Emily Balser stories, Page 7
Pittsburgh police: Wrong-way driver causes crash on Boulevard of the Allies
Three people were injured in an early morning, wrong-way crash on the Boulevard of the Allies in Pittsburgh. According to police, the crash happened just before 3 a.m. when it appears a vehicle was driving westbound into the oncoming eastbound traffic on the Boulevard of the Allies. The car eventually...
Kids help out as environmental group cleans trash out of the Allegheny River
Elliott Covolo, 8, spotted the first piece of litter that was collected out of the Allegheny River in Tarentum during a cleanup event Sunday. He grabbed a net and waited until the boat idled next to the object. “I don’t know what it is,” he exclaimed as he pulled it...
2 Alle-Kiski seniors awarded $11,000 scholarships to CCAC automotive program
Two Alle-Kiski Valley teens have been awarded $11,000 each in scholarships for taking first place in the Greater Pittsburgh Automobile Dealers Association Foundation and Community College of Allegheny County’s automotive competition. Freeport Area High School senior Leroy Zacherly and Armstrong High School senior Ryan Kuntz attend Lenape Technical School. They...
Springdale High School women step up for military service after graduation
For the first time in Springdale High School’s history, all of the students headed to the military after graduation are female. The three seniors — Skyleanna Skiles, Deserai Duncan and Leann Brannock — were recognized at the school’s annual military reception and ceremony Thursday. School administrators, along with local veterans,...
Tree blocks both lanes of Freeport Road in East Deer, later, 1 lane cleared
A portion of Freeport Road in East Deer was blocked by a downed utility pole and a tree Thursday afternoon. The road was blocked about 3:45 p.m. near the New Kensington (Ninth Street) Bridge. By 6 p.m., one lane farthest from the hillside had opened. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher...
Police warn residents about bear spotted in North Versailles
North Versailles police are warning residents about a black bear spotted in their community. Police said residents in the Green Valley area should be especially alert because the bear was seen there. Police said the bear was last seen entering the wooded area behind the fire department and the Pennsylvania...
Report shows many underage kids get alcohol from parents, friends’ parents
One in four Pennsylvania kids who drink underage get the alcohol from their parents, according to a report released Thursday by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. One in five got the alcohol from a friend’s parent, the report said. The biennial Report on Underage and High-Risk Drinking details current trends...
Lego, NASA partner on Lunar Lander set for 50th anniversary of moon landing
Space enthusiasts will have a chance to build a Lego replica of the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander to celebrate the anniversary of the first moon landing. Lego has partnered with NASA to release Saturday the NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander building set. The cost for the set is $100. July...
Newborn brings hope after Pittsburgh mom dies during childbirth
April Martinez spent the last nine months meticulously planning for the arrival of her first child, a baby boy named Luca. “She had allergies and she wouldn’t take any allergy medicine,” said her mother, Elaine Sheatz of Cranberry. “She just wanted him to be perfect.” Despite her attention to detail,...
Springdale getting more than $500K for traffic light upgrades
Springdale received more than $500,000 in grant money from PennDOT to make more upgrades to its traffic signals. The money will be used to upgrade the traffic signals at Pittsburgh and School streets and at Pittsburgh and James streets. Improvements will include new signal supports, LED lights, pedestrian accommodations and...
Group gets OK to operate church, not food pantry, in Harmar
A church and nonprofit organization can move into a former Jehovah’s Witness hall in Harmar, but it can’t operate a food pantry there. Feeding the Flock on May 20 was granted an occupancy permit for the building. The group consists of a nonprofit organization, Feeding the Flock Ministries, and a...
Agan Park reopens after yearlong closure
Agan Park has reopened after being closed for the past year over concerns about the safety of a gravel road leading to the park. Agan Park is in Springdale Township, but responsibility for the facility switches each year between Springdale and Cheswick boroughs. The park was given to the local...
Protecting your skin from the sun as easy as ABC
As summer approaches, many people will begin to hit the pools, lakes and trails. But with the outdoor fun comes an increased risk for skin cancer if you don’t properly protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer...
Pittsburgh Zoo’s baby gorilla, Frankie, turns one year old, celebrates with party
Happy Birthday, Frankie! The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s baby gorilla Frankie turned one year old on Sunday and celebrated with presents and treats from the zoo staff. Frankie was born last May to 22-year-old mom Moka while on exhibit. The zoo wanted to give the public the option of...
New Kensington Donut Connection sells $2M Powerball ticket
A winning Powerball ticket worth $2 million for the May 22 drawing was sold in New Kensington. The ticket with the Power Play option matched all of the five white balls drawn, 07-10-20-44-57, but not the red Powerball 03, to win $2 million. Without the $1 Power Play option, the...
Woman injured in hit-and-run crash in South Side
A woman was injured in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood on Sunday after she was hit by a car that fled the scene. According to Pittsburgh police, officers responded to a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Carson and South 18th streets around 12:30 p.m. The woman suffered...
Weather can’t dampen respect for Brackenridge’s Honor Roll memorial
About 100 people turned out Sunday to join in the Memorial Day observance by the Brackenridge American Legion despite the weather moving the majority of activities inside. The events held at Brackenridge Memorial Park included the rededication of the 54-year-old Honor Roll memorial that had been cleaned and restored after...
Crews repairing water main break in Dormont
Residents of Beacon Hill Avenue in Dormont could be without water for most of the day while crews repair a water main break. Pennsylvania American Water released a notification to customers around 10:30 a.m. Sunday that crews were making emergency repairs to a broken water main. The repairs are expected...
McKeesport senior shot and killed days before graduation
A teen was shot and killed early Friday morning in the South Side just days before she was set to graduate from high school. According to Pittsburgh police, the shooting happened at South 27th and Jane streets shortly after 3 a.m. The teen, identified by the medical examiner as Morgan...
Alle-Kiski Valley pools dive into the summer season
Four swimming pools across the Alle-Kiski Valley dive into their summer seasons with Saturday openings. For Springdale Township’s Bouquet Park Pool, it took a successful $20,000 fundraising campaign to make this season happen. Pool officials had been worried they would have to scrap the summer season and file for bankruptcy...
Increased state police patrols, DUI checkpoints coming this summer
AAA and Pennsylvania State Police are partnering this summer to reduce deadly crashes. The two entities announced Wednesday the implementation of Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E). Under Operation C.A.R.E. police will step up efforts to combat speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and driving under the influence. Officers will increase...
Cheswick primary comes up 2 candidates short for council spots
The race for Cheswick Council appears to have still come up two people short after Tuesday’s primary election. Republican incumbents Michael Girardi and Brad Yaksich were the only two running for three open four-year seats and one open two-year seat. Girardi got the nomination for both the two-year seat and...
Allegheny Valley School Board OKs pre-K program
Allegheny Valley School Board unanimously gave the go-ahead Monday for the district to create a pre-kindergarten program that will begin next school year. The decision came after lengthy discussions about the number of students the program will serve and what students will be eligible. The district’s plan calls for two...
Pittsburgh Zoo’s leopard cub got the friend she needed
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will announce the name of its clouded leopard cub Wednesday and introduce the cub’s new companion. The 2-month-old clouded leopard was born March 14 to its mom Saya and dad Pi. Zoo staff hand raised the cub after they discovered she wasn’t nursing on...
Coca-Cola to bring back New Coke for ‘Stranger Things’ season
New Coke is coming back. Oh, the controversy! As fans anticipate the return of the Netflix hit series “Stranger Things” they can also look forward to a return of a long-lost Coca-Cola product that will be featured in the show. Coca-Cola announced Tuesday they will partner with Netflix and the...

