Joe Napsha stories, Page 98
Norwin director ripped over controversial posts; some call for resignation
A Norwin School Board director was roundly criticized amid residents’ calls for his resignation for his posts on a private Facebook account. They included messages such as “Gold Star of David coming to the mask wearers,” Democrats are not Christians and the nation should be plunged into war if President...
Pennsylvania Lottery racks up record year, despite covid-19Video
Pennsylvania Lottery on Monday reported that it hit the jackpot, with a whopping 92% increase in online play last fiscal year. Just don’t count Allan Lydic, owner of the Greensburg Newsstand, among those thrilled about the accomplishment. “I’m not a big fan of those, obviously,” said Lydic, whose store was...
Texas developer buys Chestnut Ridge resort
A Houston developer who bought the Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort and Conference Center in southern Indiana County in a July 25 auction wants to maintain the site as a golf course and conference center, the developer’s attorney said Friday. RRH Development also wants to market it more and possibly use...
Cal U to go remote for fall semester
California University of Pennsylvania has joined a growing list of universities that will offer only remote learning for their students this fall because of concerns over the possible spread of covid-19. “Throughout the summer, my leadership team and many others planned for our return to on-campus operations … in the...
Suspect, 17, sought in the slaying of another teen in Uniontown
A homeless teenager accused in the shooting death of a 16-year-old Uniontown boy Wednesday night went to particular house in order to fight the victim, according to Uniontown police. An arrest warrant has been issued for Jaden Christopher Shaw, 17, who is listed as homeless in court papers but also...
Penn-Trafford Community Band plays on during pandemic, new shows planned
Despite the covid-19 pandemic, the Penn Trafford Community Band is rehearsing again and planning at least four concerts for August and September, while following social distancing guidelines, the band manager said. The 65-member community band will play concerts at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, including one in Fox Chapel,...
Norwin OKs hybrid reopening, delays start to Aug. 31
Norwin students will start the school year Aug. 31 by returning to their classrooms two days a week and then three days at home receiving remote instruction. School officials say the plan is flexible to accommodate full-time, in-school learning or total online, depending on changes in the coronavirus pandemic. The...
Enrollment booming for cyber schools, online academies
With families concerned about the safety of students returning to schools amid the covid-19 pandemic, cyber charter schools and the online academies run by school districts are seeing an increase in demand, officials of the schools said. “Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter schools have been inundated with inquiries about their schools...
Catholic Diocese of Greensburg unveils school reopening plans
The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg intends to have its students return to the classrooms of its 12 parochial schools in four counties for the new school year, but those plans could change depending on government mandates. The reopening plan, developed over the summer through a school safety task force, will...
Pittsburgh jobless rate dips slightly to 12.5% in June
The Pittsburgh region’s jobless rate dropped again in June, falling slightly to 12.5%, because of an increase in nonfarm jobs, the state said Tuesday. The unemployment rate fell by 1.4 percentage points, continuing a decline from a high of 17% in April for Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and...
Greensburg prepares for Thursday vice presidential visit
Before he was sworn as Greensburg’s new police chief two weeks ago, Robert Stafford said he hoped the city would remain peaceful. Westmoreland’s county seat has been the site of a few relatively small Black Lives Matters protests against police brutality, in contrast to large and violent protests in Pittsburgh,...
Penn-Trafford details graduation plans
To comply with state requirements for social distancing during the covid-19 pandemic, Penn-Trafford will hold two gradation sesssions Friday at the high school’s Warrior Stadium in Harrison City. Students whose last name begins with the letter A to L, will attend the 5 p.m. ceremonies. Students whose last name begins...
Jobless could wait months for stimulus if $600 aid is altered, says Pa. official
If Congress makes drastic changes to the $600-a-week program that has delivered $14.5 billion to the state’s unemployed since the covid-19 shutdowns in mid-March, thousands of Pennsylvania’s jobless workers may not get any extra federal aid for months, a state labor official said Monday. With the state’s unemployment compensation system...
Nuclear power bailout stalled in Harrisburg as feds allege bribes fueled Ohio aid package
An effort to help Pennsylvania’s nuclear power industry snag an estimated $500 million a year ratepayer bailout should not be hurt by an alleged bribery scandal involving FirstEnergy Corp. in Ohio, a state representative said. Federal prosecutors say the Akron-based company pumped $15 million into a $60 million pot of...
Norwin student named to environmental ambassador program
A rising Norwin High School sophomore with a passion for science and the environment was selected as one of 31 students in the nation for a program to protect and preserve local water resources through monitoring, restoration and educational outreach. Abrielle Brown, 14, will participate in the EarthEcho Water Challenge...
Chestnut Ridge golf resort near Blairsville going up for auction
A former U.S. Steel executive is selling a 345-acre golf course and resort just across the Westmoreland County line near Blairsville. The online auction for Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort & Conference Center, planned for noon Saturday, has attracted local and national attention. “We are seeing quite a bit of interest...
Storm causes flooding in Derry basementsVideo
Jerris Weller stood in the storm water and sewer water that had flooded the finished basement of his Derry Borough home Thursday night, a sump pump pushing the water outside almost as fast as a shower drain and floor drain was filling it up again. “This is a repeated problem...
Pa. Consumer Advocate: FirstEnergy can’t recover $60 million alleged bribe from customers
FirstEnergy Corp. would not be able to raise electric rates on its 720,000 West Penn Power Co. customers in an attempt to recoup what federal prosecutors say was $60 million in bribes allegedly paid to Ohio power brokers. Prosecutors allege the bribes were paid in an effort to secure a...
2nd heat wave in Western Pa. strains power grid but utilities handle extra demand
This summer’s heat has pushed the mercury to 90 degrees and higher for 11 days, prompting people to keep the air conditioners humming day and night. It has also strained the electricity lines carrying power to homes and businesses, area utility companies said. But while the system may be stressed...
Norwin to unveil reopening plan July 30
With 5,300 Norwin students scheduled to return in about a month, district administrators will inform the school board next week about how they plan to do that safely. Norwin will have “a number of contingencies and we will discuss them in detail,” said Superintendent Jeff Taylor. Those contingencies will depend,...
Irwin man charged with assaulting girl
A 37-year-old Irwin man is accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2019, according to court documents. Justin M. Hartung of Ninth Street allegedly inappropriately touched the girl, who was younger than age 13 at the time, and exposed himself to her at an Irwin residence during the winter...
Norwin students named winners in photography contest
Six Norwin gifted students received awards in the Westmoreland County Gifted Network’s annual spring photography contest. In the middle school, Jacob Osterberg received an honorable mention in the Architecture category, according to the school district. At the intermediate school level, Dylan Reynolds placed second and Riley Reynolds placed third in...
Levin to open its 1st furniture, mattress outlet in Ohio
Stocked with $3 million of furnishings from recently closed Levin stores, Levin Furniture Co. said Wednesday it will open its first furniture and mattress outlet in Niles, Ohio, on July 23. The 65,000-square-foot outlet on Holland Road in the former Gander Mountain store at Eastwood Mall, will be the 19th...
New program for young Pennsylvania farmers aims to pump new blood into aging agriculture industry
Adam Mason and his wife, Katie, are in the process of buying a 106-acre farm in Allegheny Township, where they hope to raise chickens, turkeys, pigs and cattle. “It’s a dream come true,” Mason, a 35-year-old California native, said of his plans to own a farm. Mason, who is raising...
Farmers markets adjusting covid-19 restrictions
In this time of covid-19 restrictions, farmers markets have joined other businesses in modifying their operations. “We’re following the state requirements for keeping social distance and asking everyone to wear masks,” said Randy Morris, a Sewickley Township farmer who organizes the Irwin Farmers Market. About 24 vendors sell fresh produce,...
