Regional category, Page 116
What is Juneteenth? A breakdown on what the holiday commemorates
Juneteenth is a federal holiday recognizing the emancipation of the last enslaved people in the United States. The word comes from a combination of “June” and “nineteenth” and pays homage to the first unofficial Juneteenth celebration, which took place June 19, 1866. It became a national holiday in 2021, when...
Local wrestling promoters and talent react to Iron Sheik’s passingVideo
Local wrestling promoters and talent are mourning the loss of pro wrestling legend — and one of the greatest bad guys of the 1980s — the Iron Sheik. The Iron Sheik, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, died June 7. The Iranian-born athlete was 81. Keystone State Wrestling...
Air quality alert issued for Pittsburgh region
The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert for the greater Pittsburgh area on Monday. The alert is in effect until 4 p.m. for Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties. The code orange alert means that air pollution concentrations within the...
New Castle motorcyclist killed, teen hurt in crash with SUV
A 49-year-old New Castle man died and a teen was seriously hurt after the motorcycle they were on was hit by an SUV in Lawrence County on Saturday, according to state police. State police identified the man as Travis J. Bintrim. The 14-year-old male passenger was not identified. State police...
Myasthenia Gravis Association plans benefit golf outing on Sept. 24
Golfers can enjoy their sport and play for a good cause at the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western PA’s annual MGA Golf Outing on Sept. 24 at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Club in Richland. Proceeds from the golf outing will benefit the organization’s free patient support services to people affected...
OSHA probes fatal workplace fall in Blairsville
Workplace inspectors launched an investigation Thursday into the accident that killed a man who fell through three stories of a dilapidated former Blairsville school on Wednesday, a federal official said. John W. Plunkett, 63, of Colfax, N.C., who died in the fall, was working with Ryan Nupp, 27, of Latrobe...
Water conservation urged as Pennsylvania declares drought watch
The Pa. Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought watch for all counties in the state. Residents and businesses statewide are asked to voluntarily reduce water use 5% to 10%. The assessment is based on information from public water suppliers and data on precipitation, stream and river flows, groundwater level...
Man dead, another injured after fall through 3 floors at Blairsville building restoration site
One man died and another was injured after the pair fell three floors into the basement of a dilapidated former school they were assessing for demolition Wednesday in Blairsville, borough officials said. John Plunkett, 63, of Blairsville, died at UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh from blunt force injuries related to...
Crime stoppers offers reward for information on disappearance of girl in 1987
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information in the disappearance of a 15-year-old girl in Indiana County 36 years ago. Alicia Markovich has been missing since April 26, 1987 when she left her father’s home off Route 22 in Blairsville, just over the border from Westmoreland County....
Some Western Pennsylvania United Methodist churches make split official at conference
ERIE — The Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is now more than a third smaller after a solemn and at times emotional meeting completed a more than yearlong process of disaffiliation for some congregations. There were 298 churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist...
UPMC contractor detects patient data breach
A contractor for UPMC said it discovered a data breach that could have impacted customer and patient information. Tennessee-based Intellihartx LLC said it found that its secure file transfer service provider, Fortra, “experienced a data security incident.” The company undertook an investigation to figure out the scope of the incident....
Pittsburgh population stable, outlying suburbs growing, per new census estimates
The greater Pittsburgh region is still declining, with suburbs closest to the city limits and the Mon Valley shrinking the most, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Still, new data breakdowns show a number of municipalities saw impressive growth and other surprises. The city of Pittsburgh’s population has remained stable...
Pennsylvania average gas price down 28% from record high set 1 year ago
One year ago today, drivers in Pennsylvania were paying about $1.42 per gallon more for gas than they are now. On June 12, 2022, Pennsylvania recorded what remains its highest average price for regular unleaded gasoline — $5.07 per gallon, according to AAA. Today, the statewide average is $3.65, about...
Morning Roundup: Woman injured in Brentwood crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, June 12: Woman injured in Brentwood crash A woman was injured early Monday when she crashed the car she was driving into a Brentwood building, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. Crews were called just before 3 a.m....
Quarter-inch of rain breaks 3-week dry spell; more coming
The nearly quarter-inch of rain that fell across the Pittsburgh region since Sunday night broke a three-week dry spell that had caused drought-like conditions in Western Pennsylvania. Officials at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh said another half-inch of rain is expected Tuesday. “We still need more, but every little...
Neighborhood vibes keep smaller grocers afloat as chains battle for supremacy
Some people want to shop where everybody knows their name. “I see some people three or four times a week,” said Gene Tommasi, who runs Golden Dawn grocery store in New Kensington. “It’s a little like ‘Cheers,’ ” he said, referring to the TV show about regulars at a bar...
14-year-old accused of fatally shooting man in Uniontown arrested, faces multiple felony charges
A teenager has been arrested in connection with a man’s fatal shooting in Uniontown on Tuesday. State police charged Antonyo Owens, 14, with felony counts of criminal homicide, possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm by a minor, along with a count...
A lavender haze: Businesses anticipate Taylor Swift windfall that could ‘blow Kenny Chesney out of the water’
Tia Muscarella is already leaning into the Taylor Swift phenomenon, and The Eras Tour is still a week away from its Pittsburgh stop. The North Shore Tavern, where Muscarella is the bar manager, has been featuring the specialty cocktail Lavender Haze, a concoction of butterfly pea blossom gin laced with...
Here’s the skinny on the diabetes drug Ozempic and its popularity as a weight loss wonder
For Diane Lang, the big push to focus on her health and weight came from her grandchildren. “I was exhausted,” she said. “When they would visit, I would just try to keep up with them. I want to run with them and play with them. I want to be here...
Police: Teen dead after 3 juveniles shot at New Castle playground
One of three three juveniles who were shot early Saturday morning at a playground in New Castle has died, according to authorities. The New Castle Police Department posted on its Facebook page that the shooting happened at Bollinger Playground “during a graduation celebration.” Police Chief Robert Salem confirmed to the...
Conneaut Lake Park owner wants to evict Hotel Conneaut operator
Conneaut Lake Park’s owner wants to oust the operator of its Hotel Conneaut for alleged lease violations. In a May 28 letter, Keldon Holdings LLC notified On the Lake Enterprises LLC to voluntarily vacate the Hotel Conneaut by June 12 or face formal eviction proceedings. Hotel Conneaut remains open and...
Horse safety, health the focus of racing community amid spate of thoroughbred deaths
Veteran sport horse trainer and harness race driver Mike Wilder respects the art of balance. After 38 years as a driver and more than 8,800 wins in his career, he scrutinizes many factors when it comes to taking care of his athletes — the horses expected to run at least...
UPMC doctor steps aside as head of cardiothoracic surgery after false billing settlement
A cardiothoracic surgeon at UPMC who was at the center of a federal investigation is stepping aside as chair of the health system’s Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. James Luketich will continue to have a role within the health system, according to UPMC spokesman Paul Wood. Luketich will continue to...
Air quality in Western Pa. continues to improve, could return to normal levels by Monday
With Canadian wildfires still burning and sending smoke into the Northeast, a government website has proved to be a valuable, easy-to-use resource for people looking for the latest information about air quality in their communities. The website AirNow.gov allows users to search for air quality data by city, state or...
SCI Laurel Highlands prisoner dies after being taken to hospital
An inmate at SCI Laurel Highlands died on Saturday. Richard Lundberg, 39, of Somerset, died after being taken from the prison to a hospital, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. He was found “lethargic,” the office said. An official cause of death was not immediately released, but Pennsylvania...
