Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1291
Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie to open on Pittsburgh’s South Side
A shuttered Mexican restaurant on the South Side will soon be home to pizza and rotisserie chicken. Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie restaurant has taken over the space on East Carson Street, with a planned opening ona March 10. The menu will feature 14- and 12-inch pizzas in New York style...
House passes Biden’s $1.9-trillion covid-19 relief bill
WASHINGTON — The House approved a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill in a win for President Joe Biden, even as top Democrats tried assuring agitated progressives that they’d revive their derailed drive to boost the minimum wage. The new president’s vision for flushing cash to individuals, businesses, states and cities...
Westmoreland looks for ways to stop decades-long population decline
Cora Jean Black doesn’t question why her once-white sheers are stained a “grizzly gray” that take up to six washes to restore their natural color. The reason whirs by her daily in the form of big rigs and dump trucks either traveling along the sea of highways that snake through...
Light of Life Rescue Mission moves to new, more spacious location on the North Side
The Light of Life Rescue Mission known for lending a hand to the homeless, is also extending its reach. It unveiled a new location on Wednesday that is much larger than the original one and can help it serve more people. “This has been 25 years in the making,” said...
‘Shark Tank’ circles back to highlight Murrysville company’s success story
The home page for Murrysville-based company FlexScreen has a concise message: “The world’s first and only flexible window screen.” It seems like such a simple concept, even company founder Joe Altieri couldn’t believe no one had done it. And his execution of it was so effective that he had multiple...
Several officials and business owners rally against a proposed PennDOT I-79 bridge tollVideo
A proposed toll to pay for a bridge widening project along I-79 in the South Fayette area is unnecessary and would cause undo hardship to motorists, as well as residents and business owners of several nearby communities, according to state and local officials. “This toll is a tax,” state Sen....
Despite pandemic, UPMC rakes in record-high $23.1 billion in 2020 revenue
The coronavirus pandemic did not thwart UPMC from raking in a record-high $23.1 billion in 2020 operating revenue — nearly $2.5 billion more than the nonprofit health system generated in 2019 and $10 billion more than it did five years ago, data released Friday show. UPMC Chief Financial Officer Ed...
Tennessee: Vaccines stolen, given to children in 1 county
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s top health officials revealed Friday that the state has requested federal law enforcement investigate alleged theft of coronavirus vaccine doses in the state’s most populous county. They also announced that a volunteer in Shelby County improperly vaccinated two children despite the shot not being cleared for...
U.S. advisers endorse single-shot covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson
WASHINGTON — U.S. health advisers endorsed a one-dose covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson on Friday, putting the nation on the cusp of adding an easier-to-use option to fight the pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to quickly follow the recommendation and make J&J’s shot the third vaccine...
Westmoreland County gets fewer covid vaccine doses than smaller counties; talks begin about regional health department
Pennsylvania Department of Health officials confirmed that Westmoreland County was shortchanged in the number of covid-19 vaccine doses allocated since December as local and regional leaders continue to highlight mounting issues with the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. County Commissioner Doug Chew said analysis of state data found that...
Philips Respironics to cut jobs at East Huntingdon repair, service center
Officials at Philips Respironics, a medical equipment manufacturer that produces ventilators and sleeping equipment, confirmed Friday that the company plans to close the sleep and respiratory care services at its East Huntingdon facility. A spokeswoman for the international manufacturer said the shutdown is part of an ongoing effort to “enhance...
Pa. health official: Still no timeline for next phase of covid vaccination processVideo
There remains no estimate on when Pennsylvania will move to the next phase of its vaccination plan, which includes a slew of essential workers as well as first responders and teachers, a health official said Friday. “I don’t think we’re putting out estimates at this point,” Health Department Senior Adviser...
John DeFazio, former Allegheny County Council president and pro wrestler, diesVideo
Former professional wrestler Johnny DeFazio, who parlayed his athletic prowess into a seat on the Allegheny County Council, died Friday morning. He was 80 and lived in Shaler. A cause of death was not yet known. DeFazio first made a name for himself as “Jumping Johnny DeFazio” on the popular...
U.S. implicates Saudi crown prince in Jamal Khashoggi’s killing
WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia’s crown prince likely approved the killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to a newly declassified U.S. intelligence report released Friday. The finding could escalate pressure on the Biden administration to hold the kingdom accountable for a murder that drew...
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady to step down from post
Scott Brady, U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania’s Western District, will resign from his post on Sunday, his office announced Friday. Brady’s announcement comes several weeks after the Biden administration asked for all Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys to resign, a traditional move with a new president. “Leading this office has been the greatest...
Pennsylvania reports most new covid cases in over a week
Pennsylvania reported the most additional covid-19 cases in about 10 days on Friday, according to data from the state Department of Health. There were 3,346 additional covid cases (2,722 confirmed, 624 probable), the most since 3,413 were reported Feb. 17. Another 69 covid-related deaths were reported, marking the ninth consecutive...
Westmoreland County covid hospitalizations hold steady over past week
Over the past eight days, the number of covid hospitalizations in Westmoreland County appear to have stabilized, according to data from the state Department of Health. Current covid-19 hospitalizations in the county were 115 on Friday. Since Feb. 19, the number of hospitalizations has not surpassed its current level, dropping...
Allegheny County sees most reported covid cases in a month — 1 from March 2020
Allegheny County reported the most additonal covid cases in over a month Friday, with at least one positive test coming from last March, according to the county Health Department. There were 412 additional covid-19 cases reported, the most since Jan. 23 (464 cases). Cases were mostly confirmed via PCR tests,...
TSA catches 2 guns in a day at Pittsburgh International, 7 so far this year
Twelve hours after security officers stopped a Texas woman with a loaded handgun at Pittsburgh International Airport, officers caught another handgun Thursday on a Monroeville woman who said she forgot the gun was in her purse. “This traveler’s forgetfulness was a careless mistake that will hit her wallet because, like...
Bipartisan bill to legalize marijuana introduced in Pa. Legislature
Marijuana legalization will get another chance in the Pennsylvania Legislature thanks to a new bipartisan bill. State Sens. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, and Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, this week introduced a bill that would allow those over the age of 21 to buy and use marijuana. It would also expunge the convictions...
Some Pa. school district leaders frustrated with return of standardized tests during pandemic
Gennaro Piraino Jr. said his distaste for state standardized tests has only grown in the past year, despite their absence. “Given the pandemic, what we know our students need to know and be able to do has become even more evident,” said Piraino, superintendent of Franklin Regional School District. “And...
1 hurt after pickup rear ends school bus in Hempfield
A pickup truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital Friday morning after apparently rear-ending a school bus in Hempfield. Township Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said firefighters from Grapeville, North Hempfield and Jeannette worked together for about 25 minutes to free the driver. Nine students aboard the Hempfield...
Studies suggest people with covid antibodies may only need 1 dose of vaccine
Two new studies suggest that people who have had coronavirus should still get vaccinated, but these studies also argue that one dose of a covid-19 vaccine may be enough to “supercharge” antibodies, The New York Times reported. These two studies join other recent findings that also suggest that people who...
FDA approves storing Pfizer vaccine at standard temperature
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given approval for the Pfizer covid-19 vaccination to be kept at standard freezer temperatures, alleviating some of the storage and transportation issues and making it easier to get the vaccine in arms. “Pfizer submitted data to the FDA to support this alternative temperature...
How to buy a wedding dress during a pandemicVideo
In the showroom at MB Bride & Special Occasion, Tracey Hess holds two essential devices for bridal-wear shopping these days: An iPhone is in her right hand and an iPad in her left. She positions the electronics with precision, so the people she’s connecting with virtually can see the dress...
