Regional News category, Page 151
Deep-freeze thaw brings busted pipes, busy week for plumbers
The holiday season is busy enough during a normal year. But for plumbers, home heating contractors and emergency responders, the deep freeze over the past few days — and the warmer weather that is on the way — has made things even busier. “I’ve probably had 40 or 50 calls...
Federal spending bill includes $33M for Southwestern Pa. projects
A $1.7 trillion spending bill that passed the Senate and House includes more than $111 million for dozens of projects across Pennsylvania, according to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton. The federal funding bill earmarks more than $33 million for projects in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including money for sewer rehab, health care...
On a new map, Pennsylvania elects most diverse assembly ever
HARRISBURG — When mapmakers reimagined the boundaries of Pennsylvania’s 253 legislative districts, they did it with an eye on the state’s growing racial and ethnic minorities, and officials say that has helped yield the most diverse incoming class of lawmakers yet. The number of state lawmakers who are Black, Latino...
Pittsburgh-area drivers facing higher gas prices than other parts of state, nation
Despite average gas prices falling across the state and nation, drivers in the Pittsburgh area aren’t seeing as much relief at the pump. The national average Monday was $3.10 per gallon, according to AAA. That’s down 4 cents from a week ago and about 46 cents from a month ago....
Power outages minimal as snow slows for Christmas Day
Most homes experiencing a power outage during the last 36 hours of winter weather are likely to have the lights on for breakfast Christmas morning, as suppliers continue working to restore electricity across the region. Duquesne Light reported fewer than 200 customers without power as of 8:30 a.m. Christmas morning,...
State police cite 16 for underage drinking in Seven Springs parking lots
State police cited more than a dozen people for underage drinking and other alcohol-related offenses in parking lot areas at Seven Springs Ski Resort. Officers from the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement conducted a minor patrol in Seven Springs between Dec. 14 and 17. A total of 16...
Crews working to restore power as record cold temps and winds persist
Work crews across the region are continuing to restore power to customers left in the dark by record cold and high winds that moved across Western Pennsylvania on Friday and into Saturday morning. As of about 4 p.m. Saturday, Duquesne Light was reporting about 2,300 customers affected by outages. The...
Coroner: Slick road cited in fatal head-on collision in Indiana County
A driver was killed Thursday when two pickup trucks collided head-on in Indiana County. Andrew David Johnston, 25, of South Mahoning Township, Indiana County, was pronounced dead following the wreck that occurred shortly before 8 a.m. on Route 954 in Center Township. The cause of death was pending, according to...
Spending a frigid Christmas Eve with the Steelers? Here’s what’s drawing fans to Acrisure Stadium
A frigid Christmas Eve in Acrisure Stadium will be “firsts” for some Pittsburgh Steelers fans. A 12-year-old boy will attend his first Steelers game. A devoted fan from Madagascar will go on her first blind date. A Lower Burrell insurance agent will wear a heated vest for the first time....
Rep. Conor Lamb reflects on Capitol riot and aftermath as he departs office
As U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s tenure comes to a close, he has not been able to shake the memory of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. “On that day, it just felt like an attack on our country,” he said. The Democrat from Mt. Lebanon will be leaving office come...
Winter storm brings frigid temps, high winds, snow to Western Pennsylvania
The major winter storm that moved through Western Pennsylvania on Friday, dropping temperature some 40 degrees, will keep the region in a deep freeze on Christmas Eve and on Christmas, the National Weather Service in Moon said. People are likely to wake up Christmas Eve morning to temperatures in the...
Buy Now, Pay Later options heat up during holiday season
Whether you’re shopping for tech deals on Amazon or indie crafts on Etsy, you probably noticed there are more options at checkout than just using a credit card. More retailers are using “Buy Now, Pay Later” platforms such as Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay and Paypal to spread out payments in installments....
Amazon extends the ‘Alexa, thank my driver’ campaign
After enthusiastic response earlier this month to the ” Alexa, thank my driver” campaign, Amazon is doing it again. It started yesterday, Dec. 21, so it is not clear if the 1 million rewards have yet been reached. When Amazon launched the program on Dec. 7, 1 million thank-yous -...
Winter storm latest: What we’ll get, when we’ll get it
For several days, Pittsburgh area residents have been told that severe winter weather is heading to the area for Christmas weekend. The burning question has been exactly when will it hit and how bad will it be? According to the National Weather Service in Moon, a cold front will move...
Washington County man killed in head-on crash
A Washington County motorist was killed in a head-on collision Wednesday in North Strabane. Joseph Neil Ayre Jr., 37, of Avella was pronounced dead in the Canonsburg Hospital emergency room, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. The crash was reported at about 8:45 a.m. on Thomas Road. Warco said...
Franco Harris fans remember on-field finesse, off-field generosity
Longtime Steelers fan George Muentzer has missed the chance to have his prized photo of Franco Harris autographed by the Steelers Hall of Famer, whose unexpected death overnight was reported Wednesday. But he still can treasure his many memories of encounters with Harris during his faithful yearly attendance at the...
Uniontown treasurer accused of stealing $106K in taxpayer funds
Uniontown’s elected treasurer has been charged with stealing about $106,000 in taxpayer funds during her time in office. Antoinette Hodge, 53, is charged by the state police Western Organized Crime Unit with four felony counts, including theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and perjury. She also is...
Karen Riley named 18th president of Slippery Rock University
Karen Riley, provost at Regis University in Denver, has been named the next president of Slippery Rock University. The State System of Higher Education’s board of governors on Wednesday chose Riley to succeed William Behre, who in February announced that he would retire at the end of this academic year....
2 area ski resorts set to begin seasons as winter weather approaches
A blast of winter weather is arriving this week just as two area ski resorts are opening for the season. Hidden Valley Resort in Somerset County will welcome skiers today, Dec. 21, while Laurel Mountain Ski Area in Ligonier Township is set to open two days later. Both attractions are...
Washington County officials arrest suspect in 2013 bank robbery shooting
Nearly a decade after Vincent Kelley was killed by a man who was robbing the Citizens Bank at the South Strabane Giant Eagle, Washington County officials said that man has been arrested. County district attorney Jason Walsh announced Tuesday that Keith D. Wilk, 39, of Pittsburgh, was charged with criminal...
Pa. gambling revenue jumps 4.59% in November
Gambling revenue was up across the state in November. The funds generated from all forms of gaming and fantasy contests was more than $452.3 million, an increase of 4.59% compared to November 2021, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The board oversees 16 casinos, as well as online casino...
Frigid, white Christmas likely in forecast for Southwestern Pa.
The National Weather Service says chances are good for a white Christmas in parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, although most of the snow is expected to fall in the days ahead of Sunday’s holiday and should stick around because of bone-chilling temperatures. In social media posts Tuesday, the weather service office...
Could lethal-force police robots be coming to other cities?
News out of San Francisco caught many off guard recently as city officials considered allowing the use of weaponized robots controlled by law enforcement officers. The city quickly dropped those plans after public outcry. The proposal would have allowed San Francisco police officers to use robots that can use deadly...
4 Christmas destinations just a road trip away from Western Pa.
Here is a look at four holiday-themed destinations, in addition to Overly’s Country Christmas, just a road trip away that people can enjoy this Christmas season. Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pa. “It’s a Wonderful Life” fans can learn more about the life of the film’s star at the Jimmy...
Pittsburgh region gets its first taste of winter weather
It wasn’t much snow — between a half-inch and an inch in most places — but it was enough to bring on hazardous road conditions across western Pennsylvania late Saturday night into Sunday morning. “It’s been a fairly uniform snow across the area,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks....
