Teghan Simonton stories, Page 6
Port Authority to discuss transit improvement ideas at community meetings
Port Authority will host a series of public meetings in the coming weeks to discuss NEXTransit, the service’s plan for improving Allegheny County transit. There will be four meetings in total: at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Feb. 25, and at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on March 2....
Pa.’s lack of data prevents tracking of racial, ethnic disparities in vaccine distribution
Despite numerous studies predicting the likelihood of racial disparities and a supposed focus on equity in the rollout, Pennsylvania’s data tracking race and ethnicity in vaccine distribution currently is lacking. More than a month into the state’s vaccine rollout, about 34% of race data as it relates to distribution is...
Diocese of Pittsburgh to merge 4 elementary schools
The Diocese of Pittsburgh on Friday announced the two mergers of four elementary schools, “as part of the regional school board’s efforts to strengthen Catholic schooling in the south region.” In the 2021-2022 school year, Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin in Whitehall will merge with Saint Elizabeth of Hungary...
Pitt researchers find Black Americans nationwide must travel farther to get covid vaccine
A study from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy shows that Black residents in many regions of the U.S. will have farther to travel to receive a covid-19 vaccine — creating a potential accessibility issue. “Pharmacies should be easy to access, but in some places there’s low...
RMU partners with 4 community colleges for new dual enrollment program
Leaders of five higher education institutions in the region announced a new partnership Thursday, with the goal of improving college accessibility and affordability. Officials from Robert Morris University, Community College of Allegheny County, Community College of Beaver County, Butler County Community College and Westmoreland County Community College signed an agreement...
Kiski Area looks to data quantifying ‘learning loss’ during pandemic
After nearly a year of adjusting class schedules and learning models because of the covid-19 pandemic, school districts are grappling with how to quantify and assess learning loss. “It’s not entirely accurate to say that online learning is a complete failure,” said Kiski Area High School Principal Chad Roland. “It’s...
Shawn Kuhn leaves legacy of joy, service in Allegheny Township
Family members described Shawn Kuhn as “larger than life, a friend to all.” Kuhn was director of public works for Allegheny Township — but his involvement in the community reached far beyond his municipal duties. He was former president of the Allegheny Township Athletic Association and the Kiski Valley Baseball...
U.K. covid variant detected in Allegheny County, officials sayVideo
Allegheny County officials announced Wednesday the covid-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom has been detected in the county. Dr. Debra Bogen, the county’s health director, said the case is the first and only U.K. variant reported in the county thus far. The health department has completed a case...
Gov. Wolf announces new covid vaccine task force
Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday announced the creation of a joint task force aimed at improving the state’s vaccine rollout, including several members of the General Assembly from both sides of the political aisle. “We have a good working relationship with our legislators, and we know they are the eyes,...
Gov. Wolf outlines plan to raise Pa.’s minimum wage to $15 by 2027
Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday joined Democrats in the General Assembly to lay out a plan to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour effective in July. From there, he said, the wage would be raised 50 cents a year until it reaches $15 by July 2027. “Our...
Peduto asks Gov. Wolf to vaccinate Pennsylvania teachers immediately
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday, calling for the state’s Department of Health to immediately prioritize the vaccination of teachers. His letter follows weeks of sluggishness in the state’s covid-19 vaccine rollout, including confusion and frustration from many educators in the region. Many...
Vandergrift ArtFest approved for July, hopes high for in-person event
Vandergrift’s Artfest will return to the streets this year. Lisa Dormire, chairwoman of the Artfest committee for the Vandergrift Improvement Program (VIP), pitched a date for the 2021 Artfest at Monday’s council meeting. Vandergrift Council approved the event for July 25. The tentative date and plans for an in-person event...
CMU study shows racial disparities in vaccine distribution, acceptance
Surveys from Carnegie Mellon University researchers show vaccine distribution is lower among Black and Hispanic Americans than white people across the U.S. Carnegie Mellon’s Delphi Research Group began surveying Facebook users nationwide about covid-19 symptoms in April 2020 and throughout the pandemic has released analyses on a variety of covid-related...
Gov. Wolf defends funding plan for public education
Gov. Tom Wolf doubled down on his proposal for major funding increases for public education, joining others on Thursday to lay out additional details for improving equity across Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unfair to students, teachers and communities,” Wolf said during a virtual press briefing. Wolf on Wednesday...
Label Shopper fills need for Alle-Kiski Valley residents, Hyde Park Plaza
A New York-based discount chain opened a new store in Allegheny Township in October, but it took a while for many people to notice. “Nobody even knew we were here until we got our sign last week,” said Jessica Campbell, manager of the Label Shopper store in Hyde Park Plaza....
Allegheny Co. officials ask for ‘common sense’ during Super Bowl viewingVideo
Allegheny County officials encouraged residents to exercise caution over Super Bowl weekend – refraining from gathering with people outside of family members and sticking to public health guidelines. “We ask people, again, use good common sense,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Social distance, wear your mask, avoid Super Bowl parties.” The...
Pa.’s lagging vaccine rollout takes center stage in Harrisburg
Pennsylvania’s lagging coronavirus vaccine distribution came under fire Wednesday as health leaders cited poor communication and disorganization as reasons for the slow rollout and lawmakers questioned the state’s efficiency in inoculating residents. The three-hour hearing, conducted by the House Health Committee, addressed concerns with vaccine accessibility, racial disparities, the pace...
Pittsburgh School Board postpones discussion of building closures
Pittsburgh Public School Board members voted on Tuesday to table discussions on closing or reconfiguring several district buildings. Officials had proposed major changes to the district’s footprint Monday evening. District officials said the changes, which consisted of closing seven schools and six buildings, as well as opening two new schools...
Pittsburgh Public Schools eyes closure of schools as it reassesses footprint
Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Monday that it is recommending the closure of seven schools and six buildings, along with the creation of two new schools. The schools that could close are: Miller PreK-5 in the Hill District, Fulton PreK-5 in Highland Park, Woolslair PreK-5 and Arsenal 6-8 in Lawrenceville and...
Pa. has administered more than 1 million vaccine doses
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced Monday that more than 1 million doses of covid-19 vaccine have been administered throughout the state. There are 811,555 Pennsylvania residents who have received the vaccine. Of them, 615,085 have received one dose and are partially covered. The other 196,470 are fully covered with...
Vaccine registration is ‘wild west’ for people without computers
Stephie Byars and her husband were in a Giant Eagle parking lot when they got the Allegheny Alert. “We turned off the car. I had my husband call up his parents on his phone and put it on speaker, and I went onto my phone and did the tech stuff,”...
Industrial masks tested at Allegheny Health Network hospitals
A research project at Allegheny Health Network aims to facilitate the widespread use of elastomeric masks — reusable respirators typically used in industrial settings — in health systems far and wide. AHN made headlines earlier in the pandemic for sidestepping the country’s widespread shortage of personal protective equipment, thanks to...
Vandergrift man accused of assaulting woman in his car
A Vandergrift man is accused of breaking a woman’s facial bone and knocking her out while they were in his car. Timothy John Turner, 45, of Franklin Avenue is charged with assault, terroristic threats and harassment after an incident Jan. 17. According to a police report, Turner was charged after...
Pennsylvania’s vaccine allocation could increase slightly by next week
Pennsylvania’s vaccine allocation is expected to increase in the next week, a Department of Health spokeswoman said Friday. President Joe Biden said this week that his administration is working to buy another 200 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, and announced steps to increase the allocations going to...
Covid vaccine misinformation target of Pitt study
University of Pittsburgh researchers are investigating online misinformation relating to the covid-19 vaccines, thanks to a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The goal is to create “beneficial and educational messaging about vaccines,” the university said. “We wanted to see what are some of the reasons why we’re seeing...
