Emily Balser stories, Page 13
West Penn, St. Clair hospitals among IBM Health’s top 100 in nation
Two Pittsburgh hospitals have been named among the best in the country by IBM Watson Health. West Penn Hospital and St. Clair Hospital were named in the 100 Top Hospitals list the company puts out each year. IBM Watson Health recognizes hospitals of all sizes, in five different categories —...
Pittsburgh-based The Incline news website is for sale
Spirited Media officials announced Wednesday the company is selling its three online publications, including Pittsburgh-based The Incline. Chris Krewson, vice president of strategy at Spirited Media, announced on Medium that the company had already sold Denverite to Colorado Public Radio and is looking to sell The Incline and Philadelphia-based Billy...
In wake of Luke Perry’s death, a renewed focus on stroke
If you’re wondering how it’s possible that Luke Perry died from a stroke at only 52 years old, you might be surprised. It’s more common to suffer a stroke earlier in life than some may think. Dr. Rick Williamson, director of endovascular neurosurgery at Allegheny General Hospital, said out of...
Sheetz adds beer caves to 5 more stores in Western Pennsylvania
You now have more options where you can stop and buy a cold six pack after work. Sheetz announced Tuesday it opened five more “beer caves” at stores in Western Pennsylvania. The stores are part a larger 30-store beer cave expansion. The new beer caves opened at: • 3611 4th...
Springdale vet clinic stays open after suspected drunken driver crashes into it
Police believe alcohol may have been a factor when an SUV crashed into a veterinary office in Springdale over the weekend. Springdale police Chief George Polnar said a 2005 Ford Explorer crashed through the entrance of River Valley Veterinary Hospital on Pittsburgh Street just after midnight Sunday. He said the...
Crash injures man, shuts down part of Second Avenue in Pittsburgh
A man was taken to a Pittsburgh area hospital in critical condition following a crash along Second Avenue in the city Sunday evening. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Alicia George said police, firefighters and EMS were dispatched to the 700 block of Second Avenue around 4:40 p.m. for a vehicle into...
30,000 pounds of beef recalled because of possible contamination
About 30,000 pounds of beef shipped nationwide are being recalled for possible contamination. Washington Beef, LLC is recalling several lots of ground beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Saturday. The ground beef was produced on...
Gun enthusiasts lukewarm on proposed background check legislation
Gun enthusiasts didn’t seem fazed by the gun control legislation being considered in Congress during a gun show Sunday at the Pittsburgh Mills. The gun show was one of several held each year by the Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association, which draw dozens of gun sellers, buyers and collectors. Sunday’s event...
Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash in Manor Township
Emergency responders are on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in Manor Township. An Armstrong 911 dispatcher said the crash happened around 12:40 p.m. in the area of Route 66 and Fairground Road. The dispatcher said there is a report of injuries. No other information was immediately available....
Church or food pantry: Harmar Zoning Hearing Board to decide Feeding the Flock Ministries’ fate
Feeding the Flock Ministries will have to wait at least another few weeks to get a decision from Harmar’s zoning hearing board on whether it can move into a building along Nixon Road. The board held a hearing Thursday night that lasted two hours. The non-profit organization hopes to move...
CCAC to offer information technology support program at Homewood-Brushton Center
The Community College of Allegheny County’s Homewood-Brushton Center is offering a new information technology support certificate program. The “Pathway to a Technology Career” program will provide students with the skills for employment as a user support or network support specialist. The program includes a total of nine courses that run...
Walmart to allow more time for greeters with disabilities to adjust to new demands
Walmart’s decision to change the job requirements for its greeters has caused a national controversy as some believe it targets people with disabilities. But some disabled worker advocates say they haven’t seen any issues locally yet. Lisa Razza, spokeswoman with ACHIEVA, which works with people with disabilities in Allegheny and...
Zoey the sea lion dies after battling cancer at Pittsburgh Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium officials are mourning the death of one of their sea lions. Officials announced Wednesday that a 24-year-old sea lion named Zoey died from cancer after being diagnosed last year. “Zoey was diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma in 2018 and was the first sea lion...
Freeport Road reopens after landslide in Springdale Township
A section of Freeport Road in Springdale Township reopened Wednesday morning after a landslide shut down the road Friday. The road had been closed between the New Kensington Bridge and Riddle Run Road. About 11,000 vehicles use that section of road daily. Motorists had to use detours while the road...
Ham products recalled for possible plastic contamination
You might want to check that ham in your refrigerator because it could be contaminated with plastic. Sahlen Packing Company, based in Buffalo, is recalling approximately 13,224 pounds of ready-to-eat deli ham products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and...
Non-invasive migraine treatment provides ‘instant’ relief for Plum womanVideo
Tracey Zalenski has suffered from migraines most of her life, but the condition became almost unbearable last year, when she experienced migraines up to 20 times a month. “It’s really just ruined my quality of life,” she said. “I hated to make plans because I didn’t want to be that...
High winds knock down trees, knock out power in many Alle-Kiski Valley towns
Just minutes after Harrison residents Alyse and Joe Zylinski returned home from a walk with their 4-month-old baby Sunday, their house was struck by a downed tree. “I heard a boom, a big boom,” Alyse Zylinski said. “I looked up and it was coming toward (the skylight).” Although no one...
Thousands without power, trees block roads as high winds strike Pittsburgh region
Thousands of people are without power across the Pittsburgh region Sunday night as high winds continue to bring down trees and power lines — and the numbers worsened as the day turned to night. West Penn Power reported about nearly 80,000 customers without power at about 8 p.m. That was...
Differing opinions given on status of reportedly malnourished dog at Pittsburgh Mills Petland
The outcome of a report of a malnourished dog at the Pittsburgh Mills Petland is unclear after new information came to light on Sunday. An initial report from Frazer police on Saturday indicated representatives from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley evaluated the dog and found it to not be malnourished,...
Penguins enjoy snow day at Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG AquariumVideo
While we all trudged through the snow Wednesday morning bundled up and ready for spring, some Pittsburghers were itching to get out and enjoy it. The penguins at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium enjoyed the day running, sliding and rolling in the snow. “Most drivers and anyone dealing with...
Construction of Allegheny Health Network’s mini hospital in Harmar stalled by land issuesVideo
Construction of Allegheny Health Network’s new neighborhood hospital in Harmar has been delayed as the company works to finalize leasing and land agreements related to the site. AHN officials initially hoped construction would start shortly after a ceremonial ground breaking last October, but the lot remains empty with no construction...
AHN to offer Saturday appointments for colonoscopies in March
Allegheny Health Network patients who can’t make it to the doctor during the week will have the chance to get a colonoscopy on Saturdays in March. The Saturday appointments at select outpatient locations are part of AHN’s observance of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and a way to make it...
Charleroi man injured in Pittsburgh hit-and-run dies
A man who was critically injured in a hit-and-run crash earlier this month has died. Michael May, 55, of Charleroi, died at an area hospital Tuesday after suffering a head injury in the Feb. 7 crash in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh, according to the Allegheny County...
Fund set up to help couple who lost home, pets in Allegheny Township fire
A fund has been set up to help a couple who lost their home in a house fire in Allegheny Township last week. Mike and Suzanne Donnelly lost their home along Route 356 and several pets in a massive fire that closed the road and took firefighters hours to put...
Cheswick Council names longtime resident Brad Yaksich to fill board vacancy
Longtime Cheswick resident Brad Yaksich has been appointed to fill an empty seat on borough council through the end of the year. Council unanimously approved Yaksich’s appointment Tuesday. He will fill the seat previously held by Cathy Crail, who stepped down at the end of December. “His knowledge of our...
