Regional category, Page 203
National Weather Service in Moon confirms 8th tornado from July 29 storms
A damage survey team from the National Weather Service in Moon has confirmed an eighth tornado from storms that moved through the region on July 29. The eighth tornado was an EF-1 in far western Greene County. An EF-1 tornado is considered weak, with winds of 86 to 110 mph....
The Salvation Army’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ event aims to collect supplies for students in need
The Salvation Army is gearing up to host its “Stuff the Bus” event with area Walmart stores, an effort to collect new school supplies for the upcoming school year. From Friday through Sunday , collection bins will be set up at the front of participating Walmart stores where shoppers can...
Butler County newborn’s arrival becomes one sticky situation
It was a miracle covered in sprinkles. Tony and Jacqlynn Hendrickson of Middlesex Township were heading south on Route 8 in Middlesex Township around 3 p.m. Friday to deliver their third child at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. At the time, Jacqlynn, whose contractions were about two minutes apart, knew...
State police hope to get satisfaction identifying accused trespasser
State police in Butler County are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man they say has been trespassing and damaging property in Butler County. And he appears to be a Rolling Stones fan. Police said the unidentified man has been trespassing in the area of Hidden Hill and...
Penn State strongly encouraging, not mandating covid vaccine
Students and faculty at Pennsylvania State University are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against covid-19, but the university is not mandating the vaccine, university officials said during a virtual presentation Tuesday. “While we are not currently requiring vaccinations, Penn State is not impartial when it comes to getting vaccinated,” Penn...
Pa. surpasses 1,000 covid cases a day for 1st time since May
As of Tuesday’s covid update from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state is now averaging more than 1,000 cases per day for the first time in over two months. The latest update shows 1,442 new coronavirus cases reported statewide, bringing the daily average to 1,043. It’s the first time...
Giant Eagle asks all customers to wear masks starting Friday
Giant Eagle officials said they “strongly” suggest all customers wear masks in their stores, regardless of vaccination status, starting Friday. Workers will be required to wear masks or face shields starting Wednesday. Both announcements were made Monday evening. “Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, we have made keeping our team members safe...
Harrison parent, injured W.Va. player describe harrowing escape from Lancaster sports facility
A 16-year-old boy from West Virginia required several stitches in his arm after getting hurt during the chaos of a frantic crowd fleeing a Lancaster County youth basketball tournament over the weekend. Rafael Barcinas of Morgantown — whose team included a dozen high-schoolers from the Alle-Kiski Valley, Penn Hills and...
Covid spread now ‘substantial’ in Allegheny, other Western Pa. counties
Nine Western Pennsylvania counties are experiencing “substantial” levels of covid-19 transmission that fall under federal recommendations calling for people to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Washington, Armstrong, Indiana, Clarion and Somerset counties are all experiencing “substantial” covid-19 transmission, according to the Centers for Disease...
Carnegie Mellon reinstates mask mandate
Carnegie Mellon University is reinstating a universal mask mandate for students and staff, effective Aug. 15, CMU Vice President for Operations Daryl Weinert announced Monday. The announcement, effective two weeks before the start of class, comes as colleges and K-12 schools across the country weigh fall safety protocols amid a...
Former Jeannette man killed in Indiana County car crash
A 41-year-old man was killed Saturday in a one-vehicle crash just off Route 22 at the Route 217 exit ramp in Indiana County, according to Blairsville police. Jeffrey M. Detore of Twin Rocks, Cambria County, and formerly of Jeannette, died in the crash that was reported to Indiana County dispatchers...
2nd Penn State student dies of covid-19 complications
Students and staff at Penn State are mourning the coronavirus-related death of a second student from the university. Neil Patel, 20, a sixth semester Penn State Honors College scholar from Upper Merion Township, died Sunday at a Philadelphia hospital, where he was taken in mid-April with severe effects of covid-19....
Greensburg man dies in Butler County motorcycle crash
A Greensburg man died in a motorcycle crash Friday in Butler County, state police said. State police identified the man as Brian D. Keller, 50. According to state police, the crash happened around 7 p.m. Friday on Kittanning Pike Road near Pine Road in Fairview Township. Police said Keller was...
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...
