Top Local and National News Stories category, Page 967
PennDOT to reinspect bridges with similar design as Fern Hollow Bridge
PennDOT officials said Tuesday they plan to reinspect five bridges in Pennsylvania that have similar designs as the collapsed Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh. The bridges scheduled for reinspection include the ramp from Beechwood Boulevard to the Parkway East in Squirrel Hill, the Canon-McMillan Alumni Bridge in North Strabane and...
Report: Pennsylvania is the nation’s ‘cyber charter capital,’ with funding and oversight consequences
PHILADELPHIA — Enrollment in cyber charter schools grew faster in Pennsylvania last year than in any other state — and how they’re funded results in big costs for local school districts, according to a new report. Pennsylvania is the “cyber charter capital of the nation,” the report released last week...
Homeowners get their turn at covid relief funds
Last year, state officials were able to channel federal covid-19 relief funding to Pennsylvania renters in need of financial assistance. Starting Tuesday, they will look to provide similar relief for homeowners. “As Pennsylvania continues to manage out of the covid-19 pandemic, we continue to make key investments in areas where...
Trib Total Media CEO to testify before Senate subcommittee on newspaper industry challenges
Trib Total Media President and CEO Jennifer Bertetto will testify Wednesday before a U.S. Senate Judiciary subcommittee on challenges facing the newspaper industry. Bertetto will address the Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust and Consumer Rights, headed by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The hearing is related to proposed legislation aiming...
Officials: Frick Park bridge not bad enough to close after inspection
The bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park last week showed deterioration during a September inspection that was not bad enough to require its closure, PennDOT said Monday. The agency will not release the full inspection report, PennDOT spokesperson Alexis Campbell said, citing state and federal laws and the ongoing...
UPMC says new treatment Evusheld reduces covid risk for immunocompromised
UPMC doctors say they are encouraged by the effectiveness of a new, preventative monoclonal antibody treatment that is administered to immunocompromised people before they contract covid-19. The two-shot Evusheld treatment received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in early December, and UPMC got its first doses later...
Crane pulls Port Authority bus from Frick Park bridge wreckageVideo
The operator of a towering crane pulled a 60-foot Port Authority bus from the wreckage of Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge just before sunset Monday, punctuating a cleanup that also saw workers remove at least one other vehicle three days after the span collapsed. The 21-ton bus was first secured with...
Jeannette, Tarentum, Sutersville among those getting funds for emergency vehicles
Jeannette EMS is buying two new ambulances and the Sutersville Volunteer Fire Department is adding a fire truck to its fleet as a result of receiving federal grants and loans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Tarentum was awarded a $33,700 economic impact initiative grant to buy a new Ford...
Fundraiser set for Latrobe woman hit by pickup truck
A fundraiser Sunday for a Latrobe woman who remains hospitalized after a hit-and-run will hopefully ease some of the burden on her two sons, Union Mission director Dan Carney said. All proceeds from the spaghetti dinner at Latrobe American Legion Post 515 will benefit Mary Bathurst, 42, and her family....
Highmark announces process for obtaining no-cost rapid covid-19 tests
Millions of Highmark members with prescription drug coverage are now able to obtain over-the-counter rapid covid-19 tests with no out-of-pocket costs. Bob Wanovich, vice president of provider strategy for Highmark, said Monday that customers will now be able to get the tests at their regular pharmacy counter through a partnership...
Police: Leechburg men charged after telling cops they burglarized house to rescue dogs
Two Leechburg men have been charged with multiple felonies after telling police they got drunk, broke into a neighbor’s house and took two dogs because they thought they were being abused, according to their arrest papers. Michael Paul Keim, 39, and Kevin Karl Trefelner, 55, of Evergreen Road each were...
2 victims stable after shooting outside Greensburg bar; suspect sought
Two men injured in a weekend shooting outside a downtown Greensburg bar remained in stable condition Monday as city police continue to search for a suspect who fired on them. According to police, the gunfire happened just before 2 a.m. Sunday outside the Rialto Bar and Bistro on West Otterman...
Moderna announces full U.S. approval for its covid vaccine
WASHINGTON — Moderna announced Monday that U.S. health regulators granted full approval to its covid-19 vaccine, a shot that’s been given to tens of millions of Americans since its emergency authorization over a year ago. The action by the Food and Drug Administration means the agency has completed the same...
Tickets going fast for upcoming ‘Hamilton’ run in Pittsburgh
The hit musical “Hamilton” returns to Pittsburgh for performances Feb. 22 through March 13 at the Benedum Center in the downtown Cultural District. Prospective audience members who haven’t purchased tickets yet would be well advised to do so soon, said Marc Fleming, vice president of marketing, communications and Broadway programming...
Pittsburgh couple who survived bridge collapse thought they were going to die, twice
A Pittsburgh couple in a red pickup truck cheated death twice as the Forbes Avenue bridge collapsed Friday and crashed to the ground with their truck still on it. Ten people were injured in the collapse, including Tyrone and Velva Perry, both 69, of Pittsburgh. An estimated 14,000 motorists daily...
Westmoreland commissioners approve $1.3 million plan for 2022 tourism
The Westmoreland County commissioners approved spending $1.3 million to promote what one called the “crown jewels” of the region. The money, generated through a portion of the county’s 5% hotel tax, will pay for marketing efforts as well as upgrades to parks, the purchase of property and grants to help...
Officials: Mattress fire caused evacuation of Pittsburgh’s Roosevelt Arms apartments
A resident smoking in bed resulted in a mattress fire that led to the evacuation late Sunday of the Roosevelt Arms high-rise apartments in Downtown Pittsburgh, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. Reported at around 11:30 p.m., the fire was contained to an apartment on the 10th floor of the 14-floor...
Senators move closer to deal on Russian sanctions billVideo
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators are close to agreeing on a Russia sanctions bill that could include penalties even if President Vladimir Putin doesn’t send troops into Ukraine, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez said. Lawmakers will be briefed this week by Biden administration officials, including military leaders, on the standoff...
Residents near collapsed Forbes Avenue bridge adjusting to traffic, longer commutes
Life will be a little different for people living near the collapsed Forbes Avenue bridge. The consensus among residents is that while the loss of the bridge over Fern Hollow in Frick Park has created some inconveniences, they’ll adapt just fine. They don’t have a choice. The vibe in nearby...
O’Connor: Rebuilding Forbes Avenue bridge could take 2 years, more than $10M
Declarations of emergency from Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Gov. Tom Wolf could help fast-track federal and state money to help pay for the cleanup and construction of the Forbes Avenue bridge over Fern Hollow in Frick Park. How quickly the process will move along is uncertain, but constructing a...
Spotify to add advisories to podcasts discussing covid-19
NEW YORK — As a result of protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the spread of covid-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus. In a post Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more...
GOP lawmakers call out Trump on pardons for Jan. 6 riotersVideo
WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham forcefully disagreed with former President Donald Trump for saying he might pardon people convicted in the U.S. Capitol riot if reelected, saying they should be jailed “and get the book thrown at them.” Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu...
It got so cold in Florida, iguanas fell from trees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A cold snap in Florida is different than in other places. We put on heavy coats when it’s 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). No blizzard conditions here in the Sunshine State, but we have our issues as well when the thermometer drops. The National Weather...
After the blizzard, the East Coast digs out under sunny skyVideo
BOSTON — The sun shone down on much of the East Coast on Sunday, a day after a vicious nor’easter brought blizzard conditions to many areas, and left more than 100,000 customers without power for a stretch that could last into Monday. Winds that had gusted to more than 80...
Franklin Regional marching band director announces retirement days before Disney trip
Citing ongoing health concerns and family considerations, longtime Franklin Regional School District band director Lawrence Silvestri announced his retirement Saturday, according to band officials. Silvestri’s immediate retirement was announced Saturday via private email forwarded through acting marching band director Nick Nutter to high school marching band members and parents. “Yes,...
