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Local stories category, Page 5

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Underneath it all: Pine woman honored for philanthropic excellence
Judy Masucci believes it’s what’s underneath that counts. The owner of Levana Bratique, a specialty retailer of bras and lingerie in Pine, Masucci is committed to helping women find the perfect fit — whether they have the money to pay for it or not. For her support — literally and...
Pennsylvania jobless rate down, payrolls up 29K in July
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped to a new post-pandemic low and the labor force shrank in July as payrolls jumped by nearly 29,000, according to state figures released Friday. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a percentage point to 6.6% from June’s adjusted rate, the state Department of Labor...
Pandemic pushed people to buy groceries online. How many will still get them delivered?
Jon Roesser, the general manager of Weavers Way Co-op, usually works with banks and suppliers to keep the grocery running, puts together the $34 million budget, or plans marketing promotions, like an upcoming sale on frozen shrimp. But as the demand for home deliveries exploded during the pandemic, Roesser became...
Food truck brings authentic Puerto Rican dishes to Pittsburgh 
Growing up, Felipe Crespo was always around areas with lots of Latin culture and diversity. When the now 29-year-old Crespo moved to Pittsburgh from Chicago, he was surprised to find a lack of Puerto Rican cultural representation. After recognizing that he wasn’t the only one who felt detached, Crespo got...
‘Down, not out’: Latrobe’s Dainty Pastry Shoppe looks to rebound from fire likely sparked by lightning 
Authorities are speculating a fire Thursday night that gutted much of the Dainty Pastry Shoppe in Latrobe may have resulted from a lightning strike. “We won’t know for sure until we get in there. The State Police Fire Marshal is coming back Monday, but it looks as though the fire...
Limited production close for Lordstown, future still hazy
Lordstown Motors expects to begin limited production of its electric pickup truck next month, yet the future of the Ohio start-up remains hazy. In addition to this week’s announcement that the company, based just outside of Youngstown, aims to begin production in September, Executive Chairwoman Angela Strand said Lordstown also...
Despite covid pandemic, Pittsburgh’s Allentown remains open for business
Rebecca Romagnoli is passionate about pasta. Romagnoli’s business, Forma Pasta, began as a subscription service in August 2019 but in November 2020 — in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic — opened a retail location in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Allentown. “I chose Allentown because it is still up and...
Extra federal unemployment aid will soon end for 500,000 Pennsylvanians
More than a half-million jobless Pennsylvanians receiving temporary aid from three federal unemployment programs will see those checks end as of Sept. 4, the state said. The state Department of Labor and Industry said it is working with organizations and agencies to identify programs and support services for those who...
Citizens Bank set to close Ligonier, New Kensington, Ross branches
Citizens Bank is set to close branches in Ligonier Borough, Ross Township and New Kensington by early December. Bennett Griesmer, spokesman for Citizens Financial Group, confirmed the New Kensington branch, at 901 Fifth Ave., is slated to close Nov. 17, while additional closures are set for Dec. 7, at the...
Filterbuy opens New Kensington facility, plans more hiring
Air filter manufacturer Filterbuy opened its facility in New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park this week with nearly 30 full-time employees, and it plans to hire more workers this month, the company announced Friday. The family-owned and operated company based in Alabama said it aims to have three full production lines...
Forbes annual valuation of NFL franchises lists Steelers up 14% at $3.43 billion
Even after a down year of revenue losses owed to the coronavirus pandemic, NFL franchises continue to prosper. This includes the Pittsburgh Steelers. Forbes.com on Thursday released its annual estimated valuations of NFL teams. Each gained significant equity over the past year, raising in value between 10-29%. The Steelers’ franchise...
Steelworkers still sparring with ATI as employees return after months-long strike
Lingering grievances are flaring up between the United Steelworkers and Allegheny Technologies Inc., despite the two parties inking an agreement last week to end a months-long strike by 1,300 employees. The union declared that members voted last Tuesday to ratify a four-year contract after months of stalled talks with ATI...
With workers in high demand, Western Pa. teens are filling the void
As businesses have taken “closed indefinitely” signs out of their windows and reopened their doors, the landscape of a post-pandemic workforce is changing and depending on an unexpected demographic — teens. Teenagers have become one of the largest segments of the working population. The Associated Press reported that, in May,...
Pop into the Lawrenceville Pop-Up Market
When Rona Chang saw the impact that covid-19 had on fellow small businesses, she literally took to the street. Chang organized a pop-up market in September in Lawrenceville for vendors that relied upon in-person shopping as their primary income. Chang, who manages her business, Otto Finn, out of Radiant Hall...
ATI investing millions in expansion of Vandergrift operations
A four-month strike by workers at ATI hasn’t impacted plans to upgrade and expand the company’s Vandergrift operations from moving forward. “We’ve been proceeding as planned throughout all of the strike activities,” said Danielle Carlini, Vandergrift’s ATI project manager for specialty rolled products. The expansion is set to happen over...
Proposal would keep Pittsburgh’s covid paid sick leave until 90% of Pa. is vaccinated
Pittsburgh businesses with more than 50 employees will be required to provide paid sick leave to workers who contract covid-19 or who are required to quarantine, under legislation city Councilman Bobby Wilson introduced Wednesday. The requirement would be in effect until 90% of the eligible Pennsylvania population is vaccinated. The...
R.K. Mellon Foundation announces $2.6 million grants to stimulate ‘new-economy’ jobs locally
The R.K. Mellon Foundation has a few goals aimed at helping people get jobs — and it’s got the money to get started. Targeting what foundation Director Sam Reiman calls “new-economy jobs,” the foundation is providing $2.6 million spread out over 16 grants. “With our new strategic plan, we are...
Fake unemployment claims, real checks hit Western Pa. mailboxes; what to do if a fraudster targets you
Beware of fake unemployment claims hitting your mailbox as fraudsters continue to target Pennsylvania’s labor coffers at alarming rates. Scammers have been signing up unwitting — and still fully employed — residents for jobless benefits as part of a surge in sophisticated identity theft schemes to steal taxpayer money during...
Heinz launches campaign targeting hot dog, bun mismatched packaging
Heinz has had it. Tired of seeing hot dogs and buns sold in mismatched quantities — wieners in packages of 10, buns in packs of eight — the world-famous condiment maker launched a campaign Tuesday to encourage manufacturers to finally get on the same page. The ketchup king started a...
Council, business leaders say Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s work is needed amid pandemic recovery
The shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic proved the importance of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to the city’s business district, its members and administrators told city council members Tuesday. “Everything came crashing down,” said Casey Henderlong, describing how it hurt businesses like the Richard Deshantz Restaurant Group, where Henderlong is...
Excela Health posts $72 million net income for 1st 9 months of fiscal year
Excela Health saw its net income jump to $71.9 million from July 2020 through March 31, a $100 million turnaround from the $34 million loss it posted from July 2019 through March 2020, according to a hospital report. The Greensburg-based health system, with hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Mt. Pleasant,...
Wabtec Corp. opens 3D printing operation near Pittsburgh International 
Instead of using a mill to fabricate aluminum into the parts used in railway systems, Wabtec Corp. will be using a $2.5 million 3D printer that’s among the largest in the world at its new 11,000-square-foot facility in Findlay. The company is the successor of Westinghouse Air Brake Corp. Founded...
Latrobe party supply shop set to expand with move to former church outreach center
Paper Heart Affairs, a Latrobe party supply shop, is preparing for expansion, with a move around the corner to a former church outreach center. Emily Pasqualino is planning a moving sale at the store’s current location, 337 Main St., from Wednesday through Saturday, June 12, during the town’s Mister Rogers...
MSA Safety acquires Alle-Kiski Valley-based Bacharach in $337M deal
Global safety equipment maker MSA Safety is expanding its gas detection business with the $337 million acquisition of Alle-Kiski Valley-­based Bacharach, the companies announced. MSA, headquartered in Cranberry, plans to complete the acquisition of Bacharach and its affiliated companies from FFL Partners, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, in early...
Is extra $300 in federal unemployment assistance stopping people from applying for jobs?
With about 56,000 people in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties reporting they are without a job, businesses still find themselves scrambling to fill vacancies. One reason cited for the challenge is the extra $300 a week in federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Assistance that people have collected since the end of December....


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