Teghan Simonton stories, Page 8
Pittsburgh-area historians, political scientists weigh in on Capitol chaos
The chaos and destruction Wednesday on Capitol Hill will go down as one of the most significant events in American history, and academics are still coming to terms with it. As calls for President Trump’s removal intensified Thursday, scholars are trying to establish how the events will be remembered in...
Pa. officials encourage in-person learning for elementary studentsVideo
Pennsylvania health and education officials Thursday encouraged school districts to return elementary school students to classrooms, at least partially. “Beginning in the second semester, which typically begins around Jan. 25, and as local conditions permit, schools are going to be encouraged to allow for elementary school students to return back...
Few covid infections in Allegheny County linked to classroom, health officials say
Few covid-19 infections among K-12 students in Allegheny County have been linked to the classroom, Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said Wednesday. Students learning from home have had just as many cases as those learning in-person or through hybrid models, Bogen said during a county Board of Health meeting. “I...
Pittsburgh Public Schools announces new equity task force, lays out plans for return to buildings
Pittsburgh Public Schools on Tuesday announced the development of a new task force to recommend and influence policies that combat racial disparities in school safety. “I can share with you with great certainty that our district will not bring Black students back to live and learn under the same racially-biased...
Pennsylvania’s December revenue more than anticipated
Pennsylvania collected more revenue in December — and in 2020, as a whole — than the state had originally anticipated, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell reported Monday. The state collected $3.7 billion in the General Fund in December, which was $465.8 million, or 14.5%, more than what was expected. Overall, $18.5...
Allegheny County adds new vaccine distribution location for priority populations
The Allegheny County Health Department on Monday announced a new distribution location for covid-19 vaccines, and the county is expected to release the first version of its distribution plan on Wednesday. The new Point of Distribution (POD) will be for health care organizations and facilities in the Phase 1A category,...
Old New Kensington newspaper surfaces, detailing the life of WWII veteran
A VFW post in Mercer County is trying to solve a mystery that might be answered in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Doug Scott was sifting through old photos and documents at the Cpl. James O. Jordan Post 3374 in Greenville, when he found several documents relating to Everett Goodiski, an Army...
Errors in covid data reveal unreliable tracking system for nursing homes
For three or four hours a day, Shelly Kennedy sees nothing but spreadsheets. She has two computer screens at her desk at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. On one monitor is a spreadsheet tracking covid-19 cases, deaths, personal protective equipment — the list goes on — for each of the network’s facilities,...
PWSA truck falls in hole in Lawrenceville
Mintwood Street in Lawrenceville was closed for a few hours after a Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority truck fell into a hole Saturday afternoon. PWSA workers were working on a nearby project earlier in the day. A private contractor was working on a sewer line for a private property in...
Police: Woman in critical condition after she was shot in neck in Wilkinsburg
Police are investigating a shooting that occurred on the 1200 block of Morrow Street in Wilkinsburg. Wilkinsburg Police got the call just before 3 p.m. First responders found a woman who had been shot in her neck. She was transported to a hospital where she was listed in critical condition....
Pittsburgh schools delay in-person instruction
Students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools will remain in remote instruction Monday, upon their return from winter break. Superintendent Anthony Hamlet announced Friday on the district’s Facebook page that he and the district’s board of directors are still finalizing plans to bring students back to buildings. A small number of...
Despite slow vaccine rollout, nursing homes optimistic about distributionVideo
Much is still unknown about how vaccines are being distributed in Pennsylvania’s nursing homes, but operators and advocates are optimistic and excited for the milestone. Skilled nursing facilities across the state began receiving their first doses of covid-19 vaccine Monday, through a partnership between the federal government and two national...
UPMC begins vaccinations in Pittsburgh area senior communities
When Nancy Fadgen was offered the covid-19 vaccine, she said yes “without reservations.” “If we want this to go far, somebody has to take the step forward and try it,” the 79-year-old resident at UPMC Heritage Place said. UPMC began vaccinating residents and staff in its senior communities Tuesday –...
Allegheny County’s Kane Centers to start vaccinating residents, staff next week
Residents and staff in Allegheny County’s Kane Community Living Centers will begin receiving vaccinations next week, officials said Tuesday. The Kane Centers at Ross and Glen Hazel are the first county facilities scheduled to receive doses of vaccine through a federal partnership with CVS Health. Their two-day clinics are tentatively...
Covid vaccines arriving at Pennsylvania nursing homes
CVS Health began distributing vaccinations to 120 skilled nursing facilities across the state Monday, while Walgreens is distributing to an additional six, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said. Immunizations for residents and staff members in long-term care facilities are being provided through a partnership between the federal government and the...
Allegheny County Health Department receives vaccine, finalizing distribution planVideo
About 4,000 Allegheny County residents have received their first dose of covid-19 vaccine so far, Health Director Dr. Debra Bogen said Wednesday – the same day the health department received its first allocation of the vaccines. “Thousands more will receive it in the coming weeks or months,” Bogen said. Bogen...
Officials: 41K Pa. health care workers vaccinated; long-term care facilities up next week
About 41,400 health care workers have received covid-19 vaccinations since last week, Heath Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Wednesday. Levine said hospitals are vaccinating their own workers, and are also responsible for administering doses to health care workers in their communities that are not affiliated with hospitals – including emergency...
Pitt gets $2.5 million contract to study health effects of fracking
The Department of Health on Tuesday announced a $2.5 million contract with the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health to study possible health effects of fracking – particularly in Western Pennsylvania. “My administration is committed to ensuring that Pennsylvania is a healthy, vibrant place for all who call...
Covid cases rise in Concordia at Cabot
The number of covid-19 infections has risen significantly at Concordia at Cabot, a nursing and personal care facility in Butler County. As of Monday, 25 nursing home residents and 16 skilled nursing employees have tested positive for the virus at Cabot. On the same campus, 55 residents in Lund personal...
Health officials launch online form to speed covid case investigations
Pennsylvania health officials will start conducting covid-19 case investigations digitally for some people, the Department of Health announced Monday. The department unveiled a new “digital case investigation tool” for state residents between the ages of 19 and 64 who live in a county without its own county or municipal health...
Caution urged as covid vaccines arrive in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine laid out the state’s vaccine distribution progress Monday while updating the public on covid’s mounting toll in the state. Levine reported 7,745 new covid-19 cases statewide Monday and 7,355 Sunday, bringing the state’s total number of infections to 563,589. There were 57 new deaths...
Beermuda seeking donations for toy drive
The Beermuda, a bar and restaurant in New Kensington, is seeking donations for a toy drive. The Beermuda has held an annual toy drive for years, with the goal of helping 16 local families, said Jadyn Sugajski, bar manager. But this year, the need is especially great. “It’s all about...
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh receives Mellon Foundation grant for vaccine freezers
The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded $250,000 to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for the purchase of ultra-cold storage units – to help them hold and distribute the covid-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the first doses of which were administered last week, requires storage in extremely cold temperatures –...
Planned Parenthood of Western Pa. to offer hormone therapy for transgender, nonbinary people
Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania will begin offering hormone therapy to transgender and nonbinary individuals, the organization announced Friday. Patients can now receive testosterone or estrogen/antiandrogen therapy at any family planning center. “Hormone therapy can be an important step for people to feel more comfortable in their bodies, enhance their...
Allegheny County’s covid rates still rising as some businesses ignore restrictionsVideo
Allegheny County’s current seven-day average for new infections is 1,000 new cases per day – an increase of about 150 cases from last week, officials said Wednesday. The percent of covid-19 cases returning with positive results has also climbed by 2% from last week – now at 14.6% positivity. County...
