Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1088
Penn State University requires masking at all campuses
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State University will require students, staff and visitors at all its campuses to wear masks while indoors, the school announced Wednesday, responding to a statewide surge in coronavirus cases. The masking rule will apply to everyone, regardless of vaccination status, Penn State officials said. “As we...
Greensburg Salem eyes covid mask recommendation, not mandate
The Greensburg Salem School Board is considering a health plan that would recommend, but not mandate, masks for all who enter district school buildings. At this week’s board discussion meeting, there was passionate debate about the proposed mask policy, including the choice of wording. The board is expected to take...
U.S. plans to require covid-19 shots for foreign travelers
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the United States to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said Wednesday. The requirement would come as part of the administration’s phased approach to easing travel restrictions for foreign citizens...
Officials release name of woman who was victim of homicide in South Side
Officials have identified a homicide victim found dead in her Pittsburgh home Monday morning. Annette Morros, 66, died of blunt force trauma to the head and trunk, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The medical examiner ruled her death was a homicide. Pittsburgh police, who are investigating the...
Officials identify Mt. Lebanon man killed in suspected double murder-suicide
Officials on Wednesday released the name of a man killed along with his wife nearly a week earlier in a suspected double murder-suicide in Mt. Lebanon. John Tratras, 66, died in the shooting incident at about 2:40 a.m. Thursday in the Gilkeson Road home he shared with Ana Tratras, 59,...
Gold medalist Jade Carey has strong ties to Alle-Kiski Valley
Long before gymnast Jade Carey won gold with her nearly flawless floor routine Monday at the Tokyo Olympics, the 21-year-old from Arizona nailed a living-room floor routine in the Alle-Kiski Valley during a visit to see relatives. “We had a huge family room, and from the time she walked in...
Allegheny County covid hospitalizations tick upward behind rising case counts
The average weekly number of covid-19 hospitalizations in Allegheny County nearly doubled over the past month, according to state Department of Health data, as those numbers begin ticking upward to match the rising case counts. The seven-day average of hospitalizations on July 3 in Allegheny County was 30. On Wednesday,...
Nursing home to workers: Get vaccine or lose your job
NEW YORK — The U.S. nursing home industry’s resistance to forcing workers to get vaccinated against covid-19 for fear that too many of them might quit began to crack this week when its biggest player announced its employees must get the shot to keep their jobs. The new requirement at...
Sturgis bike rally revs back bigger, despite delta variant
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Crowds of bikers are rumbling their way toward South Dakota’s Black Hills this week, raising fears that covid-19 infections will be unleashed among the 700,000 people expected to show up at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The rally, which starts Friday, has become a haven for those...
Majority of New York Assembly would oust Cuomo if he doesn’t quitVideo
ALBANY, N.Y. — A majority of state Assembly members support beginning impeachment proceedings against Gov. Andrew Cuomo if he doesn’t resign over investigative findings that he sexually harassed at least 11 women, according to an Associated Press count Wednesday. At least 83 of the body’s 150 members have said publicly...
UPMC Magee and Pitt to study covid-19 vaccines immune response in pregnancy and postpartum
A top medical facility and university are joining in a study looking at covid-19 vaccines, pregnancy and postpartum. UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine will participate in a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases study of the immune response to covid-19 vaccines among pregnant...
Flight cancellations continue for Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines’ flight cancellations continued Wednesday and Thursday for passengers planning to fly out of or into Arnold Palmer Regional and Pittsburgh International airports. Four arrivals and three departures were canceled at the Unity airport Wednesday and an additional five flights were canceled Thursday. Eleven Spirit flights were canceled each...
The Stroll returning to Ligonier with more classic cars than ever
At least 130 vintage rides will be rolling into Ligonier on Friday, as The Stroll returns after a pandemic-year hiatus. This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, with the reserved area for the antique and classic car show expanded to accommodate more vehicles. As usual, the vintage rides...
Westmoreland DA to seek death penalty against man accused of double murder
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck says he will seek the death penalty against a North Huntingdon man accused of gunning down a Penn Township couple. The county’s top prosecutor said the May 16 fatal shootings of Jacob R. Erdeljac, 40, and his girlfriend, Mara Casale, 27, came amid a...
Butler County newborn’s arrival becomes one sticky situation
It was a miracle covered in sprinkles. Tony and Jacqlynn Hendrickson of Middlesex Township were heading south on Route 8 in Middlesex Township around 3 p.m. Friday to deliver their third child at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. At the time, Jacqlynn, whose contractions were about two minutes apart, knew...
Ex-Penn State President Graham Spanier released from jail after serving sentence in Sandusky scandal
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier was released from jail Wednesday morning after serving a nearly two-month sentence for child endangerment in a case connected to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Spanier reported to Centre County Correctional Facility, about 6 miles from the Penn State campus, on June...
Keystone State Park beer makes debut; 1st in a series for Williamsport brewery
Of all the 121 state parks in Pennsylvania, a Williamsport craft brewery named the first of its specially themed line of beers after the 1,200-acre Keystone State Park in Derry Township. New Trail Brewing Co. writes on the can of the hazy IPA — called K.S.P. — that it is...
With school opening almost here, Pa. scrambles to prepare for covid
The federal government dropped new face mask recommendations for students just as school districts’ plans for dealing with covid-19 came due in Pennsylvania. State Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam described the timing as “challenging” during a discussion with the PennLive/The Patriot-News editorial board on Wednesday. The U.S. Centers for...
Butcher’s block from burned-down Spaghetti & Steak House gets new lifeVideo
When the Spaghetti & Steak House in Murrysville burned down in mid-May, owner Monica Meehan was fairly certain there was nothing left. “One of our waitresses called in the middle of the night, because her boyfriend had a scanner and heard it was happening,” Meehan said. But, as she began...
Mark Madden: Pitt needs what college football used to be, not what it has become
College football is beyond screwed up and not worth paying attention to unless you’re a fan of one of the chosen few and can look past being on the grifter’s end of a con game. So it’s a lot like following MLB. College football’s latest carny move is the SEC’s...
Pennsylvania Turnpike crash launched $200K Lamborghini out of trailer
A Lamborghini worth more than $200,000 “was totaled” after it flew from the front of a trailer in a crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, its owner said Tuesday. The crash happened close to 6 p.m. July 24 at mile marker 76.4 in Hempfield, according to state police. Paul B. Eddington,...
A clean company: Robinson is final stop on the Soapbox tour helping those in need
This CEO is on his soapbox, and that’s a good thing. David Simnick is CEO of Soapbox, a company that donates hygiene products — hand, hair and bath and beauty — to charities around the country and the world. But Simnick is focused on a mission that’s about more than...
New Stanton council holds off vote on 1 million-square-foot warehouse
Following a closed-door session, New Stanton council on Tuesday held off voting on preliminary plans for a warehouse of more than 1 million square feet proposed for Glenn Fox Road. Council members will revisit plans for the proposed distribution center and warehouse during their Sept. 7 meeting. “Considering all the...
Steelers win appeal on spelling out ‘Heinz Field’ on lower bowl seats
A Commonwealth Court opinion on Tuesday clears the way for the Pittsburgh Steelers to paint the words “Heinz Field” on the seats in the lower bowl of the stadium. The issue has been working its way through the city’s zoning board and the courts for more than two years. Heinz...
Westmoreland commissioners mum on mask requirement as county sees substantial virus spread
The CDC on Tuesday said there is now a substantial level of coronavirus transmission in Westmoreland County, a designation that puts indoor mask requirements back under consideration for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people under updated federal guidelines. But, county leaders said no mandates have as yet been issued. “At this...
