Regional category, Page 38
Bird flu affecting more than 600 birds at Butler County farm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed Butler County’s first case of bird flu. The virus was detected in a backyard flock of 610 birds. The USDA confirmed the infection on Feb. 20. It classified the farm, which was not identified by the USDA, as a kind that does not...
Alcoa CEO predicts Trump aluminum tariffs will cost 100,000 jobs
Bill Oplinger, CEO of Pittsburgh-based aluminum producer Alcoa, warned Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s 25% import tax on aluminum could kill off around 100,000 U.S jobs. “This is bad for the aluminum industry in the U.S. It’s bad for American workers,” Oplinger told a crowd at a metals and mining...
Nippon to meet with federal officials in bid to salvage U.S. Steel deal
Nippon Steel plans to meet with federal officials to work out a solution to the U.S. Steel takeover, and will use the existing merger agreement as a starting point in negotiations. The Japanese steelmaker’s chief operating officer, Tadashi Imai, unveiled the plan to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. Imai’s stance...
Penn State to close some branch campuses; New Kensington, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Beaver at risk
Penn State officials have made it clear that it will close some of its branch campuses, and all four of those in Southwestern Pennsylvania are among those that might close. University President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement Tuesday that she expects a final recommendation to be announced no later...
Ending diversity push or fueling student anxiety? Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance sparks debate
The Trump administration’s plan to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives on college campuses has sent universities scrambling to determine how to follow the guidelines or risk losing federal funding. Local colleges said they still are considering how to respond to U.S. Department of Education demands issued Feb....
Penn State breaks THON fundraising record with over $17 million
For the first time ever, Penn State’s THON fundraising total surpassed $17 million raised in the fight against pediatric cancer. The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon’s exact total was $17,737,040.93 — beating THON 2024’s record-breaking total of $16,955,683.63 by more than $780,000, the university announced Sunday. View this post on Instagram A...
Paralyzed man narrowly escapes fire that killed 3 in Kittanning
One of the people who survived a massive duplex fire that killed three people in Kittanning said he was able to get out because a boy knocked on his door to alert him to the blaze. “We had just enough time to get out,” Robert Campbell said. Surveying the damage...
Firearms meet varying fates after moving through law enforcement
From 2022 to the end of last year, Pittsburgh police took in more than 2,700 firearms used in crimes, some confiscated via court order and others simply turned in by people who didn’t want them anymore. But only a little more than 570 of those guns were destroyed. Almost 650...
How pet blood donors are saving lives
Usually, when someone’s pet is in the veterinary hospital, it’s a stressful time — something is wrong, and it’s gone beyond the usual vet visit. But on Feb. 15 at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Ohio Township, Ashleah Stone wasn’t worried at all about her 7-year-old greyhound, J.B. That’s because J.B....
Bartender at the Aliquippa VFW wanted on charges tied to brutal, prolonged attack
An arrest warrant has been issued for a third person in connection with a brutal beating at a Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge in Aliquippa. City police said Ireland Brown, 21, of Ambridge was bartending at the time of the Jan. 5 attack, according to a post on the department’s...
Recent spate of plane crashes has made some travelers wary to fly
Nancy Philpot lost two of her former Westinghouse co-workers in the 1994 USAir Flight 427 crash near Hopewell, Beaver County, which killed all 132 passengers on board. Though she was initially hesitant to board an airplane once again, she eventually got over her fear. But after the past few weeks,...
Warmup could mean bumpy roads as crews struggle to keep up with potholes
Get ready to dodge more potholes. As temperatures are expected to surge from the mid-20s to above 50 degrees by Monday, it could create more potholes on roads, sidewalks, parking lots and other paved areas, experts say. The freeze-thaw cycle isn’t a secret enemy of pavement, but this winter’s temperature...
Smoother rides ahead: Pa. takes step toward revamping Breezewood interchange
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has taken a first step in redesigning the Breezewood interchange to provide a direct link for motorists who want to exit the turnpike and head south to Maryland on Interstate 70. Turnpike officials this week announced Alfred Benesch and Company, which has offices in Cranberry and...
Western Pa. picked baby names Oliver, Olivia most in 2024
When it comes to baby names, the O’s have it. Across Allegheny Health Network in Western Pennsylvania, O names rose to the top of people’s lists in 2024 — specifically Oliver for boys and Olivia for girls. Across AHN’s maternity care units, those were the two most popular names given...
Snow may impact evening commute more than morning, forecasters say
Snowfall Thursday may have a greater impact on the evening commute than in the morning, according to the National Weather Service. Less than an inch of snow is expected through the morning hours, meteorologist Jason Frazier said. As of about 5:30 a.m., snow was seen sticking primarily to side roads....
‘He’s back’: Marc Fogel lands at Pittsburgh airport in quiet homecoming
Marc Fogel is home. Fogel, 63, landed shortly after 5 p.m. Monday at Pittsburgh International Airport. “He’s back,” said Allegheny County police spokesman Jim Madalinsky. “We helped escort him through the airport.” Fogel was released Feb. 11 after three-and-a-half years in captivity. After a visit to the White House last...
Point State Park tops the list of most-visited in the region in 2024
It’s probably no surprise that Point State Park was the most visited state park in the region in 2024, according to statistics released by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. With sweeping city, river and bridge views, the park provides 36 acres of green space while preserving its place...
Morning Roundup: Subzero windchills cause school delays; shots fired in Shadyside
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025: Subzero windchills prompt school delays Windchills below zero prompted school districts across the Pittsburgh region to delay the start of classes Tuesday. While no snow is expected and sunshine is in the forecast, it’s forecast...
Proposed Pa. minimum wage hike is bitter pill for many business owners
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by more than 100% — from $7.25 to $15 an hour — is being panned by area business owners. Most say they already pay workers more than the minimum wage, and the rate should be set by the market, not by...
Dangerous cold in the forecast, blizzard warning for parts of region
Bundle up, Pittsburgh. A blizzard warning, subzero wind chills and dangerously frigid weather is forecast all week for much of the greater Pittsburgh region. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning Monday for areas of Westmoreland and Fayette counties until 3 p.m., with expected wind gusts up to 35...
Heavy rain brings flood warnings for region; snow expected in afternoon
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for parts of Western Pennsylvania. Rain is expected to increase Sunday morning and early afternoon, creating conditions for potential flooding in parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler and Westmoreland counties. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen over the last...
Inside Western Pennsylvania’s thriving sword-fighting community
A sword is the draw. Each participant carries a 48- to 52-inch saber into the former Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in East Deer for Friday Night Fights where, two by two, they enter a ring wearing gear representative of medieval times. They are prepared to attack their opponent —...
Art show in Butler honors Marc Fogel’s return from Russian prison
Throughout Marc Fogel’s 3½ years of imprisonment in Russia, members of Pittsburgh’s arts community rallied together to bring attention to the cause of the Butler native. They hosted the “Make a Marc” event in spring 2023, which included 90 artists and 1,000 visitors. In September, they participated in an event...
Saturday morning snow disrupts travel across Western Pa.
Roads throughout Western Pennsylvania were closed or saw traffic restrictions as a result of early morning storm that dumped an inch or two of snow throughout the region. Emergency dispatchers in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties reported numerous crashes. Route 30 near Greengate Center in Hempfield was among the roadways where...
Pennsylvania man honored for more than 5 decades of refereeing basketball
No matter what call a referee makes, someone is going to be unhappy. So, when a basketball game was stopped Feb. 3 to cheer for an official, it was a rare occurrence. “It was a touching moment and brought tears to my eyes,” said Bernie Mackowski, 76, of Erie, who...
