Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Aug. 29:
2nd tornado confirmed in Fayette County
A second tornado in Fayette County during Friday’s storms has been confirmed by the National Weather Service.
The two tornadoes struck around 2:30 a.m. in the Mill Run area and south of Connellsville along the Youghiogheny River. Investigators quickly confirmed the EF-2 Mill Run tornado, but spent several more days looking into damage near Connellsville to announce Monday that it was a separate EF-1 tornado, according to social media posts.
We have confirmed a second tornado in Fayette county from Aug 25th. This now brings the total to 27th tornadoes recorded in Fayette county since 1882. Storm summary below. pic.twitter.com/G0XJyz0rkE
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) August 28, 2023
The second tornado started near West Crawford Avenue across the Youghiogheny River from Connellsville and followed the river’s path southeast for about 7 miles, ending around Indian Creek. It pulled down numerous trees, blocking part of the Great Allegheny Passage. Winds peaked at 105 mph.
No injuries were reported in that twister. Six people were hurt in the EF-2 tornado near Mill Run when homes, trees, power lines and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park resort and campground were damaged. The tornado with winds peaking at 120 miles per hour passed through the Springfield Township region.
Allegheny County to spray for mosquitoes
The Allegheny County Health Department will spray a pesticide in some Pittsburgh neighborhoods where mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus.
Spraying will take place from 8-11 p.m. Wednesday in Allegheny Commons, Fineview, Highland Park, Homewood, Morningside, the North Side, Perry South and Stanton Heights. It will be moved to Thursday at the same time if there is rain.
There have not been any human cases of West Nile virus in Allegheny County so far this year, according to the health department. The virus can cause a fever, body aches, vomiting and rash. Residents can protect themselves by removing standing water sources and using insect repellent.
Pa. Red Cross volunteers to head to Florida
More than a dozen American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania volunteers are headed south as Florida residents begin to prepare for Hurricane Idalia’s landfall. The organization is getting volunteer disaster teams, including some from Southwestern Pennsylvania, in position in advance of the storm to help communities that likely will be impacted.
The storm is expected to begin affecting the Gulf Coast side of the state later Tuesday. Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 46 counties and 1,100 National Guard members have been mobilized.
Idalia started as a tropical storm and strengthened to a hurricane Tuesday.
Lawrence County man faces life in prison for 2019 murder
A Lawrence County man was convicted of first-degree murder and related charges Monday in connection with the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old boy in 2019, according to court records. Keith Burley, 47, faces an automatic life sentence in prison during sentencing set for Sept. 19 in the stabbing death of Mark Edward Mason at a home in Union Township.
State police said Burley had a fight with the boy’s mother on July 8, 2019, just before the stabbing. Two of his brothers told police they saw Burley stabbing the child. He represented himself at trial, according to court records.
