Regional category, Page 210
Pennsylvania casinos top $400M in March, shatter monthly revenue record
Monthly casino revenues in Pennsylvania for the first time topped $400 million in March, according to figures released by the state Gaming Control Board. Combined gambling revenues totaled more than $403 million, up significantly from the $154 million in revenues seen in March 2020, when non-life-sustaining businesses were forced to...
Early-morning fire damages modular classroom at Indiana elementary school
An early morning fire on Friday caused the roof of a modular classroom at an Indiana Borough elementary school to collapse and left the school filled with smoke, officials said. Indiana Borough Police, who were the first to respond to Eisenhower Elementary School around 1:50 a.m., observed a working fire...
Duquesne Light seeks to raise rates by 7.7%
Duquesne Light Co. wants to raise the electric bills for residential customers by 7.7%, an increase that would cost users another $7.73 a month on average, or about $92 a year, the Pittsburgh-based company said. The request was filed Friday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. If approved, which is...
Troopers identify man shot and killed during standoff in Fayette County
State police released the identity of a 67-year-old Fayette County man fatally shot by troopers following a standoff Tuesday at his Saltlick home. Police say Keith Robert Tafoya exited his Pine Slope Road home and pointed a shotgun at members of the state police Special Emergency Response Team. Tafoya kept...
Pennsylvania State System universities freeze tuition for a 3rd year
Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities will hold the line on tuition for an unprecedented third consecutive year. That means in-state students at schools that charge flat-rate tuition will pay $7,716 a year for basic undergraduate tuition. At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the only local university in the state system that assesses...
Pennsylvania State System universities freeze tuition for a third year
Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities will hold the line on tuition for an unprecedented third consecutive year. That means in-state students at schools that charge flat rate tuition will pay $7,716 a year for basic undergraduate tuition. At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the only local university in the state system that...
$7M in grants from Henry L. Hillman Foundation boost regional arts, cultural groups
The Henry L. Hillman Foundation announced $7 million in grants to regional arts and cultural organizations aimed at alleviating pandemic-related budget deficits and assisting with restarting or expanding performances and programs after a year of shutdowns and limited operations. The 57 grants range in size from $20,000 to $1 million....
Trib Total Media to host free digital marketing program for businesses, entrepreneurs
Business owners and entrepreneurs seeking efficient and effective solutions to help reinvigorate their businesses as covid restrictions loosen can learn digital marketing tactics, trends and strategies during a virtual program Friday that will help them reach their marketing goals. “We want to help our advertising partners as the region and...
Johnstown-area Rotarian suspends Appalachian Trail fundraiser hikeVideo
Rotarian Owen Standley referred to his fundraising hike north along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as “Owen’s Odyssey,” the latter of course meaning “a long or wandering voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune.” His goal was to raise $100,000 for the Rotary’s fight to eradicate polio worldwide. And...
Things to do in Western Pa.: April 14. 2021
Some high school musicals have adapted to the pandemic by going virtual. The iconic Pittsburgh cookie table is now a drive-thru. But don’t despair, live entertainment and activities also are on the horizon. The details are here, in this week’s Big List. Acting careers • Breaking in: Prime Stage Theatre’s...
Indiana County DA: Tip leads to one of biggest drug busts in county history
The Indiana County Drug Task Force turned a single tip from an informant this month into one of the largest heroin-fentanyl seizures in the county’s history, District Attorney Bob Manzi Jr. said Tuesday. Allan Burnheimer, 34, of Black Lick, was charged with possession of 50 bricks, or 2,500 stamp bags,...
Feds file suit over sexual harassment in housing against Oil City landlords
The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday filed a federal lawsuit against an Oil City couple who run a rental property company, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Filed under the Fair Housing Act, the lawsuit accuses Allen Woodcock of sexually harassing a female tenant in April 2019 when he arrived...
Sheetz makes Fortune Magazine’s list of best companies to work for
Is Sheetz a good place to work? According to a new list, MTOh, yeah. Fortune Magazine released its 2021 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For on Monday. “Prolonged shutdowns. Workforces that felt isolated and overwhelmed. You name it, covid brought it. Still, these companies managed not just...
State police shoot, kill Fayette County domestic suspect who earlier fired at troopersVideo
Two state police troopers narrowly avoided injury Tuesday after a man believed to be involved in a domestic incident inside his Fayette County home fired a shot through a door, according to Trooper Robert Broadwater. The man, however, later was shot and killed by police after coming outside his home...
Crawford County man charged in Capitol riots lectured by judge
A federal judge didn’t mince words Monday in telling a Crawford County man charged in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots that he must cooperate with authorities as part of the conditions of his release from jail. Jeremy J. Vorous of Venango is charged by the FBI with knowingly entering...
Fayette County woman accused of stealing, wrecking Monessen police cruiser
A Fayette County woman is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after being charged with stealing a Monessen police cruiser and crashing it into a tree early Monday, according to court records. Jamya Dee Avona Leonard, 19, of Uniontown, was charged with receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest...
West Virginia offers $12,000, more perks to entice outdoors enthusiasts to move to state
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is joining the growing list of places recruiting remote workers — with a thrill-seeking twist. A public-private program launched Monday will try to lure outdoor enthusiasts to live in the rural state with enticements of cash and free passes for recreational destinations. The goal is...
Clearfield County man accused of shooting at SUV on Route 22 at Indiana-Westmoreland border
State police arrested a Clearfield County man over the weekend and charged him with shooting at another vehicle along Route 22 near the border of Indiana and Westmoreland counties, state police said. Elijah N. Helmick, 23, of Osceola Mills, was arrested in connection with an incident at 5:39 p.m. Saturday...
4 girls, 12 and 14 years old, accused of setting house fire in Cambria County
FERNDALE, Pa. — Four teenage girls ranging in age from 12 to 14 have been arrested on juvenile court charges of setting a fire that destroyed an unoccupied western Pennsylvania house earlier this month, sending a police officer and a firefighter to the hospital, authorities said. Police in the suburban...
Student exchange program looks to rebound locally after pandemic challenges
Ethan Kelley found himself unexpectedly boarding an international flight a little over a year ago in Frankfurt, Germany. The arrival of the covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 prompted the Greensburg teen’s early departure from a student exchange program in Bavaria that was supposed to continue through the following June. “I...
Pandemic stress causing spike in emotional shopping sprees
With the stress of the covid-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions, it’s no surprise that people are looking for ways to cope. For many in Pennsylvania — and across the country — shopping has become one of those coping mechanisms. Nearly half of Pennsylvanians admitted to “emotional spending” during the pandemic,...
ATI calls on Steelworkers union to let employees vote on contract offer
As a strike by the United Steelworkers union nears two weeks, Allegheny Technologies Inc. is calling on the union to allow employees to vote on the company’s contract offer. ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said details of the company’s proposal have not changed since March 29, the day before about 1,300...
Only 10% of Allegheny National Forest fire in Tidioute contained; New Mexico firefighters arrive Saturday
A wildfire has scorched about 150 acres in the Allegheny National Forest in the Tidioute area, Warren County, since Thursday with only 10% of the fire contained Friday afternoon, said Wendy Andersen, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest. No one has been injured and all forest service...
Recent snake, bear sightings just add to Pittsburgh’s animal lore
Animal encounters are nothing new to Pittsburgh and the stories of people hanging out with various critters in the city prove it. Much has been made of the black bear wandering Wednesday through Mt. Washington. More hype surrounded the gigantic black rat snake seen this week in a tree at...
Ohiopyle State Park returning to ‘normal’ after nearly 500-acre forest fires
Crews on Friday continued to mop up hot spots from two forest fires at opposite ends of Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County after they consumed nearly 500 acres of woodlands, according to authorities. Ed Callahan, district forester of Forbes State Forest, said it is among the worst forest fires...
