Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1316
Trick-or-treat during a pandemic: ‘We don’t have the power to stop Halloween’
It didn’t take long for the first trickle of school-related coronavirus cases this fall to turn into a steady drip that has seen multiple school buildings close. State health officials said earlier this week that the fall surge they had anticipated had arrived. Many communities, however, are going ahead with...
Steelers start fast, hold off Titans rally to remain unbeaten
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For going on the road and beating the only other undefeated team in the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers had few positive emotions to display Sunday after a 27-24 victory against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The mood was more of exhaustion than elation after the Steelers...
Wild turkey chase around Murrysville tree may look crazy, but it’s normal, expert saysVideo
At first glance, the three wild turkeys chasing one another around a tree in Murrysville look crazy, but what seems like silly play is really a struggle for dominance, according to a state turkey expert. PixCams captured the clip on a webcam trained on a field in Murrysville earlier this...
Inconsistencies in state covid data cause confusion
Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, journalists, health officials and the public have been inundated with data counting infections, deaths, hospitalizations and more. Often the figures come from multiple sources, including databases maintained by state and local agencies — and often, those numbers do not match. “It’s expected that during the middle...
Trump aide says ‘we’re not going to control the pandemic’Video
LONDONDERRY, N.H. — The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more, less than a week before Election Day, as it scorches the nation and the president’s top aide says “we’re not going to control the pandemic.” Officials on Sunday scoffed at the notion of dialing...
Pence to keep up travel despite contact with infected aides
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence plans to maintain an aggressive campaign schedule this week despite an apparent outbreak of the coronavirus among his senior aides, the White House says. Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, and “a couple of key staff surrounding the vice president” have tested positive for...
Incident involving person with gun near Rochester Area High School in Beaver County ends peacefully
Rochester Township police said Sunday morning that the investigation was ongoing into the shooting incident that caused a nearly two-hour delay to the start of a high school football game Friday night in Beaver County. Kickoff for the start of the Rochester Area High School and Shenango Junior/Senior High School...
Pa. Attorney General Josh Shapiro seeks second term in race against Republican Heather Heidelbaugh
Attorney General Josh Shapiro calls himself “the people’s lawyer.” Heather Heidelbaugh, his Republican challenger in the Nov. 3 election, refers to herself as “a lawyer’s lawyer.” While Shapiro has garnered national headlines for his impassioned challenges against the Trump administration, Heidelbaugh says the office is one that should focus on...
The Pirates and the psychology of losing on fans
The Pittsburgh Pirates were the first Major League Baseball team eliminated from postseason contention this year. For fans of the team, this wasn’t surprising. For years, the Pirates have been stuck in the cycle of lose-rebuild-lose. But that cycle, and a record filled with few wins, has made it frustrating...
Pirates baseball: Lacking dollars and sense
For years, the Pittsburgh Pirates organization has had a reputation for being cheap: unable or unwilling to spend to make its on-field product better. But as the Tampa Bay Rays, another team accused of skimping on player salaries in the past, competes in the World Series against the Los Angeles...
Salvation Army faces more need, fundraising challenges as Red Kettle season nears
The covid-19 pandemic is presenting a challenge to the Salvation Army and its iconic Red Kettle campaign. “We’re kind of up against needing to raise more money but it’s also harder to raise money with everything that’s going on,” said Lt. Alex Senak with the Allegheny Valley Salvation Army in...
Manor man has spent decades working on ‘collection of collections’
Some people have collections. Larry Bard of Manor might better described as someone with a collection of collections. From milk bottles and coffee tins to Bugs Bunny and ‘ALF’ memorabilia, Bard and his wife, Verdine, have filled their home — and a separate building, and basically just about any available...
Editorial: Restaurant industry deserves real help from the state
Gov. Tom Wolf tried to give a gift to Pennsylvania bars and restaurants that serve alcohol last week. In a Thursday announcement held at LeMont Restaurant on Mt. Washington, the governor proposed giving the businesses — many of which have faced struggles because of the social distancing and restrictions during...
Covid-19 case at Robinson school prompts Pittsburgh diocese to halt in-person kindergarten there
A covid-19 case has prompted the Diocese of Pittsburgh to cancel in-person instruction for kindergartners at Archangel Gabriel Catholic School in Robinson for the next two weeks. “I feel badly that some of our students will temporarily miss out on in-person learning and activities, but doing all we can to...
Biden supporters caravan around the A-K Valley, rally in Harrison
A caravan of about 140 cars, trucks and SUVs adorned with decorations touting support for the Biden-Harris presidential ticket paraded around the Alle-Kiski Valley on Saturday, then parked at Harrison Hills Park for a social distance-friendly political rally. The event marked an opportunity for supporters of Democratic nominee Joe Biden...
Bernie Sanders spreads Joe Biden love as he stumps in Western PennsylvaniaVideo
The ongoing love affair between Sen. Bernie Sanders and his supporters was evident Saturday as Sanders stumped in Western Pennsylvania for former Vice President Joe Biden. Although some Democrats said they still would rather see Sanders as their presidential candidate, they took Sanders’ advice to support Biden in an attempt...
Westmoreland County probes cause for duplicate ballots
Westmoreland County elections officials said Saturday an investigation is underway to determine why some voters received duplicate ballots in the mail for the Nov. 3 election. Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said officials started receiving reports this week that some voters received more than one ballot. They do not believe...
Fall version of Oakmont Greek Food Festival going on this weekendVideo
A shortened version of the Oakmont Greek Food Festival is going on this weekend. The Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church is hosting Greek Food To-Go Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. or while supplies last at 12 Washington Ave. Co-chair Andy Gavrilos said they hope to...
Crowds line up in Westmoreland County to recycle hazardous materialsVideo
Pat O’Neill didn’t even know how long he had old paint cans and other hazardous materials stored in his garage, but he was glad to finally dispose of those items Saturday morning. “I just wanted to get rid of this stuff properly, get it out of my garage,” O’Neill said...
Westmoreland County reports 72 new coronavirus cases, 1 death
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 72 new cases of coronavirus in Westmoreland County. Saturday’s addition puts the seven-day average at 80 cases; the county reported 64 cases on Friday. One additional death was reported, increasing the death toll to 81. This has been the deadliest reporting week...
Pennsylvania reports 3rd consecutive day of more than 2,000 coronavirus cases; 29 new deaths
Pennsylvania on Saturday reported 2,043 new coronavirus cases — a dip from yesterday’s record-setting 2,219 — but still the third consecutive day the state has posted more than 2,000 cases. The state Department of Health reported 29 new deaths attributed to the coronavirus after posting 33 Friday, which matched the...
West Mifflin man, 30, identified as early morning shooting victim
A man was found shot dead early Saturday in West Mifflin. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Nelson Lincoln, 30, of West Mifflin. Allegheny County Police said first responders found Lincoln shot on Midway Drive at about 2:20 a.m. He died at the scene. The Allegheny County...
Allegheny County reports 131 new coronavirus cases
Allegheny County on Saturday recorded 131 new coronavirus cases. No new deaths were reported, leaving the total at 421. The county now has accumulated 14,818 cases of covid-19, according to data from the Allegheny County Health Department. Of the new cases, 94 are confirmed, while 37 are listed as probable....
Attack, then pandemic: Pittsburgh Jewish congregations cope
Two years ago, the three congregations sharing space at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue relocated after an anti-Semitic gunman killed 11 worshippers. Last March, the congregations dispersed from their new locations due to the coronavirus pandemic and switched to virtual services. On Tuesday, as they again mourn those killed on...
Westmoreland officials: Lax health precautions likely contributor to coronavirus surge
Westmoreland County officials cannot attribute an ongoing surge in coronavirus cases to any specific activity, but some suggest a major factor could be people being lax in following recommended health guidelines to mitigate the pandemic. On Friday, the county recorded 64 new cases of the disease — after adding 133...
