Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1533
As Pennsylvania clarifies coronavirus reporting, health experts call process into question
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday took the first step to clarifying its reporting process for coronavirus test results, which infectious disease experts say has muddied the picture of the outbreak in the state. Pennsylvania was among several states that combined two types of test results, according to a...
CMU researchers show most Twitter accounts tweeting about the coronavirus are bots
In a study that has gained recognition with national news outlets, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that much of the discussion on Twitter surrounding covid-19 is misinformation, fueled by bot accounts. CMU researchers have collected more than 200 million tweets discussing coronavirus or covid-19 since January, according to a...
Macy’s stores open with deals and pandemic precautions but few shoppers
Patti Noel came out of Macy’s at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer on Friday with three full bags and plans to go back in for more. Noel, of Kittanning, said came to the mall to shop at JoAnn Fabrics, not knowing Macy’s was reopening after having been closed in...
West Deer woman wins big on ‘The Price is Right’
Mary Kay Giarrusso was the big winner on “The Price is Right.” The West Deer resident won $34,202.97 on Friday’s show, broadcast on CBS at 11 a.m. “The experience was amazing,” said Giarrusso. The show was taped in early March, and Giarrusso said, “I couldn’t remember everything that happened, so...
Pennsylvania prepares for subdued second year of hemp growing
Pennsylvania farmers have lowered their expectations as they prepare for a second year of growing hemp. “Everybody went into this thinking they were going to make a million dollars, and that crashed real quick,” said Lee Ralph, who lives in Robinson Township and owns Full Circle Fields in Venango County....
Trump deems churches ‘essential,’ calls for them to reopen
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that he has deemed churches and other houses of worship “essential” and called on governors across the country to allow them to reopen this weekend, even as some parts of the nation remain under coronavirus lockdown. “Today I’m identifying houses of worship —...
Lawrence County among those going to green phase of reopening
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday he is easing some pandemic restrictions in Philadelphia and the heavily populated suburbs on June 5, while lifting them almost entirely in 17 rural counties next week as Pennsylvania continues to emerge from a shutdown imposed nearly two months ago to help slow...
Pennsylvania prisons plan to loosen coronavirus-related restrictions
The Secretary of Corrections on Friday laid out the state prison system’s plan to gradually step down pandemic-related restrictions and talked about factors he said led to outbreaks in some prisons and not others. John Wetzel, head of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, also said the state’s criteria for granting...
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate hits record 15.1%
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate soared to a record 15.1% in April as the full impact of the covid-19 shutdowns slammed the state’s economy, the state said Friday. The state counted 976,000 workers out of a job last month, an increase of almost 600,000 from March when the unemployment rate was 4.1%,...
3 arrested in cocaine bust on the Pa. Turnpike in New Stanton
Three men are being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after state police pulled over a vehicle speeding westbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and found about 223 grams of suspected cocaine inside, according to court papers. Dwayne H. Crawford, 29, of New York City, was driving a Cadillac at 68...
Detectives: 2 teens opened fire on New Kensington undercover officers
Two men are accused of firing nearly a dozen shots at three New Kensington police officers who were following them in February. Westmoreland County Detectives said Ezra Michael Grant, 19, of Greensburg, and J’Lamar Jeremiah Washington, 18, of Duquesne, face three counts each of attempted homicide, assault of a law...
Memorial Day travel to set record lows as pandemic keeps people close to homeVideo
Many people who typically travel over Memorial Day weekend are trading three days away for more time at home as the coronavirus pandemic leaves countless businesses still closed and social distancing measures in place, travel officials said. Travel numbers are expected to drop by more than half across the country,...
115 new coronavirus deaths reported in PennsylvaniaVideo
Pennsylvania reported more than 100 new coronavirus-related deaths Friday, bringing the overall death toll to just under 5,000. With the addition of 115 deaths, the statewide total now stands at 4,984. State health officials recorded 866 new cases of the virus throughout the day Thursday, pushing the running case count...
Court denies appeal of Murrysville’s fracking ordinance
A local citizen group’s challenge of Murrysville’s unconventional drilling ordinance has been struck down in court. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Harry F. Smail denied an appeal by the Murrysville Watch Committee, which challenged an earlier decision by the Murrysville Zoning Hearing Board. Smail pointed to a November 2019...
Allegheny County adds 2 coronavirus deaths, 21 new cases
Allegheny County officials reported 21 additional covid-19 cases and two new deaths on Friday. This brings the county’s total number of deaths to 146 and the total confirmed and probable cases to 1,739. The first case was reported in the county on March 14. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said...
Allegheny, Westmoreland labor unions ready to get back to work — safely
Labor leaders in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have similar desires: to get their members back to work in safe environments. Their message to public officials is where they diverge. The Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council this week publicly backed county commissioners and local state lawmakers who previously called on Gov....
Penn Hills gym reopens despite Gov. Wolf’s orders
Gym co-owner Monty Webb of Plum said he’s had enough. He and his wife, Linda, own and operate Webb’s World of Fitness in Penn Hills. And he’s open for business. “I opened because it’s essential. Your heath is essential,” Webb said. “I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under...
Pennsylvania’s jobless claims near 2 million
Almost 2 million Pennsylvanians have filed initial unemployment claims since Gov. Wolf ordered the shutdown of non-essential businesses in mid-March, according to the latest figures from the state. The state has seen 1.9 million workers file for first-time jobless claims as of May 20, even though the number of initial...
Fire destroys garage, 3 vehicles at Allegheny Township home
An Allegheny Township couple will have to find another place to spend the night as a fire ripped through their garage and caused some damage to their home. A truck and two cars inside the red brick, three-car attached garage were destroyed in the fire at 160 Hummingbird Lane on...
Pittsburgh-area man sentenced to federal prison after assaulting Social Security guards
A Pittsburgh-area man accused of punching two security guards at a downtown Social Security Office in 2018 was sentenced Thursday to federal prison. Isaiah Paillett, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak to two years after pleading guilty to the charges in January. He originally pleaded not guilty...
‘1-4-3 Day’ returns Friday to honor Fred Rogers’ legacy
Friday is 1-4-3 Day, a statewide celebration of Fred Rogers’ message of love and kindness. To Mr. Rogers, the number 143 was a code — one number for “I,” four for “love,” and three for “you.” Gov. Tom Wolf declared the first 1-4-3 Day last year, and the tradition returns...
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix cancels Race Week, will hold smaller events
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is an event race enthusiasts and classic car lovers look forward to each summer. However, after consulting with officials and stakeholders over covid-19 concerns, Grand Prix organizers are canceling the July 17-26 race week. “We have explored every avenue for staging our traditional races and...
How Pittsburgh’s Wigle Whiskey navigates business during a pandemic
On March 13, Wigle Whiskey debuted the expansion of its Strip District base, with an expanded bar, restaurant, tasting room and museum. Two days later, that space closed when the coronavirus pandemic led to a national economic shutdown. “The past 10 weeks have been a whirlwind,” said Meredith Meyer-Grelli, Wigle...
US begins crackdown on unvetted coronavirus antibody blood tests
WASHINGTON — U.S. regulators are moving ahead with a crackdown on scores of antibody tests for the coronavirus that have not yet been shown to work. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday published a list of more than two dozen test makers that have failed to file applications to...
380 layoffs announced across Allegheny Health Network, Highmark Health, another affiliate
Allegheny Health Network officials announced that AHN and two affiliates are laying off about 380 employees, mostly as the result of the covid-19 pandemic. About 250 of the job cuts mostly are from AHN’s corporate and administrative services, in addition to some clinical support staff, spokeswoman Lynn Seay said via...
