Regional category, Page 291
Experts: Domestic violence threat rises as economic downturn, stay-at-home order linger because of coronavirus
Domestic violence advocates say they are seeing an influx of calls related to the coronavirus, and many fear it will only continue as orders to stay home drag on. “Isolation is always a tool of an abusive person,” said Michelle Gibb, director of the Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center in Tarentum....
Pennsylvanians stock up on medical marijuana as state lifts regulations during pandemic
Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana patients have been stocking up during the coronavirus pandemic, and the state temporarily has loosened regulations to make it easier for them to get product. “The influx of patients is at an all-time high this week. We’re seeing so many new patients,” said Chris Kohan, co-founder of...
Western Pa. dentists upset about state order to stop emergency surgeries
Pennsylvanians dealing with dental emergencies and needing to see a dentist or an oral surgeon are out of luck. The Pennsylvania State Department of Health has ordered all dental offices to stop performing emergency operations during the covid-19 crisis, effectively shutting the offices down. ”Right now I would say that...
How to handle farm markets and coronavirus
Penn State Extension is offering a free, one-hour webinar Wednesday on how farmers markets can still operate with the threat of the coronavirus. The discussion, to start at 3 p.m., will focus on strategies to control the spread of the coronavirus at farmers markets. Visit their website for details. Penn...
Nonprofit solar co-op will host free webinar
The nonprofit Solar United Neighbors co-op is already taking advantage of modern technology when it comes to outfitting their homes with solar panels. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, members of the group will take advantage of some additional technology to conduct free online webinars on converting to solar energy, including one...
Coronavirus fuels demand for homebound blood drawsVideo
The coronavirus pandemic is increasing the demand from patients to have blood drawn at home rather than risk going to a doctor’s office, said the owner of a Jeannette blood testing company. “They don’t want to risk exposure. In normal times, they might come to this facility (on Clay Avenue)....
Heavy rainfall totals in forecast for Western Pa. through the weekend
Some rather significant rainfall totals are in store for Western Pennsylvania this week and through the weekend. The National Weather Service is forecasting rain overnight and then from late Thursday through Sunday, with an 80 percent to 90 percent chance Friday and Saturday. WPXI-TV meteorologist Scott Harbaugh is saying that...
Pennsylvania State Police issue 17 new warnings Tuesday to businesses that failed to close
Pennsylvania State Police issued 17 more warnings Tuesday to businesses deemed “non-life-sustaining” that were still operating, bringing the two-day total to 44. Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday ordered any Pennsylvania business that does not serve a life-sustaining purpose to close in an effort to slow the spread of covid-19. “As...
Today is ‘Great American Takeout’ to support restaurants
As restaurants and local businesses struggle under recent closures, some national chains took to social media in an attempt to encourage dine-out options. Tuesday has been dubbed “The Great American Takeout” by more than 100 restaurant companies in the United States. Consumers are being asked to order at least one...
Where to get tested for covid-19 in Western Pa.
Hospital systems and clinics in the region have started offering drive-thru and walk-in covid-19 testing for patients and members of the public who meet certain conditions. Here are the sites where testing is available in the region: UPMC UPMC will test “select, symptomatic” cases, according to the system’s website, at...
Sheetz reveals menu changes to curb spread of coronavirus
Sheetz officials announced menu changes Monday in response to the coronavirus. The Altoona-based convenience store chain temporarily eliminated self-serve coffee and beverages along with bakery items like doughnuts and muffins to help stop the spread of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The changes went into effect at 4...
River City Brass celebrates anniversaries, honors supportersVideo
When River City Brass artistic and general director James Gourlay, a native of Scotland, was invited to be a guest conductor for the Pittsburgh band in 2010, he immediately fell in love with the city. “I kept a video diary. I would go into Giant Eagle or a barbershop. I...
Butler County to furlough nonessential staff
Butler County officials announced nonessential county personnel would be temporarily furloughed starting Tuesday. Director of Human Resources/Chief Clerk Lori Altman said department heads still were evaluating staff Monday and they would have more definitive numbers Tuesday of how many of the county’s estimated 550 employees would be laid off. Cuts...
Giant Eagle installing Plexiglas dividers to limit spread of covid-19, suspending use of reusable bags
Giant Eagle is installing clear Plexigas dividers at all of its checkout and customer service areas in an attempt to protect employees and customers from the spread of covid-19. The dividers will be installed at Giant Eagle groceries, pharmacies and GetGo stores. The company began installing the dividers over the...
Somerset state trooper, suspect injured in fall during chase
A state trooper and the suspect he was chasing were injured Saturday after falling into a 75-foot ravine in Somerset County. Trooper Justin Dorazio was injured during the foot pursuit with Christopher Eric Fisher, 45, of Rockwood, who was accused of assaulting and threatening another man with a handgun. Dorazio...
PLCB: Wine, liquor sales set record day before state stores closed
Pennsylvania’s decision to close its Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores on March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic triggered the highest single-day sales in at least a decade, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The PLCB reported about $29.9 million in sales on March 16, the day the...
6 deaths reported in Pa. from coronavirus pandemic; state cases jump to 644
Deaths from the coronavirus in Pennsylvania jumped to six statewide, health officials said Monday, the same day the state saw its highest one-day increase in positive cases. In addition to one death in Allegheny County, a second person has died in Northampton County. Monroe, Montgomery and Lackawanna counties have each...
Pa. state parks, forests extend facilities closure
Facilities at Pennsylvania’s parks and forests will be closed until the end of April in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced Monday that an initial 14-day closure instituted on March 17 will be extended until April 30. Trails,...
Unprecedented drop in gas prices will continue, industry analyst says
The coronavirus pandemic has destroyed global demand for oil, leading to the lowest oil prices in 18 years, an industry analyst said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a collapse in prices, even including the Great Recession,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “What we’re witnessing...
Woman, 65, killed in vehicle-pedestrian accident in Fayette County
Fayette County officials reported a 65-year-old woman was killed after she was struck by a vehicle in North Union Township Monday morning. The coroner’s office identified the pedestrian as Amy Morris, 65, who lived in nearby Hillside Manor Personal Care Home on Oliver Road. She was pronounced dead at the...
Washington County woman run over by tractor, killed
A Washington County woman died Sunday after she was run over by a tractor, according to Coroner Tim Warco. Elizabeth McCord, 60, was run over at 3 p.m. in Buffalo Township at the intersection of Jolly School and Mounts roads near her home. She was pronounced dead in the emergency...
Police: Man found dead in lake at Beaver County golf club
An autopsy will be done to find out how a man found Sunday in a lake at a Beaver County golf club died, police said. Hopewell Township police officers responded at about 11 a.m. to a report of a body in the water at The Club at Shadow Lakes. Police...
Coroner: Woman dies after being run over by tractor in Washington County
A 60-year-old Washington County woman was killed after she was run over by a tractor Sunday afternoon, according to the county coroner’s office. Elizabeth McCord was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m. at Washington Hospital after being run over by the tractor near the intersection of Jolly School and Mounts roads...
Nearly 10K Pennsylvania businesses apply for closure waiversVideo
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has been inundated with waiver requests from businesses looking to remain open despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s order for all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical locations. As of midday Sunday, the state had received nearly 10,000 waiver requests, according to the DCED....
Pa. reports another 108 confirmed cases of coronavirus; state total now 479
Another 108 new confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Pennsylvania, the state Department of Health announced Sunday. In all, 479 cases have been confirmed in the state, with 5,443 people having been tested. That means 4,964 people have tested negative. Two people have died as a result of...
