Regional category, Page 201
Route 40 near Fayette-Somerset border to remain closed
Route 40 in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, between the intersection of Route 281 and the Somerset County line, will remain closed over the weekend and into next week because of a slide that blocked the highway with trees and debris, PennDOT officials in Uniontown said Friday. The road will...
Stop the slide: Here’s how to make summer learning fun
Summer is a time for vacations, picnics, fun in the sun and the dreaded educational slide. When students head back into the classrooms after summer break, teachers expect them to have lost some of the knowledge they gained the previous school year. This could be even more true after the...
UPMC enrolling kids for Moderna covid vaccine trial
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is enrolling children for a covid-19 pediatric Moderna vaccine trial. Moderna is testing the safety and effectiveness of their covid-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 12 years old. “Certainly, even though we know the vaccines are working in adults and they are safe...
State police seek Altoona man who led them on a 130-mph chase down Route 22
State police from Ebensburg are seeking information on an Altoona man who fled a Route 22 traffic stop on Tuesday at speeds of almost 130 mph, according to police. An arrest warrant was issued for Johnnie Ray Weaver, 46, of Altoona, after police said he led them on a pursuit...
3 more Western Pa. residents, including Scottdale man, charged in Capitol riots
A Westmoreland County man and two others from Beaver County are among the latest to face charges related to the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Samuel C. Fox of Scottdale, Mitchell P. Vukich of New Brighton and Nicholas Perretta of Baden all face charges related to the incident,...
Republicans condemn election reform bill as an ‘extreme power grab’
U.S. Senate Republicans used a filibuster to block the Democrat-backed “For the People Act” — an election reform bill — Tuesday in Washington. Pennsylvania lawmakers voiced opinions on the legislation ahead of a test vote needed to begin debate on the bill in the Senate. “This would be the most...
5 things to know about delta variant of coronavirus
Even as covid-19 vaccines become widely available and pandemic restrictions begin to relax, a new variant of the virus raises new worries. The delta variant, first identified in India, is classified as a “variant of concern,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the variant circulates in...
Republican National Committee lambastes VP Harris for visiting Pittsburgh instead of border
The Republican National Committee on Monday reacted to Vice President Kamala Harris’ Pittsburgh visit regarding “Child Tax Credit Awareness Day” and President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. “Border facilities are critically overcrowded, but President Biden and his border manager — Vice President Harris — refuse to visit the scene,” Keith Rothfus,...
Utilities working to restore power to thousands after Monday storms
Strong storms and a couple inches of rain dropped trees, caused sporadic flooding and led to tornado warnings being issued across parts of the region Monday evening. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for southeastern Allegheny County, western Westmoreland County and portions of Fayette and Washington counties...
Washington Co. woman who kept disabled sister in cage gets time served for Social Security fraud
A Washington County woman who confined her disabled 53-year-old sister to a wooden cage while she used her Social Security payments will be released from federal custody. Leona Biser, 52, of Vestaburg, pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud and representative payee fraud in February before U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose....
Rachel Levine answers Sen. Rand Paul’s criticism in CBS interview
In one of her first on-camera interviews with a national news outlet since being confirmed as U.S. assistant secretary of health in late March, Rachel Levine discussed Sen. Rand Paul’s criticism of her during her confirmation hearing. Speaking on “60 Minutes Plus” on CBS’s streaming service Paramount Plus, Levine discussed...
State police: 20-year-old man killed in Washington County crash
A Washington County man was killed in a one-vehicle crash early Sunday, according to state police. Hunter Hickle, 20, was driving south on Waynesburg Road around 6 a.m. in Amwell Township when police say he “failed to negotiate a left bend in the roadway.” Officers said Hickle’s vehicle hit a...
With easing restrictions, firefighters try to get in-person fundraising back in swing
Volunteer firefighters are busy reigniting their fundraising efforts. According to the Chestnut Ridge Community Volunteer Fire Company, firefighters spend nearly 60% of their time fundraising. Typical fundraisers include raffles, bingo nights, food sales, cash bashes and, of course, carnivals. Stations were forced to curtail these events when the coronavirus pandemic...
New Pitt Lab to combat digital disinformation
The University of Pittsburgh is staking a claim in the battle against false narratives and conspiracy theories that spread online with the speed of light. Pitt officials said they hope to tap a new venture — the Pitt Disinformation Lab in the Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security —...
‘Mask anxiety’ is a bare-faced fact for some people
It’s a common-enough dream — you’re at work, at school or in some other public place, when suddenly you realize you aren’t wearing any clothes. That doesn’t mean you’re a secret exhibitionist. Rather, dream analysts say, it hints at hidden insecurities and the fear of having them revealed to others....
Indiana County man’s body found in Kiski woods
A report of a suspicious vehicle at a Kiski car wash lead to the discovery of a man’s body Thursday afternoon, according to township police. Police said they got a call shortly after 7:30 a.m. about a vehicle left at the Apollo Car Wash on Route 56 just outside of...
Fayette undersea warfare systems company will expand in North Union, add 36 new jobs
A Fayette County manufacturer of undersea warfare systems will add more than 30,000 square feet to its North Union facility and add nearly 40 jobs, state officials announced Thursday. Advanced Acoustic Concepts, which provides undersea warfare, or USW, solutions for USW systems, sensors, weapons and trainers including the U.S. Navy,...
Report: Pennsylvania casino revenues top $413 million in May
Pennsylvania casinos saw a more than $9 million revenue increase in May compared to the previous month, recently released figures show. Combined gambling revenues last month exceeded $413 million compared to $404 million reported in April, according to data from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. A comparison was not provided...
National Weather Service monitoring chance of severe weather
The National Weather Service is monitoring the chance for severe weather Friday night into Saturday. After a couple cool, dry days, temperatures and humidity levels are expected to begin rising Friday, meteorologist Mike Kennedy said. Showers and storms could be seen Friday afternoon, but the most severe weather will be...
Photo challenge focuses on importance of Pennsylvania pollinators
Photographers of all ages are invited to focus on some of the smallest, but most vital, players in the ecosystem by participating in the Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge. Contestants have until Aug. 13 to submit electronically a high-resolution image of a pollinator taken somewhere in Pennsylvania. The contest is sponsored...
History-buff dads can spend Father’s Day exploring Washington County museums for free
Does your dad like whiskey? If so, he can learn all about it — and the rebellion it engendered in Pennsylvania — for free on Father’s Day. The Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency and Washington County Heritage Alliance announced Free Museum Day on Sunday. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,...
Mercer County man accused of strangling wife to death
State police have charged a Mercer County man with homicide in the death of his wife. According to state police, Eric Raymond George, 44, of Coolspring Township called 911 himself shortly before 11 p.m. Monday to ask for emergency services and said he had just strangled Serena Schoeder, 41, to...
Pop culture, costume fans grateful for Steel City Con’s return after postponements
For Connellsville native Tessa Voss, being around fellow costume creators and other artists at the Monroeville Convention Center earlier this month was very much appreciated. “Seeing everyone’s reactions to seeing their favorite characters is, like, the best thing,” said Voss, 18. “You see little kids get inspired and go crazy...
Wolf urges Senate to keep cocktails-to-go, some Pa. bar owners lukewarm
Gov. Tom Wolf is urging the Senate to pass a bill that would enable the cocktails-to-go law to remain in place. The bill would amend the state’s liquor code to allow bars, restaurants and hotels with liquor licenses to sell mixed drinks for off-premises consumption. Just over a year ago...
Seneca Valley school board votes to stop using Native American mascot, imagery
The Seneca Valley School District’s sports teams will still be called the Raiders, but the Native American imagery will no longer be used as a mascot or on logos. The school board unanimously approved a resolution on June 14 “that (the) imagery no longer fulfills the intended positive purposes of...
