Renatta Signorini stories, Page 127
19th coronavirus death reported in Westmoreland
Officials said Thursday that a man died from the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, bringing the death toll to 19. Ten men and nine women in the county have died as a result of the virus, according to Coroner Ken Bacha. His office is being notified of the deaths sooner than...
Westmoreland jail inmates asking court for release over coronavirus fears; Allegheny has released nearly 1,000
The population at the Westmoreland County Prison has dropped 22% since March 1 as inmates seek release to protect themselves should the coronavirus get inside the jail. Warden John Walton said officials there have identified 67 inmates between ages 22 and 80 who have chronic medical conditions that could make...
3 more coronavirus deaths reported in Westmoreland County
Two women and a man died from the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, upping the death toll to 18, officials said Wednesday. The deaths were added to a total provided by Coroner Ken Bacha, who is being notified of deaths related to the virus sooner than the state Department of Health....
Goodwill stores in Pa. open no-contact donation centers
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is accepting donations again after closing its 27 stores in the state a month ago amid nonessential business shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic. No-contact, self-service donation areas at each of the organization’s store locations in Pennsylvania opened this week to accept donations from 9 a.m....
Charges filed in fatal Greensburg fentanyl overdose
Two Greensburg women are accused by police of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with a February fatal overdose, according to court papers. Jamie Lynn Dickant, 34, is accused of supplying a fatal dose that killed Justine Baker, 32, on Feb. 11, city police said. Baker’s spouse, Mary Elizabeth...
15 coronavirus-related deaths reported in Westmoreland County
Two more people died from the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, bringing the current death toll to 15, officials reported Tuesday. The majority of the county’s fatalities are linked to senior living communities, said Coroner Ken Bacha. The two most recent deaths occurred at hospitals, but were people who had been...
Pandemic isolation adds another hurdle for those in drug recovery
Samantha Woollen is staying active in her recovery by talking on the phone with her counselor and participating in virtual Narcotics Anonymous meetings. But she knows others may not be able to do the same. “I know some people that don’t have phones … and they really need the help,”...
State police seize more than $11 million worth of drugs in first 3 months of 2020
State police seized more than 68 pounds of cocaine worth about $1.5 million in the first three months of 2020, according to figures released by the law enforcement agency. That amount is part of more than $11 million in illicit drugs troopers confiscated statewide between Jan. 1 and March 31....
Police: Rostraver man shot while assaulting his elderly mother
A Rostraver man was hospitalized early Thursday after being shot while assaulting his elderly mother, township police said. Christopher N. Visnich, 37, was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. His leg wound was not believed to be life-threatening, police said. Officers were called at 2 a.m. Thursday to an...
Easter Bunny delights South Greensburg children with delivery of basketsVideo
Jaymie Roman waited excitedly on her South Greensburg front porch — she knew the Easter bunny was coming. The 3-year-old girl watched with her mother Ali Roman as a caravan carrying the bunny moved slowly Wednesday morning down Ashland Street, lights flashing and sirens blaring. “I think it’s really nice...
Westmoreland flying club members lament loss of plane, hangar in strong storms
The Cessna four-seater airplane Chestnut Ridge Flying Club bought eight months ago was totaled early Wednesday as strong storms swept across the region, said group secretary Rick Indovina. He and a few other club members took photos of their damaged 1976 Cessna 172 that was stored inside their hangar at...
3 Sundays approved for Pennsylvania deer, bear hunting
Three Sundays this fall were approved for hunting by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners. Archery deer hunting will be allowed on Nov. 15, bear hunters can take to the woods on Nov. 22 and deer hunters using firearms can be out Nov. 29, according to information released by the...
Police seeking information in theft of 2 ATVs from Unity dealer
State police are seeking information about the theft of two ATVs from Hillview Motorsports in Unity last month. Two 2020 Suzuki King Quad 750 ATVs were taken from the Route 30 dealership on March 29 just before 2 a.m., according to troopers. The thieves then headed west on Route 30...
Trout season opens early amid coronavirus pandemicVideo
Trout season opened Tuesday in Pennsylvania — almost two weeks ahead of schedule, according to the Fish and Boat Commission. Trout fishing started at 8 a.m. The first day of the season had been slated for April 18. “We realize that this announcement is another disruption to tradition, but it...
Heinz History Center collecting materials, content depicting life amid coronavirus
Keep those pictures and other items that show how you’re getting through the coronavirus pandemic — the Senator John Heinz History Center might want them. Curators and archivists at the center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District are collecting materials from the region’s residents that show the local response and experience. That...
State police cite Pa. woman for ‘going for a drive’ amid stay-at-home order
A York County woman this week was the first person in Pennsylvania to be cited for violating Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order, according to state police. The 19-year-old woman was given a nontraffic citation for allegedly “going for a drive,” according to the citation obtained by Pennlive. State police spokesman...
Police: Bradenville pair showed kids how to smoke marijuana, gave them alcohol at parties
Two Bradenville residents are accused by state troopers of providing alcohol to several children during two birthday parties last year and demonstrating how to smoke marijuana, according to police reports. Janelle Anne Bias, 35, and Bryan Allen Green, 44, were charged Thursday with multiple counts each of corruption of minors,...
2 Laurel Highlands school employees test positive for covid-19
Two Laurel Highlands School District employees tested positive for covid-19, according to a letter posted on the district website by Superintendent Jesse Wallace. Neither employee has been inside a school district building in the last couple of weeks, he said. Both employees are assigned to Hutchinson Elementary School. The employees...
Pa. addiction hot line getting fewer calls after liquor stores shut down
State drug and alcohol officials braced for a deluge of alcohol-related phone calls when Pennsylvania two weeks ago closed all state-run wine and liquor stores. “We were concerned that it could be a very big deal,” said Jennifer Smith, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. So...
April National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event postponed
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in April is postponed, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The April 25 date will be rescheduled after the coronavirus pandemic recedes and the national emergency is lifted, according to the agency. During the most recent Take Back Day held Oct. 26, nearly 442...
Police responding to fewer calls as more people shelter in place during coronavirus outbreak
Police departments across Southwestern Pennsylvania are receiving fewer calls as residents stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. In Greensburg, police calls decreased by 27% for the last two weeks of March compared to the same period in 2019, said Chief Chad Zucco. Police received 818 calls during that period...
Woman arrested after Jeannette police try to disperse group involved in fight
Jeannette police tried to avoid arresting a group of girls who were yelling about a fight in the street Sunday, but took one into custody after several residents started exiting their homes, according to court papers. Four to five females were walking in and out of traffic at the intersection...
Landslide shuts Route 906 between I-70 and Monessen
A landslide forced the closure of a section of Route 906 between Rostraver and Monessen on Monday. The road, which runs along the Monongahela River, will be closed until Thursday, weather permitting, while debris is cleared, according to a PennDOT spokeswoman. The road was closed at 2 a.m. Monday between...
Scottdale expands existing curfew to anyone under 18
Scottdale extended its normal 9 p.m. curfew for children during the school year to include anyone under 18, according to borough manager Angelo Pallone. The altered curfew will remain in effect as long as the coronavirus pandemic continues, he said. “It’s going to be enforced as long as the emergency...
Experts: Little worry about groceries transmitting coronavirus
Relax, your food isn’t trying to kill you — probably. While grocery stores have increased sanitation measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, some consumers are worried they have more cleaning to do when they get their goods home. Pittsburgh-based infectious disease and critical care physician Dr. Amesh Adalja doesn’t think shoppers...
