Regional News category, Page 278
Coroner: Man found in Ohio River near Ambridge was missing Pittsburgh fisherman
The Beaver County Coroner has identified a body found Saturday in the Ohio River as missing fisherman Kenneth Robinson. The 23-year-old Robinson, of Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood section, died by accidental drowning, Coroner David J Gabauer confirmed Sunday. His body was recovered by the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, according to a Beaver County 911...
Pennsylvania reports 28 more coronavirus deaths, 730 additional cases
Pennsylvania on Sunday reported 28 more covid-19 deaths and 730 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 67,713, according to state health officials. A total of 5,124 people have died from the virus. Those deaths have been reported in 54 of the state’s 67 counties. Positive cases...
Police: Summit Twp. man jailed after pointing rifle at Butler state troopers
State police said troopers took cover behind their cruiser Friday when a Butler County man allegedly pointed a rifle at them. State police said in a press release that Butler patrol units went to Bonniebrook Road in Summit Township shortly before 2 p.m. because of a dispute between neighbors. Troopers...
A summer unlike any other: Events canceled across Western Pa., but options remain for warm-weather fun
The unofficial start of summertime has arrived. The season of warm weather, sunglasses and shorts stretches out in front of us, an annual rite as the days grow longer and porch furniture reappears. But the days of filling up calendars with festivals and concerts are in the past, at least...
Hempfield man on mission to document war memorials in Pennsylvania
Rob Domenick has become a magnet for war honor rolls. He knows all the right places to look, scouring Pennsylvania communities for memorials small and large to help with a national American Legion project. “You have to look for the right kind of community,” said Domenick of Hempfield. “Little places,...
Ohiopyle pedestrian tunnel to open; road work to continue
Visitors to Ohiopyle State Park over Memorial Day weekend will experience traffic delays caused by road repaving and work on the Route 381 bridge over the Youghiogheny River. The state hoped the $12.4 million multimodal project in Ohiopyle would be finished by June 12, but the completion date was pushed...
Northern Snakehead ‘Frankenfish’ moves farther into lower Susquehanna River near Lancaster
The Northern Snakehead fish, an aggressive invasive species that displaces local fish, has moved deeper into Pennsylvania’s lower Susquehanna River outside of Lancaster. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) issued a statement Friday urging anglers to report and kill any invasive Northern Snakehead caught in the lower Susquehanna River....
Religious leaders split over ‘essential’ status after Trump calls on governors to reopen congregations
Religious leaders across the region are split over whether houses of worship should be considered essential during the coronavirus pandemic after President Trump called on governors across the country to allow them to reopen this weekend. “Today I’m identifying houses of worship — churches, synagogues and mosques — as essential...
Macy’s stores open with deals and pandemic precautions but few shoppers
Patti Noel came out of Macy’s at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer on Friday with three full bags and plans to go back in for more. Noel, of Kittanning, said came to the mall to shop at JoAnn Fabrics, not knowing Macy’s was reopening after having been closed in...
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate hits record 15.1%
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate soared to a record 15.1% in April as the full impact of the covid-19 shutdowns slammed the state’s economy, the state said Friday. The state counted 976,000 workers out of a job last month, an increase of almost 600,000 from March when the unemployment rate was 4.1%,...
Amtrak to resume Pittsburgh to Harrisburg and Philadelphia service June 1
Amtrak will resume its service from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and New York City on June 1, the first time the passenger trains will have run the route since March 18 because of the state’s covid-19 shutdowns. The twice daily service service on the Pennsylvanian route from Pittsburgh to New York,...
Memorial Day travel to set record lows as pandemic keeps people close to homeVideo
Many people who typically travel over Memorial Day weekend are trading three days away for more time at home as the coronavirus pandemic leaves countless businesses still closed and social distancing measures in place, travel officials said. Travel numbers are expected to drop by more than half across the country,...
Indictment: Cleveland man planned hoax call, officer ambush
CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man accused of planning to make a false distress call and kill any responding officers has been indicted on two counts of attempted kidnapping, according to federal prosecutors. Christian Stanley Ferguson, 20, made several posts on social media about how he wanted to make a false...
Allegheny, Westmoreland labor unions ready to get back to work — safely
Labor leaders in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have similar desires: to get their members back to work in safe environments. Their message to public officials is where they diverge. The Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council this week publicly backed county commissioners and local state lawmakers who previously called on Gov....
Charleroi man dies after crashing into building
A Charleroi man died Thursday night after crashing his vehicle into a building, according to Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco. Charles H. Matava, 69, apparently lost control of his vehicle at 9 p.m. Thursday and hit a building in the 700 block of Washington Avenue in Charleroi, the coroner...
Hempfield administrator to serve as Mars superintendent
An administrator at the Hempfield Area School District has been hired to become the superintendent at a Butler County district. Mark Gross, the assistant superintendent for secondary education at Hempfield, will begin his new position with the Mars Area School District on July 1, according to a notice on the...
IUP plans to have single dorms, in-person classes this fall
Indiana University of Pennsylvania announced a return to campus this fall, in a plan that includes face-to-face instruction and residential living. Come fall, all students living in residence halls will have a private bedroom. Some will have a private bathroom as well; shared bathrooms will be used by no more...
Western Pa. students earn National History Day honors
Western Pennsylvania students were well-represented in the National History Day in Pennsylvania state contest. This year’s theme was “Breaking Barriers in History,” which could be applied to state, national or world history. The contest is broken into the Senior Division for students in ninth through 12th grade and the Junior...
Western Pa. Gordmans stores could close after parent company files for bankruptcy
Several local Gordmans stores, including those in Allegheny Township, East Huntingdon and Rostraver, are at risk of closing for good, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic that left stores largely shuttered across the country. Houston, Texas-based Stage Stores Inc. — the parent company of Gordmans, which has been in operation...
Products from Somerset’s Moo Echo Dairy should be discarded, state says
Several products from a Somerset County dairy farm should be discarded because they were not properly pasteurized, the state Department of Agriculture said. Products from Moo Echo Dairy were sold at several Westmoreland and Somerset county stores including Lapp’s Family Market in Unity Township, Dormina’s Kitchen Cupboard in Jenner Township,...
Somerset County will try again for hiking trail project
Somerset County will take another swing at developing a section of hiking trail at Somerset Lake this summer. Somerset County commissioners — at the project engineer’s recommendation — rejected four bids to carve out a half-mile of trail alongside the lake, because each of them exceeded the project’s budget, Somerset...
Free coronavirus testing available for uninsured Pennsylvania residents
The ability of uninsured Pennsylvanians to be tested for coronavirus was an early concern in the fight against covid-19. Now those without health insurance can be tested for free. Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that federal stimulus funds will be used to reimburse providers who test uninsured patients. Access to...
Forbes State Forest cave closures to continue
With no direct knowledge of whether the coronavirus can infect or sicken North American wildlife, including bats, the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will continue the ongoing closure of three caves in the Forbes State Forest. Lemon Hole and Coon caves in Westmoreland County, and Barton Cave in...
Western Pa.’s libraries see e-books, audiobooks become more popular during pandemic
With libraries in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties closed since mid-March to stem the spread of the coronavirus, more patrons are using the electronic resources — books, audiobooks, movies and music, a trend that likely will continue when they reopen, library officials and library directors say. “There has been a significant...
As Pa. fairs are canceled, communities miss out on tradition, social engagement
Rural communities across Pennsylvania are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as local fairs, often social epicenters during the summer, are canceled in accordance with state regulations. So far, 16 of the 108 fairs across the state have been called off, said Sally Nolt, president of the Pennsylvania State...
