Regional News category, Page 201
College voucher proposal draws fire from Pitt and Penn State
A Westmoreland County lawmaker’s attack on the state’s financial relationship with Pitt, Penn State and Temple is drawing blowback from the powerhouse public research universities and their supporters. State Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, says he has “ethical” issues with the commonwealth spending about $580 million to support the three universities...
What pregnant women should know about covid vaccines
Pregnant women are considered to be at high risk of severe covid-19 infection, sparking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to again urge them to be vaccinated. They also are eligible for a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, if they had received the Pfizer inoculation initially. “Although the...
AG Shapiro: Florida father and son targeted elderly in ‘distraction’ thefts in Western Pa.
A father and son from Florida were arrested this week for committing multiple “distraction-style” burglaries throughout Western Pennsylvania, including in Butler, Indiana and Westmoreland counties, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced. Steve Nichols, 53, and Archie Marino, 34, both of Fort Lauderdale, were indicted by a statewide investigating grand jury this...
Commission: Conneaut Lake Park owner doesn’t need state OK for demolition, construction
Conneaut Lake Park’s new owner doesn’t need state approval for the demolition and construction done in the park’s historic district. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) spokesman Howard Pollman said Thursday the commission’s legal team has found covenants, or restrictions, placed on Conneaut Lake Park’s Historic District by the state...
Stink bugs are back — and in greater numbers than recent years
They are pests in the truest sense of the word, and they are back. They are brown marmorated stink bugs and people love to hate them because of their annoying habit of invading homes and gardens. They have earned their name from the odor they produce from the glands on...
Woman’s body found in Beaver County, police investigating as homicide
Police have ruled a woman’s death a homicide after her body was found in a field in Beaver County Wednesday morning. The woman, identified as Sharon Benyo, 46, of Beaver Falls, was found in the 2400 block of Route 51, also know as Constitution Boulevard, in Chippewa Township around 8:15...
‘Person of interest’ in custody as California Borough police investigate shooting
Police in California Borough are investigating a report of shots fired Wednesday morning near the corner of Union and Third streets, about a half-dozen blocks from the California University of Pennsylvania campus. According to Twitter alerts by campus police no injuries were reported in the incident, which began at about...
Summer-like weather hanging around for rest of week
It’s commonly referred to as “Indian summer,” a period of unseasonable warm, dry weather in autumn. Southwestern Pennsylvania is experiencing such a period this week with temperatures at or near 80 degrees for the next few days. And the warmer than usual weather is likely to continue for most of...
Fiesta Dinnerware marks 85 years with big tent sale at W.Va. factory outlet
The Fiesta Tableware Co. is celebrating two big anniversaries with a tent sale and other festivities at its factory outlet in Newell, W.Va. The company is marking 150 years of manufacturing in the United States, along with the 85th anniversary of the iconic Fiesta Dinnerware brand. The tent sale of...
Indiana County spans rededicated to honor 14th Quartermaster’s Clark, 3 others killed in action
Indiana County motorists who travel on Route 56, between Armagh and Brush Valley, now know they are crossing the Blacklick Creek on the Specialist Beverly S. Clark Memorial Bridge. State officials on Tuesday dedicated the span — formerly known as the Buena Vista Bridge — to the East Wheatfield Township...
State charges Mariner East II gas pipeline owner with 48 environmental crimes
The owner of the Mariner East II natural gas pipeline has paid the state about $20 million in fines over the past four years after being cited for a series of environmental violations. Now, Energy Transfer L.P. is accused by a statewide investigating grand jury of committing 48 environmental crimes...
Western Pa. nonprofits get part of $12M in grants for substance abuse recovery
A $700,000 federal grant to Hempfield-based Sage’s Army announced by Gov. Tom Wolf will enable the nonprofit to continue its substance use recovery services through March 2023, according to acting executive director Rich Jones. “We have other sources of funding, but this is by far our largest source of funds...
GOP U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell seeks to have child custody case sealed
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell testified Tuesday that sealing the docket in his ongoing child custody case, closing the custody trial to the public and imposing a gag order on the parties involved is necessary to protect his three children. “It is for my children, and it’s to protect...
Slippery Rock president will get tattoo if more students get covid vaccineVideo
William Behre, president of Slippery Rock University, is issuing a call to arms — at least for himself — to encourage more students to get the covid-19 vaccine. Behre vowed to receive a permanent Slippery Rock University-themed tattoo on his upper arm during an on-campus event if the student vaccination...
Johnstown man charged in January shooting, apprehended in North Carolina
A Johnstown man, charged a January homicide in Cambria County, was apprehended over the weekend in North Carolina, state police said Monday. Dionte Demond Jones, 28, was taken into custody in Fayetteville, N.C., after state police filed criminal homicide charges Saturday. In cooperation with the U.S. Marshal Service, Jones was...
Schools warn students: Don’t try TikTok challenge of hitting staff
Norwin School District and others around the region are warning students they could face criminal charges if they engage in the latest social media TikTok stunt of smacking a school staff member or teacher. School officials are asking parents to speak to their children to make them aware that such...
Week in pictures: Sept. 28-Oct. 3, 2021
Here’s a selection of images that caught our eye in the past week from Tribune-Review photographers....
Indiana Borough police looking for stolen car, 3 suspects in reported carjacking
Indiana Borough police are seeking help in locating three men who carjacked an 18-year-old Indiana University of Pennsylvania student’s vehicle Sunday at gunpoint. Police said the car theft occurred at 8:14 p.m. when the student, driving another IUP student, pulled into a parking lot on the south side of 220...
Clues about how society emerges from covid-19 can be gleaned by looking back on 1918 Spanish flu, experts say
Karen Baldridge rolled up her sleeve to get her covid-19 booster vaccine. “I’m trying to baby myself and (am) doing everything that I can to keep healthy,” she said this past week while at Excela Square at Norwin. “I feel there’s about a 90% chance I wouldn’t get (covid), but...
Lower premiums, more perks for seniors shopping 2022 Medicare Advantage plans
Still-growing demand among Western Pennsylvania seniors for Medicare Advantage plans has spurred a slew of new health coverage options featuring lower costs and better perks as insurers compete to grow their market shares. “This is a ripe market in Western Pa., and we’re able to take those dollars and invest...
Local doctors cautiously optimistic about potential pill to treat covid-19
Local doctors said a pill to treat covid-19 could help keep patients healthy and ease the burden on overstrained hospitals, though they’re eyeing the drug with cautious optimism while awaiting final data. Merck & Co. on Friday announced its experimental pill cut hospitalizations and deaths in half for people recently...
GO Laurel Highlands fall micro-pour tour highlights seasonal beverages
In addition to fall foliage, now there’s another reason to plan a trip through the Laurel Highlands — and it’s aimed at fans of craft beverages like pumpkin beer, hard cider and spiced spirits. GO Laurel Highlands announced its new “Boos and Brews,” a seasonal micro-tour of participating locations on...
Fall foods and moods — 2021 edition
The pandemic has made us hyper-aware of many things, including the state of our homes, waistlines and the way we interact with people. As fall approaches, it’s an opportune time to cast any negative notions that may have been tied to these areas of life in favor of foods and...
State police: Charges pending against hit-and-run driver in Indiana County
State police in Indiana County said charges are pending against the driver of a pickup truck that injured a motorist on Wednesday when it hit a disabled vehicle along the side of the road and fled. The incident happened at about 10:40 p.m. along Route 422 in White Township after...
TV Talk: It’s going, going, gone: DISH Network drops AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Pirates fans watching today’s game against the Chicago Cubs on DISH Network got a disappointing outcome even before the Pirates trailed by 7 at the top of the fourth inning: DISH Network dropped AT&T SportsNet mid-game. A statement posted to AT&T SportsNet’s website said the satellite company dropped its...
