Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 1461
Union rep says Post-Gazette seeking buyouts in bid to shrink newsroom by 20%, slash 24 positions
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is offering a buyout option in an effort to shrink its newsroom by about 20%, or at least two dozen employees, a union official said Friday. In exchange for leaving their jobs, full-time employees will receive a week’s pay for every year of service, up to 16...
GNC avoids bankruptcy; gets 90-day max to pay down debt
GNC Holdings, Inc. reached a last-minute deal with creditors that allows it to avoid bankruptcy for at least 30 days but no more than 90 days under a deal announced Friday, the Pittsburgh-based health and wellness company said. GNC was facing a Saturday deadline to pay down debt to under...
Police seek public’s help in identifying Wilkinsburg homicide suspect
Allegheny County Police seek public assistance in identifying a homicide suspect. County detectives and Wilkinsburg police are investigating the shooting death of 16-year-old Marcus Wells Jr. of Pittsburgh. He was shot several times near the intersection of Laketon Road and Robinson Boulevard at about 9 p.m. Wednesday. County police on...
Editorial: Penguins miss shot with arena development project in Lower Hill District
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. It’s an idea the Pittsburgh Penguins should find familiar. It speaks of big games and clutch performance, reaching for the stars and following through. Champions do the hard thing even though it’s hard, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have the Stanley Cup...
North Huntingdon police won’t cite businesses for violating Gov. Wolf’s orders
North Huntingdon joined other municipalities in directing its police force not to cite or take any legal action local businesses that open in violation of the state’s coronavirus-related shutdown orders — as long as they follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for wearing personal protective equipment, keep social distancing...
Penguins’ withdrawal from Lower Hill development surprises leaders
When the Pittsburgh Penguins said they were pulling out of a planned development in the city’s Lower Hill District, it caught some community leaders off guard. The Thursday announcement by Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse came after the Urban Redevelopment Authority delayed a vote on a proposed First National...
Shoppers enjoy spring day as region moves into yellow phase, some businesses reopenVideo
Some restrictions lifted across Western Pennsylvania on Friday, and people wasted little time getting back to life a little closer to normal — but still coronavirus-style. Patricia Slifkey said she felt free as she browsed rows of antiques and knickknacks at Miller’s Crossing Fleatique in Irwin. “It’s good to get...
Visitors to Pittsburgh International Airport required to wear masks
Visitors to Pittsburgh International Airport will be required to wear masks or face coverings on all public airport property starting next week, Allegheny County Airport Authority officials announced Friday. The requirement is part of a new “PIT Safe Travels” initiative and also applies to Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin....
FDA probes accuracy issue with Abbott’s rapid virus test
WASHINGTON — Federal health officials are alerting doctors to a potential accuracy problem with a rapid test for covid-19 used at thousands of hospitals, clinics and testing sites across the U.S., including the White House. The Food and Drug Administration said late Thursday it is investigating preliminary data suggesting Abbott...
Westmoreland County Housing Authority confirms 1st covid-19 case at Parnassus Manor
A resident of Parnassus Manor in New Kensington has tested positive for covid-19, Westmoreland County Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Washowich said Friday. The resident, who is not being identified because of privacy laws, notified the authority Thursday. The authority alerted residents of the high-rise the same day, he said....
Lawsuit: Former Mad Mex manager was fired for seeking time off after domestic violence attack
A Pittsburgh woman is suing Mad Mex and its parent company, alleging she was fired for requesting time off for medical treatment and court appearances after a domestic violence attack. The woman, a former manager at the restaurant’s Waterworks mall location, alleged in a lawsuit she was met with roadblocks...
As restrictions loosen in Pennsylvania, health officials gear up for increased contact tracing
Contact tracing has been done on infectious diseases for years, but it arguably has never been more discussed or under as much scrutiny as it is now as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and tries to reclaim some amount of normalcy. Pennsylvania officials have identified the simple yet...
Beaver County among 12 more moving to Pennsylvania’s yellow phase
Beaver County is among the dozen counties that Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday will move into the yellow phase of the tiered reopening process next week, a move that will put all of Western Pennsylvania under loosened restrictions. The announcement came a week after Beaver County was left off...
Pennsylvania reports 124 more coronavirus deaths as total case count tops 60,000
State health officials reported more than 100 more coronavirus deaths on Friday as the case total pushed past 60,000. Of the 124 deaths added to the total, 89 came from the Department of Health’s continued work to catch up with reporting by individual counties. The other 35 were reported to...
Cops: 3-year-old left alone with 2 siblings in Monessen ingests THC-laced food
A Monessen couple was arrested Thursday, charged with three counts of child endangerment and illegal possession of a controlled substance after, police say, a 3-year-old boy left at home with two older siblings was found unresponsive after ingesting THC-laced food. Kirsty M. Thorpe, 30, and Brandon M. Mitchell, 33, were...
Pittsburgh cancels Fourth of July fireworks, other summer activities
Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July fireworks are among the summer activities canceled because of the covid-19 pandemic. The annual fireworks display was listed among other large group events that were canceled because the event could not safely comply with social distancing guidelines, a city spokesman said. The event attracts thousands of...
Coronavirus pandemic causes shift in environmental, sustainability efforts
With its economic and health impacts unmistakable, the coronavirus pandemic is revealing environmental tradeoffs as it lingers on. From a spike in hand-sanitizing wipes to paper towels to personal protective equipment (PPE), sustainability has been moved to the back burner. “In the middle of a global health pandemic, you want...
Allegheny County adds 31 coronavirus cases, 2 deaths
Allegheny County reported 31 more covid-19 cases and two deaths Friday, increasing the countywide total of confirmed or probable cases to 1,582 and the death toll to 141. The jump in new cases reflected information reported to the county health department in the past 24 hours and includes testing conducted...
Allegheny County-run pools, spray parks to remain closed for summer
Allegheny County announced Friday that its pools and spray parks will be closed this summer. The Allegheny County Parks Department blamed ongoing restrictions regarding mass gatherings under the covid-19 pandemic for the closures. The following sites will be closed through the summer: • Boyce Park Wave Pool • Deer Lakes...
Leaders warn that coronavirus in care facilities presents wide-reaching public health concern
As coronavirus cases in nursing and personal care homes continue to rise, a growing chorus is calling for those numbers to be recorded separately from the overall number of cases and deaths. Those cries are getting particularly loud in Pennsylvania, where one of the metrics for easing pandemic-related restrictions focuses...
Pittsburgh pediatricians say it’s too early to link Kawasaki-like disease to coronavirus
Parents and doctors around the world have expressed fears over a severe inflammatory syndrome in children that some have tied to the covid-19 pandemic. But doctors in Pittsburgh stress there is not enough information to be alarmed. The condition, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome, is comparable to Kawasaki Syndrome, a rare...
Leechburg woman whose husband recently died wins $1M from scratch-off lottery ticket
Charity Stivason has to wonder if her late husband pulled some strings. The 48-year-old from Leechburg recently won $1 million off a $20 scratch-off lottery ticket she got at a local grocery store. “I still can’t feel like it’s real,” Stivason told the Tribune-Review. “I’ve always thought, ‘Do these even...
Small businesses in Western Pa. eager to reopen, but not sure how public will respondVideo
Like thousands of other business owners, Kevin Miscik, owner of a Greensburg clothing store, has waited a long time to reopen in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. “We lost all of Easter and part of the spring buying season and missed the beginning of the summer (buying) season,” said...
Lawmaker: Beaver County to begin reopening May 22
After not being included in a list of counties set to reopen today, Beaver County will move to the yellow phase next week, according to state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Beaver. According to a post on Bernstine’s Facebook page, the county will begin reopening next Friday. The move comes almost a...
Police: 3 suspects caught, 2 at large for attempted robbery
Pittsburgh police have arrested three juveniles and are looking for two more in connection with an attempted robbery of a business Thursday. Officers responded to a call for the crime along the 5900 block of Centre Avenue shortly before 9 p.m. . Police said an employee had been assaulted, but...
