Regional category, Page 81
They’re back: Spotted lanternflies to emerge with spring
Spotted lanternflies, the invasive insects that have plagued Western Pennsylvania for the past several years, are expected to make a return starting this month, as their young emerge from egg masses. The insects are known for their environmental damage and general nuisance, and officials recommend killing and reporting them whenever...
Pittsburgh tourism nearly recovered from pre-pandemic levels, industry group says
By this time next year, Visit Pittsburgh CEO Jerad Bachar believes people won’t be using the word recovery when talking about Pittsburgh’s tourism industry. “2023 was our first full year with a kind of normalized travel activity after the pandemic,” Bachar said. “But 2024, we definitely want to stop using...
Break out the cigars: Punxsutawney Phil is a dad
Punxsutawney Phil got busy after predicting an early spring this year. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club took to Facebook on Wednesday to announce groundhogs Phil and Phyllis have given birth to two babies. The baby groundhogs are healthy and with their mom and dad at the zoo located at the Punxsutawney...
Trader Joe’s increases banana prices for 1st time in 20 years
Trader Joe’s banana prices have held at 19 cents each for over 20 years. Until now. The bananas are now priced individually at 23 cents. The more than 20% increase was enacted because Trader Joe’s reached a point where the change was “necessary,” a spokesperson told CNN. “We only change...
Bernie Sanders endorses Summer Lee for reelection
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, announced Wednesday he is endorsing U.S. Rep. Summer Lee in her reelection battle. Sanders has supported Lee, a Democrat from Swissvale, throughout her political career, including rallying for her in Pittsburgh in 2022. Lee is one of the most progressive lawmakers in Congress and has championed...
New wrongful death suit filed in case of former nurse Heather Pressdee
Another wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Butler Township in connection with the death of a patient cared for by former nurse Heather Pressdee. The suit, filed Wednesday morning in Butler County Court, claims a 43-year-old man died May 1 at the center...
Morning Roundup: Police say fight at North Oakland gas station was bananas
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, March 27: Police say fight at North Oakland gas station was bananas A fight involving bananas and PVC pipe at a North Oakland Sunoco station on Tuesday night has a store employee facing criminal charges. Yubaraj Budhathoki, 26,...
Could a bridge collapse similar to Baltimore happen in Pittsburgh?
Barges have struck many bridges in the Pittsburgh region over the years, but none of the collisions caused major structural damage to any of the river spans, a local bridge expert said Tuesday. Following Tuesday’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Allegheny County Public Works Director Stephen...
Fayette coroner identifies 5 victims of fatal 3-car crash
Five people, including an infant, died in a three-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon in Fayette County, according to a Pennsylvania State Police report. The driver, Harold Nibert, 55, and passengers Bradley Thivener, 47; Krystal May, 36; Amanda Dawson, 33; and her 7-month-old son, Kullen Dawson, died at the scene, according to...
Instagram, Threads restrict political content for users
Does seeing unsolicited political content on social media bother you? Instagram and Threads are no longer recommending political content to users of the social media platforms — but some users have been reposting directions showing how to reverse the new feature. Meta rolled out the restriction in early February through...
Feds approve U.S. Steel agreement with county, environmentalists over 2018 plant fire
An agreement for U.S. Steel to pour nearly $25 million into its Mon Valley facilities and support the health of residents living near them has taken another step closer to becoming reality. U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy on Tuesday signed a consent decree the steelmaking giant inked in January...
‘We are so excited’: Eclipse gives Edinboro, other colleges a chance to teach
David Hurd’s excitement over what’s about to happen in the skies above him is obvious when he speaks. It even comes through in his voicemail these days. “We are so excited for April 8,” says the recorded message from Hurd, a geosciences professor and director of the planetarium at PennWest...
20 animals seized from Butler County home
Pennsylvania State Police in Butler seized 10 dogs, one cat, four ducks and five chickens from a home in Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, on Monday. Troopers were called to the 300 block of Pfeifer Road for reports of 10 dogs living in “deplorable conditions.” The house was declared “uninhabitable,”...
‘Many Jewish voters will be impacted’ as Pa. primary falls on Passover
Many of Pittsburgh’s Jewish residents may need to take advantage of mail-in ballots because the April 23 primary is also the first day of Passover. There are nearly 50,000 Jews in Allegheny County. The holiday falls on Election Day, and will prevent some of them from going to the polls,...
‘There’s just no room’: State parks, campgrounds prepare for influx of visitors during April 8 total solar eclipse
Taking in the total solar eclipse on April 8 at Pymatuning State Park is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and visitors are expected to flock to the Crawford County attraction for a chance to share in the excitement. “Nobody that’s alive today is going to be alive for the next one, so...
Indiana community avoids major trouble during IUPatty’s as university curtails frat parties
The 2024 IUPatty’s weekend made it to Sunday morning without any major tumult or serious injuries being reported. While the annual event is not sanctioned by Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the university told its fraternities and sororities this year to pull the plug on any parties they were hosting by...
IUP says social media report of stabbing false as IUPatty’s begins
Officials at Indiana University of Pennsylvania issued an email to students and employees early Saturday indicating that reports on social media of violence involving students were false. Officials said they sent the email to counteract a comment that “some student got stabbed” that was part of a spike in traffic...
Police say man high on meth led troopers on high-speed chase in Indiana Borough
A Florida man who police said was high on meth and hadn’t slept for five days led state troopers on a brief chase Friday night in Indiana County. Brandon Michael Rosenberger, 34, of St. Petersburg, Fla., is charged with fleeing, evading arrest, and driving under the influence of a controlled...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: March 23, 2024
Here’s a new feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz: 1. On Sunday, Duquesne won the Atlantic 10 Championship to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977. Who did the Dukes play 47 years ago? A/ The Citadel B/ William & Mary C/ Virginia Military...
Slippery Rock University board seeks $98 million for building renovations
Trustees at Slippery Rock University voted Friday to pursue $98 million for renovations to three prominent but aging campus buildings, including the Morrow Field House, built in 1959. They also approved student fee increases totaling about $270 for the 2024-25 academic year. Both actions were among those taken as the...
National Guard helicopters help battle West Virginia wildfires in steep terrain
CHARLESTON — The West Virginia National Guard joined in battling wildfires Friday that have scorched more than 4,000 acres in the state and destroyed several homes. Two Blackhawk helicopters dropped water from buckets on the fires in steep, wooded terrain in Hardy County, the National Guard said on social media....
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...
