Regional News category, Page 336
Philly got Patti LaBelle’s name wrong on honorary street
Philadelphia honored singer Patti LaBelle with her very own street earlier this week. Unfortunately, the signs didn’t get her name right. The city’s Streets Department didn’t capitalize the “b” in the legendary soul singer’s last name on the signs that were put up before Tuesday’s ceremony on Broad Street. A...
Flash flood watch issued ahead of thunderstorms in Western Pa.
Westmoreland, Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and surrounding counties are under a flash flood watch, according to the National Weather Service. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to bring over 2 inches of rain per hour. Soil that is already wet from recent rainfall could create flash flooding around streams, creeks and roads,...
Flash flood warnings issued for parts of Western Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued flash flood warnings for parts of Western Pennsylvania until Friday afternoon. Central Allegheny County is expected to receive around an inch of rain and up to a half inch of additional rainfall, the weather service said. The flash flood warning remains in...
Western Pa. families sought to host exchange students
Western Pennsylvania families are being sought to host international exchange students in the upcoming school year. A total of 36 students from a dozen countries are expected to arrive in early August for the coming school year, said Kathy Harenski, the AFS Intercultural Programs liaison coordinator for Western Pennsylvania. They...
Pennsylvanians not getting Real IDs as fast as officials would like
The Bridgeville Driver’s License Center in Allegheny County issued more federally enhanced driver’s licenses than any other DMV in Pennsylvania, state data show. As of June 5, the Bridgeville site on Washington Pike had issued 7,645 Real IDs to cardholders, according to PennDOT data. The Summerdale DMV in Enola, Cumberland...
There are more bald eagle nests than Pa. game commission can count
There are too many bald eagle nests for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to count on its own, and it needs the public’s help. The agency used to release bald eagle nest numbers each year around July 4, when the birds were considered threatened in the state. But a comeback from...
Evening storms threaten Fourth of July; flooding a concern
There’s going to be a risk of showers and thunderstorms across the region this Fourth of July, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. A flash flood watch was in effect for Fayette and Westmoreland counties until midnight, meteorologist John Darnley said. At 6 p.m., the weather service issued a flash...
Police: Rifle, shotgun taken in burglary of Butler County camp
Two firearms were taken in a burglary of a camp in Allegheny Township, Butler County, according to state police. State police said the burglary happened in the 100 block of Blauser Road between 7:30 p.m. June 29 and 12:20 a.m. June 30. It happened at a residence that state police...
New U.S. citizens sworn in at Fort Necessity, site of famous George Washington lossVideo
Isabel Sowinski’s birthday on Monday will be a special, once-in-a-lifetime event for the Plum resident. For the first time in her nearly 69 years, the Cuban-born Sowinski will celebrate her birthday as an American. On Wednesday, she became a naturalized citizen during ceremonies the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted...
President Trump headed to Wheeling on July 24 for private fundraiser
President Trump is headed to Wheeling, W.Va., for a campaign appearance at a private fundraiser on July 24 that will be sponsored by a coal company executive, according to reports from the Wheeling Intelligencer newspaper. Trump is to speak at the fundraiser at WesBanco Arena, which will be hosted by...
Husband charged in Somerset woman’s death after her body found buried under home
The husband of a missing Somerset County woman whose body was found buried underneath her home was jailed Wednesday on charges he murdered her, state police at Somerset said. James Dwayne Kline, 48, of Paint Township, was placed in the Somerset County Jail in connection with the death of his...
Cancer-safe grilling: Add marinade, forget the hot dog and other tips
By all means, do grill for summer holidays. But you can cut your exposure to potential cancer-causing agents by tweaking the menu and method of cooking, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Grilling and cooking meat at high temperatures can create several cancer-causing substances that are either...
Professional fireworks shows still plentiful despite federal figures to the contrary
Business for display fireworks companies is booming, industry experts say, despite figures showing a dud when it comes to pounds of pyrotechnic goods sold over the past two decades. Between 2000 and 2018, there was a 31.5 million pound decrease in the number of display fireworks used in the United...
Iran tensions, declining inventories cited for rising gasoline prices
The Fourth of July isn’t the reason for rising gasoline prices, an industry analyst says. “Motorists can blame escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran for higher oil prices, declining inventories and even a potential U.S./China trade deal,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. In Pittsburgh, gas...
Pets can be frightened of fireworks, storms, but help is available
The booms and sparkles of fireworks may delight the huddled masses of humanity who celebrate America’s Independence Day this week, but they can befuddle and terrify their four-legged counterparts. “They just get spooked,” said Gwen Snyder, manager of Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, a New Kensington-based animal shelter. This is...
Gov. Tom Wolf signs law that protects regional DUI checkpoints
Small police departments across Pennsylvania are celebrating freshly inked legislation that protects their right to collaborate with other agencies to run DUI checkpoints, weeks after a state Supreme Court decision put such enforcement efforts in jeopardy. Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1614 into law Tuesday afternoon. “It will save...
Family of flesh-eating bacteria victim urges caution in the water
Former Charleroi resident Carolyn “Lynn” Fleming liked to read, play word games and take trips to the beach. Unfortunately, a June 14 visit to Coquina Beach near Bradenton, Fla., with family members visiting from Pennsylvania, proved fatal when she stumbled, fell in the water and suffered a cut on her...
Congressional stamp of approval expected to boost 1,300-mile long Sept. 11th National Memorial Trail
The likely passage of U.S. Senate and House bills are expected to boost continued development of the 1,300-mile-long September 11th National Memorial Trail connecting all three plane crash memorial sites in Shanksville, Pa., New York City and Arlington, Va. The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance, along with others, has...
Teenager in Uniontown charged as adult after refusing to drop knife, troopers say
A Fayette County teenager was charged as an adult Monday with six counts of aggravated assault and related charges after state police say they were called to an apartment complex in Uniontown to break up a street fight and she refused to surrender a knife to police. Jamayla Jones, 16,...
LCB awards nearly $765,000 in grants to reduce underage drinking
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approved almost $765,000 in grants to 44 schools, community organizations, municipalities and law enforcement organizations, among others, to reduce underage and dangerous drinking. The grant money will cover projects like enforcement patrols and tactics, awareness campaigns, educational efforts and alternative, alcohol-free activities. “Since 1999, the...
Police: North Versailles man tried to flush heroin, cocaine, pot at Indiana County hotel
State troopers say a man attempted to “flush” nearly five bricks of heroin, 24 grams of crack cocaine and a small amount of marijuana down the toilet at an Indiana County hotel Monday as they were closing in to serve a search warrant, according to court documents. But the alleged...
Forecasters predicting a hot and rainy Fourth of July
According to the National Weather Service, the flashes of light in the sky this Fourth of July are just as likely to be lightning as they are to be fireworks. As sustained hot weather continues, forecasters are predicting a 40% to 70% chance of daily and evening thunderstorms through Saturday...
Some Fayette County townships under boil water advisory
Several townships in Fayette County are under a boil water advisory by the Mountain Watershed Association. The association placed part of their system in Nicholson, Georges and German townships under the advisory due to water loss and a leak, which have not yet been located, according to a news release....
Pa. moves to shut down Erie Coke plant, citing violations
ERIE — State environmental regulators are moving to shut down a coke plant in northwestern Pennsylvania, citing “years of numerous repetitive environmental violations.” The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said Monday it has denied Erie Coke Corporation’s application to renew its operating permit and filed a complaint in Erie County...
Suspect arrested in Somerset Dollar Tree robbery
State police have arrested a man suspected of robbing a Somerset Township Dollar Tree at knifepoint Saturday. John Joseph Sigado, 34, of Washington is charged with robbery and related charges. He was placed in the Somerset County Jail on $150,000 cash bail. Troopers said Sigado entered the Somerset Township store...
