Regional News category, Page 127
Winter weather approaching Friday night in parts of Westmoreland County
Drivers are advised to use caution tonight as an increase in snowfall is expected overnight in the higher elevation of Westmoreland, Fayette, and Indiana counties, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. A winter weather advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday on the...
2 Pittsburgh museums make national list
Pittsburgh has made another “Best Of” list, just in time for people to make their travel plans for the summer. The latest ranking named two of the city’s museums among the best in the country. A USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice survey ranked the Senator John Heinz History Center in...
BotsIQ competition in Hempfield puts STEM concepts into actionVideo
Southmoreland High School senior Josef Jefferson has learned quite a bit during his time with the school’s BotsIQ team, building robots that battle in a competition among Western Pennsylvania schools. “We came up with some new ideas, and we saw a lot of bots last year that were really effective,”...
Morning Roundup: 2 injured in house fire in Allegheny Township
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, March 10, 2023: 2 injured in house fire in Allegheny Township One person was injured in a house fire early Friday in Allegheny Township. Firefighters from multiple stations in the All-Kiski Valley responded to the fire around 12:40...
UPMC nurse lost job for speaking publicly about staffing shortages, labor complaint says
A nurse at UPMC Altoona was illegally retaliated against and fired after she spoke to local media about staffing shortages and working conditions, according to a complaint from the National Labor Relations Board. UPMC on Friday defended its actions, saying that the nurse in question was a contractor on temporary...
Attorneys deliver opening statements in sexual assault trial of suspended Somerset County DA
SOMERSET — Attorneys on both sides of suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas’ sexual assault case delivered opening statements Wednesday about the night of Sept. 19, 2021. Prosecutors said Thomas pursued a Windber woman for months with inappropriate texts before walking into her apartment in September 2021, biting her...
National Women’s History Month: Pennsylvania’s 1st female judge appointed in Allegheny County
Debra Todd was recently sworn in as the first woman in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s history to serve as chief justice. March is National Women’s History Month, here’s a look at the history of women in Pennsylvania’s judiciary, starting with their expanded role across the board in 2023. Women make...
Erie man gets 25-50 years for 2021 Conneaut Lake-area murder
An Erie man has been sentenced in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas to a total of 25 to 50 years in prison for killing his estranged wife at a Sadsbury Township home in 2021. Daryl S. Gillespie, 29, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Mark Stevens for...
Morning Roundup: Picklesburgh dates announced
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, March 8, 2023: Dates announced for Picklesburgh 2023 The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership has announced the dates for the city’s annual ode to all things pickled. The Picklesburgh festival will be held Downtown from July 21 to 23 —...
2 men killed in shooting at Uniontown tavern
Two men were shot to death at a Uniontown tavern early Wednesday, authorities said. The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. at the Elias Sails Inn in the 200 block of North Gallatin Avenue, according to a 911 dispatcher. Police identified the victims as Darrell Gregg, 32, and Tommy Stargell Jr.,...
Boulder falls onto Jefferson Hills road, traffic detoured
State Route 837 in Jefferson Hills was closed down after a boulder fell into the roadway Tuesday, according to PennDOT officials. The road was shut to traffic between Route 51 in Jefferson Hills and St. Clair Avenue in Clairton. As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, the road was still listed as...
Goodwill to end use of plastic bags in Southwestern Pa.
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is joining the plastic bag ban. The regional nonprofit chain of 34 Goodwill thrift stores will eliminate the use of plastic shopping bags later this month. Shoppers are encouraged to use a free box from the store, bring their own reusable bag, or buy a Goodwill...
Fewer than 500 homes still without power from weekend storms
Power has been restored for nearly all of the nearly 30,000 customers affected by heavy storms that passed through the area over the weekend, toppling trees and damaging buildings. West Penn Power reported that as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, 450 homes in Westmoreland County were still waiting for the power...
2 die in multi-vehicle crash in Armstrong County
Two women died in a crash Monday in Plumcreek Township, according to Armstrong County Coroner Brian K. Myers. State police on Tuesday identified the women as Lacy L. Gohn, 41, and Marasco Sonza, 70. Where they lived was not disclosed. The crash happened around noon on State Route 210 just...
Gas prices trending upward as annual change to summer blends is underway
The average gasoline price in the Pittsburgh area came down slightly in the past week while the national average increased as the transition to summer gas has started across the entire country, an industry analyst said Monday. Pittsburgh’s average was $3.72 per gallon, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy and its...
Norfolk Southern to pay $7M to reimburse Pa. agencies, fire departments, create relief fund
The train company responsible for last month’s derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has agreed to pay more than $7 million to cover costs incurred by Pennsylvania agencies and fire departments and establish a relief fund for residents and businesses, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Monday. Shapiro said he demanded Norfolk Southern...
Pa. game commission seeking genetic info on ‘tame’ ruffed grousesVideo
Have you been harassed by Pennsylvania’s state bird? The game commission wants to know. No, seriously. In the spring and fall, some ruffed grouses exhibit what wildlife experts refer to as “tame” behavior. Despite being completely wild animals, they show very little fear around people and will sometimes even act...
Kings & Queens Restaurant in Stoystown a total loss after fire
A Stoystown staple is gone. The Kings & Queens Restaurant & Pub along Lincoln Highway was destroyed by fire Saturday. A Somerset 911 dispatcher said the building is a total loss. One person was transported to a hospital for minor smoke inhalation, according to the dispatcher. There were no other...
Thousands still without power Saturday evening in Westmoreland, Fayette counties after severe windstorm
Thousands of homes remained without power Saturday evening in Westmoreland and Fayette counties as a result of high winds that began moving through the region Friday. As of 6:30 p.m., West Penn Power reported more than 8,200 outages in Fayette County and about 5,800 outages in Westmoreland County, among a...
Carnegie Mellon air quality data shows levels of ‘potential concern’ from Ohio derailment site
Carnegie Mellon University scientists monitoring the air near the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment site found levels of pollution from most chemicals measured to be of low or minimal risk, but at least one pollutant was detected at levels of “potential concern.” Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Texas A&M University teamed...
Pa. residents seek answers to derailment-related questions at Beaver County clinic
Sam and Roberta Birchler grow corn, beans, carrots, lettuce and more in their 40-by-70-foot garden in Beaver County’s Darlington Township — about 2 miles from the site of last month’s Norfolk Southern trail derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. They eat the food they grow there, as well as blueberries that...
High wind warning in effect for 3 southwestern PA counties
High winds that hit Westmoreland, Fayette, and Indiana counties Friday evening are expected to continue until 1 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Slightly less powerful gusts were hitting neighboring counties, including those in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Westmoreland emergency services responded to numerous calls Friday night reporting downed...
Feds announce 57 arrests in Operation Lake Effect bust of fentanyl, meth ring
An investigation that stretched over four years and across the country resulted in the arrests of 57 people, the seizure of more than 673 pounds of fentanyl-laced faked prescription pills and more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine, the acting U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh announced Friday. “Nearly every family in Western...
$6M wetlands initiative will improve habitats on 61 state game land sites
The state Game Commission and Ducks Unlimited have partnered to form the Pennsylvania Wetland Habitat Initiative that would improve 1,600 acres of wetland habitats on 61 state game lands. Outdated pipes, damaged dikes and dilapidated infrastructure limit site managers’ ability to the wetlands and leave the species in these habitats...
Angry East Palestine residents confront Norfolk Southern over health fears
Residents who say they’re still suffering from illnesses nearly a month after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in Ohio confronted the railroad’s operator Thursday at a town forum, demanding to know whether they’d be relocated from homes they’re afraid to live in. “It’s not safe here,” said one man,...
