James Engel stories

Since developers revealed the initial details of a proposed data center at the former site of the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale last month, the community has come armed with questions about the project. Here’s everything we know so far: The basics Data centers are used to store digital information...

Filming has been set back a day in Vandergrift for a new Apple TV+ series, tentatively titled “Parallax.” Crews were originally set to film throughout the borough’s downtown Thursday, but series publicist Shelly Williams said cameras will likely now roll Friday. Williams did not give a reason for the delay,...

Many Springdale residents aren’t sold on a massive proposed data center in their borough. Dozens showed up for a standing-room-only planning commission meeting Wednesday to probe developers and express concerns about the project. By the end of the night, the commission decided to delay its decision on whether Springdale Council...

Amid a packed room of residents, Springdale’s Planning Commission postponed a vote to recommend borough council approve or deny a developer’s application to build a massive data center. The commission will reconvene on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. to make its final decision. The decision to hold off came after...

After its acquisition by Japanese giant Nippon Steel earlier this year, U.S. Steel says it will invest $100 million in a new slag recycler at its Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock. The company said in a release it has submitted an “air construction permit” to the Allegheny County Health Department,...

An acoustic concert scheduled at the Plum Municipal Center’s amphitheater could be just the first of several shows at the venue. The concert, set for Oct. 2, will feature local quartet Acoustic Union. In addition to serving as a social event for the community, the show also will be a...

Springdale Manager Terry Carcella said he doubts football will ever be played at Veterans Memorial Field again. But borough officials plan to collect community feedback on what residents would like to see at the site ahead of potential changes next year. About two dozen residents came together last week for...

Springdale’s Planning Commission will likely offer its recommendation to borough council to approve or deny an application to build a massive data center this week. Residents and commissioners will again hear from developers seeking to construct the center at the former site of the Cheswick Generating Station at 6:30 p.m....

Major changes are on the horizon at Cheswick’s Rachel Carson Riverfront Park as the borough prepares to present its new master plan to community members. Developed using community input over the course of more than a year, the plan seeks to completely redesign the green space with numerous improvements and...

South Buffalo and East Franklin officials are seeking advice from community members through a survey. The questionnaire is part of a joint comprehensive plan in the works for the two Armstrong County townships. Comprehensive plans, which municipalities typically revisit each decade, serve as a general roadmap for the goals and...

Film crews will be active in and around Vandergrift on Thursday for the production of an upcoming AppleTV+ series, tentatively titled “Parallax.” In a letter addressed to residents, the crew said the filming would result in temporary no-parking zones 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout chunks of downtown, mostly around...

Jessica Mauthe spent nearly her whole life living in a rented home on Oak Avenue in Cadogan, where her father also previously lived. Though she mostly kept to herself, neighbors said nothing seemed abnormal about the goings-on at the white two-story home — until Sept. 13. That’s when the owner...

Freeport Fire-EMS will soon have a new EMS chief — the first in the department’s history. Jamison Hughes is set to take on the role in October. Currently a paramedic in Monroeville, Hughes, 48, said he’s worked in emergency services for 30 years. The Indiana County resident is hoping to...

Motorists using Route 28 will face several traffic restrictions next week. Beginning Monday PennDOT will have overnight ramp closures on northbound Route 28 in Etna and Pittsburgh, weather permitting. To allow guide rail, pavement marking, and sign installation work ramps will close overnight according to the following schedule: • Northbound...

Investigators say they’ve found a fourth dead infant in the Cadogan house Jessica Mauthe had been renting after police searched it last week. Police initially reported three dead infants in the residence, but new charges filed against Mauthe accuse her of concealing an additional corpse. Mauthe’s former landlord located the...

After passing a new ordinance Tuesday, Springdale may soon begin fining owners of vacant or abandoned properties in the borough. Springdale Borough Manager Terry Carcella said it’s part of an “aggressive” new plan to combat neglected properties in the area. “By doing nothing, that won’t work for the borough,” he...

Allegheny Valley School District says it’s in the initial stages of building an ADA-compliant parking area near its new artificial turf field across Butler Road from Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School. Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said the district is in discussions with FieldTurf USA, the contractor that recently installed the turf, to...

Butler County authorities have refiled charges against a Winfield man, accused of raping a young girl, after a previous case was dismissed before trial. Penn Township Police say Michael Garrett Saunders, 49, repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl when she was 11 and 12 years old. Saunders was initially arrested in...

After years of planning, the Plum School District has begun seeking bids for its large-scale addition and renovations to O’Block Elementary School. The district released the project for bidding with a deadline for contractors to submit proposals set for Oct. 7. The school board will award contracts Oct. 28. The...

Starting later this month, Plum residents may see discoloration in their water. That’s because the borough’s municipal authority will begin its hydrant flushing program on Sept. 29 to ensure all fire hydrant systems are clean and operational. The program will extend until Nov. 26. No work will occur on the...

The Plum School District is working to replace a water pump that controls emergency sprinklers in its middle school after its pressure proved to be too low during routine testing. District Superintendent Rick Walsh said the pump, which had passed last year’s inspection, was old and had failed to fall...

Springdale is looking for suggestions from residents about the fate of Veterans Memorial Field. A previously formed five-member committee, appointed by Springdale Council to study potential options at the field, will host a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Springdale Borough Building. The field has been unused since...

Last September, Charlie Kirk fielded questions with Vivek Ramaswamy under a pop-up canopy in the Schenley Quadrangle as University of Pittsburgh students settled into their fall semester. Almost a year later, the right-wing influencer was shot dead in a nearly identical setup on the campus of Utah Valley University. As...

Alexa Verrico has been tapped as Plum’s new buildings and grounds supervisor. A Plum resident, she’ll be responsible for managing the borough’s public works crews; taking care of area parks; and upkeeping borough-owned facilities, such as the Plum Community Library and Plum Community Center. She’ll report to the borough’s director...

After water from more than a dozen fixtures was found to have unacceptably high lead levels in Allegheny Valley schools, the district says it’s looking to replace parts to avoid future contamination. District Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said 15 sinks and older drinking fountains in Acmetonia Elementary School and one faucet...