Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1412
Labriola’s Italian Store in Penn Hills to remain closed; site will be used as kitchen for other locations
The Penn Hills landmark Labriola’s Italian Store will stay closed to the public and instead be used as a storage facility and kitchen, the owner announced on social media Oct. 5. “We explored renovated space and new services, but in the end, we decided that the store will remain closed...
Gov. Wolf eases gathering restrictions with formula tied to capacity limits
Gov. Tom Wolf increased gathering-size limits for events statewide Tuesday, revealing a new formula that’s based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity rather than the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions previously imposed. Indoor events are limited to 10% to 20% of capacity, depending upon the venue’s size, and...
Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew has coronavirus; some courthouse offices closed
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew tested positive for coronavirus, causing county leaders to shut down their courthouse offices and cancel three public meetings this week. Chew, a first-term Republican from Hempfield, confirmed the diagnosis in text message Tuesday morning. “I was last in the commissioners’ suite on Wednesday afternoon/evening. I...
Pittsburgh officer returns to work 2 years after Tree of Life shooting
It was a long road back from the Tree of Life shooting, but Pittsburgh Police SWAT Officer Timothy Matson is on the job once again. Matson returned to work Monday, according to a social media post. He return comes nearly two years after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the...
Lifelong Pirates fan writes book on 1960 championship season
Wayne Stewart remembers running home from school in Donora on Oct. 13, 1960. He was 9 years old and was hoping to make it in time to catch the end of Game 7 of the World Series between the Pirates and the New York Yankees on TV. The game was...
CDC says coronavirus can spread indoors in updated guidance
NEW YORK — The top U.S. public health agency said Monday that the coronavirus can spread more than 6 feet through the air, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials maintained that such spread is uncommon and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. However, several experts...
Community spread blamed for spiking covid-19 cases in Westmoreland County
Coronavirus infections in Westmoreland County jumped by nearly 600 cases over the past month, a statistic that county and state officials said Monday was attributed to a general community spread of the virus. The Pennsylvania Department of Health disclosed that more than 100 cases were identified in the county over...
Westmoreland Manor sees administrative changes as coronavirus cases creep higher
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to rock Westmoreland Manor, the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield, leaders on Monday announced a change to the facility’s administration. According to a news release, county commissioners said Assistant Administrator Abby Testa was named the Manor’s acting interim administrator, effective Oct. 2. “At this time,...
Pat Toomey’s announced exit sends Pennsylvania politicos scrambling
Monday’s confirmation by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, that he will call it quits in 2022 and not run to become the next governor of Pennsylvania set the stage for an early scramble among candidates now that two statewide seats will be open. “All of the Republican politicos just...
Police: New Kensington man strangles woman, dog during argument
A New Kensington man grabbed a woman by her neck and lifted her off her feet during a fight Monday morning, according to city police. New Kensington police said that Damian Ryan Terrace, 23, also choked one of the woman’s dogs and threatened to kill them. According to a criminal...
Several floors of Pitt residence hall in quarantine after covid increase
The University of Pittsburgh is investigating an increase in covid-19 cases in Litchfield Tower B, a residence hall in Oakland. Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 2, nine cases were reported in the building, said Pat McMahon, a university spokesman. McMahon told The Pitt News the university is still investigating whether...
Peduto submits legislation to protect Black Pittsburghers from hairstyle discrimination
Black Pittsburghers would be protected from hairstyle discrimination in legislation Mayor Bill Peduto is submitting to City Council this week. “Black hair is and always has been professional, but that has not always been reflected by employers, schools or agencies in this city,” Peduto said in a statement. “This legislation...
Trump leaves hospital, declares ‘I feel good’Video
WASHINGTON — Stepping gingerly, President Donald Trump walked out the military hospital Monday night where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for covid-19, immediately igniting a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000...
Westmoreland County Prison guard accused of assaulting handcuffed, shackled inmate
For the second time this year, a Westmoreland County prison guard has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed and shackled prisoner in the Hempfield lockup. Rodney Walters, 53, was arraigned Friday on charges of official oppression and simple assault filed by county detectives after a two-month investigation into the...
Facade collapse at Praha building prompts Corbet Street closure in Tarentum
Part of Corbet Street in Tarentum was closed until further notice Monday after bricks from the facade of the Praha building fell onto the street and sidewalk. A borough police officer found the damage around 1:25 a.m. Monday, code enforcement Officer Anthony Bruni said. The 115-year-old building sits at and...
Penguins waive Jack Johnson, extend qualifying offer to Matt Murray, other restricted free agents
Jack Johnson’s time in Pittsburgh has come to an end. On Monday, the Penguins placed the veteran defenseman on unconditional waivers for the purposes of buying out the final three years of a five-year contract he signed in 2018. The man who extended and ultimately ended that contract wishes it...
Westmoreland has added over 200 covid cases in past week
Westmoreland County added 45 new covid-19 cases Monday, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county had the third highest new case count in the state Monday, coming in behind Philadelphia (76) and Allegheny (46). In the past seven days, Westmoreland County has had 215 new...
Lawsuit targets Point Park University for forced-online spring semester
Four undergraduate students at Point Park University are suing the school, claiming that they are entitled to refunds for a subpar education in the spring when classes moved from in-person instruction to remote learning because of the covid-19 pandemic. The lawsuit includes claims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment...
Allegheny County adds 46 new coronavirus cases
Allegheny County added 46 cases of coronavirus to its tally Monday, according to a report from the county Health Department. In the past seven days, the county has seen 543 new cases. The new positives come from 848 PCR tests conducted from Sept. 30-Oct. 4. The new cases range in...
Edgewood Eat’n Park restaurant closing after 29 years
Richard Wilson stood outside Eat’n Park in Edgewood Towne Center after eating his final breakfast there. The restaurant is closing at 5 p.m. Monday after 29 years. “It was like a shock when I found out about this closing,” said Wilson, 40, of Swissvale, as he dined on a steak...
Toomey confirms he won’t run for another Senate term or governor in 2022
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, on Monday announced he will call it quits in 2022 after a combined total of 18 years in Congress. At a news conference near his home in suburban Allentown, Toomey said he will serve out the final two years of his second...
Western Pa. organizations see uptick in tutoring demands in wake of pandemic
As parents help their children navigate through online learning in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many are turning to tutoring sites for homework help. Locally, organizations offering tutoring services have seen an increased demand as students traverse an ever-changing landscape with districts reopening in person, virtually or through hybrid...
Trump aims for Monday release; White House press secretary tests positive
BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump was hoping for a Monday discharge from the military hospital where he is being treated for covid-19, a day after he briefly ventured out while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade — an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus that...
PSO virtual concert series opens with celebration of Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will bring a new type of front row experience to music lovers via an online concert series premiering Oct. 19. ”Front Row: The PSO Virtual Experience” will include five episodes that will traverse the region and offer classical and popular music, along with Holiday Pops and...
Pandemic pushes start of holiday shopping earlier than ever
NEW YORK — Add last-minute holiday shopping to the list of time-honored traditions being upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Retailers are kicking off the holiday season earlier than ever this year in hopes of avoiding big in-store crowds and shipping bottlenecks in November and December. Stores like Best Buy, Macy’s,...
