Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1137
Covid has killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 flu
Covid-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did — approximately 675,000. The U.S. population a century ago was just one-third of what it is today, meaning the flu cut a much bigger, more lethal swath through the country. But the covid-19 crisis is...
Church bus crash in central Pa. sends 30 to hospitals, some critically hurt
DONALDSON, Pa. — A bus carrying high school students and leaders returning from a church retreat crashed Sunday in Pennsylvania, injuring more than two dozen people, at least three critically, authorities said. State police in Schuylkill County said the bus was heading south on Interstate 81 in Frailey Township shortly...
New Kensington seeks funding to tear down Fourth Avenue building
New Kensington will seek money from Westmoreland County to tear down a building across from the Pioneer Apartments on Fourth Avenue. Council recently approved having City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti apply for funding from the Westmoreland County Demo Fund to demolish the building at 1026 Fourth Ave. The city owns the...
Cooler temps, rain coming as if on schedule for start of autumn
Autumn arrives Wednesday afternoon and, as if on cue, it’s going to feel like it. After a high in the 80s on Sunday and expected again Monday, a high of 74 is forecast for Wednesday, which is right around average, National Weather Service meteorologist Myranda Fullerton said. Autumn will officially...
Pfizer says covid-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11
Pfizer said Monday its covid-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12...
Foreign exchange: German student donates part of his liver to former host father in Regent Square
Eric Baysinger messaged a photo of himself hooked to an oxygen machine, plastic tubing in his nose, to help him breathe. “This is my current situation,” Baysinger said. The recipient of the picture, Moritz Jahr, was 4,026 miles away. The minute he saw the image he asked what was wrong....
Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Dems’ immigration push
WASHINGTON — Democrats can’t use their $3.5 trillion package bolstering social and climate programs to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, the Senate’s parliamentarian said late Sunday, a crushing blow to what was the party’s clearest pathway in years to attaining that long-sought goal. The decision by...
Croquet tournament: hitting balls for fun and fundraisingVideo
On a beautiful sun-drenched summer day, more than 120 men, women and children were hitting croquet balls for fun and raising thousands of dollars for a variety of good causes at the Westmoreland Croquet Club’s annual tournament Sunday at the Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. The croquet club tournament,...
Banged-up Steelers drop home opener to Raiders
Forget all of the positive vibes the Pittsburgh Steelers generated with their season-opening win at Buffalo. Any goodwill the Steelers established a week ago wilted in the 79-degree heat at Heinz Field amid a sea of injuries and big second-half plays that enabled the Las Vegas Raiders to spoil the...
Health official: Booster use may be expandedVideo
WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health director says a government advisory panel’s decision to limit Pfizer covid-19 booster shots to Americans 65 and older as well as those at high risk of severe disease is a preliminary step and predicts broader approval for most Americans “in the next few...
U.S. closes part of Texas border, begins flying Haitians homeVideo
DEL RIO, Texas — The United States acted Sunday to stem the flow of migrants into Texas by blocking the Mexican border at an isolated town where thousands of Haitian refugees set up a camp, and American officials began flying some of the migrants back to their homeland. About a...
Police investigate Homewood shooting
A man was in critical condition Sunday after being shot in Homewood, authorities said. Pittsburgh police responded to the incident just before 8:30 a.m. in the 7100 block of Frankstown Avenue. Emergency responders found a male suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest, public safety Spokesperson Maurice Matthews said. He...
U.S. closes part of Texas border, begins flying Haitians home
DEL RIO, Texas — Hoping to stop the flow of migrants, the United States on Sunday tried to block the Mexican border at an isolated Texas town where thousands of Haitian refugees have set up a camp, but the migrants quickly found other ways to cross nearby. The attempted border...
Same goal, different paths: U.S., EU seek max vaccine rates
BRUSSELS — The Belgian town of Aarschot has a vaccination rate of 94% of all adults, but Mayor Gwendolyn Rutten worries her town is too close for comfort to the capital of Brussels, where the rate stands at 63%. But there’s not much she can do about it. Her hope...
Body found in Wyoming believed to be Gabrielle Petito
MOOSE, Wyo. — Authorities say a body discovered Sunday in Wyoming is believed to be Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito. The FBI said the body was found by law enforcement agents who had spent the past two days searching campgrounds. The cause of death has not yet been determined, said FBI Supervisory...
Steelers Nation returns to Heinz Field in full force as home football season kicks offVideo
Steelers Nation is back! Burgers and kielbasa sizzled on the grill, beers and cocktails flowed and black-and-gold jersey-wearing football fans prepared to enjoy a Sunday morning on the North Shore like they hadn’t in nearly two years. The pandemic wiped out tailgating and large crowds at Heinz Field in 2020....
Woman shot in Duquesne
Police are investigating the shooting of a woman in Duquesne Saturday night. The woman, shot in the upper extremities, was taken to an area hospital and is expected to survive, Allegheny County police said. Police said they were notified of the shooting in the 1000 block of Duquesne Boulevard at...
Woman shot in McKees Rocks
A woman was shot multiple times in McKees Rocks early Sunday morning, the Allegheny County police said. The woman, who is expected to survive, was shot in the area of Locust Street near Linden Street, police said. The shooting was reported around 1:15 a.m. and county detectives were asked to...
Poke Run church to install new headstones for Revolutionary War soldiers
Doug Ross of Bell Township can count five generations of his family, the Youngs, who have been members at Poke Run Presbyterian Church. Linda Chicka of Saltsburg has a fifth-great-grandfather whose home was the site of some of the congregation’s earliest meetings, before America was officially a country. And while...
Some school districts maintain updated covid trackers, others keep counts internally
As the number of covid-19 cases rises in Pennsylvania and the region and vocal groups of parents and students continue to rail against a state mandate to wear masks in public schools, it is hit or miss whether local districts publicly report the number of infections among their students and...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s 25th anniversary shines a light on green spaces
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy will light up the night at six city parks. “Making Your Parks Shine,” presented by PNC and UPMC Health Plan, will include lighting installations created by LUXE Creative, a Pittsburgh event and creative services agency. The Oct. 1-2 event will have block parties, live music, local...
PennDOT to hold job fairs in Westmoreland, region for hiring winter crews
Officials in PennDOT District 12 are looking to stock up on seasonal snowplow drivers and mechanics to avoid a labor shortage when winter arrives. A series of job fairs is planned at each of the district’s four county offices. Each will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The...
Arnold man charged in shooting 3 at Lower Burrell baby shower for his unborn child, police say
An Arnold man at a baby shower for his expected child is accused of shooting three people with a 9 mm handgun Saturday night at the Kinloch Fire Hall in Lower Burrell during an argument over whether he would transport gifts, authorities said. The suspect, Isiah J. Hampton, 25, of...
Thousands bask in return of Highlands Games at Idlewild parkVideo
Cy Deitz had left one major Pennsylvania historical site — his hometown of Gettysburg — to experience some of his Scottish culture and heritage in the Highland Games, at another historical area, that of Ligonier. “It’s just a beautiful experience for us to share the camaraderie of our Scottish heritage....
Thousands pack Leechburg’s Market Street for 10th annual Pink Day
Pink Day was poppin’ in Leechburg, with organizers of the 10th annual celebration hoping to bring in nearly $30,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Crowds packed the Market Street business corridor to browse dozens of food and craft booths, listen to two live bands and sport their brightest pink...
