Regional category, Page 294
Western Pa. fish fries serve up precaution as coronavirus concern deepens
From fire halls to churches, organizers of the region’s extremely popular Lenten fish fries are employing a variety of precautions as concern over the spread of the coronavirus continues. “We are certainly stepping up our regular cleaning measures, which we take pretty seriously to begin with,” said Heather Dolhi, administrator...
Army Corps holds virtual meeting on Lordstown project because of coronavirus concerns
The Army Corps of Engineers scrapped plans to hold a public meeting in Lordstown, Ohio, to discuss a proposed multibillion development project there because of coronavirus concerns. Instead, the corps held a virtual meeting Thursday using a webinar application. People were able to submit public comments electronically. “With everything going...
Indiana County father jailed on multiple charges for accidentally shooting infant son
A 21-year-old Indiana County man was arraigned Friday on multiple criminal charges after police say he accidentally fired a round from a 9 mm handgun which struck and seriously injured his 4-month-0ld son. James M. Williamson Sr., 21, of White Township was charged with aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm...
Food banks continue distributions, prepare to reach vulnerable populations in light of coronavirus
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Empty Bowls dinner is the latest casualty in the fight to stop the spread of coronavirus. The food bank and Just Harvest, the other sponsor of the event, announced the cancellation Thursday. The event was to be held Sunday at Rodef Shalom, but organizers...
Move to online classes continues as colleges across the region shutter classrooms
The move to online education at colleges and universities across Western Pennsylvania was nearly universal by the end of Thursday. Residential colleges and universities concerned about the potential for the spread of coronavirus as students returned from spring break were among the first institutions in the nation to react to...
Lawrence County man accused of hiding in woods to shoot at passing school van
A Lawrence County man has been charged with shooting at a van full of elementary-age children Tuesday morning in Shenango Township. Township police arrested Bryon John Benetas, 41, for allegedly dressing in camouflage and hiding in the woods off Route 65 and firing several shots at the van transporting seven...
New Castle man guilty of cocaine distribution conspiracy
A New Castle man accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to narcotics violations. Wesley Cox, also known as Michael Deshawn Carter, 38, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. Authorities said he as part of a conspiracy to distribute at least five...
Dick’s to stop selling guns, hunting supplies at 440 more stores this year
There’s more money to be made selling athletic shoes and sporting equipment instead of guns and ammunition, the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods told analysts in a Tuesday earnings call. That’s driven the Findlay Township-based company’s decision to stop selling guns and guns and hunting supplies at 440 of its...
Sisters of Charity, Chuck Cooper, George Romero to get state historic markers in Western Pa.
The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, a standout Duquesne University basketball player, a renowned horror filmmaker, an influential archaeologist and an Indian trader who once owned thousands of acres in Western Pennsylvania will be recognized for their importance with historical markers, the state announced. Six of the 24 people,...
Pitt, Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon, Penn State among colleges nationwide canceling face-to-face classes over virus fears
Colleges across the country are extending spring breaks, shuttering classrooms and transitioning to online formats as fears of coronavirus spread. Unprecedented, sweeping changes have reached from the halls of the oldest Ivy League institutions to sprawling land grant institutions and the tiniest community colleges, said Brad Farnsworth, vice president for...
Quarantine is effective but stressful tool against coronavirus
For Jennifer England, one of the worst parts of being quarantined is not knowing if she has the coronavirus. The 51-year-old Pittsburgh resident’s symptoms resemble those of coronavirus — dry cough, fever, body aches. But they were not enough to qualify for a test, as she had not traveled internationally....
Donora woman charged with nearly 1,400 counts of animal cruelty
A Washington County woman has been charged with nearly 1,400 counts of animal cruelty in connection with the rescue of about 150 dogs, cats, kittens and chickens from properties in Monessen and Donora in late October. Christie Dee Harr, 41, of Donora was charged Tuesday with 1,376 animal cruelty charges...
State warns of scammers posing as court officials
Pennsylvania court officials this week warned of a recently reported telephone scam seeking payments for bail and expenses to help incarcerated family members. Officials said the rouse involves a call from what appears to be the state’s Commonwealth Court telephone number and a demand for payments through PayPal. Officials cautioned...
Western Pennsylvania nursing homes restrict access amid coronavirus fears
Visitor access to at least two nursing homes in the Pittsburgh region has been restricted as a precaution against the potential spread of the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday. Wexford Healthcare Center in McCandless and Baldwin Health Center also are taking the temperatures of visitors who enter the home. A fever...
Pennsylvania reports 9 new flu deaths
The number of flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania this season has reached 83, up by nine in the past week, according to data the state Department of Health released Tuesday. Most of the deaths, 56, were in those age 65 and older. Six of the new deaths were in that age...
Special Olympics Pennsylvania cancels events over coronavirus concerns
Special Olympics Pennsylvania canceled all practices and competitions for the month as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. A Special Olympics of Allegheny County basketball tournament at the University of Pittsburgh scheduled for Sunday is canceled. Almost 300 athletes were expected to attend, according to the...
5 important things to know about coronavirus
1. How is the coronavirus different from the flu? Flu and the coronavirus are both respiratory viruses with similar signs and symptoms, according to Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease and critical care physician. Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. A stuffy nose is not common...
Ohio toddler’s parents arrested, charged with murder in his death
YOUNSTOWN, Ohio — The parents of a 2-year-old boy who authorities said was beaten to death have been arrested and charged with murder and child endangering. Derek Carter Jr., 27, of Campbell and Sharday Bing Dixon, 33, of Struthers were arrested Monday in Youngstown by members of a U.S. Marshals...
Little Sheetz fan gets big surprise as ‘youngest employee,’ free slushies through childhoodVideo
A little Sheetz fan in Virginia got the surprise of his young life last week when the founders of his favorite store paid him a visit. At 8 years old, Dylan LaMotte is an honorary Sheetz employee at his local store in Lynchburg, Va., according to a release from Planit,...
Coronavirus prompts Carnegie Mellon to go to online-only classes at Silicon Valley, Qatar campuses
Carnegie Mellon University has moved to online classes only at its Silicon Valley and Qatar campuses, university officials announced Monday night. In a letter to the university community, CMU Provost Jim Garrett said although there have been no cases of coronavirus at the school’s Silicon Valley campus, CMU decided to...
Pittsburgh airport officials concerned about Real ID numbers 6 months from deadline
PennDOT has officially been issuing Real ID cards for a year, but officials disagree on what to make of the progress. Since March 1, 2019, more than 826,000 people have obtained a Real ID. The department projected last year that 1.3 million customers would obtain a card before the federal...
Gas prices continue to drop, bucking seasonal norm, analyst says
Gas prices “have no where to go but down and like a rock” at a time of year they’re usually going up, an industry analyst said. “It’s been an unprecedented week, one in which oil majors Russia and Saudi Arabia saw anything but eye-to-eye on lowering oil production, leading crude...
Kennywood bringing back iconic floral clock
A popular landmark in Kennywood Park is returning. Officials for the amusement park in West Mifflin announced on social media that the floral clock will be returning this summer. We may have lost an hour today, but we’ll be gaining an old time-telling favorite this summer! The floral clock display...
2 dead, 3 hurt when log truck hits Amish buggy in Venango County
Two people died and three others were injured Sunday when a truck hauling logs rear-ended a horse-drawn Amish buggy in Clintonville, Venango County, according to state police. The wreck occurred shortly before 3 p.m. along Clintonville Road while the buggy carrying a family of five. A woman and a boy...
Pittsburgh airport officials concerned about Real ID numbers 6 months from deadline
PennDOT has officially been issuing Real ID cards for a year, but officials disagree on what to make of the progress. Since March 1, 2019, more than 826,000 people have obtained a Real ID. The department projected last year that 1.3 million customers would obtain a card before the federal...
