Teghan Simonton stories, Page 12
Vandergrift to show movie in the park Oct. 17
Vandergrift will host a movie night in Kennedy Park on Saturday, Oct. 17. The field will open around 5:30 p.m. for viewers. The plan was initially discussed at the council’s September meeting. Councilman John Uskuraitis said he pitched the idea “to give the community something to look forward to” amid...
USDA extends waivers for free school meals
Schoolchildren across the United States can continue receiving free school meals through the end of the academic year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “As our nation recovers and reopens, we want to ensure that children continue to receive the nutritious breakfasts and lunches they count on during the...
Allusion Brewing Co. to open Saturday in VandergriftVideo
After months of delays, Vandergrift’s Allusion Brewing Co. will officially open Saturday. Robert Buchanan and John Bieranoski had planned to open their craft brewery in the spring. They were ready to make Vandergrift a new destination for craft beer enthusiasts. In February, Buchanan said everything was on track for a...
Allegheny County voters receive confusing email alert
Many Allegheny County voters were confused this week after receiving a certain email alert. The email, sent from the state, was titled “Your Ballot Is on the Way.” The text of the message read, “Your ballot is almost ready, and it’s being prepared for mailing.” But many of the voters...
Fitzgerald proposes 2021 budget with no tax hike to Allegheny County Council
Allegheny County residents should have no tax increase in 2021, according to the Comprehensive Fiscal Plan presented by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. The proposed $127.6 million budget calls for no increase in the property tax. “I am again grateful to my Chief of Staff, the County Manager, the Budget Director...
Demolition begins on controversial Ewalt House in Lawrenceville
After several months of back-and-forth, the long-disputed fate of Lawrenceville’s Ewalt House has been decided. Demolition began Wednesday. Beth Rupert, one of the home’s owners, said demolition was a relief — with the building in disrepair, she said she feared the liability and safety of leaving the house standing. “It’s...
After long dispute, Lawrenceville’s Ewalt House to be demolished
The saga of Lawrenceville’s Ewalt House will come to an end Wednesday, when the 186-year-old structure is set to be demolished after a failed effort to designate it as a landmark over owners’ objections. “Tomorrow when it’s on the ground and not a moment before that, I will probably breathe...
Auditor General: Pennsylvania’s pandemic business waiver program is subjective
During the statewide covid-19 shutdown and business closures this year, there was no consistency in granting waivers to those wishing to stay open, an ongoing investigation by the auditor general has found. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale gave an update Tuesday on an audit started in May. The investigation so far...
Oct. 2: Here is covid-19 data from Western Pa. colleges
Western Pennsylvania is home to several colleges and universities, attracting students from around the state and country. During the coronavirus pandemic, many are tracking the number of positive covid-19 cases as they emerge on campus. University of Pittsburgh Enrollment: Approximately 35,000 students Number of new cases: There were 24 new...
Several floors of Pitt residence hall in quarantine after covid increase
The University of Pittsburgh is investigating an increase in covid-19 cases in Litchfield Tower B, a residence hall in Oakland. Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 2, nine cases were reported in the building, said Pat McMahon, a university spokesman. McMahon told The Pitt News the university is still investigating whether...
Point Park University president to retire next summer
After more than 20 years, Point Park’s president is leaving the university. Paul Hennigan notified the Board of Trustees that he will retire in summer 2021, the university announced Monday. “The Board is deeply grateful to Dr. Hennigan for 16 years of outstanding leadership as president of the university,” Chairman...
Report: Sen. Pat Toomey may not seek reelection
Sen. Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania’s highest-ranking Republican in office, is expected to talk about his future plans Monday. A spokesman for Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, would not confirm or deny a Sunday report by the Philadelphia Inquirer that he will not seek re-election to the Senate. Toomey will make an announcement at...
Pitt researchers begin new drug trial to test covid-19 treatments
Emily Evans was looking for a clinical trial to enroll in. The 28-year-old internal medicine resident at UPMC contracted covid-19 in early September after visiting family. She began experiencing headaches, dehydration, body aches and a lingering cough – as well as the loss of taste and smell that’s come to...
Duquesne University reports 13 new covid cases in a day
Duquesne University has confirmed 30 cases of covid-19 on campus this semester – nearly half of which occurred Thursday in what officials called a “focused increase.” The university recorded 13 new cases among students in one day this week, marking the highest daily total for campus cases this semester. An...
Student tests positive for covid-19 at St. Bede School in Pittsburgh
A first-grade student at St. Bede School in Point Breeze has tested positive for the coronavirus, the school said Friday in an email message, and Director of Catholic Schools Michelle Peduto said. All first-graders at the school will learn virtually for the next 14 days, Peduto said. The school has...
Allegheny County officials update residents on sports, testing and mail-in ballotsVideo
Allegheny County officials said Wednesday that state leaders will make the final call on whether to open major sporting events to spectators. “It won’t be a decision that’s made here at the local level or in Philadelphia,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. As college and professional football seasons get started,...
Ethane cracker plant in Beaver County about 70% complete, Shell executive says
Construction of a multibillion-dollar ethane cracker plant in Beaver County is about 70% complete, a Shell Global executive said Tuesday during the Shale Insight conference. Hilary Mercer, Shell Global’s vice president of Pennsylvania Chemicals, spent about a half-hour during the virtual conference describing the development of the facility, work on...
Covid Alert PA downloaded more than 165,000 times in 1st week
More than 165,000 Pennsylvania residents have downloaded the state’s new contact tracing app, Covid Alert PA, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced Tuesday. The app has been available for about a week. “Thank you to all of the Pennsylvanians who have already downloaded the Covid Alert PA app and added their...
Shale Insight conference focuses on fossil fuels’ impact on economy, tech and election
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, on Tuesday lauded President Trump’s support of the fossil fuel industry during the opening day of the annual Shale Insight conference, being held virtually this year because of the covid-19 pandemic. “Everyone in the room knows that President Trump, Vice President Pence and Republicans...
West Virginia University students return to in-person classes
Students at West Virginia University returned to in-person classes Monday, after a three-week hiatus. The university had halted in-person learning Sept. 7 when the campus encountered a significant spike in covid-19 cases. In late August and early September, there were several days the percent of covid-19 tests with positive results...
Pittsburgh Public Schools extends remote work 5 weeks for teachers, 2 days for students
Teachers at Pittsburgh Public Schools will work remotely an additional five weeks, the district and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers announced Friday night in a joint statement. The school board voted in late July to maintain remote learning for the first nine weeks of the school year, but teachers were...
Here is covid-19 data from Western Pa. colleges
Western Pennsylvania is home to several colleges and universities, attracting students from around the state and country. During the coronavirus pandemic, many are tracking the number of positive covid-19 cases as they emerge on campus. University of Pittsburgh Enrollment: Approximately 35,000 students Number of new cases: There were 26 new...
Vandergrift meeting abruptly ends amid accusations, confusion
It was a short meeting. A Vandergrift councilwoman called for the resignation of the council president Thursday night, during a continuation of the September council meeting. Councilwoman Karen McClarnon was immediately called out of order, resulting in a brief shouting match before the meeting was quickly adjourned and the Zoom...
Officials: Covid cases at Pitt are going down, for now
Cases of covid-19 at the University of Pittsburgh appear to be leveling out as students start returning to in-person class, but university officials say it’s too soon to loosen restrictions. While the university has one of the highest total case counts of any institution in the area, the last two...
Pittsburgh school district will review, publicize school police arrest data
Pittsburgh Public Schools is taking new measures to analyze and address school police data. The district this week approved a proposal by Superintendent Anthony Hamlet to conduct an external investigation into data pertaining to school arrests, citations and out-of-school suspensions. The data will be sorted into characteristics like gender, race...
