Regional News category, Page 107
Pa. school district auctioning its fully loaded food truck
Typically, people perusing the Municibid website are seeking something like a used public works truck, or perhaps looking to pick up an extra snowblower without spending a ton of money on a new model. But if you’re looking to get into the food truck business, the site can get you...
PennDOT plans winter hiring events in Washington, Westmoreland
PennDOT will hold two open house and hiring events in Washington and Westmoreland counties as it looks to employ workers to assist with upcoming winter maintenance tasks. The first event is set for 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at PennDOT’s Washington County maintenance office, 170 Route 519, in North Bethlehem...
Coroner called to scene of drowning in Connellsville
A person appears to have drowned in the Youghiogheny River early Saturday afternoon, Fayette County 911 officials said. Emergency responders were called to Yough River Park, just off North Sixth Street along the banks of the Yough, around noon. One person was recovered from the water, and the county coroner...
Dealership #1 Cochran expands with South Hills Honda purchase
Auto retailer #1 Cochran has snapped up another dealership, acquiring South Hills Honda in Peters Township. The deal is the fourth acquisition for the company this year and fifth in the last 10 months. South Hills Honda makes the first Honda store in #1 Cochran’s Pittsburgh market and second overall...
Power coming back steadily across Southwestern Pa. after heavy storms, Fayette tornado, but outages remain
Power crews continued working Saturday afternoon to restore power to more than 5,000 customers in Southwestern Pennsylvania following strong storms and a tornado that touched down in Fayette County. West Penn Power had about 3,690 customers still without power around 5 p.m. Saturday, down from 8,000 in the morning. The...
How to manage spotted lanternflies in your yard
Spotted lanternflies have invaded Pittsburgh. After a few years of sparse sightings, the local lanternfly population apparently has exploded and the invasive species is being spotted across Southwestern Pennsylvania. While not immediately dangerous to humans, the insects love to gorge on vegetation and swarm on trees, the sides of homes...
Pa. Public Utilities Commission names Jennifer Berrier as executive director
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday appointed Jennifer Berrier, the former secretary of Labor & Industry under Gov. Tom Wolf, as the agency’s new executive director. Berrier takes over leadership of the agency on Sept. 11. The PUC regulates electric, natural gas, pipeline, rail, telecommunications, water and wastewater services....
Western Pennsylvania coffee shops release fall-themed drinks
With September here and leaves changing, it’s time to say a solemn goodbye to summer barbecues and pool days. Some are eager to turn their backs on the sunshine, ready to say hello to a crisp breeze — and the iconic pumpkin spice latte. Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is included...
Casey hopes tax credits for clean-energy projects can boost Pa.’s ‘coal communities’
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey released a map this week of areas where clean energy projects could be eligible for a bonus tax credit up to 10% through the federal Inflation Reduction Act. The region includes all of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The energy community bonus is available to developers for locating projects...
6 injured in Fayette County tornado amid early Friday morning damage, weather service gives storm assessment
Homes, trees, power lines, and a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park resort and campground were damaged early Friday morning when strong thunderstorms and a tornado moved through Southwestern Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service confirmed in a report that a tornado with winds peaking at 120 miles per hour passed through the...
Strained smiles as dentists struggle with staffing
If you’re in a rush to schedule a dentist appointment in Western Pennsylvania, you might be out of luck. Covid-era retirements and departures from the industry, combined with inflation and a backlog of patients who couldn’t make it to the dentist during the early months of the pandemic, have combined...
With program cuts, the vibe has changed for E. Gordon Gee, West Virginia University’s suddenly embattled president
Early in E. Gordon Gee’s second stint as president of West Virginia University, things seemed almost chummy between the slightly built leader obsessed with bow ties and the university that gave him his first presidency decades ago and then hired him back for an encore. For Gee, 79, West Virginia...
Rafting fatality inquest jurors recommend drastic changes at Ohiopyle
Jurors in a coroner’s inquest examining an August 2022 rafting death on the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle recommended drastic changes Thursday in hopes of preventing future fatalities. The panel suggested guides be present in every raft on commercial trips and physical modifications be made to Dimple Rock and a second...
UPMC sees growth in insurance usage during first 6 months of the year
More people are using UPMC’s insurance options, particularly in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh-based health care giant reported an 11% increase in insurance enrollment, bringing membership to about 4.5 million during the first half of 2023. UPMC attributed the growth to its expansion of behavioral health and Medicaid products into the...
ScareHouse at Pittsburgh Mills to hold ultimate zombie dress-up competition
Those who think they have what it takes to be “Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie” should shuffle their way to the Pittsburgh Mills mall Monday night. The ScareHouse is seeking people to dress up like zombies and compete for the title of Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie Monday at 8 p.m., with entry beginning...
Inquest examines dangers of rafting near Dimple Rock at Ohiopyle
Julie Ann Moore thought she was going on a beginner-friendly whitewater rafting trip, one that would be appropriate for her 13-year-old twin daughters. The Ohio woman sent text messages to her mother-in-law and a friend that said she and the girls were going to meet her boyfriend of two years,...
Second I-79 crash of the day claims life of New York State man
A New York State man is dead following a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 79 in Washington County. Coroner S. Timothy Warco identified the man Thursday as Gary M. Reinhardt, 58, of Lancaster, a village east of Buffalo. His cause and manner of death were pending an autopsy. The...
Indiana County man killed in motorcycle-SUV collision
A man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with an SUV in Buffington Township, Indiana County. Steven Paul McCloskey, 26, of Buffington Township was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries suffered in the crash on Route 403 in the township, according to Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman....
Beaver County man charged with multiple sex assaults on boy
A Beaver County man has been charged with more than 700 counts of sex-related offenses stemming from alleged assaults on a boy over several years. Daniel Vogel, 61, of Midland is charged with corruption of minors and multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, involuntary deviate sexual...
Sprawling estate listed for $28M in North Strabane
A luxurious estate with mega-amenities is on the market in North Strabane Township, Washington County. Oak Grove, a 110-acre property at 784 Waterdam Road in North Strabane, is listed by Coldwell Banker Realty for $28 million. That whopping listing price makes it the most expensive single-family residential listing currently in...
From ketchup storage to data storage: Microsoft’s Pittsburgh team launches large-scale data storage system
In a North Shore building that once warehoused Heinz condiments, Microsoft engineers are building infrastructure that stores a precious commodity: data. The product today isn’t necessarily physical, like a ketchup bottle, but for big companies, having large-scale, high-performing data storage is “their livelihood,” according to Ron Bianchini, distinguished engineer at...
Like smoke alarms, natural gas alarms can ‘alert you to a potential problem’
Residents of a Plum neighborhood where a house explosion killed six people might soon have natural gas alarms installed in their homes. But these devices are not exclusive to Rustic Ridge. In the wake of explosions from eastern Pennsylvania to New York City and beyond, the use of natural gas...
A day after protest, West Virginia University announces 1 administrator’s retirement, HR restructuring
West Virginia University says it intends to restructure a large administrative unit on the Morgantown campus as part of its continuing review and transformation efforts. It was not known if or how many jobs would be impacted, beyond a vice president who is retiring and will not be replaced. Changes...
Local doctors: New RSV vaccine can help protect newborns from severe illness
A newly approved vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, will give pregnant moms a chance to protect their babies from wheezing, coughing and other more serious symptoms that can land infants in the hospital. Pfizer Inc.’s Abrysvo is the first vaccine for use during pregnancy that works...
Cleveland-Cliffs wants U.S. Steel to disclose other buyout proposals
Cleveland-Cliffs, the steelmaker attempting to acquire the historic Pittsburgh company U.S. Steel, wrote a letter demanding that U.S. Steel disclose any other buyout offers it has received. Last week, the United Steelworkers union (USW) said it would only back the Cleveland-based steel producer in acquiring U.S. Steel. The letter, dated...
