Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1492
Moon teen wins national songwriting competitionVideo
Maleena Dominick had already written a song about how she felt losing the last few months of her senior year at Moon Area High School to the covid-19 shutdown. So when the 18-year-old heard about the “Living in a Covid World”-themed Robbie’s Hope Foundation songwriting contest, she immediately entered. Dominick’s...
New rules: Foreign students must leave U.S. if classes go online
International students will be forced to leave the United States or transfer to another college if their schools offer classes entirely online this fall, under new guidelines issued by federal immigration authorities. The guidelines, issued Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even...
More Allegheny County court staffers test positive for covid-19; judge orders more video hearings
A Pittsburgh Municipal Court employee and probation office staffer have tested positive for covid-19, Allegheny County court administrator Christopher Connors announced Tuesday. He said the court employee’s test was taken July 5 and the probation office worker was tested June 30. The announcement comes a day after other Allegheny County...
U.S. notifies UN of withdrawal from World Health OrganizationVideo
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, although the pullout won’t take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential...
Ross police officer under review after reports of questionable social media posts
A Ross Township police officer’s social media posts are under review after a Pittsburgh radio station raised questions about them. According to a story by WESA-FM on Tuesday, Sgt. Joseph “JJ” Serowik appears to have commented on Facebook posts that mocked protesters and joked about running them over. Serowik works...
State expected to prohibit indoor dining in Westmoreland, Allegheny as covid-19 cases rise
Pennsylvania officials are expected to put new restrictions on dining and gatherings in five counties around Southwestern Pennsylvania — including Westmoreland and Allegheny — as coronavirus cases in the region continue to rise. The new rules will take effect Thursday, according to two Westmoreland County officials familiar with the proposal,...
Pittsburgh Diocese eliminating positions, moving offices as it struggles with financial impact of covid-19
The Diocese of Pittsburgh cited ongoing challenges caused by the covid-19 pandemic as reasons for staff layoffs and the relocation of its central administration. A staff realignment includes eliminating 11 positions and reducing hours for two positions, the diocese said in a news release Tuesday. Diocesan operations are being moved...
Western Pa. health care leaders: Your simple actions matter the most to prevent covid-19
This letter was signed by nine regional health care leaders, named below. Over the past three months, our organizations have proudly come together in an unprecedented fashion to address the enormous challenges we have faced as a community due to the novel coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic. This public health crisis is...
Pompeo: U.S. ‘looking at’ banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTokVideo
The United States government is “looking at” banning Chinese social media apps such as TikTok, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. Pompeo made the comment Monday during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.” “With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cellphones, I can assure you the United States...
Pittsburgh Council creates LGBTQ commission, passes bill to address racial inequities
Pittsburgh City Council Tuesday unanimously approved legislation designed to help erase Pittsburgh’s racial imbalances and make the city more welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people. Members passed the separate bills unanimously and without discussion. Councilmen Ricky Burgess and R. Daniel Lavelle pushed legislation that includes a five-point platform for improving conditions for...
Plum man sentenced to 12-24 years on child porn charges
A Plum man was sentenced to 12-to-24 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to child pornography charges in Westmoreland County. Antonio R. Pampena, 37, pleaded guilty before Westmoreland Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio to two counts of disseminating photos of child sex acts, 35 counts of possessing child pornography and one...
Pa. reports nearly 1,000 new covid-19 cases
Pennsylvania reported nearly 1,000 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 91,299. The state Department of Health reported 995 new cases and 33 new deaths from covid-19, totaling 6,787 deaths statewide. Allegheny County reported 204 new coronavirus cases Tuesday and Philadelphia County reported 288 coronavirus cases...
Man flown to hospital after SUV crashes into tree in Indiana County
A man was flown to a Monroeville hospital after his sport utility vehicle crashed Tuesday morning in Indiana County. The wreck happened before 9:45 a.m. on Route 286 in Conemaugh Township, about a mile east of Clarksburg. Crews had to free the man from his Ford Escape, which was totaled...
Pittsburgh Catholic schools plan temperature checks, masks for students
Elementary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh are set to reopen Aug. 27, and high schools have staggered start dates, the diocese announced Tuesday. Daily temperature readings will be required for students, teachers and staff; school buildings will be disinfected regularly, classrooms will honor social distancing and a mask...
2 popular Pittsburgh restaurants close their doors
The past 24 hours have brought permanent closure announcements from two popular Pittsburgh eateries, Downtown’s NOLA on the Square and East Liberty’s Spoon. Spoon’s announcement came yesterday through Facebook, though the rationale is more complicated than just the financial pressures which have accompanied covid-19 restrictions. According to Spoon’s part-owner and...
Police: Woman who went missing and was thought to be in West Mifflin found safe
A woman thought to be in West Mifflin who was reported missing from San Francisco has been found, West Mifflin police said. Dawn Manson was last seen in California, and West Mifflin police over the weekend reported that she might be in the area. She wasn’t, police said. She was...
Morningside’s Bulldog Pub closes temporarily after employee tests positive for coronavirus
Bulldog Pub in Morningside announced that the restaurant is closing until further notice after an employee on Tuesday tested positive for covid-19. The employee showed no symptoms, according to Jesse DiRenzo, owner and general manager of Bulldog Pub. “She had no symptoms whatsoever, but last week, I had asked my...
Heat will stay stuck on extra high for July in most of U.S.
The heat is on. And for most of America it’ll stay on through the rest of the month and maybe longer, meteorologists say. Widespread and prolonged extreme heat is baking the contiguous United States and meteorologists see no relief in sight, except for a brief time in a corner of...
Pittsburgh nonprofit 412 Food Rescue saves 10 million pounds of food for needy
The nonprofit 412 Food Rescue on Tuesday announced that, over the past five years, it has redirected 10 million pounds of food that would have otherwise been wasted by serving it to those in need. The nonprofit, which launched in March 2015, relies on a network of volunteer food recovery...
1st new covid-19 death since May reported in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County reported its first new coronavirus death since May on Tuesday, bringing the death total to 39. According to the county coroner’s office, the deceased was 78-year-old white male. The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday reported 35 new covid-19 cases in Westmoreland, bringing the countywide case total to...
Brazil’s President Bolsonaro tests positive for covid-19Video
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said Tuesday he has tested positive for the new coronavirus after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country. The 65-year-old right-wing populist who has been known to mingle in crowds without covering his face confirmed the results...
Allegheny County reports 6 new covid-19 deaths, 204 new cases
Allegheny County health officials reported 204 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, marking the third day the county has surpassed 200 cases in a daily report. The county also reported seven new hospitalizations and six new deaths. The positive cases make up about 8% of the 2,404 test results the county...
Duolingo co-founder threatens to move jobs from Pittsburgh to Toronto over immigration policies
A founder of Pittsburgh’s prized tech startup, Duolingo, indicated Monday that harsh immigration policies could force him to move the company – and its jobs – to Canada. Luis von Ahn wrote on Twitter that the Trump administration’s moves could cost Pittsburgh. “I’m proud that Duolingo, the most valuable startup...
Pittsburgh’s DiAnoia’s Eatery closes after worker tests positive for coronavirus
DiAnoia’s Eatery in the Strip District is temporarily closed after an employee tested positive for covid-19. “We feel that it’s our responsibility to you and our team, to temporarily close while we fully sanitize, deep clean, and have our entire staff tested,” the restaurant announced on its website and via...
Police: Leechburg man arrested for selling cocaine in North Apollo
A Leechburg man was arrested early Tuesday morning after police said he was selling cocaine in North Apollo. Jonathan Rearick, 28, was arrested around 12:50 a.m. by the Kiski Township Police Department after they said he was selling cocaine at the R Bar, located at 418 16th Street. Officers said...
