Regional News category, Page 93
Environmental groups scrutinize Beaver Run Reservoir water usage in the wake of drought watch
The recent drought watch in Westmoreland County caused residents, water authority officials and businesses to take a closer look at their water consumption as Beaver Run Reservoir dipped lower than usual during the summer and fall before being replenished by recent precipitation. Nonprofit citizen environmental group Protect P-T began taking...
‘We get the spotlight’: Duquesne fans revel in long-awaited March Madness victory
It’s a good thing for Duquesne University’s basketball team that alum Ed Wirth wore his class ring Thursday at Mike’s Beer Bar on Pittsburgh’s North Side — as did the rest of his table. And that they ordered pork nachos, like they’d done while watching Duquesne muscle its way through...
Community bands converge on Murrysville for free annual festival
A classic John Philip Sousa march. Variations on the “Scarborough Fair” theme. Music inspired by the “Lord of the Rings” books. Musicians from all over the Pittsburgh area will perform music from all over the map at the 18th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival, set for April 6 in...
Sheetz seeking 800 employees for Pennsylvania stores
Convenience store chain Sheetz Inc. is competing with other stores, restaurants and businesses that are looking to add to their workforce, only it is hoping to attract about 800 employees for its more than 300 stores across the state, the company said Thursday. Sheetz said it will have a hiring...
Police plan to boost patrols, IUP stresses student safety for non-sanctioned spring event
Officials at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and surrounding communities are bracing for an anticipated influx of people this weekend, with the scheduled return of the annual IUPatty’s spring celebration. The student-organized event is not sanctioned by the university. But a team of 19 state, county and local organizations — including...
New game plan: Kenny Pickett’s Cranberry home on the market for $2.7M
Leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers isn’t the only move for Kenny Pickett. The team’s former quarterback is finding a new home off the field, too. Less than a week after being traded to the cross-state rival Philadelphia Eagles, Pickett has decided to part ways with his home on Spruce Lane in...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh man arrested in traffic stop; I-80 crash victim identified
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, March 21: Pittsburgh man arrested during traffic stop with drugs, gun in car A Pittsburgh man is facing multiple charges including carrying a firearm without a license and possession with intent to deliver after being pulled over during...
Pittsburgh Technical College put on probation
Pittsburgh Technical College in Oakdale has been placed on probation by the Middle States Commission for Higher Education and warned that its accreditation “is in jeopardy.” In a post to its website, the accrediting body said it acted due to “insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with...
Spring sniffles: Tree pollen season is a little early this year, allergists say
When Dr. Bob Gorby of Westmoreland Allergy and Asthma Associates in Greensburg notices the tree in his home’s backyard starting to bud, he knows it’s tree pollen season. “It’s early this year a little bit,” he said. “Tree pollen can come out as early as late February, but it’s very...
PennWest University seeks new president to reverse enrollment plunge, serve needs of different student populations
There aren’t many universities in their infancy that also are comprised of institutions dating to the Civil War era. In its presidential search, Pennsylvania Western University has walked that fine line between future and past. Now, the university with merged campuses in California, Clarion and Edinboro has posted to its...
Will the early spring freeze affect plants? It depends
Spring officially began on Tuesday with freezing temperatures and frosty grounds, even patches of ice and snow. This came after a run of unusually warm weather in early March that had everyone enjoying the outdoors — and had some flowers blossoming and trees starting to bud. This colder turn is...
Warm and cold air clash in Pittsburgh as spring arrives
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh posted a warning for icy roads after reporting that a heavy band of snow would be moving through the city throughout the day. All of this comes on the first day of spring. National Weather Service Meteorologist David Shallenberger attributes this to the warring...
Morning Roundup: Man dead after domestic incident in Beaver County; crashes close roadways
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, March 19: Man found dead of self-inflicted wound after 4-hour search in Midland, police say Police in Midland, Beaver County, deemed the borough’s streets safe after several tense hours late Monday and early Tuesday in which authorities declared...
Wear your red underwear: Solar eclipse casts light on folklore of past centuries
If the sun turned black and day became night, would you shout at the top of your lungs, toss your lunch in the garbage, maybe hunt through your dresser for some red undies? People in the past have followed those traditional precautions to avoid or reverse the misfortune they associated...
Highmark posts $533M profit in 2023, reversing dismal performance in 2022
Call it a reversal of fortune. After losing money in 2022, Pittsburgh’s Highmark Health rebounded last year. The health insurance giant posted net income of $533 million even as it grappled with operating losses at its Pittsburgh-area hospitals. That compares with a $346 million loss in 2022, due largely to...
‘Sad, dreadful feelings’: Couple’s death in house explosion rekindles memories, unanswered questions
When Rick Napoleon heard about a fatal home explosion in Crescent last week, he was overcome by sadness and empathy. The thoughts of destruction and death that he and his neighbors endured seven months ago in Plum’s Rustic Ridge community came flooding back. His home was destroyed when his neighbor’s...
Washington County woman killed in I-70 crash in Rostraver
A 25-year-old Washington County woman was killed Saturday morning in a two-vehicle crash along Interstate-70 in Rostraver, the Westmoreland County coroner said. The victim, Tori L. Demo of Allenport, was fatally injured about a mile west of the Route 51 exit when her eastbound car was truck from behind by...
Fast-moving fire damages commercial freighter at Ohio port
ASHTABULA, Ohio — A fast-moving fire damaged a commercial freighter at a port in eastern Ohio on Friday, but no injuries were reported. It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked the blaze on the Cuyahoga, according to the Coast Guard. The agency said it deployed boats and a helicopter to the...
‘This is my dream come true,’ says Pitt med student, a Fox Chapel native, on Match Day
Medical student Rachel Kann said she couldn’t be happier to find out she’ll be staying in Pittsburgh. “This is my dream come true. … I’m just so grateful to have gotten the chance to stay in this amazing city for seven more years and practice here,” Kann said. A Fox...
FAFSA data finally starts flowing to colleges to develop financial aid offers to students
Some colleges and universities are beginning to receive long-delayed information they need from the U.S. Department of Education to develop financial aid offers to college-bound students. Word that data is flowing from the troubled rollout of the revised Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) is welcome news. But...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: March 15, 2024
Here’s a new feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz: 1. Russell Wilson and the Steelers broke huge news at the beginning of the week. The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Steelers worth $1.21 million while his old team, the Denver Broncos...
Irish heritage is part of the fabric of Pittsburgh
They left Ireland for greener pastures. By 1850, 10,000 Irish immigrants were living in Pittsburgh. They settled in three neighborhoods — Downtown, the Strip District and the Hill District — according to Anne Madarasz, chief historian for the Senator John Heinz History Center. Many were Catholic and drawn to what...
Wordle fans celebrate 1,000th puzzle
As a speech pathologist, Jessica Valko is a fan of word games. But there’s one in particular that she’s been playing every day — Wordle. The online word game that’s run by the New York Times is celebrating its 1,000th puzzle on Friday. Valko, 51, of Murrysville said she loves...
Penn State targets under-enrolled programs, duplication as it eyes cuts at branch campuses
Efforts in the coming months to pare spending on Penn State University branch campuses will include reviewing duplicative or underenrolled academic programs and potentially sharing administrative services between campuses. The university has offered an update on a closely watched process to cut $54 million, or 14.1%, from commonwealth campus operations...
Morning Roundup: Fans rename Kennywood ride; couple free stuck deer in North Hills
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, March 14: Fans rename classic Kennywood ride Fans of Kennywood Park have spoken: The amusement park’s updated, Potato Patch-themed bumper car ride will be known as “Potato Smash.” Officials at the West Mifflin park announced the name received...
