Top Stories category, Page 1365
Westmoreland County looks to fight ‘brain drain’ caused by department head resignations
Westmoreland County lost five of its top administrators this year through resignations and retirements, creating what one official called a “brain drain” in local government. The latest to leave was Amanda Bernard, who resigned as the county’s human resources director in late August to take a similar job with a...
Eric Trump coming to Washington, Pa. on Thursday
Eric Trump will visit Washington County on Thursday, Sept. 10 to campaign for his father during a “Make America Great” event. President Trump’s campaign website has announced that Eric Trump will visit the American Legion Post 175 in Washington at 2 p.m. The event’s doors open at 1 p.m. and...
Uniontown police investigating teen’s fatal shooting in apparent drive-by killing
A teenager was shot dead while sitting with friends in a parked car outside a Uniontown home on Friday night, police said. Police found Kaii McCargo, 19, shot twice in “vital parts of his body” and laying in the yard at a house along the 100 block of Evans Street,...
Westmoreland Labor Day craft show a major draw on weekend of limited festivities
Scores of art and crafts and food vendors plied their wares to shoppers Saturday on the opening day of a three-day festival at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds. The 27th annual Pennsylvania Labor Day Arts & Crafts Retail Marketplace, which features 150 vendors spread across the 100-acre fairgrounds, is among a handful...
Plum man dies in motorcycle crash
A Plum man died Saturday after crashing his motorcycle late Friday in the borough , according to an Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s report. Ryan Thomas Connelly, 22, crashed in the 3000 block of Leechburg Road at 11:55 p.m., according to the medical examiner. Details about the crash were not readily...
Why you can’t get a quick, simple, at-home covid-19 test
SAN JOSE, Calif. — There’s a covid-19 test that is as routine, simple and quick as brushing your teeth. But it’s not legal for widespread use. Yet. Frustrated by restrictions on an approach that could ease the pandemic, the Bay Area tech community is helping lead a growing national effort...
Pittsburgh police say driver fled scene of head-on crash, abandoned 4-year-old inside; girl critical
The driver of a vehicle involved in a crash Friday night on Frankstown Road fled the scene, leaving a 4-year-old girl alone inside, according to Pittsburgh police. Police said two vehicles appeared to have crashed head-on near the 8500 block of Frankstown Road just after midnight. Officials said the child...
Pennsylvania reports 963 new coronavirus cases, 18 new deaths
Pennsylvania on Saturday reported 963 new coronavirus cases — a 72-case jump from yesterday’s 891. The state Department of Health reported 18 new deaths attributed to the coronavirus after posting 10 on Friday. Thursday’s total of 20 deaths was the highest of the week. No new deaths were reported Monday....
Allegheny County announces 68 new coronavirus cases, 26 new hospitalizations
Allegheny County on Saturday recorded 68 new coronavirus cases and 26 new hospitalizations. The county now has a total of 10,709 cases of covid-19, according to data from the Allegheny County Health Department. The new hospitalizations bring that total to 1,026 since the virus was first reported in Allegheny County...
Pence to campaign in Westmoreland and Beaver counties Sept. 9
Vice President Mike Pence will campaign in Western Pennsylvania on Wednesday, as President Trump’s reelection effort continues its focus on swing state voters. Pence is scheduled to appear at events in Murrysville and New Sewickley in Beaver County. The two stops, less than a week after Trump’s rally at the...
VALarena in North Apollo plans to reopen, but owners want to sell and keep it a roller rinkVideo
Although the doors are closed, the disco ball still shimmers on the sky-blue cement floor of the VALarena roller rink in North Apollo. A recent Facebook post by the owners announcing their imminent retirement put the public in a tailspin. The post reached more than 17,000 people. Generations of roller...
Outer Banks sees low covid-19 numbers; remains popular vacation spot despite pandemic
Counties that make up the Outer Banks barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina have mostly been spared by the covid-19 pandemic, and Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday moved the state into the next phase of the tiered reopening plan. The next phase, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, is...
Flash sale: Pa. offers $1 fishing licenses for Labor Day only
Knowing that good weather is in store for the holiday weekend, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission at the last minute is offering $1 fishing licenses for Labor Day, Sept. 7, only. However, there is one caveat: the Fish and Boat Commission are reminding anglers and boaters to practice safe...
Western Pa. veterans divided by report Trump disparaged military
Local veterans are divided in their reactions to a report President Trump disparaged fallen service members, with some defending the president’s record and others condemning his attitude toward the military. “If he said that, and I don’t know if it’s true or not, but if he said it he doesn’t...
Hyundai now says recalled vehicles should be parked outside
DETROIT — Hyundai has reversed itself on a recall to fix a defect that could cause engine fires and is now telling owners of more than 200,000 vehicles to park them outdoors until repairs are made. The company, along with affiliated South Korean automaker Kia, on Thursday said they were...
Pa. to distribute $300 weekly jobless benefit checks next week
The state said it will start next week to distribute the $300 weekly checks the Trump administration approved as the replacement for the $600-a-week benefits the jobless received before that funding expired at the end of July. The money from the federal Lost Wages Assistance program will be distributed to...
Scaffolding atop of Gulf Tower’s pyramid signals 2-year restoration will end soonVideo
Plenty of people driving past the Gulf Tower are wondering what’s going on at the tippy-top of the pyramid crowning the 44-story skyscraper in Downtown Pittsburgh. Scaffolding is obscuring the view of the top of the stepped pyramid during the day and altering the look of the colored LED lights...
Oakmont family to stand trial in toddler’s death
The last months of 3-year-old Bella Seachrist’s life were spent stationary, allegedly forced to sit for so long on her training potty that her feet became swollen and purple, detectives testified Friday at a preliminary hearing for the three adults charged with her homicide. The girl’s father, Jose Salazar-Ortiz, his...
Feds terminate ventilator contract with Philips Respironics that had drawn criticism
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently terminated multiple contracts to add ventilators to the country’s Strategic National Stockpile. And, while federal health officials say they now have enough ventilators to meet maximum national capacity in a crisis, one of the terminated contracts — awarded to Philips Respironics,...
Wendy Bell taken off the air by KDKA Radio
KDKA Radio has taken controversial afternoon talk show host Wendy Bell off the air, effective immediately, after comments she made advocating for park rangers to “shoot on sight” people defacing public monuments. A statement on the station’s website from its owner, Entercom Communications, stated her afternoon drive show has been...
Greensburg man jailed without bond for bomb threat
A Greensburg man who threatened to blow up the Westmoreland County Courthouse was arrested Thursday by city police on multiple criminal charges and ordered held without bond. David R. Aaron Jr., 25, was charged with two counts of making terroristic threats and making a bomb threat and is in the...
Westmoreland County sees lowest week of new covid cases in nearly 3 months
Westmoreland County saw 10 new cases of coronavirus added to its total Friday, capping a week in which the county saw the lowest number of new instances since mid-June. The new cases, reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, make 72 new coronavirus cases in the county in the past...
Ex-Steeler scores big renovating Mt. Washington homeVideo
Any Pittsburgh Steelers looking to buy a house? A former teammate may have just the deal for you. Ian Wild, a veteran of the Canadian Football League who spent the 2015 preseason with the Black and Gold, is selling a Mt. Washington home with sweeping views of downtown Pittsburgh —...
Allegheny County caps week of uptick in covid infections with 92 new cases
Allegheny County capped a week of higher covid-19 cases by adding another 92 cases Friday, according to a report from the county’s health department. The new cases — 79 of which were confirmed, 13 probable — bumped the county’s seven-day average to 73 per day, 20 more than the average...
Steelers’ Ryan Shazier takes stadium seats to fans in new Pepsi videoVideo
Pepsi gives a nod to a pair of Pittsburgh Steelers fans missing the Heinz Field experience this year in a new video as part of the soft drink maker’s national “Made For Football Watching” campaign. In the 4-minute “Every Game Is a Home Game” video, Ryan Shazier, who played linebacker...
