Regional category, Page 145
Western Pennsylvania natives in Florida prepare for Hurricane Ian to make landfall
Claire Dice was planning to return to Penn Hills on Friday from her vacation in Florida. But at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dice got word that Indian Shores, a town on the Gulf Coast barrier island where she is staying, was being evacuated as Hurricane Ian prepares to make landfall in...
Pumpkin patches, hayrides, corn mazes: These farms go all in for Halloween
In search of the great pumpkin? You might have a good shot at finding one — and a lot more — at one of these pumpkin patches. As always, its wise to call ahead to check hours, admission costs and availability of activities during the week and weekends. Janoski’s Farm...
Pennsylvania bucks nation with gas prices continuing to fall
While the streak of declining gas prices came to an end nationally, average prices in Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh area are continuing to fall. AAA is reporting the national average at $3.73. That’s about 5 cents per gallon higher than a week ago, but 14 cents less than a month...
3 killed in two Fayette crashes
Three people were killed in two separate accidents along Route 51 in Fayette County between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday morning, according to Fayette County’s coroner. Britley Brashear, 31, whose address was not available, was killed Saturday afternoon when her vehicle hit a traffic signal pole along Route 51 near...
Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene, others visit Monongahela to unveil House GOP’s midterm agenda
MONONGAHELA — House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and some other big Republican names stopped by a manufacturing facility in Monongahela on Friday to reveal the House GOP’s “Commitment to America.” The GOP leader — along with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Rep. Steve Scalise (La.), Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio) and...
Proposal to help publishers negotiate with Big Tech advances in Senate
A prominent Republican and Democrat came together Thursday to strike a deal over a proposal aimed at helping local and smaller news outlets level the playing field with tech giants such as Google and Facebook, according to a report by The Hill. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Sen....
Penn State asks for historic boost in state funding
Penn State will push for a 47.5% increase in general support funding from the state after receiving approval from its Board of Trustees on Friday. If legislators greenlight the historic request in the 2023-24 state budget, the university would receive $357 million during the next academic year. That’s $115 million...
Beer at Beaver Stadium: Penn State board approves alcohol sales
Happy Valley might have just become happier – Penn State’s Board of Trustees has approved alcohol sales for all 21-and-older fans in Beaver Stadium. Numerous beer stations will be placed throughout the stadium, though none in close proximity to the student section. Fans will be able to purchase up to...
Penn State officials hope for 47% increase in state general support funding
Penn State officials plan to aim high in their 202-24 state funding request. On Friday, the Board of Trustees will vote on whether to approve a request for an additional $115 million in general support funding from the state. If approved by legislators, that would bring the university’s general support...
Experts say covid pandemic continues to hospitalize, kill in Pennsylvania, despite Biden comments
For many, if not most, the masks are off and the covid pandemic is in the rearview mirror. But an average of 10 people are dying from covid in Pennsylvania each day, and about 1,150 residents are hospitalized with the virus, according to state health data. The state Department of...
Washington School District alerts families to potential monkeypox case
Washington School District alerted students and families of a potential monkeypox case at Washington Park Primary School. A student suspected of having monkeypox or another similar disease was at the school Monday, Superintendent George Lammay said in a letter to families. “The school immediately sanitized all physical locations that the...
Fall allergies share symptoms with covid; ragweed a leading trigger
A stuffy, runny nose could be a sign that your body is coping with a flu or covid-19 infection, or it could be an overreaction to an allergen. The maturation of pollen-packed plants like ragweed means the fall allergy season has arrived in Western Pennsylvania. “If you have nasal congestion,...
Improvements eyed at Flight 93 memorial’s western overlook
Planning and fundraising for a new facet of the Flight 93 National Memorial is underway as nonprofit group plans to enhance the western overlook, the spot where families got their first glimpse of the Sept. 11, 2001 crash site. Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial executive director Donna Gibson said...
Prosecutors ask for ‘Pink Hat Lady’ charged in Capitol riots to be placed on electronic monitoring
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to require a Mercer County woman charged in last year’s Capitol riots to wear electronic monitoring while under home confinement. In a motion filed Thursday, the U.S. attorney’s office said Rachel Powell — who became known as “the Pink Hat Lady” — has violated...
GOP congressional candidate Jeremy Shaffer picks up U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsement in key race
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Jeremy Shaffer in a key race to represent part of suburban Pittsburgh in the U.S. House. Shaffer, an engineer and former Ross commissioner who founded a software company focused on infrastructure, said he was honored to be endorsed by one of the...
Flight 93 site, Laurel Hill park, Forbes State Forest seek volunteers to help with projects
Volunteers are needed to do projects, such as picking up trash on land and water, improving trails and making bird houses, in state and federal parks in Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties as part of a nationwide effort to improve public lands. During National Public Lands Day on Saturday ,...
Decline in gas prices breaks 2018 record, but change to winter gas could snap trend
With gasoline prices falling for a 14th consecutive week, the drop in the national average has surpassed the record decline of 2018 and is now the longest downward streak since 2015, an industry analyst said Monday. According to AAA, the national average is now about $3.68, down 4 cents from...
Leaf disease continues to ravage Pa. beech trees
There’s a disease wreaking havoc on beech trees in Pennsylvania. Beech leaf disease currently is found in all but two of the state’s 67 counties. Caused by microscopic nematodes, the disease infects native American beech trees and commonly planted European ones, said Mihail Kantor, an assistant research professor of nematology...
California wildfire smoke makes its way to Western Pa.
Friday evening’s hazy skies were the result of smoke traveling from California, where wildfires are raging. The smoke traveled through jet streams to the Midwest and East Coast, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jenna Lake. It isn’t uncommon for this to occur if the western states experience several wildfires,...
Region targeted for aerial geological survey to map underground mineral deposits
Residents in parts of Westmoreland, Fayette, Indiana and Somerset counties may see a low-flying plane or helicopter carrying a torpedo-like probe in the sky over the next few months. It’s part of a U.S. Geological Survey initiative to map underground rocks that may contain rare earth minerals or pockets of...
Weekend to bring ideal conditions for region: balmy temperatures and dry skies
The last weekend of summer is arriving in the Pittsburgh region with weather conditions ideal for enjoying outdoor activities. The National Weather Service in Moon has forecast dry skies and balmy temperatures without an excess of humidity. Highs in the low- to mid-80s are expected at about 5 p.m. both...
Landowners to receive $5.5M to settle suit over oil, gas rights in Fayette County
About 60 Fayette County landowners who signed leases for oil and gas rights 14 years ago will receive a combined $5.5 million in a settlement reached with a drilling company. The settlement calls for Chief Exploration and Development, now known as Cyprus Exploration and Development, to pay the landowners for...
Somerset County tunnel restrictions slated overnight on Pennsylvania Turnpike
Motorists can expect single-lane, bi-directional traffic through the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Allegheny Tunnel in Somerset County beginning Thursday night. Officials said the westbound lanes of the tunnel are set to close at 8 p.m. Thursday, with all traffic switching to the eastbound lanes until 6 a.m. on Friday. The traffic shift...
WWE shirt sales will benefit Pittsburgh-based cancer research nonprofit
In recognition of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September, the V Foundation for Cancer Research has announced a host of fundraising initiatives, including sales of a T-shirt to benefit a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit. The WWE and V Foundation have been partners since 2016 in Connor’s Cure, a nonprofit that got its...
Cost of living increases force everyone to find ways to make ends meet
Paul Resnick waited in a line of more than 200 vehicles before snaking his way through a monthly food distribution at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. “I’d starve without it,” Resnick said. “Everyone in every realm that I know is up against it.” With prices ticking upward on groceries,...
