Teghan Simonton stories, Page 16
More people willing to share location data for contact tracing, new study shows
A new study shows more people across the country choosing to share their phone’s location data during the pandemic, allowing entities to more easily track the pandemic. Researchers from three universities hoped to gauge the public attitude toward digital contact tracing using smartphones, which have always gathered location data on...
Allegheny Intermediate Unit appoints new executive director
A new executive director took over the Allegheny Intermediate Unit this week, the organization announced Thursday. Robert Scherrer, who has served as an administrator at several local school districts throughout his career, was appointed to the position in February and started work on Monday. Scherrer will serve as executive director...
What the spike in covid-19 hospitalizations means in Allegheny County
Health officials had predicted it, and now it’s here. Following several weeks of high daily case counts, hospitalizations in Allegheny County have steadily increased, with a record 22 hospitalizations reported Friday. In the past 19 days, the county has topped 200 new cases eight times, averaging 182 cases per day....
Pittsburgh Public Schools considering 9-week delay for classroom learning
The Pittsburgh Public School Board is considering whether to delay in-person instruction for the first nine weeks of the school year. Board member Kevin Carter, of District 8, introduced a resolution at the board’s legislative meeting Wednesday to postpone all in-class instruction for the first nine weeks of school and...
Allegheny County launching team to monitor businesses for coronavirus safety guidelines
The Allegheny County Health Department is deploying a new Covid Field Response Team on Thursday to monitor businesses and ensure they are following public health orders, officials announced during a Wednesday news briefing. Team members — 10 people who are contracting with the county — will visit businesses such as...
Gov. Wolf speaks out in support of health secretary after Bloomsburg dunk tank incident
Gov. Tom Wolf came to the defense of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Wednesday afternoon after her gender identity was again mocked in a public incident. “The covid-19 pandemic has brought hate and transphobia into the spotlight through relentless comments and slurs directed at Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine,...
Vandergrift Artfest moving most events to digital format
Vandergrift’s Artfest was supposed to be a healing experience. The theme, “Take Your Broken Heart, Turn it to Art,” was focused on wellness and mental health. “When we chose that theme, we really just had no idea how our lives would be fractured so badly over the last few months,”...
Bloomsburg Fair denounced for dunk tank mocking Pa. Health Secretary Rachel Levine
A fair in Eastern Pennsylvania was criticized this week for perceived mocking of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine in a dunk tank. At the Columbia-Montour County Fireman’s Relief Carnival, hosted by the Bloomsburg Fair, a man wearing a dress and wig sat on the dunk pedestal, claiming to resemble Levine....
Vandergrift muralist paints over racist graffiti at The Center
A Vandergrift artist created a mural with a message of empowerment and community last week, after a local community center was overwhelmed with hateful graffiti. Chloe Kruse, owner of The Center on Franklin Avenue, said the back of her building always has attracted some graffiti. But recently, Kruse said the...
Here’s how to interpret daily covid-19 case counts
As coronavirus cases mount in Allegheny and surrounding counties, questions often arise about how the data should be interpreted. Viewed without context, the numbers can lead to some misconceptions. Allegheny County health officials reported 158 new cases Thursday, for instance, along with 12 hospitalizations — but those infections didn’t happen...
Vandergrift councilwoman gets no support in quest to form a shade tree commission
Vandergrift Council isn’t interested in starting a shade tree commission. Councilwoman Karen McClarnon, head of the council’s tree and light committee, asked council on Monday to formally establish such a commission. No other council member agreed to move forward with the idea at its virtual meeting. Shade tree commissions are...
PennFuture lawsuit says EPA must update federal regulations for coke ovens
A coalition of environmental groups has prevailed in a federal lawsuit asserting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency failed to regulate pollution from coke ovens around the country, including the Clairton Coke Works. An EPA spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the decision. PennFuture, a statewide advocacy organization with an...
Allegheny County may amend restaurant restrictions
Allegheny County Health Director Debra Bogen said she plans to revisit a ban of on-site service at restaurants as soon as Wednesday. At a Tuesday press briefing, Bogen said officials were reconsidering the order, and may update it in some way before it expires Thursday. “I’m considering modifying the event...
Pittsburgh Catholic schools plan temperature checks, masks for students
Elementary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh are set to reopen Aug. 27, and high schools have staggered start dates, the diocese announced Tuesday. Daily temperature readings will be required for students, teachers and staff; school buildings will be disinfected regularly, classrooms will honor social distancing and a mask...
Allegheny County reports 6 new covid-19 deaths, 204 new cases
Allegheny County health officials reported 204 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, marking the third day the county has surpassed 200 cases in a daily report. The county also reported seven new hospitalizations and six new deaths. The positive cases make up about 8% of the 2,404 test results the county...
Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse closes Mt. Lebanon location after positive covid case
An employee at the Mt. Lebanon location of Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse has tested positive for covid-19, the restaurant posted on its Facebook page Monday. The location will be closed until all team members have been tested, the post said. “The covid-19 situation is ever changing,” the post reads. “From...
Noose found hanging in Leechburg park
Police in Leechburg removed a rope that appeared to be tied into a noose hanging from a tree in the borough’s Riverfront Park. Leechburg Councilman Chuck Pascal posted a comment on Facebook saying there is reason to believe the noose was left as a message, as it wasn’t tied securely...
Allegheny County tops 230 new coronavirus cases
Local health officials on Thursday reported 233 new cases of covid-19 in Allegheny County — more than doubling Wednesday’s case count, which had been a record high. There were four new hospitalizations and no deaths reported. Ages among the newly infected individuals range from 6 months old to 99 years...
Allegheny County officials say coronavirus is infecting more young people
More young people continue to test positive for covid-19, Allegheny County officials said Wednesday. Hospitalizations also have started to “creep up,” county Health Director Debra Bogen said, with 31 since June 20. Of the newly hospitalized, seven patients are in their 20s and 30s, she said. She expects to see...
110 new coronavirus cases reported in Allegheny County, 1 death
Allegheny County health officials reported 110 new cases of covid-19 Wednesday, along with four hospitalizations and one death. Wednesday’s update brings the county to 2,870 total cases of the virus, 397 hospitalizations and 187 deaths. There have been around 56,000 tests administered in the county since the start of the...
Focus on covid cases could be wrong way to interpret Allegheny County surge, experts say
Allegheny County’s surge in daily cases of covid-19 has suddenly become steep, but health experts say the tally does not show the full story. “I think that focusing on the sheer number of cases is not the best way to look at this,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious...
109 new covid-19 cases reported in Allegheny County, no deaths
Allegheny County health officials reported 109 new cases of covid-19 on Tuesday, along with seven hospitalizations but no new deaths. The figures reported Tuesday were the highest daily number of cases the county has recorded since the beginning of the pandemic. It is the first time the county’s daily number...
Arnold man charged with homicide in connection to Sunday afternoon shooting
An Arnold man accused of fatally shooting another man Sunday afternoon told police he shot at the man to protect himself and a woman and her baby, according to a criminal complaint. Arnold police charged Devon Aerion Askew, 25, with homicide and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection to...
How Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre stays nimble amid coronavirus uncertainty
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre teachers, dancers and students hold fast to the old adage — “dance like no one is watching” — through the rocky days of the coronavirus pandemic. With practice spaces closed and classes canceled, they’ve had to do a bit of improvising to stay on their toes. Joseph...
83 new cases of coronavirus in Allegheny County, no new deaths
Allegheny County health officials reported 83 new cases of covid-19 Monday, following a pattern of high case counts in the last week. Officials reported four new hospitalizations, but no new deaths. The new cases involved people ranging in age from 9 to 89, with the median age being 26, county...
