Haley Daugherty stories, Page 22
Leechburg Area passes final budget for 2024-25 school year that includes tax hike, tax decrease
Leechburg Area School District members passed a final budget for the 2024-25 school year that includes a tax increase for some residents and a slight decrease for others. While the district will collect about the same amount of real estate taxes as the school year that just ended, there will...
Morning Roundup: Pa. Turnpike releases Fourth of July advisory
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, June 28: Pennsylvania Turnpike Independence Day advisory Officials with the Pennsylvania Turnpike have released an advisory in anticipation for a surge in traveler numbers over the Independence Day holiday. Turnpike officials predict more than 5 million vehicles will...
Daytime assault in Downtown Pittsburgh leaves man, 73, with broken face bone
The Department of Pittsburgh Public Safety has announced intent to form a focused plan to decrease mental health-related crimes after a brazen daytime assault in Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday that left a 73-year-old man with a broken bone in his face. Officers said that Jameel Huff, 24, chased Jan Levinson,...
Morning Roundup: McKeesport man threatens detectives during arrest for probation violation
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, June 27: McKeesport man threatens detectives during arrest for probation violation A McKeesport man told detectives they were lucky he didn’t shoot them when he was taken into custody on a probation violation Wednesday. He is facing multiple...
Morning Roundup: Clairton shooting leaves man in critical condition; severe weather forecast
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, June 26: Police investigate overnight shooting in Clairton Allegheny County Police are investigating a shooting that left a man in critical condition Tuesday night. County police said they were notified of the shooting just after 10 p.m. First...
Penn Hills school board to vote on final budget
Penn Hills school board members will be voting on the district’s final 2024-25 school year budget tonight. The $99.8 million proposed budget includes a 1-mill tax increase, which would produce a tax rate of 31.5965 mills. This would result in a homeowner with a median assessed value of $69,800 paying...
Abandoned puppies found in Unity Walmart parking lot
A Westmoreland animal shelter is asking for information after a bin of puppies was found abandoned Monday morning in a store’s parking lot. Action for Animals Humane Society posted a photo on social media, explaining how the puppies were found. The post said they were left in the Unity Walmart...
Morning Roundup: Man shot in leg in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, June 25: Police investigate shooting in Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar Pittsburgh police are investigating after a man was shot in the leg late Monday night in the city’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood. Police were dispatched to the intersection of Lemington Avenue and Oberlin...
Marshall couple identified in apparent murder-suicide
A Marshall couple in their early 80s were found dead late Sunday in what Allegheny County Police are calling a murder-suicide in Marshall. Allegheny County Medical Examiner has identified them as Carole, 80, and Roger Smith, 81. Police said emergency responders were notified a little after 9 p.m. Sunday of...
Robert Morris rower dies in Washington County crash
An 18-year-old woman was killed in a crash Sunday morning in Washington County. The crash happened just after 3 a.m. along Interstate 70 near the West Virginia state line. The Washington County coroner said Kaylee Ogea of Shawboro, N.C., lost control of her vehicle, which then rolled over. She was...
Morning Roundup: No injuries reported in Brackenridge boat fire
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, June 24: No injuries reported in Brackenridge boat fire Emergency services were called to a boat fire in Brackenridge on Sunday night. Allegheny County 911 said services were dispatched at 8:46 p.m. to Brackenridge Park. There were no...
ScareHouse creeps out of Pittsburgh Mills, won’t open in 2024
Pittsburgh’s horror fans received a jumpscare earlier this week after finding out ScareHouse will not be returning to its Pittsburgh Mills location and will not open for the 2024 season. Pittsburgh Magazine reported on Monday that ScareHouse co-owner Scott Simmons announced the news last week in a private Facebook group...
Verona Council makes moves to increase police presence in borough
Verona Council members have been seeing returns on their efforts to enhance recruitment and retention of police officers. Borough officials have had struggles staffing the police department after its chief, Ron McLemore, was assaulted during a domestic violence call in November, leaving him unable to work. Sgt. Jerry Frankos was...
Driver may have fallen asleep in fatal Buffalo Township crash
Police continue to investigate after one person was killed after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning along Ekastown Road in Buffalo Township. Butler County 911 said the crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian was reported shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. The Butler County Coroner’s Office pronounced the victim dead...
Oakmont Bakery parking lot plan aims to ease traffic near busy sweet shop
Oakmont officials are considering vacating land along Cedar Way to make room for Oakmont Bakery to build a new parking lot. According to bakery owner Marc Serrao, the idea for the lot came as a solution for the consistent traffic on Third Street. “We are trying to keep people from...
Oakmont prepares for 50th Greek food festival
Andy Gavrilos has seen it all during his time as co-chair of the Oakmont Greek Food Festival. From tornadoes, thunderstorms and fires, to a power outage that caused volunteers and parishioners of the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church to cook by candlelight. “At the end of the day,...
PA Hero Walk for veterans in need — from Philadelphia to Lower Burrell — in full swing
The 320 miles in wind, rain, blistering sun and whatever else Mother Nature doles out takes an incredible amount of resolve. Yet the Alle-Kiski Valley veterans participating in the 16th annual PA Hero Walk remain undaunted. The group, ranging in age from 30 to 73, is on the seventh day...
Penn Hills School District holds line on taxes in proposed final budget for 2024-25
Residents in the Penn Hills School District won’t be seeing a change in their real estate taxes this school year. The school directors approved a proposed 2024-25 budget with no tax hike and no cuts to programs or staffing. John Zahorchak, the district’s business manager said the budget is balanced...
Rosedale Civic Association donates $2,000 to Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit
K-9s from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office made some new friends recently in Penn Hills. The K-9 unit, made up of five furry officers and their handlers, is largely funded by grants and donations. The unit is dependent on these funds for training, medical care, food and equipment. “I saw...
Riverview School Board passes final budget with slightly smaller tax increase of 3.3%
After an unorthodox voting session Monday night, the Riverview School Board members adopted a final budget that includes a tax hike for Oakmont and Verona residents. The spending plan includes a 3.3% (0.8-mill) tax increase, which is slightly lower than the tentative budget approved earlier. It projects expenditures of just...
Oakmont presents Dark Hollow Woods master plan, looking for volunteers
Last July, Oakmont Council set in motion a plan to restore Dark Hollow Woods, a 40-acre nature reserve that has fallen victim to erosion and invasive species. A year later, Assistant Borough Manager Phyllis Anderson and other members of the master plan’s committee have introduced the Dark Hollow Woods Restoration...
Tarentum restaurant owners announce closing after relocation attempt fails amid dispute
Community members are gathering in support on social media after owners of Cindy’s Hometown Restaurant, Bob and Cindy Hatajik, announced the diner’s closing this week on their Facebook page. In the post, Cindy Hatajik cited a dispute with the owner of the building as the reason for the closing. The...
Leechburg Area’s proposed final budget includes tax changes
Leechburg Area School District members presented a proposed final budget for the 2024-25 school year that includes a tax increase for some residents and a slight decrease for others. While the district would collect about the same amount of real estate taxes as during the school year that just ended,...
Leechburg Area tax rebate proposal may run afoul of state constitution
Leechburg Area School Board’s proposed tax rebate program for West Leechburg residents may be illegal. Chuck Pascal, an attorney and Leechburg councilman, warned school officials the plan likely violates the state constitution. “I understand that you made a political promise to the people of West Leechburg — some of you...
Penn Hills flower shop marking 85 years of business
Sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. Frankstown Gardens in Penn Hills is one such place. Generations of local families have passed through the doors of the 85-year-old business. And there’s no end in sight for Vincent Tumminello, 58, its third-generation owner. His grandparents opened the...

