Jacob Tierney stories, Page 9
Greensburg YMCA announces temporary closure of gym and pool, citing pandemic
The Greensburg YMCA will close its doors to members for at least six months, though it will continue to operate its other programs, officials announced Friday. The gym and pool will close Sept. 30. Child care programs, the Y’s adult training facility, after-school programs and youth sports will continue as...
Eric Trump rallies his father’s base in Washington County appearanceVideo
Eric Trump played the hits Thursday in Washington County, giving a 20-minute speech to an enthusiastic audience that touched on many of the campaign topics favored by his father — President Donald Trump. The rally, attended by about 300 people, was the second of three Trump campaign appearances happening in...
Scottdale middle-schooler wins $10,000 scholarship
Addison Jordan is only 12 years old, but the Scottdale resident has big plans for college — and $10,000 to help her achieve them. Round Room LLC, a Verizon retailer and parent company to TCC and Wireless Zone, awarded $10,000 to five lucky students nationwide, including Addison. “I want to...
Woman injured in 5-vehicle pileup in I-70 in Hempfield
A woman was injured in a five-vehicle crash in a construction zone on Interstate 70 in Hempfield, according to an official with the Hempfield Fire Department. The crash involved two tractor-trailers, a tri-axle truck and two passenger vehicles. It was reported just after 5 p.m., according to Westmoreland County 911....
Novice drummers find their rhythm in Greensburg parkVideo
About 20 people got an outdoor drum lesson Tuesday at an unorthodox “drum circle” in Greensburg’s St. Clair Park. “This isn’t really a drum circle, it’s more of a weird drum line, semicircle kind of thing,” said Matt Mikeska, who led the event. Participants were seated on the park’s bleachers...
Greensburg hears from long list of applicants for vacant council spot
About a dozen people have expessed interest in filling a vacancy on Greensburg City Council. Council will appoint one new member to fill the vacancy left by Cheryl Lennert, who resigned last month. Lennert oversaw the city’s parks & recreation department. The new member will as well, according to Mayor...
Invasive ‘rock snot’ algae found in Somerset County’s Quemahoning Creek
Quemahoning Creek in Somerset County has a “rock snot” problem. The invasive algae didymo, also known as “rock snot,” was recently discovered in the creek, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced Friday. Somerset Conservation District employees found the algae about two months ago in a section of stream used...
Pa. opens medical marijuana testing labs – including 1 in Trafford – to hemp farmers
Pennsylvania’s hemp farmers will be able to get this year’s crop tested at six medical marijuana testing labs, including one in Trafford, the state announced Thursday. The move is a partnership between the state Department of Agriculture and Department of Health to give farmers more testing options. The law requires...
Gov. Wolf renews call for legal recreational marijuana
Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday renewed his call for legal recreational marijuana, accusing legislators of dragging their feet on the issue. “In the past year, the Legislature has failed to find time to debate, let alone pass, adult-use cannabis, even though this is an issue that affects thousands of Pennsylvanians through...
Community donations fund upgrades at Greensburg fire department training tower
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department’s five-story drill tower is getting an upgrade, thanks to community donations. Hutchinson and Gunter, the company owned by the late former fire chief J. Edward Hutchinson, built the tower at Lynch Field in 1960. “At that time, it was the only one around,” department President...
Penn Township promotes finance director to manager
When officials first asked Mary Perez to consider applying for the job of Penn Township’s secretary-manager, her answer was firm. “They had originally asked me if I would be interested, and I originally said ‘absolutely not,’” Perez said. “My comfort zone is finance.” Perez served as the township’s finance director...
MedCare plans move from Monroeville to Penn Township with new distribution centerVideo
MedCare Equipment Company is moving from Monroeville to Penn Township with a planned new facility in Bushy Run Corporate Park. The home medical equipment company Wednesday held a ceremonial groundbreaking with developers and local officials. “We take great pride in what we do, and we want to continue to grow,...
Hemp industry struggles with federal regulations
Hemp — and the CBD products that can be made from it — may have been legalized by the 2018 federal farm bill, but members of the nascent industry say new federal rules make it almost impossible to make hemp products without breaking the law. An alphabet soup of federal...
President Trump to campaign in Westmoreland County this week
President Donald Trump will make a campaign stop Thursday in Unity, according to his campaign website. Trump is scheduled to speak at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at 7 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. “It’s really exciting to see him coming back into the county, he did so well there....
Week in Review: Latrobe attack, baby shot and coronavirus penaltiesVideo
Officials are pledging justice for a 1-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile bars and fraternities alike are being penalized for violating coronavirus guidelines. Here’s a look back at some of the week’s biggest stories. Lefty’s closed A popular Strip District bar was ordered by the Allegheny...
Severe weather could return, but risk slight for Pittsburgh region
Areas already battered by Thursday night’s thunderstorms could be hit again Friday, but the Pittsburgh region is only at a slight risk for more severe weather, according to the National Weather Service. Rain could return to the region by late morning, with severe thunderstorms possible from 1 p.m. through evening....
Jeannette woman wanted for allegedly trashing apartment, stealing dog
Jeannette police are looking for a woman who allegedly broke into an apartment, trashed it, stole a pit bull, then pushed the dog out a car while fleeing the scene. “I saw her push the dog out the back seat of the car and then take off real fast,” said...
Late laptops scramble remote learning plans at Greensburg Salem, other school districts
When Greensburg Salem School District officials learned more than 1,000 laptops would not be arriving in time for the start of classes, they agreed to delay the school year rather than begin without the technology they’re counting on. Then, the laptops were delayed again, this time until October, leaving officials...
Greensburg Diocese reveals ‘credible’ sex abuse claims against priest convicted of theft
A priest convicted of stealing money from a South Huntingdon church has been added to a list of suspected sex abusers, according to the Diocese of Greensburg. Bishop Edward C. Malesic on Wednesday issued an update on the diocese’s handling of sex abuse allegations as he prepares to depart for...
Pennsylvania hemp industry remains uncertain as harvest approaches
Justin Matson of Fairfield Township is a jack of all agricultural trades. He employs 18 people growing corn, soybeans and hay, raising beef cattle and doing construction. This year he decided to add something new to his resume — hemp. “This could be huge for us,” he said. The price...
Greensburg introduces new rec programs after fall sports are canceled
The Greensburg Recreation Department is rolling out new fall programs following the cancellation of football, cheerleading and baseball. Soccer will continue as normal, while kickball, Wiffle ball, an after-school program and a hiking program will be added to the schedule. The remaining recreation programs all comply with the state’s coronavirus...
Penn-Trafford High School changes course, adopts hybrid reopening plan
Penn-Trafford School District has backed away from a planned full reopening next week, instead adopting a hybrid approach at the high school due to state coronavirus guidelines. High school students will be split into two groups — “green” and “gold,” according to Assistant Superintendent Scott Inglese. Each group will attend...
Former Latrobe firefighters sue city, allege misconduct by fire chief
Five former Latrobe volunteer firefighters filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were kicked out of the department after speaking out against Chief John Brasile. The suit accuses Brasile of routinely showing up late to emergency scenes, falsely claiming to have responded to scenes where he wasn’t present, attempting to manage...
Sunny days bring uptick in air pollution to Southwestern Pa.Video
There’s a downside to a hot, sunny summer in Southwestern Pennsylvania: higher levels of ozone air pollution, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The region’s Air Quality Index has reached Code Orange four days this year, including Sunday and Monday. The average for an entire year is 3...
Delta Foundation ends probe of former president, cancels Pittsburgh Pride over coronavirus
The Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh completed an internal review of its former President Gary Van Horn, who has been charged with numerous counts of forgery and accused of impersonating a first responder. The LGBTQ advocacy group turned over its findings to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office. Delta Foundation spokeswoman...
