Editor's Picks category, Page 402
Cold, snow and new record low in forecast for Pittsburgh area
The Pittsburgh area is poised to set a new record low temperature Friday night into Saturday morning, and some snow accumulation will be possible in the highest ridge tops, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Wednesday. The high and low temperatures through Saturday are expected to be well below the...
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation latest to hold virtual fundraiser gala
Gone are the days — well at least they’re gone this spring — when people dress up to go festive galas, joining with family and friends for evening of food and drink, all for their favorite non-profit in need of money. Instead, the typical galas are being replaced by virtual...
Daniel Radcliffe, other celebs reading ‘Harry Potter’ on videoVideo
Harry Potter will be reading Harry Potter in a new video series announced Tuesday. Actor Daniel Radcliffe, who came to fame playing the young wizard, is reading the first chapter of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on the Wizarding World website. It can also be found in audio format...
Excela employees donate $80K to Westmoreland food bank
The Westmoreland County Food Bank has seen an “overwhelming” increase in need with no end in sight, CEO Jennifer Miller said. “Our biggest obstacle right now is the unknown,” she said. But the organization knows for sure it can count on an $80,000 donation from Excela Health employees. “This $80,000...
Pittsburgh food bank plans drive-up distributions at airport, PPG Paints Arena
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will host two drive-up distributions this week, one at Pittsburgh International Airport and one at PPG Paints Arena. The event at the airport will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. Parking lots open at 11 a.m., and the distribution can accommodate 1,000...
Where’s the beef? Wendy’s out of burgers at some U.S. locations
Some diners at Wendy’s around the country are asking “where’s the beef?” as the fast food chain runs out of burgers because of food supply disruptions. According to The New York Times, nearly 1 in 5 Wendy’s restaurants were sold out of beef products, including hamburgers, on Monday night. In...
Ocean City set to reopen beaches, boardwalk Mother’s Day weekend
The boardwalk and beach in Ocean City, Md., will reopen Saturday, WBAL-TV reported. People will not be required to wear masks, but city council is urging beachgoers to continue to practice social distancing. Restaurants will still be open for carry-out only, and hotels are open only for essential workers, WBAL...
Trib offers HSSN services to produce, livestream Western Pa. graduations
As high schools try to plan Class of 2020 graduation ceremonies amid the uncertainty of coronavirus restrictions, HSSN has added its video capabilities to their menu of options. HSSN, the High School Sports Network of Trib Total Media, is offering high school administrators across the region its video production and...
Pittsburgh-area nonprofits develop alternatives as signature fundraisers are canceled
This past Saturday would have been Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s annual Spring Hat Luncheon. The event not only has an attendance roster of 600 of Pittsburgh’s fashionable who’s who, it raises more than a half-million much-needed dollars for the nonprofit. With the covid-19 pandemic, the luncheon didn’t go off as scheduled...
Where’s my check? Answers to common relief payment questionsVideo
The U.S. government has distributed about 130 million economic impact payments to taxpayers in less than 30 days. The IRS anticipates sending more than 150 million payments as part of a massive coronavirus rescue package. The distribution has had some hiccups, including an overwhelmed website, payments to deceased taxpayers and...
Decorate your own Eat’n Park Smiley cookies at home
Eat’n Park on Tuesday launched decorating kits for its popular Smiley cookies. The package contains six plain, baked Smiley cookies, three bags of colorful icing, sanding sugar and sprinkles. Decorating Smiley cookies has always been a hit at community events with Eat’n Park’s Team Smiley, said Kevin O’Connell, the chain’s...
Starbucks reopening cafes with some changes amid coronavirus pandemic
After many Starbucks locations across the country — and world — closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, the coffee chain giant is now quickly moving to reopen cafes. Starting this week, customers can pick up orders at the door. At locations where safety guidelines can be applied, they can pick up...
Pittsburgh’s Nellie Bly gets spotlight in empowerment project
This was a different kind of draft for the National Football League. It featured players who made their mark in the game of life. The draft consisted of 32 iconic women pioneers in American history, honoring the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. Thirty-two...
Ohio GOP lawmaker Nino Vitale refuses to wear a mask because faces are the ‘likeness of God’Video
At least the excuse Nino Vitale used for not wearing a mask was a little more interesting than what Vice President Mike Pence recently offered. Vitale, an Ohio state representative, said Monday he will not wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic because faces are the “likeness of God.” “This...
Cinco de Mayo meal deals, virtual 5K offered
Since large social gatherings remain off-limits in Southwestern Pennsylvania, area residents who want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo Tuesday with Mexican cuisine will have to make do with DIY or take-out. For the latter, Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering free Queso Blanco when added to an entree order on Tuesday....
On this May the 4th, ‘Star Wars’ creator has message of a new hopeVideo
If there’s one enduring theme of the “Star Wars” movies, it’s to never give up hope. Today is May the 4th, and Lucasfilm has released a short video for the annual homage to the phrase, “May the force be with you” — but tailored to the particular circumstances of May...
Western Pa. college students in line for cash from coronavirus stimulus package
Students struggling to make ends meet after colleges and universities shuttered earlier this spring could soon see extra cash in their bank accounts. Schools across the country are receiving millions of dollars for eligible students as part of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. It provides students...
Interest in gardening grows during coronavirus pandemicVideo
With more time at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, Avalon’s Sarah Pope has turned to gardening to pass the time and provide a temporary distraction. Pope began planting a new vegetable garden two weeks ago to grow dill, basil, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers for pickling. Last week,...
Oakmont nurse was on her way to help covid-19 patients when she tragically died
An Oakmont nurse who lived to help others spent the last moments of her life on her way to do just that. Brianna M. “Bea” Kimmel, 28, died April 26 from injuries she suffered when her car collided with a tractor-trailer in Union County. A licensed practical nurse, Kimmel had...
‘Virtual Senior Academy’ expands to connect more older adults during pandemic
Many older adults feel isolated and lonely — and not just during quarantine for a pandemic. But the past six weeks of social distancing and stay-at-home orders have removed more seniors from routine companionship. In response to the increased need, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation has ramped up its Virtual Senior...
Billy Gardell recreates scene from ’Raiders of the Lost Ark’Video
Billy Gardell, Pittsburgh actor and comic, donned his swashbuckling hat and leather bag to recreate a scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in a kitchen. CBS shared the 1-minute, 32-second clip Saturday to promote its airing of the 1981 action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg which starred Harrison Ford...
Lower Burrell funeral home arranges ‘drive-thru’ visitation for former Arnold man, volunteer firefighter
It wasn’t your typical viewing. Nor was it the way Kaye Barnes probably thought his family and friends would have to say goodbye. But it’s something he likely would have enjoyed, his son said. “He loved to have a good time,” said his son, David Barnes. On April 24, between...
How Natrona Heights photographer John Filo captured the horror of Kent State killings
John Filo couldn’t get out of Ohio fast enough. It was early afternoon on May 4, 1970, and he was driving with rolls of film he had hidden in his red Volkswagen Beetle. The film contained photos Filo had just taken — images of the killings of unarmed students protesting...
Editorial: Wolf needs consistent message
It’s a system used for stoplights and preschool behavior charts: red, yellow, green. Apply it to the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and you have a series of gates that keep Pennsylvanians behind closed doors. Until May 8. On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced a list of 24 counties that will go...
Adapting: Dance students, teachers adjust to life during coronavirus pandemicVideo
Editor’s note: Adapting is a regular series spotlighting the ways the global coronavirus pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. Nine months ago, Isabel Ganovsky and her fellow senior dance majors at North Carolina’s Elon University started planning their senior thesis project. “We chose to create...
