Regional category, Page 215
Regional impact of 1918 flu pandemic in Western Pennsylvania continued into following year
Closings of schools, taverns and movie theaters, along with warnings against large gatherings, aren’t new in Southwestern Pennsylvania. On Oct. 4, 1918, communities debated how to enforce statewide restrictions as the region was hit hard by a second wave of a global influenza pandemic that ultimately claimed about 2,000 lives...
Mass vaccination programs pave the way for gradual return to school in Pennsylvania
Matt Jones breathed a sigh of relief Friday as he met with Jeannette High School Principal Joe Baker to chart the latest stage in a phased-in return to five-day-a-week in-person classes. Like fellow school administrators across the region, the superintendent of Jeannette schools has spent countless hours on the phone,...
Covid or allergies? Here we go again as spring approaches in Western Pa.
While many are eager to welcome warmer temperatures, seasonal allergy sufferers in Western Pennsylvania are likely bracing for the onset of familiar symptoms like watery eyes, nasal congestion and sore throat. Some of those symptoms resemble covid-19, which may make it difficult for some people to determine whether they’re contending...
Covid cases tick up slightly in Pennsylvania, deaths trend downward
Pennsylvania recorded a slight increase in covid-19 cases but is seeing a downward trend in covid-related deaths and a drop in hospitalizations. Pennsylvania The state on Friday added 3,074 new covid cases, the most in a single day this month, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The seven-day average...
William Shatner to headline Monroeville’s Steel City Con in June
Organizers of Steel City Con, the largest pop culture gathering at the Monroeville Convention Center, have announced a new special guest headliner. Hollywood icon William Shatner is scheduled to attend the first two days of the convention set for June 11-13. The Emmy award-winning Canadian-born actor, writer, producer/director is best...
Man with ties to Western Pa. arrested in connection with Capitol attack
A man who operates a woodworking business in Bentleyville is charged with entering the U.S. Senate floor and reading documents removed from desks there during the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. Dale “DJ” Shalvey, 36, was charged by criminal complaint on Feb. 12 in the District of Columbia. The case remained...
New owner sees long-term vision for Conneaut Lake Park
Conneaut Lake Park’s new owner says his vision to revitalize the historic amusement park is going to take time. “The way we’re imagining this is as a family events center,” Todd Joseph of Keldon Holdings LLC said in an interview with the Tribune. “We’re going to do whatever it takes...
Rain showers expected to bring cooler temperatures to Pittsburgh region
Rain moving into Southwestern Pennsylvania Thursday afternoon is expected to slide temperatures closer to seasonally-average norms throughout the weekend. While the chance of isolated showers is possible throughout the day Thursday, temperatures will remain close to the upper 60s, said Jason Frazier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in...
Why pandemic challenges persist at Pennsylvania’s nursing homes
Covid-19 cases at nursing homes have fallen sharply in recent weeks, signaling hope for weary staffers and residents who yearn for visitors and fresh air after a year living in isolation and fear. “They’re tired, and they’re exhausted. … It’s just been a tragedy on every conceivable level,” said Mark...
Police: Body of woman reported missing in January found in Fayette County
A woman missing from Fayette County since January was found dead, according to state police. Melanie Prokop, 62, was found Wednesday evening in a wooded area off Kennedy Road in North Union Township, police said. Prokop, who was last seen Jan. 1 driving her white vehicle, was reported missing Jan....
Jeannette, New Kensington among towns that could benefit from new $20M investment fund
A new partnership between the Richard K. Mellon Foundation and Arctaris Impact Investors, a Boston-based impact investment group, is launching a $20 million investment fund to underwrite economic development projects in distressed communities in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. The fund, unveiled Wednesday, will target projects that support economic development, workforce...
Pa. health official: Focus should be on covid vaccinations, not allocations
The state Department of Health continues to try and meet the demand for covid-19 vaccines, particularly first doses, an ongoing struggle when requests from providers outnumber the state’s total allocation by nearly 200,000, a health official said Wednesday. The federal government sent 254,150 dedicated first-shot doses to Pennsylvania’s health department...
Rita’s Italian Ice won’t be giving away free treats on 1st day of spring … again
Rita’s Italian Ice usually celebrates the first day of spring with free frozen treats. But for the second year in a row, the coronavirus pandemic has iced those plans. “With covid-19 still a part of communities, we’ve chosen to cancel free Italian Ice day on (March 20) to keep everyone...
Pennsylvania hits 1 million mark on full covid vaccinations
Pennsylvania surpassed 1 million residents fully vaccinated on Wednesday, according to the state’s department of health. As of Wednesday morning, the state’s covid-19 vaccine dashboard shows there have been 1,016,979 fully vaccinated and 1,094,679 people partially vaccinated. The state figures do not include Philadelphia County, which is handling its own...
Things to do in Western Pa.: March 10, 2021Video
Newly opened art exhibitions include a Women’s History Month retrospective and a showcase of watercolor works. For music, there’s everything from “trucker rock” to swing to choral works. Both kids and adults can put pen to paper for Ligonier Valley Writers programs, while Pittsburgh Public Theater is seeking reminiscences of...
Hempfield couple, among the 1st to get covid-19, glad they shared their recovery story
Michael Duffy had some reservations when his wife Lisa decided to go public a year ago after they became the second and third Westmoreland County residents to test positive for covid-19. The Duffys, of Hempfield, contracted the virus during a Caribbean cruise in March 2020, when the world was just...
WQED, Western Pa. groups to host youth mental health virtual event
In addition to all the other problems it has caused, the covid-19 pandemic has given rise to mental health issues for 11- to- 17-year-olds. The disruption of in-person classes, as well as extracurricular and social activities, has left a significant number of young people depressed and worried about their futures....
Women’s History Month: Facts and figuresVideo
In 1857, women toiling in the garment and textile industries in New York City factories staged a protest over poor working conditions. Fifty years later, the fight was far from over. On Feb. 28, 1907, women once again took to the streets calling for political rights for working women and...
5 things to know about the next round of stimulus checks
The third round of stimulus checks is on the way — and it’s the biggest one yet. Here are five things to expect about your check: How big are the stimulus payments? The base payment is $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 per couple, plus an additional $1,400 for each dependent...
Somerset coroner’s office: Woman dead in Hollsopple fire
A woman died in an early Sunday fire in the Hollsopple area, Somerset County Chief Deputy Coroner Cullen Swank said. Firefighters from five departments spent the morning working to extinguish the fire at the Thomas Street home after arriving at 6:30 a.m. to find smoke and flames rising from the...
Greene County went from bust to boom times with natural gas. Now it’s nearly broke.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. WAYNESBURG — Greene County is going broke. Despite receiving millions in payouts from the natural gas industry to compensate counties like...
Kennywood announces opening date for 2021 season
Kennywood Park will open for the start of its 123rd season in two months — on May 8. That’s two months earlier than in pandemic-plagued 2020 and closer to a traditional opening day, with Sandcastle opening its pools and waterslides for Memorial Day weekend on May 29. Along with extending...
Western Pa. health experts cautious about CDC’s mask-shedding guidance
Western Pennsylvania health professionals say the newest public health guidelines about maskless gatherings are a “measured step toward normalcy” — but they also come with some concerns. “I worry a little bit, frankly, that people will maybe misinterpret this particular guidance, and think it gives more freedoms than it really...
Warm temperatures, sunny skies expected in early part of week
The Pittsburgh region will see hints of spring this week as unseasonably warm temperatures arrive. Breaking out of colder temperatures that struggled to reach past the 40s last weekend, much of Southwestern Pennsylvania is expected to experience temperatures in the mid-50s Monday, according to Chris Leonardi, a meteorologist with the...
Pandemic weighs on mental health as people cope with anxiety, fears
Almost a year into the covid-19 pandemic, feeling stressed is an understatement, Jenn Sillett said. The 42-year-old mother of three has not set foot inside a store or restaurant for the better part of the past year, only leaving her Hempfield home to take her 19-year-old daughter, Sierra Williams, to...
