Regional category, Page 210
PennDOT: Man killed crossing Parkway West to catch Uber
A 32-year-old Forest County man was killed Friday afternoon when he was hit by a vehicle as he attempted to cross the eastbound lanes of the Parkway West near the Fort Pitt Tunnels, Pennsylvania State Police told Tribune-Review partner WPXI. Joshua A. Knowlton of Clarington, was pronounced dead at the...
Nearby getaways popular for Pennsylvania travelers this summer
After the pandemic forced many to scrap vacation plans last summer, a gaggle of travelers are gearing up for a getaway. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, 63% of people plan to leave their homes for more than two days to enjoy a summer getaway, according...
Mississippi Jane Doe found in 1991 identified as Mercer County woman
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — A woman whose body was found 30 years ago in Mississippi has finally been identified thanks to DNA and the persistence of cold case investigators. Authorities found the woman’s body on Feb. 1, 1991, in a swampy area of Ward Bayou in Vancleave in Mississippi’s Jackson County....
Pa. Sen. Jim Brewster urges officials to pause vote on state university consolidations
A spokesman for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education says there are no plans to delay or postpone next month’s scheduled vote that could be one of the final steps in consolidating six state-owned universities into two institutions. System spokesman Cody Jones said Thursday that officials remain on target...
Former Butler Health System COO, husband sentenced for embezzling $1.3 million
The former chief operating officer for Butler Health System, and her husband, a former detective, are going to federal prison on charges that they embezzled more than $1.3 million from her employer over a period of six years. The money taken by Stephanie J. Roskovski, 51, and her husband, Scott...
Pennsylvania reports 17% drop in DUI arrests amid pandemic year
Pennsylvania State Police reported a 17% drop in DUI arrests in 2020, a year that saw weeks of stay-at-home orders and months of business shutdowns. According to a report released Thursday, state troopers made 18,412 arrests for driving under the influence in 2020. That’s down from 22,139 in 2019. Those...
Watching the wheels: Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival cruises to 10th year
Tim Watson is a trail guide at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. He leads drivers through the woods, often on uneven terrain. When it came time to propose to girlfriend Kirsten, he knew the perfect location. “We have a love of Jeeps and a love of each other,” said Watson,...
Carnegie Mellon alumna develops ‘Significant Otter’ app to help couples emote virtually
Communication is key to a romantic relationship — and an app developed by a Carnegie Mellon alumna is helping couples to communicate better by using their heart rate and animated otters. Fannie Liu is part of a team from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Washington and Snap, which owns...
Former Somerset woman gets probation in faked pregnancy, death of newborn
A former Somerset County woman will spend two years on probation for faking a pregnancy and then the death of a newborn baby, prompting donations for funeral costs and baby shower gifts. Kaycee Lang, 25, of Johnstown, was ordered to pay restitution during a sentencing hearing June 2, according to...
Parents give public schools high grades for instruction during covid pandemic
Pennsylvania parents have shown strong support for public schools during the covid-19 pandemic, which is a statewide trend that has been borne out at many local districts. Of parents who responded to a Pennsylvania School Boards Association poll April 20-26, 69% gave the school their child attends a grade of...
GO Laurel Highlands seeks images for annual photo contest
Visitors to the Laurel Highlands expressed an increased interest in exploring the region’s outdoors this past year, amid the social distancing that was a priority during the height of the covid-19 pandemic. Wherever their interests have led them, visitors and residents alike who captured images of their surroundings will have...
Pa. advocates optimistic about new FDA-approved Alzheimer’s disease drug; doctors mixed on whether it will work
Advocates for nearly 300,000 Pennsylvanians living with Alzheimer’s disease celebrated the federal government’s approval Monday of a controversial new drug some say could prove “life-changing” for those showing early signs of the memory-destroying disorder. Though debate persists over just how well the novel treatment could work, the Food Drug and...
Community mosaic project draws contributions from Pittsburgh and beyond
Shawn Gold of Butler was vacationing in Puerto Vallarta on the western coast of Mexico when he began noticing some of the striking public art installations in the area. “I looked into them and met a woman, Natasha Moraga, who is creating just unbelievable works of art, including community mosaics,”...
Police: Pittsburgh man drowns at Somerset County swimming hole
A Pittsburgh man drowned at a Somerset County swimming hole Sunday, state police said. The drowning was reported at about 1 p.m. Sunday in the 1500 block of Cottage Lane in Paint Township, Somerset County. Jeremiah Thompson, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said....
Summer tourism proves lucrative for Seven Springs, other winter mountain resorts
While mountain resorts are primarily known for picturesque skiing and snowboarding during winter months, summer tourism can be just as lucrative for business. For more than 20 years, Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County has offered “Summer Adventures” to offseason guests, which include attractions such as the Alpine Slide,...
Johnstown native’s mob book chronicles ‘3 men from Greensburg’ in gambler’s death
What do “three men from Greensburg” have to do with a small-time Johnstown gambler whose body was found floating behind the Conemaugh River Dam in Derry Township some six decades ago? The three unidentified men were fingered by an aging Johnstown gangster — “Rip” Slowmason — as the possible murderers...
Here are some top vacation getaways for Pittsburgh area travelers this summer
After covid-19 forced many people to spend most of their time at home over the past year, eager travelers finally might be ready to get out and enjoy a vacation this summer. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, 63% of people plan to leave their homes...
Saltsburg Canal Days festival returns with parade, fireworks, cookie contest
The annual Saltsburg Canal Days festival is back this weekend after going on hiatus in 2020, during the covid-19 pandemic. The event, which features a parade, entertainment, vendor booths and fireworks, will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and continue at noon Sunday. The largest annual happening in Saltsburg, it celebrates...
Ex-child actor Drake Bell accused of child endangerment in Cleveland
One of the stars of the popular Nickelodeon children’s show “Drake & Josh” faces criminal charges regarding a girl he had met online and who attended his 2017 concert in Ohio when she was 15. Jared “Drake” Bell, 34, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in a Cleveland courtroom to a...
Famed trial attorney F. Lee Bailey remembered for Greensburg trial
He came to town with a flourish. It was the late 1980s and word spread quickly through the Westmoreland County Courthouse that famed defense attorney F. Lee Bailey was in the building. He was due to appear before Judge Charles Loughran to defend his legal acumen. The dapper lawyer —...
Duquesne to require covid-19 vaccines for students this fall, but Western Pa. colleges’ requirements vary
Duquesne University on Thursday joined a group of Western Pennsylvania colleges that will require covid-19 vaccines for all students returning to campus this fall, but policies remain varied depending on the university. The American College Health Association, which represents health and wellness professionals at 550 U.S. colleges and universities, recommends...
Is it covid or Lyme Disease? If you’re vaccinated and have a rash, it’s easier to diagnose
It’s tick season, and with it comes an increased risk of contracting Lyme disease or another tick-borne illness. Diagnosing the disease can be trickier this year amid the covid-19 pandemic, as some of the symptoms of the diseases are similar. “There’s a lot of overlap,” Dr. Amesh Adalja said of...
State police in region investigate 106 crashes, write 1,500 speeding tickets over holidayVideo
State troopers in the region investigated 106 crashes during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, including two fatalities, according to statistics released this week. There were 32 people hurt and alcohol was involved in 12 of the crashes, according to data for Troops A and B which cover Westmoreland, Allegheny and...
Turnpike engineer: Next leg of Mon Fayette Expressway likely to start construction next year
The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s chief engineer said roughly $1 billion in funding is in place to continue the Mon-Fayette Expressway from Route 51 to Route 837. It’s a project whose first phase is set to begin next year and last until 2027. The turnpike commission is finishing up work on the...
Western Pa. barbers split over helping President Biden promote covid vaccines
If President Biden wants Greg Henderson to preach the gospel of getting a covid vaccine to his customers who come in for a haircut, he’s going to have to find another barber to deliver that sermon. “I really don’t want to promote it. It’s kind of personal,” said Henderson, who...
