Regional category, Page 217
Bonds, scars remain 30 years after missile struck Hempfield’s 14th Quartermaster unit in Gulf WarVideo
A sudden blast jolted Neal Gouker awake. The explosion from an Iraqi Scud missile slammed him against a wall in his barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. “The place was on fire, and bullets were going off,” recalled Gouker, 50, formerly of Glassport. “For 5 miles around, there were broken windows....
South Hills man busted by FBI wiretap gets year in prison for selling heroin, fentanyl
A South Hills man will spend a year and a day in prison for scheming to sell heroin and fentanyl as part of a drug ring linked to a neighborhood gang, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Wednesday. Jonathan Laur, 37, of Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood was among nearly two dozen...
Cambria County native new director of Pa. Game Commission Southwest RegionVideo
The Pennsylvania Game Commission didn’t have to look far for its new Southwest Region Office director. Jason D. Farabaugh began his new position last weekend, running the office in Fairfield that oversees a 10-county area. The Carrolltown, Cambria County, native spent his entire 13 years with the game commission working...
Things to do in Western Pa.: Feb. 24, 2021Video
Revisit the royal wedding of Prince William and Duchess Kate reimagined as a “fantastical dreamscape,” or plan now to attend an old-fashioned, foot-stompin’ Pittsburgh St. Paddy’s Day party. Check out some online music or theater, satisfy your creative urges by signing up for an art class, or head to Ligonier...
Seven Springs seeing surge of catalytic converter thefts
Thieves have been hacking parts off cars to sell for scrap in and around the borough of Seven Springs in Somerset and Fayette counties, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. State police spokesman Steven Limani told WPXI about 30 catalytic converters have been stolen off of area vehicles in the...
‘Gruesome scene’ in Ambridge home where police say mother shot, killed 2 children
Police in Beaver County described a “gruesome scene” at an Ambridge home where they said a woman shot and killed her two children Monday afternoon before unloading the gun, placing it on her dining room table and calling police to tell them what she’d done. Krisinda Ann Bright, 48, called...
Western Pa. school districts cope with teacher, staff shortages
When Thomas Shea had to quarantine in October, he never stopped teaching. From his home, he continued giving and recording lessons for his 10th-grade social studies students at Kiski Area High School. Shea said about two-thirds of his students are still learning from home, though the school district offers up...
Western Pa. colleges, universities received Military Friendly designation
Several area colleges and universities earned the 2021-2022 Military Friendly School designation, which is aimed at setting a standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating benefits for the military community, according to the Military Friendly website. Chatham University, Seton Hill University, California University of Pennsylvania, Carlow...
Police: Ambridge double homicide suspect in custody
A woman is charged with shooting her daughters to death in Ambridge, WPXI-TV reported late Monday. Krisinda Bright, 48, is being charged with two counts of homicide, according to the Beaver County District Attorney’s office, the TV station reported. Police found two people shot to death inside a home along...
Red Cross schedules blood drives across Western Pa.
Last week’s winter storms across the U.S. forced the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives and donations, the Red Cross said Monday. The organization is holding dozens of drives in Western Pennsylvania this week in attempts to make up the difference. The record-breaking cold and storms canceled events in around...
Western Pa. nonprofits ask for help as supply of donated goods falls
The flurry of winter storms and bad road conditions have caused inventories at Goodwill stores throughout the region to slip by at least 25%, according to the nonprofit, which asked for donations as some of its shelves are getting bare. The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania also reported a decline...
Homeowners should be proactive to prevent ice dams as thaw approaches, experts say
The weather is expected to warm up this week, which is good news. But it could also bring problems for property owners. All of the snow and ice from recent storms and bitter cold that’s built up on roofs is about to melt — and could cause “ice damming.” Ice...
UPMC website allows registration for covid-19 vaccine appointments
UPMC will allow people to register online or via phone for notifications and appointment scheduling information for the covid-19 vaccine, though the limited supply means there are no appointments to be had right now. The website encourages those who are eligible to sign up online so they can be contacted...
IUP plans for full campus reopening in August
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is joining California, Clarion and Edinboro in posting plans for a full return to campus. Fall semester at Indiana school is slated to begin Aug. 27, officials said. Declining covid-19 numbers apparently are playing into calculations as university leaders across the region plot their plans for...
Western Pa. hospitals penalized for high rates of avoidable patient infections, injuries
Several hospitals with ties to Western Pennsylvania are being slapped with fines for ranking among the 25% worst-performing nationwide when it comes to rates of potentially avoidable patient conditions such as infections and injuries. The 2021 fines for hospital-acquired conditions affect a total of 774 hospitals nationwide, Kaiser Health News...
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to consider Mike Kelly’s Pa. mail-in ballot challengeVideo
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up two separate Pennsylvania elections cases, including a challenge filed by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly. Without providing any written explanation, the court issued an order denying a petition for certiorari by Kelly, R-Butler, challenging Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting system. “It is astounding...
Police: Mercer County man wanted in abduction case shot himself after shootout with police in Arkansas
A Mercer County man is dead after a Saturday night shootout with state police in a McDonald’s parking lot in Arkansas, authorities said. William Ice, 38, of Jackson Center, had been wanted for the Feb. 11 kidnapping Savannah Childress, 14, in Davidson County, N.C. Multiple police agencies including the FBI,...
After 2-year lows recorded Sunday, temperatures may climb to 50 Wednesday
Don’t break out those shorts just yet, but meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Moon said by midweek, Western Pennsylvanians might feel like pulling out their spring wardrobes. “We’re finally going to thaw,” meteorologist Alicia Miller said. And after experiencing the coldest temperature in two years about 7 a.m....
Pennsylvania commission begins stocking fish ahead of trout seasonVideo
Members of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, along with a few volunteers, braved the snowy weather this month as they began placing trout in streams and lakes across the state in preparation for the beginning of trout season April 3. Overall, 3.2 million trout will be stocked across 700...
Vaccine priority rules emerge as potential ‘obstacle’ as people forced to wait their turn
Priority groups were a necessity for starting the vaccine rollout efficiently in Pennsylvania, especially given the fact there aren’t enough doses to go around. But as the rollout progresses, some experts say the guidelines are slowing distribution when strictly followed. “The question is: Is it becoming an obstacle to getting...
Pittsburgh Film Office asking public to submit videos for virtual event
Ever wanted to star in your favorite movie? Now’s your chance. In place of an annual Oscar-inspired event, the Pittsburgh Film Office is hosting a virtual “Lights! Glamour! Action!” event that consists of members of the public sending in videos of themselves reenacting their favorite movie lines. Submitted videos have...
Pagan Motorcycle Club members hit with more indictments
A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has handed down more charges against two dozen suspected members and associates of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Club who are accused of dealing cocaine and heroin, the U.S. Attorney General in Pittsburgh said Friday. The superceding indictments added the names of...
Thousands await 2nd covid vaccine doses as Allegheny County Health Department confronts shortage
Thousands of people expecting to get their second covid-19 vaccine doses as soon as next week learned Friday the Allegheny County Health Department does not have enough supply for most of them. The health department expects to be able to give the second dose of the Moderna vaccine to only...
Citizens Bank, Trib Total Media call on Western Pa. nonprofits to apply for Champions in Action grant
The Champions in Action Program is calling on Western Pennsylvania nonprofits to apply for a $35,000 grant package with volunteer assistance and Trib Total Media coverage. Champions in Action, sponsored by Citizens Bank, Trib Total Media and Pittsburgh Cares, identifies, promotes and rewards local nonprofits serving the community . Last...
State regulators approve smaller than requested rate increase for Columbia Gas of Pa.
The state Public Utility Commission announced Friday it had approved a rate increase request for natural gas distribution from Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, but less than the utility had requested. The commission voted to approve an 11.1% increase. Columbia had initially asked for a 17.54% increase. An 11.1% increase will...
