Regional category, Page 76
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: May 10
The following is a new feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz: 1. On Wednesday, an EF-1 tornado shook the Ligonier area in Westmoreland County and created considerable damage. According to the National Weather Service, what were the peak speeds of the wind? A/ 80 mph B/ 90 mph C/...
Fungi enthusiasts turn entrepreneurs with Bounty Beneath Mushrooms in Armstrong County
Fungi-loving friends Michael Zaccano and Nicholas Wadding are growing their specialty mushroom business in Armstrong County. They co-own Bounty Beneath Mushrooms, a gourmet mushroom farm housed above ground on the second floor of a former 1800s-era wool factory in Worthington. Zaccano of Springdale and Wadding of Kittanning met at a...
Area organizations offer creative and performing arts summer programs for kids of all ages
For kids with a creative streak, the summer can be a great chance to expand their horizons and learn new skills. In the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, many arts organizations are offering programs for the summer of 2024 that will entice and engage students, from 2-year-olds all the way up to...
Mother-daughter bond encircled with permanent jewelry
When Kim Francese looks at the shiny bracelets around her wrist, she immediately thinks of her daughter Abby. They have matching accessories on their arms every day — keeping them connected when they are apart. This jewelry is permanent, just like their mother- daughter bond. Jewelers measure a customer’s wrist...
Pittsburgh man charged in $25,000 regional theft scheme at Lowe’s stores
A Pittsburgh man was arrested Thursday in connection with what state police described as an organized retail theft scheme involving $24,800 worth of merchandise from Lowe’s stores in Westmoreland, Butler and Allegheny counties. Jesus A. Serna-Real, 38, of the city’s Knoxville neighborhood, is accused in a number of retail thefts...
Events in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties will mark Migratory Bird Day
Avian admirers in southwestern Pennsylvania will mark World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday. In Westmoreland County, the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club is encouraging residents to take part in the Global Big Day, hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its eBird app. Participants are asked to observe and...
Morning Roundup: Alligator found in Beaver County creek; house fire in Carrick
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, May 10: Alligator found in Beaver County creek A small alligator was found swimming in a Beaver County creek on Wednesday afternoon. It was safely captured and taken to an area pet store. Bystanders spotted the 2½-foot gator...
‘Oh, Baby!’: Millie’s ice cream flavor celebrates Mother’s Day, women’s health
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream has unveiled a new flavor just in time for Mother’s Day. Partnering with Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, a portion of sales from the “Oh, Baby!” flavor will fund women’s health research. This collaboration celebrates motherhood and highlights the need for advancements in women’s healthcare. It...
New Kensington man charged in high-speed turnpike chase in Somerset County
A New Kensington man was among three people arrested by state police Monday after leading them on a high-speed chase in Somerset County that at one point reached up to and over 120 mph. Pharoah Sewell, 20, of New Kensington was charged along with Davontae Trevon Clayton, 19, of Belle...
Florida man who ripped off feds in $97M health care fraud gets 10 years in prison
A Florida man responsible for $97 million in health care fraud across three separate schemes in Western Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida will spend 10 years in federal prison. Daniel M. Hurt, 60, of Fort Lauderdale was also ordered to pay that amount in restitution. On Tuesday, Hurt’s attorney said...
PennWest trustees recommend 2 presidential candidates
PennWest University trustees on Monday forwarded the names of two presidential hopefuls – one from Utah and the other from Tennessee – to the State System of Higher Education, which will pick the institution’s next president later this month. They are:Jon Anderson, provost and vice president for academic affairs/professor at...
Daycation Destination: Mingle among the koalas of the Cleveland Metroparks ZooVideo
Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood is home to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, but a daycation trip to another zoo in Cleveland offers encounters something one can’t visit in Pennsylvania — koalas. Only nine U.S. zoos offer koala exhibits and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is the closest to Pittsburgh at about two...
All 5 rue21 stores in Western Pa. to close their doors after latest bankruptcy filing
Teen clothing retailer rue21, which is based in Warrendale, filed for bankruptcy last week and appears to be closing all of its stores. Employees at the Warrendale headquarters were seen Friday carrying boxes to their vehicles after being informed they were losing their jobs during a virtual meeting Thursday, TribLive...
Going out green: Natural burials offer a time-tested alternative to the modern funeral
Steve Ball’s grave was marked not by a granite headstone or marble mausoleum upon the burial of his cremated remains last year, but a flat rock chipped into the shape of a heart. It came from his backyard in Pleasant Hills, where he kept bees and grew tobacco in the...
Nippon Steel delays closing of acquisition of U.S. Steel until late this year after U.S. DOJ request
TOKYO — Nippon Steel said Friday it has postponed the expected closing of its $14.1 billion takeover of U.S. Steel by three months after the U.S. Department of Justice requested more documentation related to the deal. Tokyo-based Nippon Steel Corp. said the deal, already approved by U.S. Steel’s shareholders, is...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: May 3
The following is a new feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz: 1. The month of April had an abundance of rain. According to the National Weather Service, the Pittsburgh area finished the month with an accumulation of 7.93 inches. This total was the second highest on record. What total...
Morning Roundup: 1 injured in crash in Baldwin Borough
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, May 3: 1 injured in crash in Baldwin Borough Several live power lines and at least five telephone poles were broken or knocked down Thursday night after a vehicle hit one of the poles in Baldwin Borough. Two...
‘She is evil personified’: Victims’ families face killer nurse Heather Pressdee in court
Grief. Fury. Sadness. Guilt. Heartache. Regret. Rage. As each of the victims’ loved ones stood to explain the impact of Heather Pressdee’s actions on their families, the defendant sat between her attorneys at counsel table, hair pulled back, handcuffed, staring straight ahead. She never looked at them. For hours, she...
West Virginia GOP County Commissioners removed from office after arrest for skipping meetings
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A three-judge panel ordered Wednesday that two county commissioners in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle be removed from office over a month after they were arrested for purposefully jilting their duties by skipping public meetings. Circuit Court Judges Joseph K. Reeder of Putnam County, Jason A. Wharton of...
Western Pa. United Methodist churches react to denomination’s revised LGBTQ policies
The Rev. Hannah Loughman, pastor at Sewickley United Methodist Church, found herself crying tears of joy Wednesday afternoon. “That sounds so dramatic, but I have been,” Loughman said. “We have been rejoicing all day.” The celebrations and emotions were brought on by votes taken at the United Methodist Church General...
Accused killer nurse Heather Pressdee expected to plead guilty Thursday
A Harrison nurse accused of intentionally administering insulin overdoses to 22 nursing home patients — including 17 who died — is expected to plead guilty Thursday in Butler County Common Pleas Court. A hearing in the case against Heather Pressdee is scheduled for two days before Judge Joseph E. Kubit....
From the Newsroom: Ponderosa’s last frontier in Pennsylvania
This week’s episode features reporter Joyce Hanz joining Zac Gibson to dive into the nostalgia and loyalty surrounding the last Ponderosa Steakhouse in Pennsylvania. Butler County has one of the last of 16 Ponderosa restaurants left in the country. It’s located in Center Township. Visitors travel from New York, Virginia,...
Morning Roundup: 1 injured after shooting in Penn Hills
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, May 1. 1 injured in shooting in Penn Hills One person was injured in a shooting Wednesday morning in Penn Hills, according to police. Penn Hills officers were dispatched at about 1:30 p.m. to the 400 block of...
Look up! Weekend peak of Eta Aquarid meteor shower expected
Stargazers this month could be in for a celestial display. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which lasts until May 27, is expected to peak on Sunday and Monday nights, according to Space.com. The best time to view it is during the pre-dawn hours, according to WTAE meteorologist Jill Szwed. All...
Bill co-sponsored by Rep. Summer Lee to improve plugging abandoned gas wells passes U.S. House
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee’s first major bill, which could accelerate efforts to plug up to 3 million abandoned gas and oil wells across the country, cleared the House Tuesday with strong bipartisan support. Abandoned wells leak copious amounts of methane and are a persistent problem in Western Pennsylvania. Speaking Monday...
