Regional category, Page 264
Ohiopyle pedestrian tunnel to open; road work to continue
Visitors to Ohiopyle State Park over Memorial Day weekend will experience traffic delays caused by road repaving and work on the Route 381 bridge over the Youghiogheny River. The state hoped the $12.4 million multimodal project in Ohiopyle would be finished by June 12, but the completion date was pushed...
Northern Snakehead ‘Frankenfish’ moves farther into lower Susquehanna River near Lancaster
The Northern Snakehead fish, an aggressive invasive species that displaces local fish, has moved deeper into Pennsylvania’s lower Susquehanna River outside of Lancaster. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) issued a statement Friday urging anglers to report and kill any invasive Northern Snakehead caught in the lower Susquehanna River....
Religious leaders split over ‘essential’ status after Trump calls on governors to reopen congregations
Religious leaders across the region are split over whether houses of worship should be considered essential during the coronavirus pandemic after President Trump called on governors across the country to allow them to reopen this weekend. “Today I’m identifying houses of worship — churches, synagogues and mosques — as essential...
Macy’s stores open with deals and pandemic precautions but few shoppers
Patti Noel came out of Macy’s at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer on Friday with three full bags and plans to go back in for more. Noel, of Kittanning, said came to the mall to shop at JoAnn Fabrics, not knowing Macy’s was reopening after having been closed in...
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate hits record 15.1%
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate soared to a record 15.1% in April as the full impact of the covid-19 shutdowns slammed the state’s economy, the state said Friday. The state counted 976,000 workers out of a job last month, an increase of almost 600,000 from March when the unemployment rate was 4.1%,...
Amtrak to resume Pittsburgh to Harrisburg and Philadelphia service June 1
Amtrak will resume its service from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and New York City on June 1, the first time the passenger trains will have run the route since March 18 because of the state’s covid-19 shutdowns. The twice daily service service on the Pennsylvanian route from Pittsburgh to New York,...
Memorial Day travel to set record lows as pandemic keeps people close to homeVideo
Many people who typically travel over Memorial Day weekend are trading three days away for more time at home as the coronavirus pandemic leaves countless businesses still closed and social distancing measures in place, travel officials said. Travel numbers are expected to drop by more than half across the country,...
Indictment: Cleveland man planned hoax call, officer ambush
CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man accused of planning to make a false distress call and kill any responding officers has been indicted on two counts of attempted kidnapping, according to federal prosecutors. Christian Stanley Ferguson, 20, made several posts on social media about how he wanted to make a false...
Allegheny, Westmoreland labor unions ready to get back to work — safely
Labor leaders in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have similar desires: to get their members back to work in safe environments. Their message to public officials is where they diverge. The Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council this week publicly backed county commissioners and local state lawmakers who previously called on Gov....
Charleroi man dies after crashing into building
A Charleroi man died Thursday night after crashing his vehicle into a building, according to Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco. Charles H. Matava, 69, apparently lost control of his vehicle at 9 p.m. Thursday and hit a building in the 700 block of Washington Avenue in Charleroi, the coroner...
Hempfield administrator to serve as Mars superintendent
An administrator at the Hempfield Area School District has been hired to become the superintendent at a Butler County district. Mark Gross, the assistant superintendent for secondary education at Hempfield, will begin his new position with the Mars Area School District on July 1, according to a notice on the...
IUP plans to have single dorms, in-person classes this fall
Indiana University of Pennsylvania announced a return to campus this fall, in a plan that includes face-to-face instruction and residential living. Come fall, all students living in residence halls will have a private bedroom. Some will have a private bathroom as well; shared bathrooms will be used by no more...
Western Pa. students earn National History Day honors
Western Pennsylvania students were well-represented in the National History Day in Pennsylvania state contest. This year’s theme was “Breaking Barriers in History,” which could be applied to state, national or world history. The contest is broken into the Senior Division for students in ninth through 12th grade and the Junior...
Western Pa. Gordmans stores could close after parent company files for bankruptcy
Several local Gordmans stores, including those in Allegheny Township, East Huntingdon and Rostraver, are at risk of closing for good, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic that left stores largely shuttered across the country. Houston, Texas-based Stage Stores Inc. — the parent company of Gordmans, which has been in operation...
Products from Somerset’s Moo Echo Dairy should be discarded, state says
Several products from a Somerset County dairy farm should be discarded because they were not properly pasteurized, the state Department of Agriculture said. Products from Moo Echo Dairy were sold at several Westmoreland and Somerset county stores including Lapp’s Family Market in Unity Township, Dormina’s Kitchen Cupboard in Jenner Township,...
Somerset County will try again for hiking trail project
Somerset County will take another swing at developing a section of hiking trail at Somerset Lake this summer. Somerset County commissioners — at the project engineer’s recommendation — rejected four bids to carve out a half-mile of trail alongside the lake, because each of them exceeded the project’s budget, Somerset...
Free coronavirus testing available for uninsured Pennsylvania residents
The ability of uninsured Pennsylvanians to be tested for coronavirus was an early concern in the fight against covid-19. Now those without health insurance can be tested for free. Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that federal stimulus funds will be used to reimburse providers who test uninsured patients. Access to...
Forbes State Forest cave closures to continue
With no direct knowledge of whether the coronavirus can infect or sicken North American wildlife, including bats, the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will continue the ongoing closure of three caves in the Forbes State Forest. Lemon Hole and Coon caves in Westmoreland County, and Barton Cave in...
Western Pa.’s libraries see e-books, audiobooks become more popular during pandemic
With libraries in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties closed since mid-March to stem the spread of the coronavirus, more patrons are using the electronic resources — books, audiobooks, movies and music, a trend that likely will continue when they reopen, library officials and library directors say. “There has been a significant...
As Pa. fairs are canceled, communities miss out on tradition, social engagement
Rural communities across Pennsylvania are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as local fairs, often social epicenters during the summer, are canceled in accordance with state regulations. So far, 16 of the 108 fairs across the state have been called off, said Sally Nolt, president of the Pennsylvania State...
Pennsylvania food distributors receive $50 million for food box program
State and local food distributors in Pennsylvania are receiving a big financial boost to get food boxes to families in need. Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday state distributors will get $50 million of the $1.2 billion in funding for the program. The money will pay for the purchase of surplus...
Religious freedom bill proposed in Pennsylvania as churches navigate reopening
As some churches prepare to open, two Pennsylvania lawmakers want to prevent the state from restricting religious gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic or any future emergency. State Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland, said religious leaders have been confused about whether churches are affected by state-mandated coronavirus shutdowns. “Our religious community is...
Robert Levin makes 2nd bid to revive family furniture business
Robert Levin is back in the furniture business. Almost two months to the day after his deal fell through to repurchase the family-owned furniture chain he sold to Art Van Furniture in 2017, Levin has negotiated a deal in bankruptcy court to buy back the Levin brand. His $25.7 million...
Woman, 18, killed by train in northwestern Pennsylvania
GIRARD — A female pedestrian was struck and killed by a train in northwestern Pennsylvania, authorities said. Police in Girard said the 18-year-old woman was struck by an eastbound train shortly before 11 p.m. Monday at the railroad crossing on Mechanic Street. Emergency dispatchers said police found a bicycle at...
Gov. Wolf on law allowing to-go cocktail sales: ‘I will sign it’
Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday he plans to sign legislation that would allow restaurants and bars to sell prepared beverages and mixed drinks and deliver them curbside. The governor noted it was overwhelmingly approved by the state House and Senate. Wolf did not indicate when he will sign the bill...
