Top Stories category, Page 1419
Schools or bars? Opening classrooms may mean hard choices
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — President Donald Trump insists that schools reopen this fall. Many parents, educators, doctors and economists want the same thing. But getting children back to school safely could mean keeping high-risk spots like bars and gyms closed. A growing chorus of public health experts is urging federal, state...
1 hurt in Unity crash after vehicle catches fireVideo
A woman was airlifted to a hospital Thursday following a crash in Unity, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Firefighters were called to the 7:30 a.m. crash after a vehicle collided with a tree and reportedly caught fire near the intersection of Marguerite and Anna Goodman roads, the dispatcher said....
Teams search for ‘Glee’ star Naya Rivera at California lake
LOS ANGELES — Authorities were searching a Southern California lake Thursday for “Glee” star Naya Rivera a day after her 4-year-old son was found alone on a rented boat. More than 80 people using helicopters, drones, and all-terrain vehicles, including divers, were involved in the search, the Ventura County Sheriff’s...
Two teenagers accused of arson in blaze that destroyed facilities at Buena Vista pool in Elizabeth
Two 13-year-old teenagers were arrested Thursday by Elizabeth Township police for allegedly setting an early morning fire that severely damaged facilities at a township swimming pool. The fire started around 3:30 a.m. at the Buena Vista pool, which is owned and operated by the fire department. It destroyed a building...
Car-truck crash claims 1 in Pitcairn
A 28-year-old man was killed when his sedan collided with a utility truck Wednesday in Pitcairn. According to Allegheny County Police, who are helping to investigate the crash, the man was driving in the 300 block of Broadway Avenue at about 5:45 p.m. when his Mazda 6 crossed the center...
Wedding interrupted: Aviary offers tropical rain forest room for small weddings
Calling it a “Destination Elopement Close to Home,” the National Aviary is opening up its newly renovated tropical rain forest room for small weddings featuring a waterfall, lush greenery and a few extra guests — the resident birds. “Couples with summer wedding plans interrupted by Coronavirus can still have an...
Kennywood, Sandcastle to begin delayed seasons on Friday
Kennywood Park is scheduled to open to visitors on Friday, July 10 after its season start was delayed twice because of the covid-19 pandemic. Season pass-holders will be able to visit beginning Friday and others may visit beginning on Monday, July 13, park officials said. Sandcastle Waterpark will be open...
State to give fire, rescue companies $50 million in grants to cover covid-19 losses
Fire departments, rescue and emergency medical service companies can apply for state grants to pay for utilities, repairing apparatus, buying personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as cleaning and disinfecting equipment and property in an effort to stop the spread of covid-19. The state set aside $44 million for fire...
Pittsburgh police seek help identifying alleged Dollar Bank vandal
Investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man they say vandalized a Dollar Bank along Penn Avenue during the East Liberty protests on June 1. Pittsburgh police posted photos of the suspect on its twitter page. During the East Liberty on June 1, the male in this series...
Suspect arrested in shooting incident in Market Square, no injuries reported
Pittsburgh police arrested a man after officers responded to a shots fired call around 4 p.m. Wednesday in Market Square. No injuries were reported. Police said the suspect, who they did not identify, was arrested on a firearms charge after a brief foot chase. Police were alerted to two suspects,...
Pittsburgh Council hears public testimony on bill to expand police review board power
Pittsburgh City Council plans to amend a bill that would give the city’s Citizen Police Review Board more power to investigate police misconduct and civil rights complaints against officers, one of the sponsors said Wednesday during a virtual public hearing. Councilman Ricky Burgess said he is working with Mayor Bill...
Delirium, inflammation, stroke, nerve damage: This is the brain on covid-19
NEW YORK — Delirium, inflammation, stroke: This is your brain on covid. Evidence is mounting that covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, can cause brain damage regardless of the severity of other symptoms such as respiratory issues. Researchers at University College London studied neurological symptoms in 43 people,...
More Port Authority of Allegheny County employees test positive for covid-19
Four more Port Authority of Allegheny County employees have tested positive for covid-19 since last week, authorities announced Wednesday. Spokesman Adam Brandolph said three of them tested positive on Saturday and one had a positive test Wednesday. He said all four are recovering in a medically directed self-quarantine at home....
Westmoreland eateries brace for another round of restrictions
The extra marketing Jeanine DeGennaro did for her South Greensburg restaurant paid off while it was shut down. Now DeGennaro’s Restaurant & Lounge faces another blow as state officials are expected to halt indoor dining and drinking in Westmoreland and surrounding counties for at least two weeks amid the coronavirus...
Allegheny County will allow outdoor dining beginning Friday, Rivers Casino allowed to reopen
Outdoor dining at Allegheny County restaurants and bars will be allowed beginning Friday according to revised covid-19 restrictions issued by the county Health Department. Also, Rivers Casino will be permitted to reopen. Indoor dining and alcohol consumption will continue to be banned at restaurants and bars under the new two-week...
Preliminary hearings continued to Sept. 4 for defendants in death of Oakmont toddler
The preliminary hearings for three Oakmont residents accused of the physical and psychological torture, and eventual death, of a toddler have been continued to September, according to court records. Jose Salazar-Ortiz Sr., 29, and Laura Ramriez, 27, were charged June 24 with homicide, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault of a child,...
Minneapolis officer to George Floyd: ‘It takes … a lot of oxygen to talk’
MINNEAPOLIS — As George Floyd told Minneapolis police officers that he couldn’t breathe more than 20 times in the moments before he died, the officer who pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck dismissed his pleas, saying “it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk,” according to transcripts...
Trump threatens to cut federal aid if schools don’t reopenVideo
Determined to reopen America’s schools, President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to hold back federal money if school districts don’t bring their students back in the fall despite coronavirus worries. He complained that his own public health officials’ safety guideline are impractical and too expensive. Shortly afterward, Vice President Mike...
Carnegie Mellon shuts down fall sports
With growing concern over the widespread coronavirus spike that has made its way to Allegheny County, Carnegie Mellon will not participate in fall sports, the university announced Wednesday. Sports that will be shelved are football, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and women’s volleyball. All but football and volleyball field men’s...
Lawsuit claims UPMC, doctors failed to get proper patient consent for procedures
A federal lawsuit alleges health care giant UPMC and several doctors failed to get proper patient consent for surgeries and participation in clinical trials and then filed false insurance claims for the procedures. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare &...
Latrobe man allegedly angry at GetGo ‘mask wearing’ request cited for damaging merchandise
A Latrobe man was cited for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after he allegedly became angered and damaged merchandise inside a convenience store Thursday when he was asked by a store clerk to wear a protective mask while shopping. State police Trooper Ryan Ilich reported Jonathan P. Hazen, 37, was...
University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon join push against Trump’s edict on student visas
Officials at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University joined leaders at research universities across the nation calling on the Trump administration to rescind its plans to deny visas and or deport foreign students unless they attend classes in person. Unlike Harvard, the University of Southern California and MIT,...
Lawsuit: Pennsylvania lifers should have chance at parole
Three women and three men serving life sentences in Pennsylvania prisons sued the state Board of Probation and Parole on Wednesday, alleging the state’s refusal to allow a chance at parole to those serving life sentences is tantamount to a death sentence. The lawsuit challenges a provision in the state’s...
Covid-19 cases in 19- to 24-year-olds on the rise in Pa.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 849 new cases and 25 new deaths from covid-19 on Wednesday, totaling 92,148 cases and 6,812 deaths statewide. Allegheny County reported 230 new coronavirus cases Wednesday and Philadelphia County reported 90 coronavirus cases Wednesday, accounting for almost 40% of the state’s total new cases....
33 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday reported 33 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County, bringing the countywide case total to 896 and death total to 39. That includes 27 probable cases. The department reported 35 new cases Tuesday, 27 new cases Monday, 27 new cases...
