Regional News category, Page 291
April snow showers dust Pittsburgh region
Western Pennsylvanians woke up to April snow showers Friday morning. The National Weather Service station at the Pittsburgh International Airport measured one-tenth of an inch of snow. Some areas, like Saxonburg and Butler County, reported more than an inch, NWS meteorologist Lee Hendricks said. Though it might be spring on...
Pa. Department of Health to provide county EMS agencies more details on covid-19 cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health will release additional information about the location of covid-19 patients to county emergency management agencies beginning Friday. Citing the privacy provisions of the 1955 Disease Prevention and Control Act, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which holds daily briefings on the statewide case count, previously refused...
Pennsylvania issues update on licensing waivers granted during coronavirus response
State officials have issued 30 licensing waivers since the Department of State last month said it would clear hurdles to allow more professionals to respond to the coronavirus disaster declaration. “During this unprecedented emergency, the Department of State is committed to reducing as many burdens as possible for licensees to...
Western Pa. grocers try to keep customers, workers safe as government discourages shopping tripsVideo
Grocery stores around the Pittsburgh region continue to do all they can to keep customers and employees safe and healthy during an escalating coronavirus pandemic that prompted federal officials to warn people to avoid supermarkets. Along with social distancing, at the top of the list for most area grocers is...
Pennsylvania officials: Enjoy the outdoors, but stay close to home
Try your luck catching a trout, but do it close to home. That was the message Thursday from state officials, who reminded residents that, no matter what outdoor recreation or exercise you choose, keep your distance from others. “People should recreate close to home. There’s a high interest right now...
Pennsylvania sees nearly 2,000 new coronavirus cases, but ‘curve has changed’
Nearly 2,000 new coronavirus cases were reported in Pennsylvania, state health officials said Thursday, and 29 more people have died. With 1,989 new cases, the running total of covid-19 cases statewide reached 18,228 since the virus was first identified here on March 6. The latest numbers represent about a 12%...
2nd covid-19 case confirmed at Presbyterian SeniorCare facility in Washington County
A resident at a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community in Washington has tested positive for covid-19, the second confirmed case at the Washington County facility. SeniorCare officials made the announcement in a news release Wednesday night. “Although we did not have any residents who had exhibited any covid-19 related symptoms, we...
Map shows how many hospital beds, ventilators Pennsylvania has available in each county
Real-time data on number of hospital beds and ventilators available in every Pennsylvania county are now available on a website launched Wednesday by the state Department of Health. The Hospital Preparedness Dashboard shows, county by county, the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, intensive care beds, medical beds, isolation rooms and...
Gov. Wolf signs order allowing medical supplies to be redistributed to Pa. areas hit hardest by coronavirus
In light of the continued spread of the coronavirus across Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed an order that will allow the state’s emergency management agency to take protective equipment and supplies from one medical facility and give them to others with greater needs. “I’m trying to make sure...
What foods to keep and what to toss out after losing power
Government agencies advise residents to throw out meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers in their refrigerators if they have been without power for more than four hours. Thousands of residents lost power Wednesday when a tornado struck the Tarentum and New Kensington areas. Residents should carefully go through their refrigerators...
Pa. reports 70 new coronavirus deaths; officials say ‘curve is getting flatter’
The coronavirus has killed 70 more people across Pennsylvania, state health officials said Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 309. Another 1,680 cases of covid-19 were reported across the state, bringing the running total to 16,239, according to the Department of Health. It marked the biggest single-day increase in reported...
2 tornadoes confirmed in Alle-Kiski Valley as heavy storms ravage regionVideo
The National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes struck the Alle-Kiski Valley early Wednesday, and heavy winds caused damage and power outages across the region. The storm ripped roofs off a church and a brewery in New Kensington, destroyed hangars at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity and brought down...
Excela medical officer, Sen. Casey to take part in coronavirus ‘tele-town hall’
Sen. Bob Casey will host a discussion with Western Pennsylvania residents about the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday , in the first of a series of “tele-town halls” planned across the state. The 6 p.m. event is targeted for residents of Allegheny, Armstrong, Westmoreland, Greene, Fayette, Washington, Beaver, Lawrence, Butler, Indiana,...
Gov. Wolf: Fly state flags at half-staff to honor covid-19 victims
Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday ordered all state flags on Pennsylvania public buildings and grounds flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. “Too many Pennsylvanians have lost their lives to covid-19, and, unfortunately, many more will die,” Wolf said as the state saw the largest single-day...
Jewish faith leaders say Passover adjustments during coronavirus should be taken in stride
Passover, one of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays, begins at sundown Wednesday evening. And while the covid-19 crisis and stay-at-home orders will take some of the fun out of the occasion, Jewish faith leaders say it should be no less joyous. “Judaism throughout history has always been a religion...
Pittsburgh region jobless steady at 4.6% before business shutdowns
The seven-county Pittsburgh region posted a jobless rate of 4.6% in February, weeks before Gov. Tom Wolf shut down what the state deemed nonessential business. The 4.6% jobless rate, as adjusted for seasonal hiring factors, was the same as in January but 0.6 percentage points higher than the unemployment rate...
Levin’s hope for rescue likely over after Art Van Furniture bankruptcy liquidation
A federal judge has approved a petition to liquidate Art Van Furniture, the Michigan-based chain that in 2017 acquired the Levin’s and Wolf’s furniture stores scattered across Pennsylvania and Ohio. The order handed down in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware is effective Tuesday. It apparently quashes any opportunity for Robert...
$25K bonuses, other resources for Pa. essential workers could be on the way
Additional resources soon could be headed to workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic if proposed legislation is passed. The resources would become available through a Heroes Fund introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Scranton, and through legislation proposed by state Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny....
Pennsylvania sees 78 new coronavirus deaths in biggest single-day spike
Coronavirus deaths in Pennsylvania jumped by 78, state health officials said Tuesday, marking the largest one-day increase as the running case count surpassed 14,000. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine cautioned that there can be a delay in compiling data from over the weekend, meaning some numbers won’t make it...
Beaver County nursing home presuming all residents, staff have covid-19
A Beaver County nursing home facing the largest covid-19 outbreak in the region is presuming that all of its residents and employees may have the disease. Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Brighton Township announced the approach Monday in an unsigned statement. “Thinking about the virus in this way allows...
Trout season opens early amid coronavirus pandemicVideo
Trout season opened Tuesday in Pennsylvania — almost two weeks ahead of schedule, according to the Fish and Boat Commission. Trout fishing started at 8 a.m. The first day of the season had been slated for April 18. “We realize that this announcement is another disruption to tradition, but it...
Heinz History Center collecting materials, content depicting life amid coronavirus
Keep those pictures and other items that show how you’re getting through the coronavirus pandemic — the Senator John Heinz History Center might want them. Curators and archivists at the center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District are collecting materials from the region’s residents that show the local response and experience. That...
Region’s churches spread Holy Week message online
A number of the region’s churches will livestream Holy Week services as the state’s stay at home order remains in effect through the month’s end. • Catholic Diocese of Greensburg’s virtual Holy Week services will be streamed at dioceseofgreensburg.org, facebook.com/dioceseofgreensburg and youtube.com. • Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik...
Average gas price in Pittsburgh area remains firmly above $2 a gallon
Gasoline prices continue to fall in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation, but the local average remains above $2 a gallon, the price-tracking service GasBuddy reported Monday. The Pittsburgh area’s average per-gallon price stood at $2.23, down 3.6 cents from a week ago, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731...
Pa. ramps up effort to get businesses to help make medical equipment
An online portal created by state officials will help identify businesses that are building much-needed medical supplies and guide others who might be able to pivot their manufacturing toward creating those supplies, Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday. The Manufacturing Call to Action Portal will streamline the process for manufacturers who...
