Regional News category, Page 252
Missing teen in Indiana County found safe
A teen who was reported missing last week in Indiana County has been found safe the state police reported Tuesday. The State Police Indiana Station thanked the public for its help....
Pumpkin pie flavored milk is latest specialty drink from Schneider’s Dairy
With anything flavored with pumpkin popular in autumn, a local dairy is now offering pumpkin pie flavored milk. Whitehall-based Schneider’s Dairy is selling the flavored milk for a limited time as similar milk products gain in popularity. Sales of flavored whole milk jumped 36% from 2015 to the end of...
Food bank officials hopeful for expanded food stamp benefits
A politically embattled coronavirus relief bill would expand food stamp benefits, which officials at Western Pennsylvania food banks say is vital to support those affected by the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. “When we look at the (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and how much it helps people...
Can’t find canned pumpkin? Holiday staple should return to shelves soon
Bakers hunting for canned pumpkin have found it to be a hit-or-miss proposition lately. They’ve even taken to sharing sightings on social media. The good news, according to allrecipes.com, is that there isn’t really a shortage. The bad news is that it doesn’t make the Thanksgiving pie staple any easier...
Oct. 2: Here is covid-19 data from Western Pa. colleges
Western Pennsylvania is home to several colleges and universities, attracting students from around the state and country. During the coronavirus pandemic, many are tracking the number of positive covid-19 cases as they emerge on campus. University of Pittsburgh Enrollment: Approximately 35,000 students Number of new cases: There were 24 new...
Pat Toomey’s announced exit sends Pennsylvania politicos scrambling
Monday’s confirmation by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, that he will call it quits in 2022 and not run to become the next governor of Pennsylvania set the stage for an early scramble among candidates now that two statewide seats will be open. “All of the Republican politicos just...
Western Pa. organizations see uptick in tutoring demands in wake of pandemic
As parents help their children navigate through online learning in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many are turning to tutoring sites for homework help. Locally, organizations offering tutoring services have seen an increased demand as students traverse an ever-changing landscape with districts reopening in person, virtually or through hybrid...
Coroner: Indiana County man run over, killed by heavy equipment
A Northern Cambria-area man was killed Friday when he was run over by heavy equipment at the Indiana County used car dealership where he worked, authorities said Saturday. Randall Scott Mack, 39, whose listed address was in the 1400 block of Tipperary Road, Northern Cambria, died of blunt force trauma,...
Regional economic report: Consumer confidence inching up; young people most pessimistic
Consumer confidence in Southwestern Pennsylvania is still down but continues to rise from its lowest point during the pandemic in July. The most pessimistic group is young people, according to an analysis released Friday by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. The report gauges sentiments toward the overall economy and...
New overtime rules go into effect Saturday in Pennsylvania, more workers eligible
Workers making about $35,600 or less per year are eligible for overtime beginning Saturday in Pennsylvania. That’s when the state’s new overtime rule takes effect. “Tomorrow marks the first update to the commonwealth’s overtime regulations in more than four decades,” Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak said in...
Week-in-review: Covid-19 dominates news, meteor lights up Pittsburgh skyVideo
The covid-19 pandemic continued to dominate much of the news in the past week, culminating with President Donald Trump confirming Friday that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for the virus. Despite the virus impacting everything from nursing home residents in Westmoreland County to the Pittsburgh Steelers...
Here is what happens if President Trump becomes too ill to serve
If President Donald Trump becomes too ill to serve as he battles covid-19 — either in his own opinion or that of Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet — the Constitution would come into play. Brian Kalt, a law professor at Michigan State University, is the author of a...
Man arrested in Virginia child sex sting now accused of abusing Westmoreland County teen
A former Fayette County man serving a 20-year prison sentence in Virginia after his 2018 arrest in a child-abuse sting recently was brought to Westmoreland County to face multiple child abuse charges here. Lawrence W. Henry Jr., 48, who most recently lived in Normalville until his Dec. 14, 2018, arrest...
4-H, FFA kids rely on private sales after fairs canceled this springVideo
When Stacy Hayes of Mt. Pleasant decided to put on a livestock show this summer, she knew it would be a small piece of normalcy in a year disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The August event hosted at Porchview Stables and Riding Arena in Mt. Pleasant allowed kids to show...
Those stinking stink bugs are back in Western Pa.
Well, this stinks. Stink bugs are showing up in homes across Western Pennsylvania. With fall and winter approaching, they’re becoming more prevalent as they seek shelter in homes and buildings. “I would say anecdotally speaking, there was an increase in stink bugs from last summer. Stink bugs tend to have...
Officials react, send well wishes to Trump, first lady after covid diagnosis
Officials from across the county, state and world began reacting early Friday morning to reports that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for covid-19. Trump revealed their diagnosis in a late-night tweet. Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and...
United Way expands regional volunteer efforts with Week of Caring
Volunteers are needed more than ever while area organizations cope with the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic. The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has responded by organizing its first Week of Caring, running through Oct. 10. More than 700 volunteers have signed up to participate in 75 in-person and virtual...
National Solar Tour includes several Pittsburgh-area homeownersVideo
For Bill Spohn of Indiana Township, treading lightly when it comes to nature is a way of life he learned from having parents who lived through the Great Depression. “They didn’t have much to go around, and they kind of instilled those values in us: respect nature, pick up after...
Authorities investigate distribution of Ku Klux Klan flyers in Greene County
Authorities in Greene County are investigating after dozens of hateful Ku Klux Klan flyers have appeared in residents’ yards and driveways, according to the District Attorney’s Office. “The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides the right to expression, speech and peaceful assembly,” District Attorney David Russo said in a...
Somerset County man accused in theft of $32K in food from Hempfield firm
The owner of a Somerset County food distribution firm was accused this week of writing fraudulent checks to a Westmoreland County supply company to obtain more than $32,400 in food last spring. Brandon S. Kishlock, 38, of Jenner Township, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of theft by deception and writing...
New overlay code will trigger 10-digit dialing in 814 area
Pennsylvania’s 814 area code, the largest geographically, is getting a second overlay code, to ensure a sufficient supply of phone numbers for residents and businesses there. The new code — 582 — eventually will require dialing a 10-digit number to reach a party in the large area that extends from...
Armstrong, Butler counties added to drought watch
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection expanded its drought watch Wednesday from 13 to 29 counties, including Armstrong and Butler counties. Two counties, Clinton and McKean, were moved to the more severe classification of a drought warning, joining Potter County. The agency is asking residents in those counties with drought...
Joe Biden Express rolls into Western Pennsylvania for whistle-stop train tourVideo
An Amtrak passenger train carrying Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his campaign contingent rolled into Western Pennsylvania from Ohio on Wednesday, a day after a contentious televised debate with President Donald Trump. Campaign organizers said the “Build Back Better” train tour will highlight Biden’s plans to rebuild the economy...
Fireball streaks across the sky over PittsburghVideo
A comet-like object streaked quickly across the early morning sky of Pittsburgh on Wednesday, a burst of bluish-white light before disappearing into the darkness. While there were reports of a giant meteor being visible on the East Coast, this particular object was actually something much smaller. “A tiny piece of...
Greene County woman says in lawsuit she lost EMT job for being pregnant
A Greene County woman this week sued the Murrysville-based EMS Southwest, contending she was fired from her EMT job because she was pregnant. Bayley Colvin, of Rice’s Landing, said in the federal lawsuit that she began her job with the emergency medical service in Waynesburg in September 2019. A little...
