Top Stories category, Page 1301
Westmoreland County sets new coronavirus mark with 228 additional cases
Westmoreland County added more than 200 new coronavirus cases for the second time in a week, setting a new high with 228 on Wednesday. The new cases bring the county’s total to 6,649, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The previous high was 207 reported last Thursday. Of the...
6 Western Pa. counties set new highs as Pa. reports record new coronavirus cases
Six counties in southwestern Pennsylvania experienced their highest single-day coronavirus case totals, as the state set another record for most new cases in a single day on Wednesday. Pennsylvania added 6,339 new positive cases, raising the state’s total to 281,852. The previous high of 5,900 was set Tuesday. Allegheny, Armstrong,...
Kennywood introduces chaperone policy for guests under 18
Kennywood Park announced a chaperone policy beginning with the opening of the 2021 season. Anyone under 18 years of age who enters after 4 p.m. must be accompanied by someone 21 or older, who is also a paying customer. In the past few years there have been incidents — from...
Time to string the lights: Temperatures to reach 60s in Western Pa.
From snow flurries to 60s in a couple of days, this week’s weather is proving to be a late-autumn roller coaster ride. The National Weather Service is predicting warmer than usual temperatures in the 60 degree or above range through Sunday. It appears to be part of the dry weather...
Allegheny County sets another record for new coronavirus cases
Allegheny County set another high for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday. There were 620 new covid-19 cases, bringing the county’s total to 21,434, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Of the new cases, 506 are confirmed and 114 probable from 2,797 PCR tests. The new cases put the daily...
A rusty Giuliani returns to the courtroom on Trump’s behalf
WILLIAMSPORT — Representing a client inside a courtroom for the first time in nearly three decades, Rudy Giuliani showed some rust as he tried to make the case that President Donald Trump has been robbed of re-election. The former federal prosecutor and New York City mayor, who has taken over...
Biden’s DIY transition proceeds without Trump assistance
WILMINGTON, Del. — President Donald Trump’s refusal to cooperate with his successor is forcing President-elect Joe Biden to seek unusual workarounds to prepare for the exploding public health threat and evolving national security challenges he will inherit in just nine weeks. Blocked from the official intelligence briefing traditionally afforded to...
FAA clears Boeing 737 Max to fly again
After nearly two years and a pair of deadly crashes, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is clearing Boeing’s 737 Max for flight. The nation’s air safety agency announced the move early Wednesday, saying it was done after a comprehensive and methodical 20-month review process. Regulators around the world grounded the Max...
Almost 7 pounds of suspected cocaine seized during Pa. Turnpike traffic stop in Hempfield
A Detroit man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after state police said they found almost seven pounds of suspected cocaine hidden in his car, according to court papers. Kenneth Johnson, 36, is charged with two drug offenses. A trooper was patrolling the Pennsylvania Turnpike Monday afternoon in...
Pfizer says covid-19 shot 95% effective, seeking clearance soon
Pfizer said Wednesday that new test results show its coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective, is safe and also protects older people most at risk of dying — the last data needed to seek emergency use of limited shot supplies as the catastrophic outbreak worsens across the globe. The announcement from...
Pitt chosen to lead NIH trials in covid-19 care for patients with blood clots
One of the many ways in which covid-19 wreaks havoc on the human body is by helping to cause abnormal blood clotting. A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes covid-19, seems to release mysterious antibodies that mistakenly attack the...
Oakmont Bakery closes its indoor dining, modifies hours due to rising covid cases
Oakmont Bakery officials have closed the bakery’s indoor dining areas and reduced operational hours due to rising covid-19 cases, according to the shop’s website. The bakery will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The cafe will be...
Live! Casino holds ribbon-cutting ceremonyVideo
VIPs got a glitzy first look of the new Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall at an invite-only ribbon-cutting party Tuesday ahead of the full opening next week. The guest list included state and local lawmakers along with their family and friends, who were among the first to gamble...
Federal judge to consider whether to dismiss case filed by Trump campaign in Pa.
A federal judge said he will take under advisement whether to grant a motion to dismiss a complaint filed by Trump for President against the Pennsylvania secretary of state and seven individual counties. Argument before U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann lasted about four hours Tuesday and featured the newest Trump...
Detroit-area county certifies vote after initially blocking itVideo
DETROIT — Michigan’s largest county reversed course and unanimously certified its presidential election results Tuesday night after Republicans first blocked the move in a party-line vote that threatened to temporarily stall official approval of Democrat Joe Biden’s win in the state. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers acted after the...
Trump fires Chris Krebs, head of DHS election security agency
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the director of the federal agency that vouched for the reliability of the 2020 election. Trump fired Christopher Krebs in a tweet, saying his recent statement defending the security of the election was “highly inaccurate.” The firing of Krebs, a Trump appointee...
Allegheny County Judge Tranquilli resigns before misconduct trial
On the eve of his misconduct trial, Allegheny County Judge Mark V. Tranquilli has resigned, his attorney said Tuesday. Tranquilli had been accused of making racist remarks about a juror. The judge, who won a seat on the court in 2013, was accused of six separate misconduct counts from his...
Shoppers stock up on supplies as covid-19 cases climb againVideo
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the area in the spring, there was a mad dash to grocery stores to stockpile on essential supplies — and as cases spike, it may be happening again. In the early days of the pandemic, baking supplies, paper products and cleaning staples were in short...
About 100 Pittsburgh police officers in quarantine over covid-19 concerns
At least 100 Pittsburgh police officers are in quarantine because of possible covid-19 exposures, and one Public Safety employee has been hospitalized, officials said Tuesday. Nine officers, nine firefighters and three EMS employees are currently positive for the virus, spokesman Chris Togneri said in a statement. He said others –...
Trump cuts troop levels to 2,500 in Iraq and Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Tuesday the U.S. will reduce troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by mid-January, asserting that the decision fulfills President Donald Trump’s pledge to bring forces home from America’s long wars even as Republicans and U.S. allies warn of the dangers of withdrawing...
Pennsylvania expands mask mandate as coronavirus cases rise
New orders from Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health expand on an April order mandating masks be worn in public, extending the conditions under which one must be worn to include indoors when with anyone outside their household. The orders, which also give further guidance to hospitals and colleges, are meant to...
Twitter, Facebook CEOs defend election actions, promise more
WASHINGTON — The CEOs of Twitter and Facebook on Tuesday defended their safeguards against disinformation in the presidential election, and promised Congress they would take vigorous action for two special elections in Georgia that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark...
Pa. Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign claim that Republicans lacked access to Philly vote count
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Republican monitors observing vote counting in Philadelphia were given sufficient access under state law to view the proceedings. In a 5-2 decision, the court overturned a lower court decision that ordered monitors with President Donald Trump’s campaign be allowed within 6 feet of...
Pennsylvania sets another record for new covid-19 cases, nearly 6,000 cases reported
Pennsylvania reported 5,900 new covid-19 cases Tuesday, the new high for daily cases in the state. With the new cases, the seven-day case total stands at 36,856 for the period of Nov. 11 through Tuesday. The seven-day case average is 5,265. Both figures are new records in Pennsylvania. There were...
Westmoreland County sees highest 7-day total of new covid-19 cases
With Tuesday’s figures, Westmoreland County set new highs for the seven-day covid-19 case total and seven-day case average. Cases from Nov. 11 to Tuesday are 1,128 and average new daily cases are 161 over that time. There were 155 new covid-19 cases and two deaths reported Tuesday. Total cases and...
