Stephen Huba stories, Page 23
Nevin Arena finalist in Penguins’ ‘Renovate the Rink’ contest
The Kirk S. Nevin Arena, Greensburg’s home for hockey and ice skating, is one of three finalists in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ “Renovate the Rink” contest. The facility could win $100,000 in renovations if it garners enough votes to claim the grand prize. Online voting continues through Feb. 22. The other...
Seton Hill student battling cancer finds fame on YouTubeVideo
Singing was the last thing on her mind. Erin McElhenny, a junior at Seton Hill University, Greensburg, was at the Cleveland Clinic last week for three days of chemotherapy treatment when an impromptu concert gave her some much-needed music therapy. “It has brought my mood up a lot to do...
Report: Half of U.S. coal mines operating in 2008 have closed
More than half of the U.S. coal mines operating in 2008 have since closed, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Most of the mine closures were in the Appalachian states of Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the EIA said. The closings were driven by the decreasing demand...
Murrysville activating shelter plans for Wednesday, Thursday
With wind chills plunging below zero on Wednesday and Thursday, Murrysville is making a warming center available both days on an as-needed basis. Anyone in need of emergency shelter should contact police Capt. Chuck Tappe at 724-309-2369 or ctappe@murrysvillegov.org and request assistance. “If I receive a call, I will notify...
Phipps conference to explore connections between cancer, environmental hazards
A conference exploring the connections between cancer and environmental hazards will be held at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Tuesday. All the registrations are filled. “Cancer and the Environment: Priorities for Research, Clinical Practice and Policy” will feature experts discussing the latest science on how cancer develops and...
Fred Rogers biopic release date moved back 5 weeks
It’ll be “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” a little later than originally planned, now that Sony Pictures has moved back the release date of the Fred Rogers biopic to Nov. 22. The much-anticipated movie, which stars Tom Hanks as Rogers, originally was scheduled for release on Oct. 18, but...
Report: U.S. coal production declined in 2018 as prices, exports rose
U.S. coal production continued its downward trend in 2018, even as coal prices rose in three of the five major coal-producing regions, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. The federal agency estimated that U.S. coal production in 2018 totaled 755 million short tons — 20 million short tons less than...
Pitt waives $5,546 security fee for Ben Shapiro appearance
The University of Pittsburgh has agreed to waive the security fee it charged the Pitt College Republicans for the Nov. 14 campus appearance of conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. The decision was made “in light of the confusion over this issue and the difficult position the College Republicans would be in...
Online convenience driving return of grocery deliveries in Western Pennsylvania
The days of the home-delivered milk bottle may be gone, but the idea of having groceries delivered is anything but passé. In fact, the service — once the domain of local mom-and-pop stores — is catching on with Giant Eagle, Walmart and other grocery giants. The service is fueled in...
Report forecasts continued robust growth in U.S. energy production, exports
For the first time in almost 70 years, the U.S. will export more energy than it imports in 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said. The projection was part of the agency’s “Annual Energy Outlook 2019” report, released on Thursday. The report, which based its findings on a “reference case”...
Report: Ohio pipeline damaged in explosion part of same system damaged in 2016 incident
The natural gas pipeline in Noble County, Ohio, that exploded on Monday is part of the same system that had an explosion in Salem Township in 2016, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Monday’s explosion on the Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline in Noble County in eastern Ohio resulted in one injury, the...
Natural gas impact fee revenue expected to be up this year, agency says
A state agency projects that natural gas impact fee collections for 2018 will exceed those from 2017 by $37.4 million. Total collections on the impact fee for 2018 are projected to be $247 million, according to the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office. Should the projection hold, it will be the largest...
Delmont food bank gains food windfall after winter storm fails to materialize
The fact that Winter Storm Harper was a bust turned out to be a boon for the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The Delmont food bank got a sizeable donation from West Penn Power over the weekend when the storm failed to materialize and the utility was stuck with 16,000 pounds...
Greensburg-based government workers file suit to leave union
Three Pennsylvania state employees based in Greensburg are suing their union after trying unsuccessfully to resign their membership last year. The employees, all three of whom work for the state Department of Labor & Industry, say they have U.S. Supreme Court precedent on their side, including last year’s controversial 5-4...
Greensburg’s Aerobic Center pool to reopen Thursday after closure for repairs
The swimming pool at the Aerobic Center at Lynch Field in Greensburg will open as scheduled at 5 a.m. Thursday after a temporary closure cancelled swim lessons Wednesday night, according to posts on the center’s Facebook page. “We had a mechanical malfunction with our filter. We’re repairing it,” said Rachel...
8 Pittsburgh-area Walmarts to start grocery delivery
Walmart is joining the growing number of grocery retailers that are making the move to home delivery. On Thursday, eight Pittsburgh-area Walmarts will launch a grocery delivery service that will cost $7.95 to $9.95, depending on the time of delivery. The stores are as follows: ALLEGHENY COUNTY North Versailles Robinson...
Chevron grants to bolster STEM programs at 46 Pennsylvania schools
Several area school districts have received grants from Chevron Appalachia to either start or enhance their Project Lead The Way programs. Chevron announced $1 million in grants to schools in southwestern Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio. Forty-six schools in Pennsylvania received $790,000, including the following school districts:Belle Vernon...
Dormont scout formerly with Harrison City troop holder of new Guinness World Record
After years of scouting, Charles Boone had acquired a decent collection of carabiners — those metal rings used for everything from mountain climbing to holding keys or a water bottle. By the time he had 50, he thought he might be on his way to a world record. “I had...
Tower of Voices named No. 8 Best New Attraction in USA Today vote
The Tower of Voices at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County has been named the No. 8 Best New Attraction in the nation by USA Today’s 10Best.com. The Laurel Highlands memorial was selected from an initial list of 20 nominees, which was then pared down to 10 by...
Lawsuit: Ligonier Township fireworks accident blinded N.Y. man in one eye
A New York man has filed a personal injury lawsuit alleging a fireworks accident two years ago in Ligonier Township blinded him in one eye. Samuel Breslin, a resident of Albany County, N.Y., filed suit in the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania against Adam Wagner of Indianapolis. The two...
Green Book helped African-Americans find welcoming places in Western Pa.
“Carry your Green Book with you … you may need it!” That was not an empty advertising slogan in the decades from the 1930s to ’60s in the United States, where Jim Crow laws reigned in the South and de facto segregation was observed in the North. In many cases,...
Greensburg Salem grad’s life was farming
Robert E. Smith Jr. operated a dairy farm in Salem Township at a time when family-owned farms were common. As many as 20 dairy farms dotted the region, but now the number is closer to five. The well-known struggles of dairy farmers concerned Smith, who operated Lone Star Dairy for...
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful accepting registrations for 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA
Registration is now open for the 2019 Great American Cleanup of PA, according to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The three-month initiative, from March 1 to May 31, is a way for clubs, schools, businesses and organizations to clean up local areas. Registered events can get free trash bags, gloves and safety...
Droves of shoppers line up for grand opening of Aldi near Mt. PleasantVideo
A festive atmosphere pervaded the grand opening of the newest Aldi grocery store in Westmoreland County, as dozens of eager shoppers lined the sidewalk and braved temperatures in the low 20s early Thursday morning. The Aldi fans were there not only to see the gleaming new store in East Huntingdon...
Judge gives Pershing Square hi-rise owner time to make elevator repairs
A judge on Wednesday gave the owner of Pershing Square Apartments in downtown Greensburg until July to repair or replace two unreliable elevators that have left several elderly residents trapped. “Why is this taking so long?” District Magistrate Chris Flanigan asked Greensburg attorney Matt Schimizzi at a brief hearing. “It’s...
