Western PA Local News category, Page 2256
Cold weather shelter program returns to Westmoreland County
Three Westmoreland County nonprofits have teamed up again to provide a place for those who need to come in from the cold. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg and Union Mission in Latrobe will provide cold weather shelters from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on nights...
2-year-old boy accidentally strangled by blinds cord in Baldwin Township
A 2-year-old boy in Baldwin Township died of strangulation after being accidentally caught in the pull cord of a set of blinds, according to Allegheny County Police. Homicide detectives investigated, but determined the death was an accident. Allegheny County 911 was informed of the accident just before 3 p.m. Sunday....
National Guard providing covid-19 assistance at Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Unity
The Pennsylvania National Guard has spent the last several days at Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Unity, providing emergency assistance to the facility because of the coronavirus outbreak. The staff assistance mission at Twin Lakes started Saturday. It is scheduled to end Wednesday. A group of eleven guard...
Nonprofits count on Giving Tuesday to balance out a tough year
Hot on the tail of Cyber Monday, nonprofits across the region are looking for a hand on Giving Tuesday. The event, a celebration of giving observed the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, typically is a high-profile opportunity for charities and nonprofits to make a case for year-end donations. It takes on special...
No one injured when West Deer home burns for second time
For the second time, Ed Patrick lost his childhood home to a fire. The one-story, wood-frame house at 437 Magnolia Drive in West Deer caught fire in 1982. His dad rebuilt it. It caught fire again on Sunday. Fire officials say it’s a total loss. “There ain’t nothing I can...
Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers continue election attacks, promise report on ‘sizable irregularities’
A group of state GOP lawmakers contesting the result of the Nov. 3 election is continuing a “forensic investigation,” even as their efforts to bring a resolution seeking to overturn the Pennsylvania election certification failed. The 26 Republican state representatives, including Daryl Metcalfe, Eric Nelson, Eric Davanzo and Cris Dush...
Retired Alcoa smelter, long displayed at Station Square, moves to New KensingtonVideo
A retired Alcoa aluminum smelting pot that had been displayed at Station Square in Pittsburgh for about 30 years is now part of downtown New Kensington. The smelter, which originated from an Alcoa plant outside of Massena, N.Y., was placed Monday in the beer garden outside Voodoo Brewery on Fifth...
St. Therese of Lisieux in Munhall moves to online learning
Saint Therese of Lisieux School, a Diocese of Pittsburgh school in Munhall, will move to remote learning immediately, after identifying covid-related issues over Thanksgiving break. School administrators were notified of one positive test due to an “exposure unrelated to school.” Two other staff members also reported possible exposures. The resulting...
Export fire department will hold socially-distanced Santa visit on Friday
Santa Claus is coming to town — the town of Export, that is. But instead of spending all his time at the fire hall, this year Kris Kringle will be out and about in the borough, delivering holiday cheer to families from 6-8 p.m. on Friday. “That was the fire...
Westmoreland elections board certifies more Nov. 3 ballots — but not 344 in undated envelopes
Westmoreland County on Monday certified the remainder of votes from the Nov. 3 election that are not subject to legal challenges. That does not include 344 mail-in ballots that didn’t have a date written on them. Attorney Marco Attisano argued the board of elections should count those undated ballots in...
North Hills communities hosting ‘safe’ alternatives to help jump start holiday spirit
The coronavirus pandemic has forced communities to abandon traditional public events such as tree lighting ceremonies and concerts for the holidays. But communities in the North Hills are still working to spread a little holiday cheer with safe activities for families. McCandless is hosting a two-part event dubbed “Make McCandless...
Expected snowfall prompts Penn Hills School District to move online Tuesday
Penn Hills School District will shift to remote learning Tuesday because of forecasted snowfall. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has called for 2 to 4 inches of snow in the area Tuesday. A winter weather advisory in the region runs from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. The...
West Virginia hospitals to trim elective surgeries as coronavirus cases soar
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hospitals across West Virginia will reduce elective surgeries to ensure there is enough space to accommodate coronavirus patients as the number of cases continues to surge, Gov. Jim Justice said Monday. Hospitals will be able to maintain their available bed capacities “at this moment,” Justice said at...
Hempfield neighborhood boosts Christmas spirit with parade
Heather Manhart is hopeful a parade will bring the Christmas spirit to kids in her Hempfield neighborhood following a year marred by the coronavirus pandemic. “They lost so much this year and (I’m) hoping that this will bring a smile to their face seeing Santa and just the spirit of...
Covid numbers tallied for Penn-Trafford area
The state Department of Health reports there have been 716 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Penn-Trafford area since the start of the pandemic in March. The department on Sunday released data on confirmed cases of the virus in the six Penn-Trafford area ZIP codes, showing an increase of 163...
Pittsburgh’s Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef to reopen Downtown
The popular “Sammy’s Special” sandwich — a large portion of hot corned beef, topped with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing on freshly-baked bread – will be available once again. Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef reopened with dine-in and pick up on Tuesday. Located on Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, the...
Covid numbers tallied for Murrysville-Delmont-Export area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 452 people in the Murrysville area have had confirmed cases of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic in March. There have been 67 confirmed cases occurred in the past seven days. It is the fourth week in a...
Unity man accused of nearly hitting ambulance and spitting on, kicking state troopers
A Unity man remained in jail Monday after state police accused him of being high over the weekend when he nearly hit an ambulance in Derry Township and spit on and kicked two troopers, according to court papers. Marshal Corb Wherry, 24, is charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, driving...
2 men accused of not calling for help following Greensburg overdose that proved fatal
Greensburg police charged two men with reckless endangerment and other offenses after accusing them of not calling an ambulance after a woman overdosed at a Greensburg home. Nicholas Anthony Iapalucci, 31, of Greensburg, called Christopher Love, 43, of Southwest Greensburg, and requested opioid overdose antidote naloxone for his unconscious girlfriend...
Westmoreland clerk of courts office appointment-only for the public after virus cases reported
Starting Tuesday, all public business at the Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts office will be conducted by appointment only. Clerk of Courts Bryan Kline made the change Monday because some staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus, while others are quarantining as they await test results. “My staff operations are...
Levine: Pa. has reached ‘concerning milestone’ in covid-19
Pennsylvania has reached a “concerning milestone” in covid-19 infections and hospitalizations, Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Monday. Levine said the state’s percent positivity rate — measuring the number of covid-19 tests that come back with positive results — is over 12%. Health experts have said any rate above 5% is...
North Hills libraries halting in-person visits, still offering services online
Three public libraries serving the North Hills are temporarily suspending in-person services in response to the county health department’s stay-at-home advisory to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. A third library plans to close for two weeks starting Dec. 24. Allegheny County has been experiencing a sharp increase in the...
Westmoreland County fire departments can apply for pandemic relief money
Grant applications are open for Westmoreland County’s fire departments that have experienced negative financial impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. A nonprofit department can receive up to $25,000 each for either expenses related to the pandemic or revenue lost under guidelines released Monday. Commissioner Sean Kertes said there are 118 fire...
Greensburg man gets 2 years in jail for setting his house on fire
A Greensburg man pleaded guilty Monday to setting his house on fire. Jeremiah N. Morgan, 41, was sentenced to spend up to two years, less a day, in the Westmoreland County Prison followed by five years of probation. Morgan said he pleaded guilty to “get into treatment and get my...
Westmoreland County adds 302 new coronavirus cases, 7 deaths over 2 days
Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 302 new covid-19 cases over the past two days in Westmoreland County on Monday. There were 173 new cases Sunday and 129 on Monday. Among the new cases, 152 were confirmed through 385 new PCR tests from Sunday’s batch, while 96 were...
