Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1452
PIAA ignores Gov. Wolf’s recommendation, allows fall sports to start Monday
High school football season starts Monday, along with soccer, cross country, girls volleyball and all other PIAA fall sports. The PIAA board of directors ignored Gov. Tom Wolf’s strong recommendation and voted Friday to let fall sports start as scheduled, but the PIAA left the responsibility with individual school districts...
Auditor general: Brighton Rehab refused to let state watchdog examine the nursing home’s finances
Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center blocked the state’s chief fiscal watchdog from examining the Beaver County nursing home’s financial records earlier this year, Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said . DePasquale disclosed Brighton Rehab’s refusal to cooperate — or even take an initial meeting to discuss the possibility of cooperating...
Pittsburgh school board member forgets to turn off camera as she showers during virtual meeting
A Pittsburgh Public Schools board member learned the hard way Wednesday the mishaps that can happen in virtual meetings. Veronica Edwards was accidentally seen disrobing and stepping into the shower during the district’s public online agenda review meeting, which was streamed live. “Hopefully, someone can learn from my experience and...
Gilpin woman lives in subterranean house that she designed, built
Can you dig it? Judy Quick can. The 77-year-old Gilpin woman lives in a custom-built, subterranean home. “I mow my roof,” Quick said while giving a tour of her unorthodox three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that’s on more than 11 acres in rural Armstrong County. She said advantages of underground living include...
Allegheny County schools can play football under health department’s 50-person limit
The PIAA voted to allow high school sports to proceed on schedule. Allegheny County schools got a double dose of good news. Allegheny County schools will be able to play games at home, the WPIAL and Allegheny County Health Department announced Friday in a joint statement. The county’s 50-person limit...
Dark money mystery: Top Pa. lawmaker helped raise cash for nonprofit whose agenda is largely a secret
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG — In early March, a little-known Pennsylvania nonprofit called the Growth and Opportunity Fund Inc. hosted a gathering of...
2 Pittsburgh-area restaurants closing: Larder of East End and Mt. Lebanon’s The Fairlane
Pittsburgh’s restaurant scene continues to endure losses as Larder of East End and Mt. Lebanon’s The Fairlane will close their doors permanently this weekend. Larder is a collaborative venture between chef Justin Severino and his partner Hilary Prescott, and East End Brewing Co. owner and head brewer Scott Smith. The...
Pa. lawmakers concerned ‘guidance’ for schools could open the door to covid-19 lawsuits
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG — As students prepare to begin a highly unusual school year, Pennsylvania lawmakers on Wednesday told Wolf administration officials...
Indoor air purification systems play supporting role in covid-19 prevention measures
A mask mandate, a no-smoking policy and a suspension of indoor dining were among the measures Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh’s North Shore took to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus when it reopened in early July. That same week, the World Health Organization acknowledged airborne transmission of the virus, particularly...
Westmoreland County reports 18 new coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County had 18 new cases of covid-19 Friday, according to the state Department of Health. The county’s total cases are now 1,696 with 1,643 confirmed and 53 probable. The seven-day average for the county is 15 cases. Westmoreland has reported 287 coronavirus cases so far in August. Westmoreland County...
Pennsylvania reports 693 new coronavirus cases, 20 new deaths
Pennsylvania on Friday reported an additional 693 cases of covid-19, bringing total cases to 127,633, according to the state Department of Health. The seven-day average has dropped to 669 cases, its lowest since July 6. The state is reporting 510 patients currently hospitalized, 93 of which are on ventilators. Pa....
Allegheny County’s 7-day average of coronavirus cases drops to lowest since June
Allegheny County’s seven-day average of new covid-19 cases on Friday dropped to 68 as 80 new instances were reported. It’s the lowest average recorded since late June. The seven-day average peaked at 206 on July 17 and has been steadily dropping. The county’s total cases are now 9,756. Of those,...
‘Nation’s eyes are on us’: Pa. in swing-state spotlight as Biden accepts nomination, Trump stumps near Scranton
Joe Biden aimed to rally American voters remotely during his address broadcast Thursday night, capping off the Democratic Party’s first all-virtual convention and four days of speeches equating voting for Biden as a vote to save democracy itself. “This is a life-changing election that will determine America’s future for a...
Biden seeks Democratic, national unity in convention finale
WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden vowed to unite an America torn by crisis and contempt Thursday night, accepting the Democratic presidential nomination in an unfinished personal quest that has spanned three decades and been marred by personal tragedy, political stumbles and more dynamic rivals. The past hurdles fell away as...
More than 30 weigh in on Unity debate about backyard chicken regulations — some pro, some con
Unity’s supervisors on Thursday heard from more than 30 residents debating whether township zoning regulations should be changed to provide greater allowance for backyard chickens on smaller properties. Jeff and Kristin Kuhns are appealing a zoning violation notice stemming from the 20 chickens they’re raising on less than the minimum...
Group stages protest, march in downtown GreensburgVideo
A group of about 40 people held a protest Thursday evening at the corner of Main and Otterman streets in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The group held up signs and chanted slogans invoking victims of police violence in cases such as those that led to the deaths...
Pa. lawsuit alleges Chipotle keeping the change with cash-paying customers
A lawsuit seeking class-action status contends that Chipotle stores in Pennsylvania are not giving proper change to customers and instead are lining their pockets with it. The complaint, filed Thursday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, alleges hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of dollars in consumer losses....
Restaurant, tavern industry association meets in Hempfield, hopes for rollback of covid-19 restrictionsVideo
Westmoreland County restaurant and bar operators say the state’s limit of 25% indoor occupancy for dining establishments unfairly targets them as being responsible for the spread of the coronavirus. About 40 local industry members gathered Thursday at Ferrante’s Lakeview restaurant in Hempfield to share tales of how the state pandemic...
New Kensington, Arnold officials celebrate company’s $6M investment in manufacturing parkVideo
** Editor’s note: The original version of this story misstated the amount of money Pennsylvania taxpayers are contributing to this project. The error was as a result of incorrect information provided to the Tribune-Review. ** A $6 million project is keeping 50 manufacturing jobs in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Affival Inc....
Former business manager charged with stealing from North Versailles Fire Department
A White Oak man is charged with stealing from the North Versailles Fire Department, where he worked as business manager, to allegedly pay his child support. Ryan Marton, 48, of faces counts of theft, unlawful use of a computer, receiving stolen property and misapplication of entrusted property. He turned himself...
Judge again denies bail for jailed Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez
The offered sale of a $5 million Florida home as collateral to ensure future court appearances of suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was not enough to convince a judge to release him from jail. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears on Thursday rejected a second request for...
Police charge Pittsburgh man with assault, riot after protest at Mayor Peduto’s house
A protester arrested Wednesday night after a protest outside Mayor Bill Peduto’s Point Breeze home is charged with aggravated assault and riot after police allege he pushed his bicycle against and struggled with officers. The arresting officer wrote in the complaint that his body-worn camera was knocked off while he...
Pittsburgh tech company adds ultraviolet disinfection robots to its portfolioVideo
Most people think of ultraviolet light as the main reason for wearing sunscreen. Chris Proud, CEO at Safe Space Technologies in Pittsburgh, sees it as another weapon in the battle against the coronavirus. Safe Spaces’ parent company, Miller Process, focuses on collaborative robots, networking services and automation for a variety...
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announces 3 new lion cubs
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announced the birth of three new African lion cubs on Thursday. The cubs — one female and two male — were born at the zoo on July 16. This marks the first African lion births at the Pittsburgh Zoo since 1975, according to zoo...
Jerome Bettis-owned trucking company sues EQT for race discrimination
A trucking company owned by former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and his brother is suing EQT for race discrimination, contending that it ended contracts with them after a new CEO took over last year. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court includes claims for violating the Civil Rights...
