Regional category, Page 191
UPMC: Get covid booster shot if you’re eligible
Older Americans and adults with high-risk medical conditions should get a covid booster shot if they are eligible, UPMC doctors said Friday. “We want you to have the best possible immune response,” said Dr. Donald Yealy, UPMC’s chief medical officer and chair of emergency medicine. “We want you to be...
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank announces coalition to deal with childhood hunger
Childhood hunger is becoming a bigger problem in Southwestern Pennsylvania than perhaps anyone could have anticipated. Roughly 96,000 children in the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s 11-county service area don’t have access to enough food, or food of an adequate quality to meet basic needs, according to Feeding America. Now...
Increased mosquito activity in Western Pa. spurred by recent rain, high humidity
Recent rain showers and high humidity have set the scene perfectly for a jump in mosquito activity in Western Pennsylvania. That’s why Karen Poh, a postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University’s Department of Entomology, said she isn’t surprised there has been an uptick in mosquito activity in the region. Mosquitoes...
Pennsylvania Democrats ramp up effort to derail GOP election subpoenas
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday stepped into the legal fray over the a Republican-controlled Senate committee’s attempt to subpoena voter and personal data for nearly 9 million Pennsylvanians. Republicans say they need the data so they can hire a yet to be named private company to conduct what...
Somerset County DA charged with raping woman in her home
HARRISBURG — An elected county prosecutor in Pennsylvania is accused of raping a woman he knew through work, leaving her home only after she told him she would not call police, authorities said. Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Lynn Thomas, 36, was accused of attacking the woman Saturday in her...
Winning Match 6 ticket worth $750k sold at Belle Vernon grocery store
A jackpot Match 6 Lotto ticket worth $750,000 was sold at a Belle Vernon grocery store this week, according to Pennsylvania Lottery officials. Lottery officials said the ticket, purchased from Duritza’s Market at 735 Henry St., correctly matched all six winning numbers, 4-30-33-43-47-48, during Tuesday’s drawing. The store will earn...
Woman charged in fatal Washington County hit-and-run
State police arrested and charged a woman in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in Washington County on Wednesday. Police said Jessica Renee Vanderlee, 39, of Washington was driving the vehicle that hit Justin Lyndell Gilbert, 19, of Tionesta around 4 a.m. in the area of 1940 West Chestnut St. in...
Somerset district attorney arrested for alleged involvement in sexual assault
The district attorney for Somerset County was arrested Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a sexual assault incident that occurred last week, state police said. Jeffrey Lynn Thomas is facing several charges including rape, indecent assault, strangulation, simple assault and criminal trespass that stem from an alleged incident Saturday, Sept....
Endangered piping plover at Presque Isle nests with 3 females; 2 chicks fledge
For the fifth year in a row, the federally endangered piping plover has nested at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, the only site in the state where the sparrow-sized, white-and-tan shorebird nests, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. But this year was a little different. Piping plovers are known...
More than 100 Penn State students suspended for bucking vaccine-or-test requirement
More than 100 Penn State University students are on interim suspension for failing to comply with the university’s covid-19 testing requirement, according to a release from the school. As of Tuesday, according to the release, 117 students at Penn State’s University Park campus have been placed on interim suspension after...
Man dies in hit-and-run outside Washington County grocery store
A 19-year-old man from Washington was killed in a hit-and-run in Washington County early Wednesday morning, the county coroner said. Justin Gilbert was hit by a vehicle traveling east on West Chestnut Street in Canton around 4 a.m., the coroner said. He was pronounced dead at the scene about an...
Tornado watch issued for most of southwestern Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh issued a tornado watch on Wednesday afternoon for most of southwestern Pennsylvania. The watch, which lasts until 10 p.m., is also in effect for parts of Ohio and West Virginia. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia...
Report: Pennsylvania casino revenues top $408M in August
Pennsylvania casinos generated more than $408 million in August, a significant increase compared to the same month last year, state regulators said. Casinos generated 31% more money last month compared to August 2020, when the facilities saw $310.7 million in revenues, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. However, dollars...
5 things to know about autumn as a new season arrives
Summer officially ends at 3:21 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, when the season changes. Here are a few facts and figures related to the third season of the year. Fall or autumn? The season also once was known as Harvest, relating to the full harvest moon this time of year and...
Portugal. The Man, Brittany Howard to play opening celebration at Public Lands in CranberryVideo
A pair of Grammy-winning musical acts are performing this weekend … at an outdoors store in Cranberry. Alternative rockers Portugal. The Man and Alabama Shakes vocalist/guitarist Brittany Howard are scheduled to play a free show at 3 p.m. Saturday at the grand opening celebration for Public Lands, a new outdoors-based...
3 seriously hurt in Butler County crash
Three people were seriously hurt in a two-vehicle crash on Route 68 in Butler County Monday night, according to state police. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. in Forward Township. According to state police, Chase D. Cooper, 27, no address given, was driving a pickup north on Route 68...
Ohio man arrested after high-speed chase on Pennsylvania Turnpike
An Ohio man was arrested after a high-speed pursuit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County on Sunday, state police said. State police said a trooper attempted to stop Kung’u Celli Njung’e, 26, of Trotwood, Ohio, for multiple traffic violations. He refused to pull over and a high-speed pursuit began....
Pittsburgh pediatrician hopes ‘a lot of kids’ get vaccinated by HalloweenVideo
Parents eager to get children under 12 vaccinated for covid-19 received some encouraging news Monday. Pfizer announced its covid-19 vaccine works for children 5 to 11 and that it will apply to the Food and Drug Administration by the end of the month for emergency use in that age group....
Pittsburgh man charged in Johnstown assault, chase
JOHNSTOWN — A Pittsburgh man is accused of assaulting a woman during a robbery late Saturday and then leading police on a nearly 8-mile chase. Johnstown police said Denzel Kendrick, 25, and another man followed the woman with their vehicle through a Solomon Homes parking lot — at one point...
Cooler temps, rain coming as if on schedule for start of autumn
Autumn arrives Wednesday afternoon and, as if on cue, it’s going to feel like it. After a high in the 80s on Sunday and expected again Monday, a high of 74 is forecast for Wednesday, which is right around average, National Weather Service meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said. Autumn will officially...
Police shoot, kill man in Lawrence County stabbing incident
Police shot and killed a man who had been suspected of stabbing three people in Lawrence County Saturday, according to state police. The incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. at the Mahoning Sportsmen’s Association on West Main Street in Mahoning Township. State police said officers from several local departments responded....
New Castle man thrown from SUV, seriously hurt in I-79 crash
A New Castle man was seriously hurt when he was thrown from his SUV in a crash on Interstate 79, state police said. State police said the two-vehicle crash happened shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday on the interstate in Lancaster Township, Butler County. According to state police, Mark A. Wilhelm,...
PennDOT to hold job fairs in Westmoreland, region for hiring winter crews
Officials in PennDOT District 12 are looking to stock up on seasonal snowplow drivers and mechanics to avoid a labor shortage when winter arrives. A series of job fairs is planned at each of the district’s four county offices. Each will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The...
Thousands bask in return of Highlands Games at Idlewild parkVideo
Cy Deitz had left one major Pennsylvania historical site — his hometown of Gettysburg — to experience some of his Scottish culture and heritage in the Highland Games, at another historical area, that of Ligonier. “It’s just a beautiful experience for us to share the camaraderie of our Scottish heritage....
Civilian Conservation Corps legacy lives on in state parks
America’s 20th-century “tree army” brought generations of citizens closer to nature’s wonders while enduring the nation’s greatest economic plight. If the political winds are favorable, new recruits might get the chance to repeat that effort during the current health crisis. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and the National Wildlife Federation...
