Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 92

The number of flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania has nearly doubled in the past week, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Health. The department reported there had been 24 flu-associated deaths this flu season through Saturday, up from 13 as of Jan. 4. As of this point...

A key Tarentum intersection that had been dark since a crash in November is again illuminated at night. Borough crews Monday replaced the streetlight at Lock Street and East 10th Avenue, Borough Manager Michael Nestico said. A light that had been there was knocked out Nov. 25 when a tractor-trailer...

Highlands School District will use one grant to improve computer science education, while another grant-funded program is aimed at improving students’ eyesight. The district has been awarded a $35,000 Smart Grant from the state to improve its elementary and middle school computer science programs, with a focus on increasing participation...

Gasoline prices fell in Pittsburgh and across the nation in the past week as oil prices fell along with tensions between the U.S. and Iran, according to price tracking service GasBuddy. “With Iran and the United States de-escalating rising tensions last week, oil prices plummeted back under $60 per barrel,...

If customers of his Tarentum produce store were a little short, Paul Perriello would tell them to catch him later. If kids came in hungry, he’d give them hoagies and milk and send them on their way. “That’s what a small businessman does: He takes care of the town,” Perriello...

Walmart announced Friday that low-cost flu shots will be available at wellness clinics in its stores on Saturday. The “Walmart Wellness Day” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all Walmart stores in Western Pennsylvania. The cash price for shots will start around $39, spokesman Keegan Gibson...

Construction on a $10 million senior independent living facility in Harrison will start by May, the project’s developer said. Harrison’s planning commission gave final approval for the development plans for Riverview Senior Living at the former Highlands School District administration building on 11th Avenue. Work will take about 14 months...

Pennsylvania’s influenza epidemic claimed four more lives in the past week, including the first fatal case of the season involving a person younger than 50, according to data released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The number of laboratory-confirmed cases and flu-related hospitalizations surged over the past week, data...

Tarentum is sticking with Waste Management as its garbage hauler for 2020 but will keep looking for a new one, borough Manager Michael Nestico said. The one-year contract council accepted with Waste Management keeps the borough’s cost unchanged at about $165 per ton. Tarentum opted not to increase residents’ $22...

A Tarentum business owner first appointed to Tarentum Council nearly a year ago has been appointed again. Council chose Brian Snyder to again fill a vacant council seat representing the borough’s 3rd Ward. He replaces Carrie Fox, who resigned the ward seat after winning both it and the one at-large...

A Stowe Township police officer fired his gun at a man who had been driving a car that may have been involved in a shooting near Sto-Rox High School Monday afternoon, Allegheny County Police said. Police said the man was grazed by the bullet and taken into custody. After being...

There is a “distinct possibility” that escalating tensions between the United States and Iran may impact gasoline prices, a market analyst said. Whether that happens depends on if Iran retaliates for the airstrike that killed a top Iranian general, and if that retaliation targets oil infrastructure, said Patrick DeHaan, head...

A section of Hulton Road along the border of Plum and Penn Hills that had been closed since July reopened Monday, PennDOT spokeswoman Yasmeen Manyisha said. Hulton Road had been closed for slide repair between Iowa Street and Michael Drive since July 1. A landslide in that area occurred in...

He got a deal. Plum’s Joe Altieri appeared on the ABC show “Shark Tank” on Sunday night, seeking an investment for his Murrysville window screen company, FlexScreen. After making his pitch and fielding questions from the show’s five “shark” investors, Altieri, 43, considered offers from Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner and...

DirecTV subscribers in the Pittsburgh area will once again be able to view ABC affiliate WTAE-TV. In a joint statement Sunday, Hearst Television, parent company of WTAE, and AT&T, which owns DirecTV, announced they had entered into a new, multi-year retransmission agreement to provide Hearst-owned local broadcast stations to customers...

An online fundraising effort to help an Allegheny Township couple whose home was destroyed by fire Friday was approaching a $10,000 goal. By Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign to benefit Jason and Marissa Femc had raised $9,500 from more than 180 donors. The Femcs, who are newlyweds, lost all their...

An anti-war protest in Pittsburgh was peaceful on Saturday until a fight broke out. More than 100 people were taking part in the protest at Schenely Plaza in Oakland, the Trib’s news partner, WPXI-TV, reported. The protest started around 12:30 p.m. and was over by 2 p.m., a Pittsburgh police...

A Massachusetts business is recalling about 200 pounds of lentil and beef soup for toddlers shipped to Pennsylvania and four other states and Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced. Kettle Cuisine Midco is recalling the ready-to-eat product because of misbranding and undeclared allergens, the department’s Food Safety and...

A fire that damaged a vacant Mt. Pleasant Township home Friday night was intentionally set, according to state police. The fire at 513 Pine St. was reported shortly before 8:30 p.m. A state police fire marshal who investigated the fire found it had started at multiple points in the basement...

Six students at a Butler County rehabilitation school were arrested after allegedly assaulting another student, according to state police. State police said the incident happened around 2:45 p.m. Thursday at Summit Academy on Herman Road in Summit Township. Summit Academy is a private residential school for at-risk youths between the...

An agreement has restored one Pittsburgh television station to customers of Verizon’s Fios service while a dispute continues to keep another off for DirecTV subscribers. Verizon announced to its customers Saturday night that it was able to reach an agreement with Cox Media Group that allows it to restore is...

A Washington County concert venue known as much for its traffic snarls as well as its music acts will take on another new name as it enters its 30th year. S&T Bank announced Saturday that it is the new name sponsor for the Live Nation outdoor amphitheater near Burgettstown, formerly...

The past week saw another sharp increase in confirmed influenza cases across Pennsylvania and two additional flu-associated deaths, according to data released Tuesday by the state Health Department. As of the week ending Dec. 28, a total of 17,349 laboratory-confirmed flu cases have been reported this season. That’s up 56%...

A property tax increase is needed for New Kensington to maintain its services, officials said as council unanimously approved the city’s 2020 budget and tax rate Monday. Police protection is among those services. The city hired five new officers this year, which accounts for much of the 3% increase in...

A seven-week streak of falling gasoline prices ended as prices rose nationally and in the Pittsburgh area over the past week, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy. The national average price of gasoline is up 1.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.57, according to GasBuddy. That’s 2 cents...