Regional category, Page 218
Remembering some of the weirdest crashes and vehicle mishaps in Western Pa.
An SUV that broke through the ice on North Park Lake in McCandless got plenty of attention Thursday, but that’s just the latest of many strange incidents involving cars, SUVs, trucks and buses in the region. Western Pennsylvania drivers have a knack for getting their vehicles into odd situations. Here’s...
Butler County resident saves another iconic vehicle from TV’s ‘Knight Rider’
A Butler County man who owns one of the few remaining cars used as KITT in the 1980s television series “Knight Rider” now has another notable vehicle from the show. Joe Huth, along with his partner and fellow “Knight Rider” historian AJ Palmgren, revealed this week they own one of...
As vaccine waiting lists grow, community pharmacies unsure when supply will arrive
The federal government has announced direct partnerships with pharmacy chains to speed up vaccine distribution, but pharmacists say independent stores are better equipped to administer doses quickly — and more efficiently. Independent pharmacists in Western Pennsylvania say they have solid relationships with people scrambling to get vaccinated against covid. They...
3 Western Pa. public universities plan for campus reopening this fall
A trio of Western Pennsylvania public universities that shuttered their campuses last fall and only recently began offering more classes on campus say they are making plans for a full-fledged return to campus for fall 2021. Officials at California, Clarion and Edinboro universities say they are cautiously planning to reopen...
Western Pa. ski resorts benefit from increased snowfall, popularity during pandemic
With snow continuing to fall across Western Pennsylvania, and much of the region having totals that are almost double that of previous years, ski resorts are seemingly reaping the benefits. Natural snowfall, in combination with snow making, at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain has allowed slopes and trails...
Report: Pa. casinos see revenue increase in JanuaryVideo
Pennsylvania casinos started the year off strong as facilities work to recoup revenues lost to the coronavirus pandemic. In January, casinos statewide generated $311 million in gambling revenues, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That was nearly 3% more than the $302.8 million in revenues generated in January 2020....
Winter weather advisory remains in effect, more snow expected through Friday
Western Pennsylvania woke up Thursday to an official overnight snowfall total of ¾ of an inch, though it’s likely some areas received more, according to the National Weather Service. “We’re actually looking at a very fine gradient from the northwest to the southeast right now,” said David Shallenberger, lead meteorologist...
Fresh round of incoming snow brings truck restrictions from PennDOT, Turnpike commission
Following a National Weather Service winter weather advisory of more snow making its way toward Pittsburgh, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will implement truck restrictions in the early hours of Thursday morning. The NWS issued the advisory shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday. It will last through 7 a.m....
Charges dismissed against Somerset DA
Summary charges filed last fall against Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey L. Thomas II were dismissed this week as part of a deal with Cambria County’s top prosecutor. Thomas, 35, a first-term Republican, was charged with by Richland Township police in October with single counts of disorderly conduct and harassment...
Amy Marcinkiewicz retires from WPXI, makes bid for Butler County office
WPXI reporter Amy Marcinkiewicz spent 26 years covering the news in Butler County — telling stories, meeting people and entering their homes, on the air and in person. The job required her to be impartial and open, to help her connect with those in the community she reported on. She...
Dog license fee hike would address Pennsylvania bureau’s budget shortfall
Pennsylvania could regain the dubious moniker as the nation’s puppy mill capital without a hike in the state’s dog license fees this year, Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding warned Wednesday. He joined two state lawmakers and Gisele Fetterman, wife of Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, seeking support for an annual...
Things to do in Western Pa.: Feb. 17, 2021
Before February is over, take in some more Black History Month-inspired programming. Then look ahead to March, for an upcoming St. Patrick’s Day bash or spring-themed art classes. Details on those and other arts and educational opportunities are here, in this week’s Big List. Art • Where are they?: Carnegie...
More snow on the way for Western Pa., which has already seen twice as much as usual
More than twice as much snow as usual has dropped on the Pittsburgh region this year, and more is on the way. The National Weather Service station in Moon recorded 52 inches of snow between Dec. 1 and Feb. 16. In an average year, the region receives 25.6 inches of...
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association opens registration for 2021 season
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Esports Association (PIEA) announced registration is open for its 2021 season, which will offer high school esports teams the opportunity to compete for Pennsylvania’s first high school esports championship. The PIEA was established in 2019 as the only statewide interscholastic esports league. “The PIEA is the first...
Lawsuit: Man says Raccoon Township cop terrorized him with gun during false arrestVideo
A Beaver County man claims in a federal lawsuit that a Raccoon Township officer pulled a gun on him, punched him repeatedly, used racial epithets and then discharged his gun inches from the man’s body. The lawsuit contends that the state police then helped to try to cover it up....
Fat Tuesday is here: Western Pa. bakeries celebrate with paczki, other traditional treatsVideo
It’s Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday in some places. In Southwestern Pennsylvania, that means it’s time for paczki. Local bakeries make thousands of paczki, a traditional Polish doughnut that is filled and fried. Oakmont Bakery expects to sell about 8,000 paczki (pronounced “ponch-key”) on Tuesday. It offers 14...
PennDOT lifts travel restrictions as winter storm ends
Speed limits and commercial vehicle travel are back to normal on Pennsylvania highways Tuesday morning following the previous evening’s winter storm. PennDOT reduced speed limits to 45 mph on many Pennsylvania highways as the state was belted with snow and ice. All speeds had been restored to their usual limits...
PennDot, Pa. Turnpike issue restrictions ahead of winter storm
A winter storm expected to dump several inches of snow across the region is spurring restrictions by PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, speed and vehicle restrictions will be mandated along the PA Turnpike in both directions from Breezewood to the Ohio border, the entire...
Updated winter storm forecast calls for less snow, more ice in Pittsburgh region
On Valentine’s Day, National Weather Service meteorologists predicted that the Pittsburgh region could once again be the victim of the dreaded “wintry mix,” when frigid air and heavy snow mix with warmer air and chilly rain to bring a coating of freezing rain. The Pittsburgh region can expect 2-4 inches...
‘Silence of the Lambs’ turns 30 — celebrate by spending the night in ‘Buffalo Bill’s house’Video
Buffalo Bill never told Clarice he had a nice big pool out back. To be fair, the fictional serial killer and main villain in the 1991 thriller-horror film “The Silence of the Lambs” was busy doing other, more terrible things. But for fans of the frightening classic, released 30 years...
With more snow on way, Pa. Turnpike, PennDOT put truck restrictions in place
UPDATE: These restrictions were lifted as of 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning, per PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission. Stay updated on the latest traffic advisories at 511PA.com. With more winter snow making its way toward Pittsburgh en route to the East Coast, PennDOT and and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have implemented...
Waynesburg man found dead after house fire
A Waynesburg man was found dead in his home after a Feb. 12 fire, authorities said. Daniel Ray Lemley, 54, was pronounced dead at about 7:30 a.m. after a fire in his home along South West Street, according to Greene County Coroner Gene Rush. The cause of death is pending,...
Former Indiana County district judge charged by state police with DUI, child endangerment
A former Indiana County district judge who practices law in Latrobe faces a hearing next month in a drunken-driving case filed by state police, who said they pulled her over and accused her of driving erratically, according to court records. State police stopped a 2021 Honda Pilot driven by Jennifer...
House fire claims woman’s life in Washington, Pa.
A 75-year-old Washington County woman died Friday night in a fire at her home in the City of Washington, according to the Washington County Coroner’s Office. Karen E. Campbell, 75, died in her Central Avenue home, where the fire was reported at about 9:30 p.m., a county 911 dispatch supervisor...
Health department orders aim to speed up, streamline Pa. vaccination process
New orders from state health officials will try to speed up and streamline Pennsylvania’s vaccination process, requiring vaccine providers to administer the bulk of their allotted first doses within one week of receiving them. Effective Feb. 22, vaccine providers will have to administer 80% of the first-dose vaccines that they...
