Crews make repairs to historic Westmoreland County covered bridge
Editor’s note: Bells Mills Road and bridge reopened Tuesday. Crews worked Monday to repair parts of a historic covered bridge damaged recently in an apparent hit-and-run. Part of Bells Mills Road had been closed for several days. The damage on Bells Mills Bridge, which connects South Huntingdon and Sewickley townships,...
Irwin fielding calls to buy Rite Aid building
The building housing the soon-to-close Rite Aid store in downtown Irwin has attracted a few potential buyers at the same time a business organization is pleading with the company to keep the store open. Irwin Borough Manager Valerie Morton said Monday she has fielded calls for Rite Aid from interested...
Heavy snow hitting parts of Midwest; dangerous cold coming
MILWAUKEE — Heavy snow and powerful wind created blizzard-like conditions Monday across parts of the Midwest, prompting officials to cancel about 1,000 flights at Chicago’s airports and close hundreds of schools. But forecasters warned the most dangerous weather is yet to come: frigidly low temperatures that the region hasn’t seen...
PHEAA to reconsider troubled TEACH grant loan conversions
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s FedLoan Servicing unit will begin taking applications Feb. 1 for reconsideration from teachers who believe their federal TEACH grants were erroneously converted to loans. Those accepted for reconsideration will see their debt erased and any loan payments that were made refunded, PHEAA officials said....
Roaches cited in consumer alert for Las Palmas in Oakland
The Allegheny County Health Department has issued a consumer alert for Las Palmas #2 in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. A Jan. 24 inspection report said that the Atwood Street store was infested with live and dead roaches. Sewage leaked from a bathroom toilet onto the floor. According to the Food Safety...
Man claims he was carjacked, stabbed with screwdriver in Pittsburgh assault
Police issued an arrest warrant Monday for a woman who allegedly repaid a favor by beating and carjacking the man who gave her a ride, leaving him with no shoes and a series of stab wounds. David Legrande told police he lent the woman $50 and gave her and another...
30-year-old orca dies at SeaWorld’s Orlando park
ORLANDO, Fla. — A 30-year-old orca has died at SeaWorld’s Orlando park. SeaWorld officials say Kayla died Monday after a brief illness. SeaWorld officials say a cause of death won’t be known until a post-mortem examination is conducted. Kayla began showing signs of discomfort on Saturday, and veterinarians began treating...
Shutdown projected to cause $3B permanent hit to economy
WASHINGTON — The federal government shutdown will cause slight permanent harm to the economy — about $3 billion — according to a report Monday by the Congressional Budget Office. The report says the five-week shutdown has slowed growth in the near term but that most of the lost growth “will...
Report: U.S. coal production declined in 2018 as prices, exports rose
U.S. coal production continued its downward trend in 2018, even as coal prices rose in three of the five major coal-producing regions, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. The federal agency estimated that U.S. coal production in 2018 totaled 755 million short tons — 20 million short tons less than...
Man arrested after assaulting woman in Southwest Greensburg apartment, cops say
A Greensburg man is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Friday, returning to her home after being ordered to leave following an argument, borough police allege. Giovanni L. Meighan, 26, was arrested about 1:15 a.m. when police followed up with the victim after the first call and found her running down...
Dad’s Pub & Grub opens a new location in Braddock HillsVideo
It’s called the “Yinzer Burger,” 8 ounces of ground beef cooked to your liking, piled high with gooey macaroni and cheese and smothered in bacon in between a warm homemade roll. Fresh cut fries are a side option. That’s just one of the tasty choices at the newest location of...
Pitt waives $5,546 security fee for Ben Shapiro appearance
The University of Pittsburgh has agreed to waive the security fee it charged the Pitt College Republicans for the Nov. 14 campus appearance of conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. The decision was made “in light of the confusion over this issue and the difficult position the College Republicans would be in...
Month-long lane restrictions on Elizabeth Bridge start Monday
Motorists will face single-lane restrictions in both directions on the Elizabeth Bridge along Route 51 through late February for installation of bird screens, PennDOT announced. The restrictions will not be in effect simultaneously. Plans call for a southbound lane on the bridge to close weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3...
Cops: Pittsburgh man tossed 50 bricks of heroin from car during North Huntingdon pursuit
A Pittsburgh man who led state troopers on a three-mile chase along Route 30 in North Huntingdon late Friday tossed 50 bricks of heroin out of the window before jumping from the still-moving car and fleeing on foot, according to court documents. Laplez G. Cummings, 34, was captured with the...
More than 150 evacuated from stuck chairlift at Vt. ski resort
STOWE, Vt. — A Vermont ski resort says more than 150 skiers and snowboarders were evacuated off of a chairlift that got stuck. Stowe Mountain Resort spokesman Jeff Wise says the Lookout Double lift stopped operating about 10:30 a.m. Sunday due to an electrical issue. Mychampaignvalley.com reports Mount Mansfield Ski...
State police find 3rd meth manufacturing site in 8 days in Indiana County
For the third time in eight days, state troopers in Indiana County made arrests after finding items related to manufacturing methamphetamine. Troopers said they arrested two women and two men Saturday after finding two “one pot” labs in the trunk of a vehicle in the parking lot of the Walmart...
Tornado hits Havana; Cuban president says 3 dead, 172 hurt
HAVANA — A tornado and pounding rains smashed into the eastern part of Cuba’s capital overnight, toppling trees, bending power poles and flinging shards of metal roofing through the air as the storm cut a path of destruction across eastern Havana. Power was cut to many areas and President Miguel...
Lower Burrell police identify man asking for gas money
Lower Burrell police have identified a man accused of going around the city and asking residents for gas money. The man is not suspected to have committed any crime other than Lower Burrell solicitation ordinance violations, police said. “Lower Burrell Detectives positively identified and contacted this person. He is not...
Online convenience driving return of grocery deliveries in Western Pennsylvania
The days of the home-delivered milk bottle may be gone, but the idea of having groceries delivered is anything but passé. In fact, the service — once the domain of local mom-and-pop stores — is catching on with Giant Eagle, Walmart and other grocery giants. The service is fueled in...
Gas prices rise in Pittsburgh, fewer nationally under $2 per gallon
Gas prices are up in the Pittsburgh area, and, nationally, with fewer stations selling fuel for under $2 per gallon. “The percent of gas stations in the U.S. selling under $2 per gallon fell from 37 percent to 27 percent over the last week as oil prices hold above $53...
Pope lowers expectations for next month’s sex abuse summit
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis has sought to lower expectations from his big sex abuse prevention summit next month. Francis told reporters returning from Panama on Sunday that he wants the Feb. 21-24 meeting to essentially be a catechism class for bishops about sex abuse. He said he...
Rare red panda found after escape from Belfast Zoo
LONDON — Officials say a rare red panda is safe and sound, a day after it escaped from Belfast Zoo in Northern Ireland. The animal went missing on Sunday, and Belfast City Council had urged members of the public to report any sightings to the zoo. The council said Monday...
Postal Service honors entertainer Gregory Hines with stamp
NEW YORK — The U.S. Postal Service is honoring entertainer Gregory Hines with a Black Heritage Series stamp. Acting chief postal inspector Gary Barksdale will host the first day of issue ceremony Monday at the Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York. Hines, who was known for his unique style...
Police: Man accidentally shot himself in leg at Somerset Walmart
A 48-year-old Somerset man accidentally shot himself in the leg at a Walmart store in Somerset County over the weekend. State police said the victim was inside the Somerset Township store when his firearm accidentally discharged at 10:15 p.m. Saturday. A bullet hit him in the right calf, according to...
Harrison man goes back to school to tell Birdville history
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley people and the notable things that they do. Decades ago, approaching planes would send elementary students in Harrison running back to their classrooms. The two-man, single engine propeller-driven planes would come in low near Birdville School, using...
