Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1405
5 more workers test positive for covid-19 at Beaver County ethane cracker site
Five more workers have tested positive for covid-19 at Shell Chemicals’ ethane cracker construction site in Beaver County, a company spokesman said in a statement. That brings the total number of positive tests to 18 since the pandemic began, Shell spokesman Michael Marr said in an update. A covid-19 testing...
Plum residents show support for, opposition to school director over Facebook post
Plum residents had mixed reactions to a controversial post by a school board member in a private social media page. More than a dozen people came to Thursday night’s special meeting with many calling for the resignation of board member Amy Wetmore for her comments on the Black Lives Matter...
Quick getaways may offer safer vacation spots during pandemic for Western Pennsylvanians
For many families, summer vacation may look a little different this year. A survey conducted by MyBioSource.com, a biotechnological products distribution company, found that 51% of Pennsylvanians are more likely to vacation locally in their own state this summer to avoid traveling by plane and reduce the risk of contracting...
Giant Eagle defends mask policy in answer to lawsuit
Giant Eagle is defending itself after a lawsuit filed by more than 30 people claims the grocery chain’s face mask policy is discriminatory toward disabled shoppers. In a response to a consolidated federal lawsuit that names 35 plaintiffs but specifically cites plaintiff Josiah Kostek, lawyers for Giant Eagle called for...
Plum School District officials approve reopening plan, options for parents
Plum School District’s reopening plan gives parents a choice to maintain their children’s distance learning or send them back into school next month. The plan, which is available for review at the district’s website, was approved by an 8-1 vote at a special meeting Thursday night. School Director Michelle Stepnick...
Gov. Wolf yanks virus funding from rebellious Lebanon County
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf followed through on his threat to yank covid-19 funding from a county that defied his shutdown orders, while his administration targeted bars, restaurants and large gatherings statewide Thursday in an effort to prevent a wider resurgence of the virus that officials say could jeopardize students’...
Live! Casino Pittsburgh gears up for hiring more than 500 positions in Hempfield
Officials with Live! Casino Pittsburgh at the Westmoreland Mall are starting to fill more than 500 positions needed to open the $150 million facility. Under construction in the former Bon-Ton store, the casino will include 750 slot machines and 30 table games. It is expected to open before Thanksgiving. Job...
Longtime Pittsburgh City Hall reporter Bob Bauder retires from Trib, capping 31-year career
A former steelworker who became a journalist when the mills closed is retiring from the trade Friday. Tribune-Review reporter Bob Bauder, 66, has covered the Pittsburgh City Hall beat for the Trib for nine years. In all, Bauder has worked 31 years as a reporter. After graduating from Hopewell High...
Hempfield resident confronts maskless county controller at commissioners meeting
Westmoreland County Controller Jeffrey Balzer said Thursday he won’t comply with the governor’s edict or the county’s mandate that face coverings are a must at the courthouse. Balzer refused to wear a mask during a county commissioners meeting and briefly engaged in a heated discussion with a Hempfield resident who...
Mt. Pleasant man jailed after shooting handgun, driving lawn tractor while DUI, police say
A Mt. Pleasant man who allegedly fired a handgun outside his home after an argument with his wife and then rode a lawn tractor down Main Street while displaying the gun surrendered Wednesday to borough police. David T. Howland, 32, was arraigned Thursday on 23 criminal counts including driving under...
Nonprofit has recruited 31,000 volunteers willing to undergo human challenge covid-19 vaccination trial
A grassroots group of scientists and researchers has brought together more than 31,000 volunteers worldwide — including from Western Pennsylvania — who are willing to take part in a human challenge trial to test potential covid-19 vaccines. A human challenge trial in this case would involve participants being administered a...
From masks to buses to recess, Pa. unveils guidance for schools finalizing reopening plans
State officials released a slew of recommendations Thursday regarding how Pennsylvania schools can safely reopen in the fall, addressing everything from lunch and recess to busing and extracurricular activities. Whether in-person classes resume will be left to each individual school district, all of which have been charged with creating a...
Gov. Wolf announces $50 million in grants for hazard bonuses to Pa. front-line workers
Pennsylvanians who are working in life-sustaining jobs during the coronavirus pandemic will be getting temporary pay increases, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday. “These people deserve to be paid for the risks they’re taking for all of us,” Wolf said. The state will use $50 million of its federal pandemic stimulus...
Answering The Call: Nurse practitioner discusses spike in Western Pa. coronavirus casesVideo
Steve Benso is a certified registered nurse practitioner who has been an integral part of Allegheny Health Network’s mobile community testing locations. In this edition of the Tribune-Review’s ongoing series “Answering the Call,” Benso, a father of three with another child on the way, talks about the stresses of his...
Peaceful Black Lives Matter march leads to Jeannette rallyVideo
Jeannette Jayhawks’ longtime equipment coordinator Dan Cooper had a message for young people at a Black Lives Matter march and rally Thursday: “Go get it.” He encouraged them to chase their dreams while telling their families to start getting involved in the community if they want to see change. “Anything...
Florida reports record 156 deaths, plus near-high for new coronavirus cases
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida got a nasty one-two punch of coronavirus news on Thursday: The state reported 156 more deaths and 13,965 more covid-19 cases. The state has never reported more fatalities on a daily pandemic report before, and there’s only been one other day with more infections. Also...
Westmoreland County adds 35 new coronavirus cases, 1 new death
Westmoreland County recorded double-digit coronavirus cases for the 16th straight day. The county added 35 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, bringing the total to 1,089. Of those, 1,057 are confirmed and 32 are listed as probable. One new death was attributed to covid-19,...
Pennsylvania draws closer to 100,000 total coronavirus cases
Pennsylvania inched closer to 100,000 coronavirus cases on Thursday, with 781 additional positive test results reported. That brings the state’s total number of cases to 98,446. The state’s department of health also reported 16 additional deaths, bringing the total attributed to covid-19 to 6,973. In the past seven days, between...
Target, Kohl’s, CVS latest to require masks in all stores
Target, Kohl’s and CVS have now added themselves to the list of stores requiring customers to wear a mask while shopping there. Target and CVS joined in on Thursday, while Kohl’s announced their news Wednesday. USA Today reports Target’s mask requirement will go into effect Aug. 1. The policy does...
Pennsylvania could integrate 6 state universities, including Cal U, Clarion, Edinboro, Slippery Rock
The financially struggling Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on Thursday took the first step in a two-year redesign process that could see six of its 14 universities integrated into three operating units. The 20-member State System Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution instructing Chancellor Daniel Greenstein to launch...
Allegheny County reports 140 new coronavirus cases; health officials reviewing restrictions
Reported coronavirus cases in Allegheny County dropped Thursday for the second day in a row after hitting a record earlier this week. The county on Thursday reported 140 new coronavirus cases, 12 new hospitalizations and one death. The county had its highest reported number Tuesday with 331, followed by 246...
Pittsburgh man uses 27 billboards to display uplifting art exhibition
A man from Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood is using 27 billboards to create an outdoor art exhibit, spreading messages of love, togetherness and resilience. The exhibition, titled “April in Paris of Appalachia,” will display Sean Rothermel’s artwork through July. Rothermel isn’t an artist by trade — he said he has a...
Motorcyclist killed in Stahlstown after hitting deer
A Fayette County man was killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday night in Stahlstown, according to the Westmoreland County coroner. Randy C. Gowton, 50, of Bullskin , was driving south on Route 711 in Cook Township just before 10 p.m. when he hit a deer. The crash happened near Riggs...
Greensburg Bishop Malesic appointed leader of Cleveland diocese
Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic will serve as the next bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland. The appointment by Pope Francis was announced Thursday. Malesic, 59, was introduced to the Diocese of Cleveland during a 10 a.m. press conference during which he said he was humbled by being...
5-year-old injured after being hit by SUV in East Pittsburgh
A 5-year-old was seriously hurt after being hit by an SUV in East Pittsburgh on Saturday, according to state police. The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. in the 500 block of Bessemer Avenue, state police said in a release issued Wednesday. State police said the child ran into the street,...
