Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1218
2 women transform historic Buffalo Township barn into event venueVideo
Two local women are transforming a historic Buffalo Township barn into an event venue that will host weddings and other private events. Cathy Burnheimer and Jessica Krynicki are set to launch Avenue in Sarver in June, though couples can tour the venue and book event dates now. The barn, Krynicki...
Impeachment isn’t the final word on Capitol riot for Donald TrumpVideo
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s acquittal at his second impeachment trial may not be the final word on whether he’s to blame for the deadly Capitol riot. The next step for the former president could be the courts. Now a private citizen, Trump is stripped of his protection from legal liability...
Pa.’s lack of data prevents tracking of racial, ethnic disparities in vaccine distribution
Despite numerous studies predicting the likelihood of racial disparities and a supposed focus on equity in the rollout, Pennsylvania’s data tracking race and ethnicity in vaccine distribution currently is lacking. More than a month into the state’s vaccine rollout, about 34% of race data as it relates to distribution is...
Greensburg mom is among those who shortened hospital stay after giving birth because of pandemic
Francis Regis Johns IV was born at 8:50 a.m. Jan. 10. By 8 p.m. on Jan. 11, he was comfortably at his Greensburg home. “He was good, and I was feeling good, so the best option was to come home,” said Francis’ mother Sarah Johns. UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Oakland...
On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun lawsVideo
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sorrow reverberated across the country Sunday as Americans, including President Joe Biden, joined a Florida community in remembering the 17 lives lost three years ago in the Parkland school shooting massacre. “In seconds, the lives of dozens of families, and the life of an American community, were...
Average U.S. virus cases dip below 100K for 1st time in months
ATLANTA — Average daily new coronavirus cases in the United States dipped below 100,000 in recent days for the first time in months, but experts cautioned Sunday that infections remain high and precautions to slow the pandemic must remain in place. The seven-day rolling average of new infections was well...
Updated winter storm forecast calls for less snow, more ice in Pittsburgh region
On Valentine’s Day, National Weather Service meteorologists predicted that the Pittsburgh region could once again be the victim of the dreaded “wintry mix,” when frigid air and heavy snow mix with warmer air and chilly rain to bring a coating of freezing rain. The Pittsburgh region can expect 2-4 inches...
Watch Dooker’s Hollow Bridge implosion in North BraddockVideo
Dooker’s Hollow Bridge stood for 80 years, but it barely took a minute for 96 expertly placed explosive charges to bring it down on Saturday. Placing the explosives for the bridge’s implosion is technical work done using a large crane, Allegheny County Public Works officials said. Recent snow and windy...
Pitcairn man, 21, dies following Parkway off-ramp crash in Wilkins
A Pitcairn man was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning when he crashed after driving off the side of a Parkway East off-ramp in Wilkins Township, county officials said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said Willie Rozier, 21, of Pitcairn, died of injuries sustained when his car...
Emergency officials: Icy roads causing accidents across Pittsburgh region
Valentine’s Day is off to a slippery start, with freezing rain overnight creating dangerous road conditions and causing crashes and stranded vehicles across southwestern Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh emergency officials are urging residents to avoid driving in the city of Pittsburgh on Sunday morning due to icy conditions and a large number...
ATV/snowmobile fever: Westmoreland, Allegheny lead Pennsylvania in registrations
As the U.S. Forest Service has opened up ATV and off-road vehicle permits for the Allegheny National Forest, the state reports that its licenses for these sports vehicles continue to trend upwards. The U.S. Forest Service offers permits for off-road vehicles to use federal forests, including the region’s closest federal...
With covid cases dropping, more Westmoreland school districts opt to reopen classrooms
As new covid cases continue to drop in Westmoreland County and it appears a post-holiday coronavirus spike has been dodged, several area school districts have brought students back to classrooms — with more planning such a return. Students at Greater Latrobe, Jeannette and Yough have returned to school after using...
Groups ramping up for covid-style fish fry fundraisersVideo
As the pandemic closed in last year, fish fry organizers at St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon scrambled to establish a drive-thru plan for an expected large crowd of hungry patrons. Volunteers set up traffic cones to direct drivers and gave the drive-thru a shot in addition to the regular...
‘Couplehood’: North Huntingdon couple celebrates 70 years of marriage
Family had planned to gather in December to celebrate Henry and Patricia Heer, a North Huntingdon couple who have been married 70 years. The event never happened, another casualty of the covid-19 pandemic. “Not being able to celebrate this memorable anniversary due to covid was not what they would have...
‘Silence of the Lambs’ turns 30 — celebrate by spending the night in ‘Buffalo Bill’s house’Video
Buffalo Bill never told Clarice he had a nice big pool out back. To be fair, the fictional serial killer and main villain in the 1991 thriller-horror film “The Silence of the Lambs” was busy doing other, more terrible things. But for fans of the frightening classic, released 30 years...
Sen. Pat Toomey breaks with Republicans to vote for Trump’s conviction
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., voted Saturday to convict former President Donald J. Trump in his second impeachment trial. Toomey is one of seven Republican senators who voted “guilty” on the charge of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. All 50 Democratic senators voted to convict. But...
Clairton man killed in Dravosburg crash
A Clairton man was killed in a vehicle crash late Friday in Dravosburg, authorities said. The victim was identified as Alex Keith Anthony Brown Jr., 41, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The crash happened along Washington Avenue just before midnight. Brown was transported to a hospital where...
Bethel Park teen located safely
Bethel Park police said a teen they were searching for has been found safe. Police issued an alert on its Facebook page Saturday that sought help looking for Maria Musciano, 16. According to an alert on the police Facebook page, Musciano was located early Sunday....
Trump acquitted, denounced in historic impeachment trial
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump was acquitted Saturday of inciting the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol, concluding a historic impeachment trial that spared him the first-ever conviction of a current or former U.S. president but exposed the fragility of America’s democratic traditions and left a divided nation to come to...
With more snow on way, Pa. Turnpike, PennDOT put truck restrictions in place
UPDATE: These restrictions were lifted as of 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, per PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission. Stay updated on the latest traffic advisories at 511PA.com. With more winter snow making its way toward Pittsburgh en route to the East Coast, PennDOT and and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have implemented...
Westmoreland County adds 98 covid-19 cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 98 new cases of the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, as hospitalizations and case counts decline in the area. The county’s total cases are at 25,766, which is an increase of about 560 cases from the preceding week’s 25,202. The week before had...
Leechburg food distribution organizers say need is clear as 600 boxes go in about 30 minutesVideo
Volunteers at a food distribution event Saturday in Leechburg swiftly doled out more than 600 boxes of fresh meat, yogurt and produce to people struggling with basic needs nearly a year into the lingering covid-19 pandemic. “The lines are crazy,” said volunteer Reilly Sullivan, 15. “We take for granted how...
Pennsylvania logs 4,000 more covid cases, 113 deaths
Pennsylvania health officials on Saturday reported 4,088 new coronavirus cases, a slight increase, as hospitalizations continue to decrease in the Keystone State. The new data bring the total cases to 892,344. That’s a jump of almost 27,000 additional cases from this time last week. Two weeks ago, the increase was...
Waynesburg man found dead after house fire
A Waynesburg man was found dead in his home after a Feb. 12 fire, authorities said. Daniel Ray Lemley, 54, was pronounced dead at about 7:30 a.m. after a fire in his home along South West Street, according to Greene County Coroner Gene Rush. The cause of death is pending,...
Allegheny County adds 306 new coronavirus cases, 3 deaths
Allegheny County on Saturday recorded 306 new coronavirus cases, a relative bump up as cases had been on the decline in recent weeks. Reports haven’t reached 500 cases in nearly four weeks and the county hasn’t reported any 1,000-case days in the past six weeks, according to data from the...
