Pittsburgh: The most-read stories of 2020

PITTSBURGH — The coronavirus pandemic has caused a year of uncertainty, and has changed our lives dramatically in 2020.

We’ve had to cancel plans, start wearing masks to protect ourselves and others, learn to work from home and some of us have even lost loved ones to the virus.

Many of this year’s most-read stories included the impact that COVID-19 had on our community in the Pittsburgh area:

Pennsylvania Coronavirus Map: See the number of cases in each county, ZIP code

It can be hard to keep up with all the updates surrounding the coronavirus, the number of cases and the impact on all of our lives. The Pennsylvania Department of Health created interactive maps (below) that show the number of cases in each county and in each ZIP code.

Click HERE to read more.

Gov. Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations on March 19.

This included department stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, gyms, yoga studios, nail salons, barbershops, car dealers and furniture stores.

Read more here.

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Confidential agreement uncovered that allowed Pennsylvania car show to happen despite COVID-19 restrictions

Channel 11 obtained a secret agreement in August that showed the health secretary allowed a car show near Harrisburg to go on allowing 20,000 people in per day.

Two of the three lawmakers that Channel 11 talked with had not even heard of this secret agreement until we told them about it. “Outrageous,” “ridiculous,” and “not fair” were just some of the words they used to describe it.

Read more on the confidential agreement here.

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This ‘pastoral paradise’ mansion was up for sale in Gibsonia

Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty listed a mansion with over 9,000 square feet that sits on about 171 acres of land on North Montour Road in Gibsonia.

The price? A little over $6 million.

See more photos here.

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Steelers’ President Art Rooney II issues statement surrounding Villanueva helmet controversy

In the days following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 1 victory against the New York Giants, the names displayed on the back of players’ helmets — rather than their jerseys — have dominated social circles.

Most Pittsburgh players donned the name Antwon Rose Jr., a Pittsburgh teen who was shot and killed by police in 2018, on their helmets during the game.

But offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva, who served in the U.S. Army, broke away from his teammates and covered up Rose’s name with a Black war hero, Alwyn Cashe, instead.

Click here to read more.

Camaro, Escalade up for grabs with other vehicles, equipment at virtual Allegheny co. Airport Authority Auction

A 2018 Chevrolet Camaro and a 2016 Cadillac Escalade were among the items up for grabs at this year’s annual auction of abandoned vehicles from Pittsburgh International Airport.

This year’s auction looked a little different because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- it was held virtually.

See more photos of the items auctioned off here.

License plate confusion led to pricey ticket for local woman

Can you tell the difference between the number 0 and the letter O on a Pennsylvania License plate? The confusion over these very similar looking characters led to some big problems for one woman.

Read more here from Target 11′s Rick Earle.

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Pa. Health Secretary issues new order, makes mask wearing required indoors even if you are physically distant

Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine announced “targeted efforts” on Nov. 17 to control the spread of COVID-19 across the state.

She implemented several changes, including requiring masks to be worn indoors with limited exceptions, and requiring travelers to be tested within 72 hours or quarantining for 14 days before coming to Pennsylvania.

Read more here.

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Allegheny Co. bars, restaurants banned from selling alcohol for on-site consumption

In response to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County, health officials ordered all bars and restaurants in the county to stop the sale of alcohol for on-site consumption.

The order went into effect at 5 p.m. on June 30.

Click here to read more.

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Experts warn about poisonous plant aggressively spreading across Pittsburgh area

In May, researchers with Penn State Extension warned people, especially those with livestock, to be careful of a poisonous plant that has been aggressively spreading across Pennsylvania.

It looks just like a weed, but researchers said the poison hemlock was popping up along highways and in parks, and even in the parking lot of a Starbucks in Wexford.

Read more here.

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Tractor-trailer crashes into Primanti Bros. restaurant in Allegheny Co., front lobby severely damaged

A tractor-trailer crashed into a Primanti Bros. restaurant in Allegheny County in September.

The crash happened at the chain’s location on Steubenville Pike in Crafton.

Click here to read more.

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