Top Stories category, Page 1229
New covid cases continue to decline in Allegheny County
Allegheny County continues to see a decline in the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths associated with covid-19. The county added 394 new cases of coronavirus over the past two days, according to county’s Health Department. That’s more than 12% fewer new cases than a week ago (450) and...
Officials: 2 dead in Texas as subfreezing cold sweeps U.S.Video
AUSTIN, Texas — A sprawling blast of winter weather across the U.S. is likely to blame for the deaths of two people in Texas, where an unusually snowy emergency Monday knocked out power for more than four million people, shut down grocery stores and air travel and closed schools ahead...
Doctors’ groups disagree with Pennsylvania on limiting who can administer covid-19 vaccine
PHILADELPHIA — Physician groups say they are “deeply troubled” that the Pennsylvania Department of Health plans to remove primary care providers from the list of those permitted to administer the covid-19 vaccine. “This is a time when we need all hands on deck so we can get the majority of...
Old industrial sites along Great Allegheny Passage Trail to get historical markers
The sites of former steel mills and other long-gone vestiges of the region’s industrial might from Homestead to McKeesport will be emblazoned with historical markers along the Great Allegheny Passage trail. Rivers of Steel, a nonprofit focusing on the region’s industrial history, awarded an almost $4,000 grant to the Regional...
Support grows for Capitol riot inquiry after Trump acquittalVideo
WASHINGTON — After what one called a “heartbreaking” verdict, House prosecutors who argued for Donald Trump’s conviction of inciting the U.S. Capitol riot said Sunday they had proved their case and railed against the Senate’s Republican leader and most of his colleagues for “trying to have it both ways” in...
4 dead in Route 30 head-on collision in North Huntingdon
Three members of the Vietnamese community in Westmoreland County who were returning home from a Lunar New Year Mass at a church in Pittsburgh were killed Sunday in a head-on collision along Route 30 in North Huntingdon, a friend of the victims said. The three women died after their eastbound...
PennDot, Pa. Turnpike issue restrictions ahead of winter storm
A winter storm expected to dump several inches of snow across the region is spurring restrictions by PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, speed and vehicle restrictions will be mandated along the PA Turnpike in both directions from Breezewood to the Ohio border, the entire...
Winter storm won’t halt plans for covid-19 vaccines at Allegheny County sites
Allegheny County Health Department planned to continue dispensing covid-19 vaccinations Monday and Tuesday, despite a winter storm that is expected to drop snow and ice across the region. Clinics are expected to be open Monday in Monroeville and Tuesday in Monroeville and Castle Shannon — although the schedule of appointments...
Police investigate Brighton Heights stabbing
A man is in critical condition after a stabbing Sunday in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights section, authorities said. Police responded to a call just before 3:15 p.m. to the 3800 block of California Avenue. Officers found a man who had been stabbed in the neck. He was taken to the hospital...
2 women transform historic Buffalo Township barn into event venueVideo
Two local women are transforming a historic Buffalo Township barn into an event venue that will host weddings and other private events. Cathy Burnheimer and Jessica Krynicki are set to launch Avenue in Sarver in June, though couples can tour the venue and book event dates now. The barn, Krynicki...
Impeachment isn’t the final word on Capitol riot for Donald TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s acquittal at his second impeachment trial may not be the final word on whether he’s to blame for the deadly Capitol riot. The next step for the former president could be the courts. Now a private citizen, Trump is stripped of his protection from legal liability...
Pa.’s lack of data prevents tracking of racial, ethnic disparities in vaccine distribution
Despite numerous studies predicting the likelihood of racial disparities and a supposed focus on equity in the rollout, Pennsylvania’s data tracking race and ethnicity in vaccine distribution currently is lacking. More than a month into the state’s vaccine rollout, about 34% of race data as it relates to distribution is...
Greensburg mom is among those who shortened hospital stay after giving birth because of pandemic
Francis Regis Johns IV was born at 8:50 a.m. Jan. 10. By 8 p.m. on Jan. 11, he was comfortably at his Greensburg home. “He was good, and I was feeling good, so the best option was to come home,” said Francis’ mother Sarah Johns. UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland...
On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun lawsVideo
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sorrow reverberated across the country Sunday as Americans, including President Joe Biden, joined a Florida community in remembering the 17 lives lost three years ago in the Parkland school shooting massacre. “In seconds, the lives of dozens of families, and the life of an American community, were...
Average U.S. virus cases dip below 100K for 1st time in months
ATLANTA — Average daily new coronavirus cases in the United States dipped below 100,000 in recent days for the first time in months, but experts cautioned Sunday that infections remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place. The seven-day rolling average of new infections was well...
Updated winter storm forecast calls for less snow, more ice in Pittsburgh region
On Valentine’s Day, National Weather Service meteorologists predicted that the Pittsburgh region could once again be the victim of the dreaded “wintry mix,” when frigid air and heavy snow mix with warmer air and chilly rain to bring a coating of freezing rain. The Pittsburgh region can expect 2-4 inches...
Watch Dooker’s Hollow Bridge implosion in North BraddockVideo
Dooker’s Hollow Bridge stood for 80 years, but it barely took a minute for 96 expertly placed explosive charges to bring it down on Saturday. Placing the explosives for the bridge’s implosion is technical work done using a large crane, Allegheny County Public Works officials said. Recent snow and windy...
Pitcairn man, 21, dies following Parkway off-ramp crash in Wilkins
A Pitcairn man was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning when he crashed after driving off the side of a Parkway East off-ramp in Wilkins Township, county officials said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said Willie Rozier, 21, of Pitcairn, died of injuries sustained when his car...
Emergency officials: Icy roads causing accidents across Pittsburgh region
Valentine’s Day is off to a slippery start, with freezing rain overnight creating dangerous road conditions and causing crashes and stranded vehicles across southwestern Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh emergency officials are urging residents to avoid driving in the city of Pittsburgh on Sunday morning due to icy conditions and a large number...
ATV/snowmobile fever: Westmoreland, Allegheny lead Pennsylvania in registrations
As the U.S. Forest Service has opened up ATV and off-road vehicle permits for the Allegheny National Forest, the state reports that its licenses for these sports vehicles continue to trend upwards. The U.S. Forest Service offers permits for off-road vehicles to use federal forests, including the region’s closest federal...
With covid cases dropping, more Westmoreland school districts opt to reopen classrooms
As new covid cases continue to drop in Westmoreland County and it appears a post-holiday coronavirus spike has been dodged, several area school districts have brought students back to classrooms — with more planning such a return. Students at Greater Latrobe, Jeannette and Yough have returned to school after using...
Groups ramping up for covid-style fish fry fundraisersVideo
As the pandemic closed in last year, fish fry organizers at St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon scrambled to establish a drive-thru plan for an expected large crowd of hungry patrons. Volunteers set up traffic cones to direct drivers and gave the drive-thru a shot in addition to the regular...
‘Couplehood’: North Huntingdon couple celebrates 70 years of marriage
Family had planned to gather in December to celebrate Henry and Patricia Heer, a North Huntingdon couple who have been married 70 years. The event never happened, another casualty of the covid-19 pandemic. “Not being able to celebrate this memorable anniversary due to covid was not what they would have...
‘Silence of the Lambs’ turns 30 — celebrate by spending the night in ‘Buffalo Bill’s house’Video
Buffalo Bill never told Clarice he had a nice big pool out back. To be fair, the fictional serial killer and main villain in the 1991 thriller-horror film “The Silence of the Lambs” was busy doing other, more terrible things. But for fans of the frightening classic, released 30 years...
Sen. Pat Toomey breaks with Republicans to vote for Trump’s conviction
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., voted Saturday to convict former President Donald J. Trump in his second impeachment trial. Toomey is one of seven Republican senators who voted “guilty” on the charge of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. All 50 Democratic senators voted to convict. But...
