC Bank in Washington last fall, according to the FBI. Anthony West, 28, formerly of McKees Rocks, and Brandin Gardner, 25, of Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of robbery and conspiracy to...
1 killed after opening fire on police in South Connellsville
South Connellsville police shot and killed a man after they say he fired at them during a welfare check early Tuesday evening in South Connellsville. Police were called to a home on the 2100 block of Second Street in Connellsville shortly after 4:30 p.m., after a request to check on...
Former Mt. Pleasant, Perryopolis doctor gets prison for illegally prescribing drugs, having sex with patients
Dr. Emilio Navarro told the court he made a mistake. It was a mistake that he made dozens of times over four years. A federal indictment against Navarro, a longtime family physician who practiced in Mt. Pleasant and Perryopolis, said he wrote prescriptions for painkillers and Xanax to two patients...
Former NFL player Will James honored for service in Fayette County
A former NFL player whose nonprofit has helped underserved youth in Fayette County for several years is being recognized by the community for his years of service. Will James, a 1997 Laurel Highlands graduate who went on to play for several NFL teams, was given the February “Face” title in...
Potholes are wreaking havoc again, leaving drivers swerving and road crews scrambling
Welcome to pothole season, when area roadways — and drivers — pay the price as winter and the bitter cold prepare to give way to spring and warmer temperatures. “I think it’s worse this year, everywhere,” Jessica Bernard, 35, of Harrison City said Sunday morning before walking into the Harrison...
U.S. gas prices rise on higher oil prices brought on by Russian invasion of Ukraine
An increase in the global price of crude oil brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to higher gasoline prices in the United States, AAA said Monday. The national average for a gallon of gas rose to $3.61. That’s 8 cents more than a week ago, 26 cents...
UPMC reports $24 billion in revenue in 2021
UPMC reported Monday that it posted $24 billion in operating revenue in 2021, up $1 billion, or about 4.3%, from the year before. Despite the increased revenue, the health care giant said that its overall operating income for last year totaled $843 million, down 4% from the year before. UPMC...
Week in pictures: Feb. 21-27
A selection of the best photos from Tribune-Review photographers from Feb. 21-27....
To mask or not to mask? Under revised guidelines, it’s a personal question
More than two years into the covid-19 pandemic, Western Pennsylvanians still are seemingly divided over whether they will choose to continue wearing a face covering. Uncertainty over how they will move forward comes as case counts continue to ease and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined new measures...
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board removes Russian-made products from state store shelves
That didn’t take long. Following a strongly worded message from Gov. Tom Wolf urging it to do so, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) on Sunday ordered Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores to remove all Russian-made booze from shelves, in a show of support for the people of Ukraine....
Jeremy Shaffer, former Ross commissioner, to run for Congress
A former Ross Township commissioner is the latest candidate to enter the race to replace U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb. Jeremy Shaffer joins at least three other Republicans vying for the seat representing Beaver County and many suburbs north and west of Pittsburgh. The boundaries of the congressional district were finalized...
Charges pending after Indiana County teen brings BB gun to school
A 13-year-old student is facing criminal charges after bringing a BB gun to school Friday morning in Indiana County. State police said school administrators at Homer-Center Junior-Senior High School, in Center Township, notified troopers the boy was found in possession of an unloaded Airsoft pistol with an orange tip. The...
Western Pennsylvania high school students take Polar Plunge for Special Olympics
Fox Chapel Area High School students suited up as characters from the Disney movie “Frozen.” It was the perfect fashion for Friday morning. With temperatures in the 30s and wind chills in the 20s, the teens took a plunge into 4 feet of cold water — dressed at Elsa, Anna,...
Flood advisory extended to include Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
Allegheny, Westmoreland and several surrounding counties have been placed under a flood advisory until 10 a.m. Friday. Other affected counties are Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana and Washington. Several roads around the region were affected by flooding issues, with closures Friday morning along Thompson Run Road between Rodi and McCulley roads in...
Organizations meet challenges to serve up Lenten fish fries
Lenten fish fries are more than a Western Pennsylvania Catholic tradition. They are nationwide and also found in Protestant faith communities as well as secular groups. Serving up fish dinners to the public is a great way to raise funds, not just for churches, but also for fire companies and...
45 years after its release, Hanson brother looks back on the making of ‘Slap Shot’Video
Dave Hanson never thought about being a movie star. He spent more than a decade playing professional hockey, mostly in small minor-league towns, living a hardscrabble life and chasing his dream of playing in the NHL. But after landing a role in the action/comedy sports film “Slap Shot,” essentially portraying...
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to hit Americans in wallet at gas pump, analyst says
Americans soon will be paying for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the gas pump, a petroleum industry analyst said Thursday. The wholesale price of gasoline already has increased, and stations soon will be passing that on to customers, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for price tracking service...
