Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 124
Officials: Stray cat in Ross Township tests positive for rabies
A stray cat in Ross Township has tested positive for rabies, Allegheny County Health Department officials announced Thursday. They said the cat was found on Hetherton Drive and was recently brought to the department’s laboratory. Rabies is a virus transmitted to humans by an animal bite or scratch. Officials said...
Scott Township officials fill 2nd commissioner vacancy in as many months
Scott Township officials selected a nonprofit founder and Chartiers Valley School District bus driver as their new commissioner. Michelle Sedlak was appointed at Wednesday night’s special meeting to fill the unexpired term of Paul Abel of Ward 6, who resigned from his elected post June 17. Hundreds of people both...
Riverview High School students teach youngsters worldly lessons before graduating
Four Riverview High School graduates were able to leave their international mark on school district youngsters before leaving to take on the world. Marina Pietz, Francesca Lio, Mikaela Colins and Emily Pietragallo each earned a Global Scholars Certificate through the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia this past school year. They...
Pittsburgh police seek help identifying alleged Dollar Bank vandal
Investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man they say vandalized a Dollar Bank along Penn Avenue during the East Liberty protests on June 1. Pittsburgh police posted photos of the suspect on its twitter page. During the East Liberty on June 1, the male in this series...
Suspect arrested in shooting incident in Market Square, no injuries reported
Pittsburgh police arrested a man after officers responded to a shots fired call around 4 p.m. Wednesday in Market Square. No injuries were reported. Police said the suspect, who they did not identify, was arrested on a firearms charge after a brief foot chase. Police were alerted to two suspects,...
More Port Authority of Allegheny County employees test positive for covid-19
Four more Port Authority of Allegheny County employees have tested positive for covid-19 since last week, authorities announced Wednesday. Spokesman Adam Brandolph said three of them tested positive on Saturday and one had a positive test Wednesday. He said all four are recovering in a medically directed self-quarantine at home....
Possible solutions for Oakmont Commons flooding to come out soon
Solutions for flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons neighborhood are expected to be announced in the coming months. Senate Engineering submitted plans and models earlier this year to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for review in order to determine the next course of action in alleviating concerns of dozens...
Fire damages 2 homes in ArnoldVideo
A vacant Arnold house is believed to be a total loss, and neighboring family was displaced from their home as a result of a fire Tuesday night, officials said. Firefighters from Arnold, New Kensington, Lower Burrell and Murrysville responded shortly before 8:30 p.m. for the blazeat 1616 Fourth Ave. in...
More Allegheny County court staffers test positive for covid-19; judge orders more video hearings
A Pittsburgh Municipal Court employee and probation office staffer have tested positive for covid-19, Allegheny County court administrator Christopher Connors announced Tuesday. He said the court employee’s test was taken July 5 and the probation office worker was tested June 30. The announcement comes a day after other Allegheny County...
Trash collection problems discussed in Oakmont
Missed pickups, scattered rubbish and other issues with Oakmont’s garbage collector have borough officials talking trash. “There’s an issue with trash, and on Wednesdays I talk trash all day,” said Phyllis Anderson, assistant to the borough manager, at Monday night’s council workshop meeting. “There’s things that County Hauling should address...
Fire in Upper Lawrenceville displaces residents, damages 7 homes
Multiple people were displaced by a fire that impacted several homes in Upper Lawrenceville Monday night. Authorities said no injuries were reported in connection with the two-alarm blaze around 5:30 p.m. along the 5200 block of Wickliff Street. Firefighters observed flames coming from two structures and were able to extinguish...
Woman rescued after falling through a deck in Pittsburgh
A woman in a motorized wheelchair was rescued after falling through a deck in Pittsburgh. Authorities said city emergency responders were called just after 4 p.m. Monday to a residence along the 1500 block of Oberlin Street for a woman who fell through a deck floor and could not escape....
Oakmont officials keep business district parking restrictions in place
Oakmont officials announced the borough’s three-hour parking restriction along Allegheny River Boulevard will remain and will be enforced. The issue came up at a July 6 workshop in response to social media chatter about borough police ticketing employees and owners near their shops in the business district. “The complaints (we’re)...
Penn Hills senior celebration canceled, graduation still scheduled at high school stadium
Penn Hills School District officials have canceled their senior celebration due to Allegheny County’s increased restrictions during the covid-19 pandemic. County officials recently renewed restrictions on gatherings to 25 people or less and implemented voluntary stay-at-home protocols for residents, because of spikes in coronavirus cases. District officials said they had...
Plum School District recognized by Pittsburgh food bank for its breakfast, student nutrition efforts
The Plum School District has made great strides the past year or two in student nutrition. It launched a Summer Food Service Program at Holiday Park Elementary and served 70 children Mondays through Thursdays from July 15 through Aug. 1. District Food Services Director Jessica Griggle also brought in Second...
No tax increase, program cuts included in Plum School District’s 2020-21 budget
Plum property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes, and all student programs remain in place as part of the school district’s 2020-21 budget. School directors unanimously approved next school year’s spending plan Tuesday night. Projected revenues were listed at about $63.44 million and expenses at...
Man taken into custody following a SWAT standoff in Sharpsburg
A man was taken into custody following a SWAT situation in Sharpsburg on Tuesday night. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said the incident began around 7:45 p.m. at a home along the 200 block of Tenth Street. News partner WPXI said a person was apprehended shortly before 10 p.m. No...
Plum School District recognized by Pittsburgh food bank for its breakfast, student nutrition efforts
The Plum School District has made great strides the past year or two in student nutrition. It launched a Summer Food Service Program at Holiday Park Elementary and served 70 children Mondays through Thursdays from July 15 through Aug. 1. District Food Services Director Jessica Griggle also brought in Second...
Pittsburgh man faces federal charges in police car fire during May 30 protests
A Pittsburgh man faces federal charges, accused of setting fire to an unmarked police car during a protest downtown. Devin Montgomery, 24, was charged with malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives in connection with an incident May 30 near the Fifth Avenue entrance to PPG Paints Arena. Authorities...
Police: Man wanted for 3 stabbings in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood apprehended
A Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with three stabbings in the city’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood is in custody. City police report Melvin Banks, 35, was arrested Monday. He’s charged with aggravated assault, providing false identification to law enforcement, homicide and attempted homicide, according to online court documents. Charges stem from a...
Penn Hills School District officials raise taxes, maintain programs in 2020-21 budget
Penn Hills School District officials maintained all programs and raised real estate taxes as part of their 2020-21 budget. School directors unanimously approved a 3.6% tax hike on June 29. The increase brings the new tax rate to 29.6965 mills, a 1.0319-mill jump from the current rate. District Business Manager...
Police: Man wanted for helping protesters destroy property, raid businesses
Investigators with the Damage Assessment and Accountability Task Force are seeking the public’s help to identify a man they say helped rioters vandalize an unmarked police car and burglarized stores during the May 30 protests in Pittsburgh. City police tweeted photos of the man, who was wearing gray sweatpants, a...
Penn Hills School District to replace middle school security guards with youth engagement specialists
Penn Hills School District officials believe a change in security measures may help improve student behavior at Linton Middle School. Superintendent Nancy Hines announced youth engagement specialists may replace security guards at the sixth through eighth grade school. The specialists are expected to come from Pressley Ridge, a Pittsburgh-based organization...
Pitt police: Man sought after stabbing in Oakland
A man was stabbed Friday evening in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood and city and University of Pittsburgh police are investigating. The man was stabbed shortly after 7 p.m. Friday along the 500 block of Oak Hill Drive, University of Pittsburgh police said. The suspect fled in a black vehicle toward Eckstein...
Vandergrift man accused of throwing water bottle at Pittsburgh police arrested
A Vandergrift man accused of throwing a bottle of water at police during a June 1 protest in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood has been arrested. Investigators with the Damage Assessment and Accountability Task Force, with assistance from Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office and the Vandergrift Police Department, arrested Benjamin Reynolds, 28,...
