Regional category, Page 199
State parks: More money needed for maintenance, improvements
A plan for improving and maintaining Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks contains 87 strategies, but none might be more difficult to attain than extracting more funding from the state to address what has been estimated to be $500 million worth of maintenance, safety and infrastructure needs in state parks and forests....
U.S. House passes legislation to support continued development of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation for the federal government to support the development of the September 11th National Memorial Trail, a proposed 1,300-mile recreational trail linking the three 9/11 crash sites. The legislation, passed unanimously by the House on Friday, serves as an official trail designation by the...
Empty dorm rooms pose financial problems for Pennsylvania public universities
Editor’s note: The original version of this story understated the total cost of the combined projects. This update reflects the higher, actual figures. As the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education finalizes the details of a historic consolidation, officials on the campuses of eight of its 14 universities are struggling...
To mask or not: School districts debate health, safety plans for year ahead
A split is forming among local school districts — those requiring masks for students in the coming academic year and those that leave the decision to personal choice — largely because of a lack of mandates from state or national health advisers. The Pennsylvania departments of health and education are...
Remote work is here to stay for some Pittsburgh-area companies
Tim Koziarski settled into his Upper Burrell home office a lot more since working partially remote during the pandemic. He had an advantage. Koziarski, 58, is co-owner of Kozi Media Design, a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in smart technologies for the home and office. Business has been brisk installing technology for...
Meadowcroft village offering free admission to kids in August, September
Young people age 17 and under can get into the historic Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village for free through August and September. The Heinz History Center, which oversees Meadowcroft, made the announcement on Friday. In a statement, the museum said that support from UMPC made it possible. Meadowcroft is the...
Experts: Here is what to expect as delta variant surges
A surge in coronavirus infections fueled by the delta variant has predictably caused global concern. But that appears to be about the only predictable aspect of the delta variant, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly indicating it’s as contagious as chickenpox. Information is very fluid at this...
EF1 tornado hit along Fayette-Westmoreland border, weather service confirms
A tornado touched down Thursday along the border of Fayette and Westmoreland counties, according to the National Weather Service in Moon. The tornado was EF1 and had wind speeds between 100 and 105 mph, according to meteorologist Jason Frazier. The National Weather Service said that the tornado touched down from...
Mixed-breed owners celebrate doggie diversity for National Mutt Day
Growing up on a Wisconsin farm, Kate Manka of Murrysville said her family always preferred mutts. “They just have an overall better disposition,” Manka said. “I had a mutt in Chicago from my brother’s farm – the mother was a springer spaniel-Labrador mix and the father was a border collie....
Crossroads Foundation named Champion in Action, awarded $35,000
The Pittsburgh-based Crossroads Foundation has been named a 2021 Champion in Action and awarded $35,000 for unrestricted use as well as promotional and volunteer support. The award was announced jointly by Citizens Bank, Trib Total Media and Pittsburgh Cares. The Champion in Action award program is part of Citizens Helping...
Pittsburgh Technology Council, nonprofit will offer session on local tech apprenticeships
Members of the Pittsburgh Technology Council and nonprofit partner FortyX80 will host an informational session Friday in Monessen to discuss a new apprenticeship program focused on information technology. The session will introduce attendees to Apprenti PGH, which is modeled on a program first launched in Seattle by the Washington Technology...
Severe thunderstorm watch issued as storms approach Pittsburgh region
Damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes are possible with storms expected to reach southwestern Pennsylvania this afternoon, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. The service issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 3:30 p.m. that runs until 10 p.m., meteorologist Lee Hendricks said. The watch covers a swath from Indiana through...
Missing Indiana County boy, 5, drowns in neighborhood swimming pool, police say
A missing 5-year-old Indiana County boy died after being found late Wednesday unresponsive in a swimming pool near his home, according to state police. Troopers, neighbors, first responders and a canine search team from Westmoreland County helped to look for Lenny Hatinda after he left his White Township home around...
Pa. fish commission considers statewide opening day for trout
The head of the region’s Trout Unlimited chapter supports having a single opening day for trout season in the state — the first Saturday in April — as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is considering. “I would support an earlier opening day because of the impact of climate change...
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District installing new commander
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is getting a new commander. A change of command ceremony installing Col. Adam Czekanski as Pittsburgh district commander will take place 10 a.m. Thursday at the Sen. John Heinz History Center on Smallman Street in the Strip District. Czekanski succeeds Col. Andrew...
National Night Out police outreach returns in Mt. Pleasant, other communities
Mt. Pleasant’s Night Out will be back Aug. 3, after a year off because of pandemic restrictions, and organizers expect the event to be bigger, and better, than ever. It’s part of the National Night Out campaign that is held on or around the first Tuesday in August in many...
Pennsylvania to remove peregrine falcon from threatened species list
After reintroducing and protecting the peregrine falcon for more than 40 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is in the process of removing the world’s fastest animal from threatened status. Pesticides decimated the entire population of peregrines in the Eastern United States by the mid-1960s. Previously, the charismatic raptor that can...
What the CDC mask recommendations mean for Western Pennsylvanians
As expected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where coronavirus cases are surging. The CDC made the announcement Tuesday, adding vaccinated people with vulnerable household members, including young children and those who are immunocompromised,...
Pittsburgh economy adds 9,300 jobs in June; jobless rate drops slightly
The Pittsburgh region’s economy continued to show signs of a slow recovery, adding 9,300 jobs in June, most of which were in the leisure and hospitality sector. “We are scuffling along, jobs wise. There’s still some of the labor force that’s deciding not to go back to work,” said Frank...
Fine line divides local public and private universities on vaccine requirements
A fine line is dividing public and private universities in the region with regard to vaccine mandates. While private universities including Carnegie Mellon, Chatham, Seton Hill and Duquesne are requiring vaccinations for those on campus this fall, public universities here are stopping short of adopting mandates that state lawmakers —...
UFCW, Giant Eagle announce new contract with wage increases
A new four-year contract that Giant Eagle employees ratified last week includes wage increases, continues no-cost health care benefits and provides new protections for LGBTQ+ workers, according to a joint statement released Monday by the company and union. The agreement covers about 5,300 employees who are members of United Food...
Youngwood Wireless Zone to host annual backpack giveaway Aug. 1
The Youngwood Wireless Zone will donate school supplies to local families in its third annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway. The Wireless Zone is an authorized Verizon retailer with 59 locations in Pennsylvania. Fifteen of the locations are participating in the giveaway, which launched in 2013. According to a press release,...
Pandemic leaves Western Pennsylvania bike shops struggling in shortageVideo
George Gatto’s bicycle shop flourished in summer 2020, as the first pandemic lockdowns eased and bike sales nationwide boomed. This summer, however, is a different story. The demand is still there, but manufacturing warehouses globally are empty, and places such as Gatto Cycle Shop in Tarentum are left scrambling. When...
The Friendly Stem in North Huntingdon joins area’s cut-your-own flower farmsVideo
Receiving a birthday bouquet is a special treat, but being able to pick your own takes it to another level. Thanks to her daughters and granddaughter, Beverly Rich of Unity celebrated her 81st birthday Thursday by choosing a vaseful of colorful blooms at The Friendly Stem, a new flower farm...
‘Aging in place’: Westmoreland among tops in nation for natural population loss
Westmoreland County had the seventh-largest natural population decline last year compared to counties across the country, according to population estimates from the census. The estimates show Westmoreland lost 1,943 people in 2020 through natural population changes, meaning there were more deaths than births. “The description of what’s happening in Westmoreland...
