Teghan Simonton stories, Page 22
Former WYEP ‘Soul Show’ host Stephen Chatman dies of covid-19
Stephen Chatman was a different kind of radio host. His former colleagues at WYEP remember him as easygoing at the microphone — never formal. He spoke to listeners like he was talking with friends, casually and unhurried. “It was that really personal aspect that he brought,” said Michael Canton, WYEP’s...
Reports of Schoology crash as school districts transition to online learning
Connectivity is a top priority for students, as many school districts began official distance learning on Monday. Amid the transition, one learning management system, Schoology, experienced server issues, kicking students out of online classrooms and producing load errors. “We are aware some users are experiencing degraded service when accessing Schoology....
School districts develop plans, implement online learning
Kiski Area School District, like many other districts, will begin teaching students remotely this week, relying on Google tools, email and the cooperation of parents to stream lectures and distribute assignments. It’s going to be a challenge, Superintendent Tim Scott said. But at this point, there are few options. “We’re...
Adapting: Harrison family livestreams concerts from their living room to cope with pandemic
Editor’s note: Adapting is a regular series spotlighting the ways a global pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. Christa Beck could not stop sharing music. It’s what she has always done as an instructor with Kindermusik, a children’s music education program. The covid-19 pandemic and...
Nonprofits adjust services, volunteer opportunities to keep serving communities
As businesses close and workers face drastic pay cuts, the need for functioning nonprofit organizations has never been greater, said Phil Koch, executive director of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County. Unfortunately, those nonprofits are facing the same challenges as everyone else. “Many of our nonprofit organizations rely on events...
Warm temperatures, heavy rain expected this weekend in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh will experience unseasonably warm temperatures in the next few days, reaching the mid-60s Thursday. A warm front is approaching from the Southwest, National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks said, pumping warm, moist air into the region. It's a beautiful day today. @NWSPittsburgh is reporting high temperatures & sun through...
Pennsylvanians are doing well at social distancing, location data shows
Pennsylvanians have improved their ability to social distance since Gov. Tom Wolf instilled various mandates in the past week, one study shows. Unacast, a phone data company, used data from mobile phones to track the average change in distance traveled by individuals in each state and country. Across the United...
Penn State confirms case of covid-19
Penn State reported its first case of covid-19 on its University Park campus on Tuesday. An alert was sent to students and the rest of the university community. No information about the individual was immediately available. “It is up to public health authorities to determine what information is shared publicly...
Armstrong County’s ACMH Hospital reports first case of covid-19
ACMH Hospital in Kittanning reported Tuesday that it is treating its first patient with covid-19. The hospital did not release details about the patient or their condition. It said it has notified the state Department of Health about the case, and is working to identify and contact people with whom...
Today is ‘Great American Takeout’ to support restaurants
As restaurants and local businesses struggle under recent closures, some national chains took to social media in an attempt to encourage dine-out options. Tuesday has been dubbed “The Great American Takeout” by more than 100 restaurant companies in the United States. Consumers are being asked to order at least one...
Where to get tested for covid-19 in Western Pa.
Hospital systems and clinics in the region have started offering drive-thru and walk-in covid-19 testing for patients and members of the public who meet certain conditions. Here are the sites where testing is available in the region: UPMC UPMC will test “select, symptomatic” cases, according to the system’s website, at...
More than 130 people receive covid-19 drive-thru testing in Pittsburgh Zoo lot
Cars wrapped around the main parking lot Monday at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, a new covid-19 drive-through testing site. The Central Outreach Wellness Center offered drive-through testing in the lot between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. But the vehicles were lining up well before 10:30 a.m. The line...
Pitt allows students to convert classes to pass/fail grading
The University of Pittsburgh is allowing students to convert their courses to pass/fail grading when classes resume online next week. In a letter to faculty members, Provost Ann Cudd said all undergraduate and graduate students can convert any of their courses to pass/fail grading after the semester ends. Passing grades...
Kiski Area School District distributes thousands of free meals to students
Kiski Area School District distributed nearly 3,100 meals to students Friday, providing breakfast and lunch to last throughout the weekend for more than 500 district students. Amid school closures, Kiski Area School District has distributed free meals at East Primary School nearly every day this week. Superintendent Tim Scott said...
Pandemic highlights digital divide, inequality of internet access
Carrie Richards tested positive for Type A Influenza more than a week ago. She’s been in quarantine ever since. “It feels like it’s been a month,” she said. With no internet and no computer at her home in Vandergrift, there is little for Richards, 44, to do to occupy her...
All Pennsylvania standardized testing canceled amid coronavirus pandemic
All Pennsylvania System of State Assessment (PSSA), Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) and Keystone exams have been canceled for the 2019-2020 school year amid the covid-19 pandemic, the state Department of Education announced Friday. “Our school communities are operating within unprecedented conditions,” said Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera. “Schools...
Adapting to Coronavirus: Back home in Beaver County, a Pitt freshman learns at a distance
Editor’s note: Adapting to Coronavirus is a regular series spotlighting the ways a global pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. The coronavirus pandemic has caused global disruption to governments, economies and the daily lives of millions. College students haven’t been left out of that mix...
Some Pa. school districts stop mandatory instruction, grading during closure
Some school districts have stopped assigning mandatory work during the state’s mandatory 10-day closure after a conference call with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and district leaders. After Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement last week that schools should close to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris...
Carnegie Mellon allows students to convert classes to pass/fail
Carnegie Mellon University is allowing students to convert any of their online courses to pass/fail grading. “The decision to allow this flexibility is a direct acknowledgement of this unprecedented situation,” Provost Jim Garrett wrote in a letter to campus this week. Normally, according to the CMU website, students may take...
Are Western Pennsylvania hospitals prepared for the coronavirus?
If the coronavirus pandemic spreads as predicted, Western Pennsylvania hospitals will be woefully underprepared, according to a recent study. But one regional hospital system, UPMC, is confident it can handle the volume. “We anticipate that most patients with suspected or confirmed covid-19 will not need to be admitted and will...
Freeport tries to sustain community during covid-19 pandemic
No one asked Jackie Gaughan to organize a free lunch program in Freeport, but in less than 24 hours, she did. “The town just really rallies together at times like this,” said Gaughan. “It’s great to be a part of this small town.” Like towns across the region, Freeport is...
Pittsburgh Brookline, Milliones schools to get deep cleaning after possible exposure
Pittsburgh Brookline and Milliones schools will receive deep cleaning this week after the district announced students at the school may have come in contact with the coronavirus. A relative of students who attend Pittsburgh Brookline is believed to have covid-19, Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Tuesday. The district notified families of...
Western Pa. towns declare states of emergency to prevent spread of covid-19
Communities in the Alle-Kiski Valley began declaring states of emergency Monday to prevent the spread of exposure to the coronavirus. New Kensington Mayor Thomas Guzzo said the emergency declaration he signed Monday morning will last for five days unless city council extends it. “The city will remain open to assist...
Allegheny County ordered to stop dine-in service at restaurants and barsVideo
Gov. Tom Wolf on Sunday ordered Allegheny County bars and restaurants to stop dine-in service for 14 days to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, came on the same night Allegheny County officials urged all non-essential businesses to close...
Pittsburgh Public Schools activates emergency response plan amid school closures
Pittsburgh Public Schools has activated its emergency response plan because of the state-ordered closure during the covid-19 outbreak, the district announced Sunday. “As a large urban district, we have to be prepared for any public safety crisis. Fortunately, significant planning has been underway in anticipation of the need to close...
