Top Stories category, Page 274
Shoppers near and far embrace New Kensington’s Shop Small Crawl
Kim Denne stood at a table in her gift shop on Saturday, winding white, green and red string around a wooden plaque in the shape of Santa Claus. As each customer entered, Denne greeted them, telling them that all of the products in the store — from the pottery pieces...
Erie slammed with lake effect snow, Shapiro declares disaster emergency; dangerous cold forecast into next week
Some portions of Erie County were under almost 3 feet of snow Saturday in the middle of the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend, with a forecast of frigid temperatures to start off the week. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency. Shapiro said parts of Erie...
3 businesses debut in Westmoreland County — mobile gaming, custom framing, barbershop
For Joe Perriello, opening a mobile video game business is the perfect mesh of work and family. In January, Perriello of Penn Township will launch Rolling Video Games PGH — a 25-foot trailer decked out with seven TVs and 10 gaming consoles that can be transported to children’s birthdays, graduation...
As hunt begins, drought may be a factor in size of harvested deer, quality of antlers, meat
Despite being hunted each fall, deer find ways to survive. The months of dry weather likely will not affect hunting, according to state game officials. But processor Melinda Weimer has noticed a difference in the size and quality of antlers and the amount of quality meat Weimer Meats in Loyalhanna...
‘It keeps my brain sharp’: 88-year-old Norwin library staffer reflects on decades-long career
At 88, Marge Vessalo could have been retired decades ago. But the North Huntingdon resident has no plans to give up her one-day-a-week job at the Norwin Public Library in Irwin. “Retire from the library? Probably never. I think that it is good for the brain,” said Vessalo, who started...
On the range with Pennsylvania’s professional farm sitters
This story first appeared in PA Local, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA taking a fresh, positive look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food of Pennsylvania. Linda Then and her wife Sandy have a lot of mouths to feed. There’s the Jersey steer, the burly Clydesdale, the...
Protecting children or government overreach? Western Pa. reaction mixed on Australian social media ban
Olivia Edwards understands the intent behind Australia’s recent blanket social media ban. “It makes sense,” she said. “The thought behind it is protecting children.” The new law established some of the most stringent internet usage restrictions outside of China and other non-democratic regimes and could be considered a precedent for...
Steelers (mostly) ready for their closeup as ‘Hard Knocks’ begins filming its AFC North series
As might be expected, security is typically tight at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The parking lot is gated. A 50-foot curtain is available to shield the primary practice field. Facial-recognition software kiosks dot the facility at myriad checkpoints. But the most private areas where the proprietary information often is exchanged...
Roof leak wipes out toy drive contributions at Pittsburgh health center; donations sought
Staff at the UPMC Mathilda H. Theiss Health Center in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood were met with an unwelcome surprise Friday morning. A roof leak on Thanksgiving damaged the health center and ruined the donations they had collected so far for an annual holiday toy drive. Dr. Jonathan Yadlosky, the...
Shoppers venture out to stores on Black Friday, some lured by the chance to snag Taylor Swift merch
Black Friday was plenty busy around 10 a.m. at the Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield — at least until a false fire alarm went off. But while some headed — albeit very leisurely — for the exits, most took a quick look around and then continued their Black Friday shopping. Braelyn...
Braddock man, 52, found fatally shot inside vehicle
A Braddock man was killed early Friday and the suspect who shot him remains at large, authorities says. State police found Henry Freeman, 52, dead inside his vehicle on the 400 block of Library Street in Braddock about 1:45 a.m., state police said. He had been shot several times. Freeman...
Teen accidentally shoots brother in Port Vue home, police say
A teenager late Thursday accidentally shot his younger brother in the leg while showing off a gun to friends in their Port Vue home, authorities say. Allegheny County Police charged Jahwon Glenn, who turned 16 Wednesday, with aggravated assault. He is being prosecuted as an adult. Glenn was arraigned around...
$50M Route 119 project that includes roundabout will upgrade intersections in Fayette CountyVideo
Traffic signals at two intersections on Route 119 are slated to be removed as PennDOT officials hope to improve safety on a section of the highway just south of Westmoreland County. “It all started with a desire to reduce crashes at these intersections,” said Jeremy M. Hughes, assistant District 12...
3 hurt in crash on Route 356 in Allegheny Township that shut down the road for a time
Three people were injured in a crash Friday that closed a section of Route 356 in the Piper Road area of Allegheny Township for about an hour Friday afternoon, a Westmoreland County 911 supervisor said. One person was trapped in their vehicle, the dispatcher said. Three people, two from one...
2 injured after head-on collision involving pickup, Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus
Two people were taken to a hospital Friday morning following a head-on crash involving a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus and a pickup in Penn Hills. According to Adam Brandolph, deputy chief communications officer of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the crash happened near the intersection of Frankstown Road and Coral Drive. He...
Notre Dame Cathedral 5 years later: World gets first look of renovations after devastating fire
PARIS — Five years after a catastrophic fire reduced Notre Dame Cathedral to a smoldering shell, The Associated Press entered the Gothic masterpiece for a first glimpse of its fully restored interiors during a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron that was broadcast to the public. The transformation is nothing...
Brown Mamas Marketplace a way to support Black women on Small Business Saturday
Muffy Mendoza, founder of Brown Mamas, Inc. and the Brown Mamas Marketplace, is excited about the next iteration of the marketplace on Saturday. It is no coincidence that the event aligns with Small Business Saturday, kicking off the holiday shopping season by supporting Black women. She started Brown Mamas in...
UPMC sees $371 million operating loss in first 9 months of 2024
UPMC in its most recent financial disclosure blamed a $371 million operating loss on increased medical utilization and rising pharmacy costs. The Pittsburgh-based health care giant reported a $371 million operating loss in the first nine months of 2024. That’s up from the $177 million loss reported during the same...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Now that we’re all full and well-rested after a Thanksgiving feast, we’re ready to work off some calories by getting out and about this weekend. Whether you’re into music, comedy or some holiday fun, here are a few things to check out around town. An Evening With Chevy Chase “National...
Doubling real estate transfer tax in Latrobe would hurt 1st-time buyers, Realtors say
Real estate agents say Latrobe’s proposal to double its real estate transfer tax, to 1%, would create an undue burden for first-time homebuyers looking to settle in the city. Justin Capouellez, government affairs director for the Realtors Association of Westmoreland, Indiana and the Mon Valley, told city council this week...
Fairview students find canine company with Stryker, district’s 3rd therapy dog
Things have gotten a lot more paws-itive at Fairview Elementary School in Indiana Township. And it’s all because of Stryker, the newest therapy dog serving the Fox Chapel Area School District. The 1-year-old mixed breed motivates students to be on their best behavior. At the school store, students can exchange...
Australian Parliament bans social media for under-16s
MELBOURNE, Australia — A social media ban for children under 16 passed the Australian Parliament on Friday in a world-first law. The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to...
Staff welcome challenge of serving ‘fully booked’ restaurants on Thanksgiving
While the runway of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport was quiet Thursday, the DeNunzio’s Italian Restaurant above the empty terminal was bustling with activity. Red and white poinsettias and soft yellow Christmas lights greeted customers as they shed their umbrellas and winter jackets. Wait staff weaved through the diners to resupply...
Volunteers offer free Thanksgiving meals to visitors, high-rise residents
Details can get complicated when you’re serving 600 Thanksgiving meals. The ingredients alone are daunting: 30 large turkeys, dozens of 1-gallon cans of yams, 36 bags of stuffing mix, 50 pounds of butter. About 20 volunteers Thursday formed production lines inside Bethel United Methodist Church kitchen in Lower Burrell to...
‘It’s a reunion:’ Greek family, community mark 50 years of Turkey Bowl in Oakmont
Peter Theofilis stalked the sidelines of a touch- football game Thursday and watched a new generation of family and community embrace a Thanksgiving tradition. The inspiration for 12 Pittsburgh-area cousins to stage the first “turkey bowl” game sprouted out of services at a Greek Orthodox church in Oakmont. On Thursday,...
