Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 161

A Pittsburgh man allegedly attempted to extort an undercover FBI Task Force officer as part of a kidnapping hoax, federal authorities announced Wednesday. Kevin Harris, 37, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted extortion, robbery, brandishing a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of...

A Homestead man was indicted by a federal grand jury for firearms violations, authorities announced Wednesday. Michael William Horvwalt, 32, was accused of having a firearm and ammunition on Jan. 8, despite having prior felony convictions, authorities said. Federal law prohibits a felon from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The...

A federal grand jury has indicted a Pittsburgh man for firearms violations, authorities announced Wednesday. The one-count indictment named James Robert Snyder, 27, as the sole defendant. Authorities said Snyder illegally possessed a 5.45 x 39mm caliber semi-automatic Saiga rifle on Feb. 15. He was previously convicted of a felony...

Plum officials have updated their website and hired a public relations consultant in an effort to get more information out to residents. The new website, which has the same address — www.plumboro.com — launched earlier this month. Council voted 5-0 on March 11 to hire Carrie Lewis DelRosso LLC as...

Special events in Verona parks may have something extra this summer — alcohol. Borough officials are revisiting their long-time prohibition on adult beverages at the recreation sites and are considering allowing permits for such drinks, but only during major occasions. Those caught drinking in borough parks under the current law...

A Pittsburgh man was sentenced in federal court to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on LaRon Hollaman, 29, federal authorities announced Tuesday. Bissoon also ordered the sentence to...

West Mifflin Area school board members may remove district Superintendent Daniel Castagna at a special meeting Wednesday. The meeting notice was posted on the district’s website, wmasd.org. District officials claim Castagna is guilty of multiple fireable offenses, including neglect of duties and incompetence. He has denied the charges. Castagna was...

The third annual Food Truck-a-Palooza at the Monroeville Convention Center brought in a record number of trucks and participants. At least 35 trucks and 3,000 people packed the venue at 209 Mall Blvd. on Saturday. It’s presented by GoodTaste! Pittsburgh and Steel City Media. GoodTaste! Owner Dee Weinberg said it’s...

Pittston-based Choice Canning Co. is recalling approximately 35,500 pounds of chicken fried rice products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service officials made the announcement Monday night. The product contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label....

Plum officials approved a nearly $1.1 million contract with Wampum-based Youngblood Paving to repair 26 streets this year. Council awarded the project via a 5-0 vote at Monday night’s meeting. Vice President Dave Seitz and Councilman John Anderson were absent. Councilman Mike Pastor, roads, equipment and grounds committee chairman, said...

Want to do something fun in Oakmont and Plum this weekend? Here are some activities:The Oaks Theater hosts a St. Patrick’s Day party 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 310 Allegheny River Blvd. in Oakmont. The trio of David Granati, Crash McCracken and Drew Pinchotti will perform rock and roll favorites and...

East Hills DUI Task Force will conduct roving patrols and other educational enforcement activities this weekend. The task force consists of Plum, Monroeville, White Oak, North Versailles Township, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Edgewood police departments. Project coordinator is Plum officer Michael DeMarco. The enforcement/educational details will occur within the task...

Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtRaymond Crumby Jr., 56, of Pittsburgh on charges of possession of controlled substances, possession...

Plum School District food service director Jessica Griggle is a School Breakfast Hero. She was one of 11 in southwestern Pennsylvania to receive the honor from Share Our Strength, a national organization focusing on child hunger. Griggle was recognized for bringing in Second Chance and Grab and Go, both grant-funded...

Plum High School students hope they can work with administrators to resolve graduation scheduling conflicts. Senior Isabella Stoll noted that graduation originally was scheduled for June 6 but may be pushed to June 10. That, she said, would impact many district families’ plans. Multiple seniors joined Stoll at a recent...

A Pitcairn man accused of possessing heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute the drugs pleaded guilty to the crimes in federal court, authorities announced Thursday. William Kelly Penn, 33, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Nora Barry Fischer. Agents executed a search warrant at Penn’s home last...

A Mount Oliver man convicted of robbing two banks in Allegheny County has been sentenced in federal court to more than 10 years in prison, authorities announced Thursday. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak imposed the sentence on David Payo, 52. His prison time, 10 years and seven months, will...

Steel City Con, one of the largest pop culture and comic conventions in the nation and exclusive to the Monroeville Convention Center, is under new management. The event was recently taken over by Denise DeSimone of Uniontown and Bob Stein of Gibsonia. Stein is executive director of the University of...

Riverview High School musical cast members and directors plan to deliver family fun mixed with a message of individuality and acceptance in this year’s production of “Shrek the Musical.” The show is based on the DreamWorks Animation motion picture and the book by William Steig. “Bringing this fairy tale with...

Monroeville police filed the following charges Feb. 27 to March 4 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office:Timothy Mollett, 28, of McKeesport with providing false identification to law enforcement and driving with a suspended license. Charges were filed Feb. 27 in connection with an incident along the 2700 block of...

Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtJeffrey Lockard, 67, of East Liberty on charges of terroristic threats, possession of offensive weapons,...

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent. As such, it also marked the beginning of fish fry season. Many local fire departments and churches will offer various meatless dinners and a la carte items every Friday through Good Friday (April 19) as a way to help raise money for their...

Daniel Matsook has a daunting task ahead of him. As Penn Hills School District’s chief recovery officer appointed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Matsook is tasked with developing a plan to bring the financially struggling district back to solvency. Without one, the district could be placed into receivership, giving...

A woman was transported to a Pittsburgh area hospital in stable condition after crash in the city’s West End Tuesday. Department of Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri said officers responded to a report of a vehicle crash around 5:36 p.m. near the intersection of South Main Street and Noblestown Road....

Dark Hollow Woods in Oakmont may be split in two as part of a compromise to make it more dog- and bicycle-friendly. Borough recreation board member Ryan Erlich proposed council grant a six-month trial period from May 1 to Oct. 31 to test off-leash times and cycling in the woods...