Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1467
Pennsylvania reports 23 new covid-19 deaths, 854 new cases
After reporting no new covid-19 deaths in the state Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced 23 new deaths Tuesday. The new reported deaths are the highest in a seven-day span. In that time — July 29 through Tuesday — reported deaths were mostly below 20 each day. The state...
Westmoreland County has smallest increase in new covid-19 cases since June
Westmoreland County had less than 10 new covid-19 cases Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This is the first time since June 30 that the county had a single-digit case count. The seven new coronavirus cases are all confirmed and bring the county’s case total to 1,464. Westmoreland...
Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousandsVideo
BEIRUT — A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. More than 70 people were killed and 3,000 injured, with bodies buried in the rubble, officials said. It was not clear...
New Allegheny County covid-19 cases top 100 after double-digit stretch
After a three-day stretch of new cases below 100, Allegheny County reported 132 new covid-19 cases Tuesday, according to the health department. Of the new cases, 70 were between ages 19 and 49, 20 of those were age 19-24 and 50 were age 25-49. New coronavirus cases were found from...
Popular Pittsburgh club Brillobox closes doors for good
Brillobox, a popular Pittsburgh club offering live music, food and dance parties, is closing its doors. Owners Lou Ickes and Janessa Walter announced the closure via a Facebook post. “We are wrapping it up. We appreciate everyone that has been a part of Brillo, over the years. It’s been a...
Wave of evictions expected as moratoriums end in many states
BALTIMORE — Kelyn Yanez used to clean homes during the day and wait tables at night in the Houston area before the coronavirus. But the mother of three lost both jobs in March because of the pandemic and now is facing eviction. The Honduran immigrant got help from a local...
3 men rescued from Pacific island after writing SOS in sandVideo
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Three men have been rescued from a tiny Pacific island after writing a giant SOS sign in the sand that was spotted from above, authorities say. The men had been missing in the Micronesia archipelago for nearly three days when their distress signal was spotted Sunday...
Tropic storm Isaias whips up eastern U.S., killing at least 6Video
WINDSOR, N.C. — At least six people were killed as Tropical Storm Isaias spawned tornadoes and dumped rain Tuesday along the East Coast after making landfall as a hurricane in North Carolina, where it caused floods and fires that displaced dozens of people. Two people died when Isaias spun off...
Forbes State Forest interns clear trails, put finishing touch on arboretumVideo
When Jeff Ashley of Bala Cynwyd arrived at the Forbes State Forest office in Laughlintown, he quickly gravitated to an informational kiosk just installed by a group of college interns. “That’s exactly what we wanted to happen,” said Ed Callahan, district forester at the office. “We’re hopeful that people will...
Walmart to open 9 added covid-19 test sites in Pennsylvania
Retail giant Walmart will open nine additional covid-19 drive-thru testing locations at stores across Pennsylvania this week, most of them in Western Pennsylvania, state health officials announced Monday. But one health expert is concerned those sites will do little to help control the outbreak. “It is an important goal to...
Westmoreland election director resigns 3 months out from election day
Westmoreland County officials Monday confirmed the resignation of the elections bureau director, a move that comes as preparations continue for the presidential general election just three months away. Commissioner Doug Chew said Beth Lechman last week notified county leaders of her decision to exit the job she has held since...
Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in North CarolinaVideo
RALEIGH, N.C. — Hurricane Isaias has made landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane made landfall just after 11 p.m. on Monday with maximum sustained wind of 85 mph. Coastal shops and restaurants closed early, power began to flicker at oceanfront hotels...
Prosecutor seeking Trump’s taxes cites probe of his business for possible fraudVideo
NEW YORK — A Manhattan prosecutor trying to get President Donald Trump’s tax returns told a judge Monday that he was justified in demanding them, citing public reports of “extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization.” Trump’s lawyers last month said the grand jury subpoena for the tax...
Suspect in fatal Derry Township shooting to face trial as details emerge during closed hearing
Nathan Quidetto wasn’t gone long from a Unity home early July 20, said Triston M. Clawson. In the hours after Quidetto returned to Dorothy Patch, he was “hysterically crying” and Clawson learned he had a gun. “‘I know we have a hit list, but I think I killed an innocent...
Gov. Wolf: Online-only schools shouldn’t play sports this fall
Online classes await students at a number of schools this fall, but that wasn’t expected to keep their sports teams from competing. Now, they’re not so sure. Gov. Tom Wolf said schools choosing an online-only approach shouldn’t play sports in the fall, an informal announcement that left coaches, athletes and...
Pitt researchers involved in clinical trial for covid-19 treatment option
University of Pittsburgh researchers are collaborating with other universities for a clinical trial testing convalescent plasma in the treatment of covid-19. The group, which includes scientists from Michigan Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina and Stanford Medicine, were awarded more than $7 million from the National Heart, Lung and Blood...
Virus relief bill remains up in air as negotiations resume
WASHINGTON — Slow, grinding negotiations on a huge covid-19 relief bill are set to resume Monday afternoon, but the path forward promises to be challenging and time is already growing short. Republicans are griping that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won’t drop her expansive wish list even as concerns are mounting...
Westmoreland County adds 19 new cases to covid-19 list
Westmoreland County saw 19 new coronavirus cases added on Monday, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It is the county’s third straight day new cases have been below 20, the first time that’s happened since June 24-26. No new deaths were announced Monday, leaving the county’s...
For 1st time since March, Pennsylvania reports no new covid-19 deaths
For the first time since March 23, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced no new deaths from covid-19 on Monday. The news is a stark and welcome contrast to the state’s recent numbers, which has seen 560 coronavirus-related deaths since July 1. “Sometimes after weekends, you may see a small...
New reported cases of covid-19 trending lower in Allegheny County
For the third straight day, Allegheny County reported new covid-19 case numbers under 100. The county’s Department of Health announced Monday 68 new cases of covid-19, along with one new report of hospitalization and no new deaths. Not since late June has the county posted a three-day stretch of new...
Editorial: Freedom of press and coronavirus
A pandemic can affect a lot of things. It can change how we work, how kids go to school and how we shop. It can screw up baseball and bingo. It can complicate weddings and funerals. But it doesn’t change the Constitution. It hasn’t changed the freedom of speech of...
Sorry, boomers: millennials and younger are new U.S. majority
ORLANDO, Fla. — Sorry, boomers. Millennials and their younger siblings and children now make up a majority of the U.S. population. A new analysis by the Brookings Institution shows that 50.7% of U.S. residents were under age 40, as of July 2019. The Brookings’ analysis of population estimates released this...
Microsoft confirms talks seeking to buy U.S. arm of TikTok
NEW YORK — Microsoft confirmed Sunday it is in talks with Chinese company ByteDance to acquire the U.S. arm of its popular video app TikTok and has discussed with President Donald Trump his concerns about security and censorship surrounding such an acquisition. In a statement, Microsoft said Microsoft and ByteDance...
Oldest U.S. retailer Lord & Taylor seeks bankruptcy protectionVideo
NEW YORK — Lord & Taylor, America’s oldest retailer, is seeking bankruptcy protection, as is the owner of Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Banks, lengthening the list of major retail chains that have faltered in the pandemic. Companies, some with roots dating to the early 19th century, were already suffering...
As U.S. milk sales rise amid pandemic, ‘Got milk?’ ads return
The dairy industry has a familiar question for you: “Got milk?” Six years after the popular tagline was retired, “Got milk?” ads are back. A dairy industry-funded group is reviving the campaign, hoping to prolong the boost milk has gotten during the pandemic. U.S. milk sales have been in freefall...
