Teghan Simonton stories, Page 23
Pittsburgh Diocese cancels all Masses to help slow spread of coronavirus
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has canceled all weekday and Sunday Masses starting Monday to prevent the spread of covid-19. “Although in many ways it saddens me to make this decision, given the best advice from health experts on federal, state and local levels, I feel it is a necessary...
PennDOT asks Homeland Security to extend Real ID deadline amid coronavirus pandemic
PennDOT is asking federal officials to extend the Oct. 1 Real ID enforcement deadline in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Acting PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to extend the Oct. 1 Real ID enforcement deadline as facilities close due to the coronavirus. To control...
Pitt, Duquesne go online only for rest of semester; Duquesne closes dorms
The University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University announced Sunday that they have committed to online-only classes for the remainder of the semester amid the coronavirus pandemic. Duquesne also announced it is closing dorms for the rest of the semester and asked students living on campus to return home. “We have...
Several shops in Ross Park Mall close, modify hours due to coronavirus
Wayne Christ, 79, sat alone in the food court of Ross Park Mall. Christ, who lives in Ross, said he’s been keeping his distance from others and frequently washing his hands. But he still came to the mall — he didn’t want to halt his entire life because of the...
Greensburg police searching for missing mother and son
Greensburg police are searching for a mother and her 1-year-old son. Aziyza King, 37, and Zayn went missing March 6. They were last seen leaving their residence on Grove Street. According to a police department Facebook post, King had told a neighbor she would be walking to the Dollar General...
Port Authority to disinfect vehicles every 24 hours
Port Authority of Allegheny County said it is now disinfecting its buses and light-rail train cars every 24 hours. The announcement came just hours after two confirmed cases of covid-19 were announced in Pittsburgh. “I have observed firsthand Port Authority’s ability to overcome adversity during challenging times, and I know...
Coronavirus didn’t stop St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in PittsburghVideo
The crowds were smaller than in previous years, but Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations lived on Saturday. Earlier this week, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade was canceled as a precautionary measure to prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus. As health experts recommend social distancing, Pittsburgh officials asked bar...
Wellness, healing the theme of Vandergrift’s annual arts festival in July
The Vandergrift Improvement Program is seeking wellness and therapy organizations to participate in this year’s Vandergrift ArtFest, an annual arts festival scheduled for July 25. The program is looking for 12-step groups, massage therapists, psychologists or other wellness professionals to operate informational booths in honor of this year’s theme, “Take...
District leaders lament ‘very poor planning’ in Gov. Wolf’s decision to close schools
It had taken all day, but finally, the New Kensington-Arnold School District had a plan. Schools would be closed to students Monday, just Monday, so teachers and administrators could prepare for a potential transition to online learning — a growing possibility as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the...
South Buffalo just starting plans for updated sewage treatment
South Buffalo is in the “absolute infancy” of updating the township’s sewage treatment plant, municipal authority members say. The township had at one time considered collaborating on an updated sewage treatment plant with neighboring Freeport. In recent weeks, though, Freeport Council decided to move forward with the borough’s project independently....
Pittsburgh police officer pleads no contest to DUI charge involving hit-and-run
A Pittsburgh police officer pleaded no contest Thursday to charges involving a DUI and alleged hit-and-run on the North Side. In exchange for Officer Brian Martin’s no contest plea, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office agreed to a mandatory minimum sentence of two to four days in jail and a...
Italy’s coronavirus lockdown keeps Freeport native from sister’s funeral
A Freeport native living in Italy missed his sister’s funeral Wednesday because of the country’s lockdown to contain the coronavirus. The Italian government imposed a national quarantine Monday, restricting travel across the country’s borders and movement within. Ron Canterna, 73, said he is trapped in Venice for the foreseeable future....
Oklahoma Borough girl with leukemia to be honored at West Leechburg fundraiser
Nora Caporali was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia before she’d even turned 2. Her parents noticed some broken blood vessels and took their toddler to the doctor. They didn’t suspect anything serious. She was an active, enthusiastic child, after all. But the Oklahoma Borough family was sent to UPMC Children’s...
Pittsburgh airport officials concerned about Real ID numbers 6 months from deadline
PennDOT has officially been issuing Real ID cards for a year, but officials disagree on what to make of the progress. Since March 1, 2019, more than 826,000 people have obtained a Real ID. The department projected last year that 1.3 million customers would obtain a card before the federal...
Pittsburgh airport officials concerned about Real ID numbers 6 months from deadline
PennDOT has officially been issuing Real ID cards for a year, but officials disagree on what to make of the progress. Since March 1, 2019, more than 826,000 people have obtained a Real ID. The department projected last year that 1.3 million customers would obtain a card before the federal...
University of Pittsburgh named in national report for improving financial aid practices
The University of Pittsburgh is challenging a national trend among public universities where institutions dedicate more funding to merit aid, rather than to students with financial need. Pitt has put a priority on offering assistance to students with financial need, while other public universities are dedicating a majority of financial...
Vandergrift website, email system present legal concern for borough
Legal concerns surrounding Vandergrift’s website and email system could make it difficult for borough council members to communicate with the public. Solicitor Larry Loperfito warned council to stop doing official business through their personal email addresses. At a meeting this week, council discussed the need to update the community’s website...
Man found with 70 bricks of heroin, fentanyl pleads guilty to federal drug charges
A Pittsburgh resident who was found with 70 bricks of heroin and fentanyl pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady announced Wednesday. Matthew Lacher, 40, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, according to a news release. The Allegheny County...
Apollo-Ridge improves access to school breakfast, far more kids participate
In the past year, Apollo-Ridge High School has more than doubled the number of needy students taking advantage of school breakfast options, thanks to a new program. Apollo-Ridge implemented an alternative breakfast program, Second Chance, as a way to help students take advantage of the school’s breakfast options. While the...
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese suspends communion wine as coronavirus spreads
As fears over the coronavirus grow, the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Monday it will suspend the distribution of wine during communion. Bishop David Zubik announced precautions in the diocese Monday, to take effect immediately. Across the diocese, the distribution of wine is temporarily suspended. Additional precautions include the halting...
County leaders across Western Pennsylvania endorse Joe Biden
A coalition of 12 Democratic county leaders from across Western Pennsylvania came forward Monday to endorse Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race. The group includes Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli, along with 10 Democratic commissioners from Armstrong, Beaver, Butler,...
Alle-Kiski Valley ambulance companies struggle to keep up with call volume, community needVideo
The patient was cold and shaking, so the paramedic clutched her hands in his, warming them as they rode in an ambulance to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Her hands were limp and icy. She had just suffered a stroke. Hayden Geisweidt loves being a paramedic. He enjoys taking care of...
Western Pa. school districts collaborate with PPG, FedEx Ground, Siemens
About 100 educators and business leaders gathered Thursday to celebrate successful partnerships and share what they’ve learned. The program connecting them all, the Educators and Corporations Program (ECP) will soon be introduced statewide. “Every partnership is different, but they all have one common thread,” said Sam Shaneyfelt, a consultant for...
International food conference to be held in Pittsburgh
An annual food conference by the International Association of Culinary Professionals will be held in Pittsburgh this year, March 27 to 29. Chefs, food critics and authors will gather at the Omni William Penn Hotel for interviews, panel discussions, networking and, of course, food. Several well-known personalities will be present,...
Pitt commits to being carbon neutral by 2037
By 2037, University of Pittsburgh intends to be completely “carbon neutral,” just in time for its 250th anniversary. Pitt’s Board of Trustees voted Friday to support Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s signing of the “Second Nature Climate Leadership Statement and Carbon Commitment,” a resolution to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. The commitment...
