Regional category, Page 179
Citing revenue loss, state senator seeks to bring back Pa. Turnpike toll workers
A senator from northeastern Pennsylvania is spearheading efforts to bring back turnpike toll workers. Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, said his plan stems from the amount of tolls — $104 million – that went uncollected on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the past year. “Not coincidentally, that’s also when the PA Turnpike...
National drop in gas prices skips Pittsburgh area, frustrating drivers
Rick Toney was pumping gas as a kid in the 1970s. And he’s still doing it today for his cousin, Joe Shamey, owner of Shamey’s Gulf Service on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. It’s one of the few, maybe only, full-service gas stations in the area. So Toney hears...
Pennsylvania wine and liquor sales set another record, annual report shows
If you’re headed to a holiday party this month, chances are good that either Tito’s Handmade Vodka or Fireball Cinnamon Whisky will be on the bar. Unflavored vodka remained Pennsylvanians’ drink of choice during the 2020-21 fiscal year, bringing in $307.6 million and topping the sales list in 53 of...
Pittsburgh region’s jobless rate falls to 5.9%; labor force shrinks
The Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate in October fell below 6% for the first time since the pandemic took hold of the economy in April 2020, a combination of more jobs being filled and, once again, fewer people in the labor force. “It’s just as if the economy is stuck in...
Western Pa. covid hospitalizations hit highest point in more than 10 months
As the threat of the omicron variant looms, covid-19 hospitalizations in Western Pennsylvania have hit their highest point in more than 10 months. Allegheny County on Wednesday reported 504 covid patients in hospitals, the most since there were 535 patients on Jan. 12, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department...
Somerset County DA accused of sexual assault loses pay under new law
SOMERSET — A prosecutor accused of sexual assault lost his public salary and benefits by a vote of Somerset County’s salary board. Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Lynn Thomas will no longer collect his $185,000 salary, which for now goes to acting District Attorney Molly Metzgar. The move Tuesday was...
Allegheny Health Network can handle influx of covid-19 patients, but staffing, supply costs surging, CFO says
Despite confronting spiking staffing costs while covid-19 hospitalizations climb, Allegheny Health Network’s leaders say they’re confident in the 14-hospital system’s ability to treat influxes in patients as the pandemic rages on. “We have capacity and we’ve got the equipment that we need,” AHN Chief Financial Officer James Rohrbaugh told the...
Faculty retirements at Pa. state universities are double the number of a typical year
Nearly half of the 165 faculty members who signed up for its most recent incentive to retire by next summer work at a Pennsylvania state university slated for consolidation in the 2022-23 school year. Figures provided by Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education show 50 of those faculty members who...
Former Indiana County prison inmate sentenced for burning corrections officer
A state prison inmate formerly incarcerated at SCI Pine Grove in Indiana County was sentenced Monday for burning a corrections officer in 2020 by throwing a scalding liquid on the man, causing minor burns. Judge Thomas Bianco ordered to serve a three to six year sentence for inmate David T....
Seven Springs kicks off season this Saturday, other ski resorts gearing up
With more than a week of snowmaking already underway, Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion will open its slopes Saturday. This year’s major upgrade is a new Doppelmayr Alpen Star chairlift that replaces the resort’s former Avalanche lift. The new lift will be able to carry an additional 600 people...
More details emerge about plane crash near Grove City that killed pilot, passenger
A 65-year-old Ohio man made a turnaround and a stop at the Clarion County Airport shortly before his plane crashed a few miles outside Grove City last week, according to flight records. Rick Briggs, 65, of Cuyahoga Falls died as a result of blunt force trauma as a result of...
‘More questions than answers’ about latest covid variant omicron, Pittsburgh doctors say
The newly flagged covid-19 variant dubbed omicron likely already has hit the United States — though scientists aren’t yet sure how contagious or dangerous the latest mutated version of the novel coronavirus might be. “Anytime a new variant is found, scientists start studying to see if it’s more contagious —...
National Weather Service: Warm-up this week brings November temps closer to normal
The weather forecast this week might look like a warm spell after a chilly weekend of snow flurries, but it’s really just getting the region’s thermometer back to its regular reading. “Right now, we’re running about 2.1 degrees below normal for the month of November,” said Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist...
Cyberattack on Butler college part of growing trend; experts urge vigilance to thwart hackers
Organizations that keep sensitive information in their computer systems can’t do much to avoid being targeted by cyberattackers. But experts say they can do things to reduce the damage wreaked by an attack. A cyberattack on Butler County Community College’s computer system forced the campus to shut down Monday and...
Week in pictures: Nov. 22-28, 2021
A selection of the best photos from Tribune-Review photographers from around the region from the week of Nov. 22-28. Previous weeks Week in pictures: Nov. 8-14 Week in pictures: Nov. 1-7, 2021 Week in pictures: Oct. 25-31, 2021 Week in pictures: Oct. 18-24, 2021 Week in pictures: Oct. 11-17, 2021...
Nonprofits hope to see funds flow on Giving Tuesday
Hot on the heels of the nation’s three biggest shopping days of the year — Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday — there is yet another reason to keep that wallet open. Charities, arts organizations, libraries and other nonprofits are hoping to top off a tough year on...
Unlocked vehicles targets of theft in Shaler and Aspinwall area
Police in several communities are imploring residents to lock up after a rash of thefts from unlocked vehicles. “We had 18 reports this week — that’s a high number,” said Shaler police chief Sean Frank. “I want to stress these were not vehicle break-ins, that means a car is locked....
Deadline nears to enroll in Medicare Advantage health insurance for 2022 coverage
The deadline is approaching for seniors and people with disabilities to sign up for a Medicare-eligible health insurance plan for 2022. Enrollment closes Dec. 7 for coverage that begins Jan. 1. Medicare Advantage plans are privately offered alternatives to traditional Medicare and supplemental government-provided plans. They’ve long been popular in...
4 on the floor: Vehicle owners prepare for tire sticker shock
Eric Colamarino knows he’s running out of time to find winter tires for his Ford pickup truck. The 30-year-old Unity resident said he has been searching for tires since July, only to be met by factory back orders and prices that are 20% to 25% higher per tire. Colamarino said...
Cyberattack forces closure of Butler County Community College on Monday and Tuesday
Butler County Community College will be closed Monday and Tuesday in response to a ransomware attack on its computer systems, the college announced Sunday night. The main campus in Butler Township and additional locations in Cranberry, Lawrence, Jefferson and Mercer Counties and remote and online classes will be closed as...
Teenage gunshot victim found dead in vacant lot in Washington, Pa.
Officials found a body of a teenager Sunday morning in a vacant lot in Washington, Pa. The Washington County Coroner’s Office identified the victim Sunday evening as Connor Brock, 18, of Washington, Pa. According to the coroner’s report, Brock had an apparent gunshot wound. The coroner and city police are...
‘We have a litter problem’: Gov. Wolf unveils statewide litter action plan
Pennsylvanians pride themselves on the beauty the state offers, by way of millions of acres of forest, rolling hills and, this time of year, gorgeous fall scenery. But anyone who has driven the state’s roads to reach those destinations will have a tough time arguing with Gov. Tom Wolf. “We...
Winter heating costs rising, PUC advises customers to shop for rates
Western Pennsylvanians could be in for sticker shock this winter when they pay their heating bill, state and federal agencies warn. “There is a big swing in electric prices (this winter). The surge in natural gas usage is driving up wholesale natural gas prices” at a time when more natural...
Most hunters welcome Saturday start of Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season
Business was brisk at Westmoreland County deer processing facilities Saturday as hunters rolled up with the fruits of their labor during the first day of Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season. Most of those who spoke with the Tribune-Review were glad this year’s season started on a Saturday and Sunday, instead of...
Choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms are all ‘about creating memories’
It’s open season for Christmas trees. Most Western Pennsylvania tree farms opened for business last week — the day after Thanksgiving being the unofficial kickoff to tree season. This year, demand is expected to continue to climb, but supply could be an issue. A combination of millennials starting families and...
