Top Stories category, Page 1447
Greensburg ministers plan prayer vigil for Saturday
Two Greensburg ministers are hoping a Saturday prayer vigil in the city will become an ecumenical gathering in support of change after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. “Prayer is the language that stretches across denominations, and we are bringing this together for not just a show...
Vice President Mike Pence to visit Buffalo Township
Vice President Mike Pence will be in Buffalo Township on Friday, visiting an Oberg Industries facility. The visit will be the first stop on a nationwide “Great American Comeback Tour” by America First Policies, a conservative organization that promotes the policy agenda of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Pence will be...
‘Stop the pain,’ a brother of George Floyd tells Congress
WASHINGTON — Philonise Floyd challenged Congress on Wednesday to “stop the pain” so that his brother George wouldn’t be just “another name” on a growing list of those killed during interactions with police. Floyd’s appearance before a House hearing came a day after funeral services for his bother, the 46-year-old...
Pennsylvania reports 410 additional covid-19 cases, 48 more deaths
Pennsylvania officials on Wednesday reported 48 more covid-19 deaths and 410 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 76,846, according to health officials. A total of 6,062 people have died from the virus. Approximately 5,837 of the total cases are from health care workers. There are 631...
State releases covid-19 guidelines for restarting PIAA sports
Gov. Tom Wolf released covid-19 guidelines for restarting PIAA sports Wednesday, clearing the way for high school sports teams statewide to begin offseason workouts. But before those workouts can take place, the guidelines require every school district to create a detailed health and safety plan that’s approved by the school...
Allegheny County reports 7 new coronavirus cases, 3 new deaths
Allegheny County health officials Wednesday reported three new coronavirus deaths, seven new cases and one new hospitalization. County data show that of the 2,034 cases, 1,904 are confirmed and 130 are probable. Of the country’s 172 deaths, 160 are confirmed and 12 are probable. All deaths occurred in people between...
Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild set 2020 opening date
Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild parks will open their gates next month. But the coronavirus pandemic will create a different landscape at the parks, as it has with so many other aspects of life. The three parks will open to the public July 11, though season-pass holders will be welcome beginning...
Westmoreland towns may delay road work over covid-19 impact on liquid fuels tax
Municipalities across the state could be forced to delay road projects in the coming year after PennDOT’s liquid fuels tax took a hit during the coronavirus pandemic. The amount raised from the 57-cent-per-gallon tax for this year, about $486 million, is expected to drop in 2021 after fuel prices plunged...
Nonprofits put lucrative ‘bashes’ on hold during pandemicVideo
Four lottery ball machines whirred simultaneously at the Southwest Greensburg Gun Bash in February, a crowd of people eager to see the winning numbers for the next handgun, rifle or up to $200 in cash. The annual event drew about 600 people, who filled the fire station’s truck bay and...
Pennsylvania GOP seeks to dismantle Wolf’s shutdown
A Republican proposal that aims to force Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to end the pandemic disaster declaration occupied the Legislature for hours on Tuesday, but its legal impact was disputed. Senate Republicans said the state law that gave Wolf the ability to issue the March 6 declaration also gives lawmakers...
‘He is going to change the world’: Funeral held for George Floyd
HOUSTON — George Floyd was fondly remembered Tuesday as “Big Floyd” — a father and brother, athlete and neighborhood mentor, and now a catalyst for change — at a funeral for the black man whose death has sparked a global reckoning over police brutality and racial prejudice. More than 500...
In wake of Westmoreland Fair cancellation, youth left with no place to show livestock
By the time Gage Hegedus turned 1, he had spent much of his life on a farm and helped show cows at the Westmoreland Fair, said his mom, Jessica Takitch. “He’s going on 3 years old and he enjoys the life,” said Takitch, 27, of Scottdale. “He gets to play...
Police probe death of 3-year-old girl in Oakmont
Allegheny County Police homicide detectives are investigating the death of a 3-year-old girl in Oakmont. Police said they were notified at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday that the girl, who was not identified, was found unresponsive in 500 block of 10th Street. Emergency responders started life-saving measures, and the girl was transported...
‘Cops,’ on air for 33 seasons, dropped by Paramount Network
LOS ANGELES — After 33 seasons on the air, “Cops” has been dropped by the Paramount Network as protests against police proliferate around the world. “Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return,” a spokesperson for the cable...
Proposed ban on tear gas, rubber bullets sent to committee by Allegheny County Council
A proposal by Allegheny County Council to limit the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and other things used by police to disperse crowds generated plenty of interest Tuesday. Council ultimately sent the bill to committee instead of voting on it, against the wishes of its sponsors, Councilwomen Bethany Hallam...
Hays bald eaglet takes first long flights
The babies have grown up. The youngest of two eaglets was taking long flights from the Pittsburgh Hays bald eagle nest Tuesday while its sibling is likely not too far behind. On Saturday, the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania reported that an eaglet had a rather awkward first flight as...
AHN to conduct mobile coronavirus testing in Hazelwood
In its continuing effort to reach underserved communities, Allegheny Health Network’s mobile covid-19 testing unit will be in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The testing site will set up in the empty parking lot across from the Hazelwood Family Health Center at 4915 Second Ave....
Pa. insurance officials say damage to businesses by protests, looting, is likely covered
Damage caused to businesses by protests and looting is covered by many insurance policies, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department said as it issued guidance to help those dealing with the issue. The department provided information for businesses trying to understand how and when they can file claims after damage from riots,...
Tree of Life joins South Carolina church for online racism forum
The leaders of two houses of worship — hundreds of miles apart but bonded by attacks of hate — will hold an online discussion Wednesday night focused on racism, hate speech and understanding. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, of Pittsburgh’s congregation Tree of Life - Or L’Simcha, was inside the Squirrel Hill...
Pittsburgh Council proposes major police reforms during heated meeting
In a bill introduced Tuesday in Pittsburgh City Council, the city would enact a police hiring freeze and redirect $250,000 remaining in a budget for new recruits to a fund aimed at reducing crime and violence. It was one of several bills from Councilman Ricky Burgess, who said that reform...
Pittsburgh police seek info on Mario Lemieux statue vandal, other suspects from Downtown protest
Pittsburgh police on Tuesday released photos of three people they say were involved in causing damage during Downtown Pittsburgh protests on May 30, including a woman who allegedly defaced the Mario Lemieux statue outside of PPG Paints Arena. The photos come from the Damage Assessment and Accountability Taskforce, which was...
Arnold Palmer airport sees rise in bookings, hopes to beef up September runway work
Officials at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport are hoping to work on runway improvements — widening and strengthening — simultaneously in September, if funding is approved in time. Meanwhile, Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said Tuesday he’s pleased with how travel at the airport in Unity is taking...
Kennametal to cut global workforce 10% by end of year
Facing a weakness in its industrial markets caused by the covid-19 pandemic, Kennametal Inc. said Tuesday it is accelerating its plans to permanently cut about 10% of its salaried workforce, a reduction on a global scale it expects to substantially complete by the end of the year. Kennametal, an industrial...
4 casinos in region reopen with safety measures; 5th reopens Friday
The familiar ping of slot machines returned to four casinos in the region after a three-month closure due to public safety concerns caused by the coronavirus. The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington County joined the Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh’s North Shore Tuesday as they reopened since being ordered to...
‘Zoombombers’ disrupt Pennsylvania synagogue’s online services with racist, anti-Semitic slurs
“Zoombombers” hurled racist and anti-Semitic slurs during a digital attack on online services held Friday by Congregation Keneseth Israel in Allentown, according to The Morning Call. Video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom have found a home amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept people at home and canceled everything from holidays...
