Top Stories category, Page 1409
Latrobe banana split fest goes virtual with pageant, race
As summer nears an end, Latrobe will feature entertainment and competitions as well as crown a princess as part of its annual Great American Banana Split Celebration. But this year, because of the covid-19 pandemic, people will visit online on Aug. 25 to enjoy a virtual version of the festival....
Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days festival rescheduled for fallVideo
Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days have been rescheduled. The four-day Italian festival is now planned for Oct. 8-11, producer Sal Richetti said Monday. Richetti made the decision last week because of the ever-changing restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. “I’ve been monitoring the situation and because of all the restrictions, I felt...
Westmoreland adds 21 new covid-19 cases
There were 21 new cases added to Westmoreland County’s total covid-19 count on Monday. To date, there have been 1,174 cases of coronavirus in Westmoreland County. There were no new deaths reported, which leaves the death toll at 40. Among those testing positive, 20 of the new cases have been...
Pennsylvania adds 711 new coronavirus cases
Pennsylvania on Monday continued its run of days with new cases counts in the 700s. With 711 new cases of covid-19, the state has now posted a count in the 700s in four out of the past five days. To date, there have been 101,738 cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania....
Derry Township woman killed after gun apparently shot outside her homeVideo
A Derry Township woman was killed Monday when she was struck by a bullet apparently fired from outside her home, according to Trooper Steve Limani. State police are investigating the death of 52-year-old Tracy Marie Squib as a homicide. “It appears … that the gunshot came from outside the house,...
Pittsburgh voices featured on CNN series
Some voices of Southwestern Pennsylvania were featured Sunday night in the CNN series “United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell.” Bell, a sociopolitical comedian and author, hosts the Emmy-winning series, which explores unique aspects of racism throughout the nation. In its fifth season, the documentary-style show tackles the topic...
2 accused of stealing $45K in state payments for providing care for Avonmore man
Two women are accused by police of taking $45,000 in payments from the state Department of Human Services for work they didn’t do while acting as caregivers for an Avonmore man, according to agents from the Attorney General’s office. Joan L. Foley, 64, of Avonmore, and her daughter Christie Lee...
Allegheny County adds 172 covid-19 cases, with 4 new hospitalizations
For the third straight day, Allegheny County health officials announced less than 200 new cases. Monday’s report of 172 new cases brings the total in Allegheny County to 6,435. Officials reported four new hospitalizations and no new deaths. So far, 512 residents have been hospitalized, while 208 have died. The...
Body of West Mifflin man found in Youghiogheny River
First responders on Monday recovered the body of a West Mifflin man from the Youghiogheny River in Rostraver. Craig A. Helsel, 53, of West Mifflin was recovered by a rescue team shortly before 11 a.m., according to Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner Joshua Zappone. He was pronounced dead at the scene....
How to see comet NEOWISE in Pittsburgh area
It’s a sight you won’t get a chance to see again. Not unless you live another 6,800 years. It’s the ball of ice, rock and dust that everyone is talking about: a fuzzy-looking star with a tail otherwise known as comet NEOWISE. To see it, start to look below the...
Greensburg drops health inspections, sending restaurants to state
The City of Greensburg is no longer conducting health inspections of restaurants or food trucks. Starting this month, eatery owners must contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to arrange inspections, then file the results with the city. Owners will pay about the same under the new process, which will streamline...
Pitt student engineers, Habitat for Humanity partner to make video for Bolivian village
Members of the University of Pittsburgh’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders toiled in the heat Saturday and Sunday to help make life better for people nearly 4,000 miles away. The group gathered to build a reinforced concrete slab at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in New Kensington as part of...
‘Men’s rights’ lawyer eyed in shooting of New Jersey judge’s family
A self-described “anti-feminist” lawyer found dead in the Catskills of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound is being investigated as the possible gunman in the shooting of a federal judge’s family in New Jersey, two officials with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press. Roy Den Hollander, who received media...
Police reopen Pa. Turnpike right lane in Mt. Pleasant after tractor trailer crashVideo
State police reopened the right lane of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mount Pleasant Township at 10 p.m. Sunday when a tractor trailer collided with a van just before 8 p.m., said Trooper Justin Summa. An emergency medical helicopter landed near the turnpike to transport the driver of the van to...
PennDOT antes up another $3 million to upgrade road at doorstep of proposed $70 million biz park in Harrison
The state announced it will pay $3 million to modify Route 366 (Bull Creek Road) just off Route 28’s Tarentum exit to pave the way for an estimated $70 million, 162-acre business park planned just over the border in Harrison. The business park, known as Harrison Point, still has numerous...
GOP leaders, Trump to discuss coronavirus aid as crisis deepensVideo
WASHINGTON — Top Republicans in Congress were expecting to meet Monday with President Donald Trump on the next covid-19 aid package as the administration panned more virus testing money and interjected other priorities that could complicate quick passage. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was prepared to roll out the $1...
United Arab Emirates: Amal functioning after launch to MarsVideo
TOKYO — A United Arab Emirates spacecraft rocketed away Monday on a seven-month journey to Mars, kicking off the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission. The liftoff of the Mars orbiter named Amal, or Hope, from Japan marked the start of a rush to fly to Earth’s neighbor that includes attempts...
Big Burrito Restaurant Group closes specialty restaurants because of covid-19 dining restrictions
Big Burrito Restaurant Group temporarily closed all of its specialty restaurants on Saturday due to newly imposed coronavirus-related restrictions, its president said. The specialty restaurants are Alta Via, Casbah, Eleven, Kaya, Soba and Umi. President Bill Fuller said those restaurants “are not viable under current business conditions.” Mad Mex locations...
Man collapses at Sandcastle pool, section of park closed
A man was taken to a hospital after suffering a medical emergency while leaving a pool at Sandcastle Water Park on Sunday, a spokesman said. Spokesman Nick Paradise said park employees were alerted to the situation at 3:15 p.m., and lifeguards and paramedics responded immediately. The man was treated by...
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: Mask order may cover ‘a lot more counties’ this weekVideo
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio order requiring masks to be worn in public may include “a lot more counties” next week as the coronavirus continues to spread in the state, Gov. Mike DeWIne said Sunday. DeWine said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he is still considering a statewide mask...
Pittsburgh activists, influencers to appear on season 5 premiere of CNN documentary
Pittsburgh-area activists and influencers will appear on the CNN original series “United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell” at 10 p.m. Sunday. The Emmy-winning series, which returns for its fifth season on Sunday, follows comedian and political provocateur W. Kamau Bell as he explores communities across America to understand...
Greensburg bishop addresses flock ahead of September move to Cleveland Diocese
Barbara Piasecky of Hempfield was saddened by the news last week that Bishop Edward Malesic is slated to leave the Greensburg diocese to serve in the same role for the larger Catholic community in Cleveland. Initially, she said, “it was a gut punch.” But she was more at peace with...
Trump not ready to commit to election results if he loses
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is refusing to publicly commit to accepting the results of the upcoming White House election, recalling a similar threat he made weeks before the 2016 vote, as he scoffs at polls showing him lagging behind Democrat Joe Biden. Trump says it’s too early to make...
Westmoreland County sees 18 new coronavirus cases
On Sunday, Westmoreland County saw 18 new cases of covid-19, but no additional deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The new cases bring the total to 1,153 cases in the county since the virus was first reported there on March 20. The death toll stands at 40. The...
Pennsylvania reports 786 new cases, 8 new coronavirus deaths
The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s latest data added 786 new cases and eight new covid-19 deaths to the state totals on Sunday. The statewide totals now stand at 101,027 cases and 7,015 deaths. More than 926,352 people have tested negative for the virus, state numbers show. Westmoreland County saw an...
