Regional News category, Page 117
At White House meeting, Trib CEO urges support of bill to save local news
Trib Total Media President and CEO Jennifer Bertetto met Wednesday with White House officials to advocate for legislation that would allow local news outlets to negotiate for fair compensation from large digital platforms that use their content. The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act would allow news publishers to collectively negotiate...
Duquesne Light employees authorize strike
A workers union representing Duquesne Light employees voted Tuesday night to authorize a strike. The 711-14 vote triggers the process for a potential walkout Saturday. The union members’ current contract expires at the end of September, and the union is working to negotiate. In a statement, Duquesne Light said it...
PPG leadership to transition officially in October
PPG is officially handing leadership of the Pittsburgh-based specialty coatings company to Tim Knavish, effective Oct. 1. The board of directors unanimously elected Knavish, 58, as president and CEO, succeeding Michael McGarry, 65, who served as chairman and CEO from 2016 to 2022 and is retiring as executive chairman. Knavish...
Pittsburgh had record low unemployment rate in August, state says
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the seven-county Pittsburgh region hit a new low in August. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the area fell one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to a record low of 3.6%, the lowest level since record-keeping began in 1976,...
Morning Roundup: 2 accused in Hill District carjacking; police say Pittsburgh man ran over neighbor after fight
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Sept. 26: Police arrest 2 juveniles accused in Hill District carjacking Two juveniles were arrested after an armed carjacking in the Hill District, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers responded to the 2100 block of Webster Avenue just before...
Apple harvest time: Wild swings in weather, slow spring start impact production
The fruits of the Simon family’s labors are on display for all to see at the Simon’s Apple Orchard store in Mt. Pleasant Township. The sweet smell of freshly harvested apples permeates the air as bags of apples are made ready for sale. “It was decent. Not a full crop...
Alcoa names new CEO in abrupt transition
Alcoa Corp. has replaced CEO Roy C. Harvey with the company’s chief operating officer, William F. Oplinger. Oplinger will serve as president, CEO and a member of Alcoa’s board of directors, the North Shore-based company announced Monday. The abrupt move went into effect Sunday. Harvey had been CEO since the...
Deal will bring added passenger rail service between Pittsburgh, NYC
PennDOT and Norfolk Southern Railway finalized an official agreement Friday to bring an additional round trip for passenger train service between Pittsburgh and New York City. PennDOT officials said the state will invest more than $200 million for infrastructure and safety improvements that will help to accommodate the additional trains....
Here’s how to get your free covid-19 tests
Beginning Monday, every household in the country can again order free at-home covid-19 tests. People can order four free rapid tests at covid.gov/tests or by calling 1-800-232-0233. The U.S. Postal Service will begin shipping the covid-19 tests to people’s homes the week of Oct. 2, according to its website. Families...
Victims identified in fatal Fayette County crash
Two Pittsburgh area residents and a Fayette County man were killed in a two-vehicle crash Sunday night along Route 711 between Connellsville and Normalville, the Fayette County coroner said Tuesday. Killed in the crash shortly before 6 p.m. were: Peter G. Zepf, 28, of Pittsburgh, the driver of one of...
7 months after PennWest president announced departure, the search for a successor has yet to begin
Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson announced in February that she was leaving PennWest University’s presidency, but in the seven months since, Western Pennsylvania’s largest state-owned university has yet to begin seeking a permanent successor. Now, the person serving as its interim president, R. Lorraine “Laurie” Bernotsky, could be poised to leave too. State...
Dragon boat racing team of breast cancer survivors readies for annual festival
It’s not just that Lynn Jablonowski didn’t have any boating experience. She was also actually afraid of the water. But she’d overcome breast cancer, and with help from members of the Hearts of Steel dragon boat racing team, she overcame her fear of water, too. Everyone on the Hearts of...
Why buy new? Flipped furniture saves money, environment
Lisa Arnold is a transformer. The Richland resident takes pieces of furniture that are outdated and brings them back to life. “I am passionate about this,” said Arnold, owner of Fabulously Flipped. “I put my heart and soul into every piece to make it look beautiful again.” She began by...
Black lung: Government, advocates eye new federal silica-dust standard to stem resurgence among coal miners
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Black lung: Advocates eye new federal silica-dust standard to stem resurgence among coal minersVideo
Mark Rankin left the coal mines, but the coal mines haven’t left Mark Rankin. Stocky and broad shouldered, the retired Uniontown-area coal miner trekked to a Washington County health clinic to see if recent coughing and tightness in his chest could be black lung. Rankin worked for years stripping coal...
‘Silence of the Lambs’ actress meets fans, returns to the well at restored film location in Fayette County
The first time actress Brooke Smith’s character Catherine Martin spent time inside the ominous “Buffalo Bill” house in the 1991 thriller “The Silence of the Lambs,” she was trapped in a dingy basement well at the mercy of a deranged serial killer. This weekend, Smith ventured back into the basement...
Turnpike off-ramp in Cranberry to close next week
The ramp coming off the turnpike at the Cranberry interchange will be closed next week due to road paving repairs. The westbound off-ramp, which leads onto I-79, will be closed from 6 a.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Friday, according to turnpike spokesperson Rosanne Placey. Traffic will be directed onto Route...
New leader of Penn State branch campuses tasked with boosting enrollment
The linguist and administrator who will oversee Penn State University’s 20 branch campuses starting Oct. 1 has talked about their importance as educational game-changers for students and economic anchors for the communities in which they’re located. Margo DelliCarpini also has seen how competitive the higher-education market can be when it...
Serra Catholic officials describe student killed in van crash as ‘beating heart of her class’Video
The morning unfolded in chaos. When Serra Catholic High School Principal Bob Childs heard that a school van carrying four of his students to the McKeesport school had crashed around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, he immediately went to the scene. By the time he arrived near Mansfield Bridge in Dravosburg, paramedics...
15 UPMC employees dubbed ‘Million Dollar Miracles’ after PA Lottery win
Fifteen UPMC employees are calling themselves the Million Dollar Miracles after hitting the PA Lottery this summer. The friends won $1 million on the Mega Millions on July 28 after purchasing a ticket at the Nittany MiniMart along Route 6 in Smethport. Each person received $48,600. “This is the first...
Morning Roundup: Man stabbed in Mt. Washington; police chase from Ohio to Pa. ends in Findlay
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Sept. 22: Man stabbed in Mt. Washington A man was stabbed early Thursday in Mt. Washington, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. Police were called about 8 a.m. to the 600 block of Omaha Street. Officers found a 34-year-old...
Morning Roundup: Motorcyclist critically hurt in Mt. Washington crash; parents accused of infant abuse
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Sept. 21: Motorcyclist in critical condition after Mt. Washington crash A man was injured in a motorcycle crash Wednesday in Mt. Washington. Crews were called around 10:30 a.m. to Saw Mill Run Boulevard where they found a man...
More cuts planned at deficit-plagued West Virginia University
West Virginia University Libraries, already hit this year with a 30% cut in its operating budget, now faces up to $800,000 in personnel cuts under measures announced Wednesday to shore up the university’s deficit-plagued finances. The action is outlined in one of the letters delivered by the provost’s office to...
Western Pennsylvania school districts receive email swatting threats
Several Western Pennsylvania school districts were the target of swatting emails this week, authorities said. They included Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and South Park in Allegheny County and Belle Vernon and Derry Area in Westmoreland County. The school districts reported receiving threatening messages via email on Tuesday and Wednesday....
Blood donations fall short by two-thirds in region, nonprofit says
Blood collection organizations say donations are down at least 25% — a trend they’ve been unable to break since the pandemic. The American Red Cross announced a national blood shortage last week upon receiving 30,000 fewer donations than expected in August. That’s a 25% decrease from the 12,500 donations it...
