Patrick Varine stories, Page 89
Pennsylvania legislators urge support for bill requiring insurance to cover donor breast milkVideo
Pennsylvania legislators will join community advocates Wednesday to promote a bill that would authorize insurance coverage for medically prescribed pasteurized donor breast milk to infants with serious health conditions. “Without human donor breast milk, I don’t know where my babies would be,” said Jessica Rhodes of West Mifflin. “The alternative...
DNA from welding glove leads to arrest of Delmont break-in suspect
DNA evidence from a welding glove left at the scene of a 2020 burglary in Delmont led to the arrest of a Washington Township man on Monday. Jesse T. Noble, 26, was charged with burglary, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and possession of instruments of crime in connection...
Local events mark 5th annual National Vietnam War Veterans Day
The national recognition of Vietnam War veterans this week is a way of showing appreciation to a group who likely did not get the welcome home they deserved, a Westmoreland County veterans affairs official said. “The Vietnam War veterans came home to a different welcome than previous generations,” said Matt...
Small plane damaged during landing at Palmer airport in Unity
No one was injured when a small plane skidded on the runway Monday morning at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity, according to emergency officials. “His gear collapsed as the plane was landing,” said airport executive director Gabe Monzo. “There were two people on board the plane, which was out...
Scattered snow showers snarl traffic throughout Western Pennsylvania
Sunday’s snowy weather has emergency crews responding to a number of crashes across western Pennsylvania as winter makes a last gasp before spring. About an inch-and-a-half of snow that began accumulating late Saturday night caused state police to close the Walworth bridge carrying Lincoln Highway over Route 119 in Southwest...
Franklin Regional approves sporting clays student club sport
Tony Bucciero was at a sporting clay fundraiser when his shooting foursome included the coach of a youth clay-shooting team. “He was telling me they had 80 kids, more than the football team, and that they had to cut it off at 80,” the Murrysville resident said. Over at the...
‘I love bringing people together’: Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP meets for prayer luncheonVideo
The last time the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP held an event, it was a prayer breakfast at the former Ramada on Route 30. That was two years ago. Now, the Ramada is torn down and gone, like a great many other things during the same period of time, said branch President Ruth...
Pittsburgh police: Missing man safely located
Pittsburgh Police detectives thanked the public for their help locating a missing man they said was endangered. Brendan Crowley, 35, was safely located as of 10:50 p.m. on Saturday night, according to police. He had last been seen in the city’s Oakland neighborhood on Tuesday, March 22....
Pittsburgh’s Girl Talk to release full-length album with Wiz Khalifa, Smoke DZA, Big K.R.I.T.
Pittsburgh music producer Gregg Gillis made an international name for himself mashing things together — the Spencer Davis Group and Texas rappers Underground Kingz. Procol Harum and Lil’ Jon. Black Sabbath and Ludacris. On April 8, Gillis — better known as Girl Talk — will debut his latest effort, but...
East suburbs mountain biking team seeks new members as 2022 season approaches
When Becket Pottinger of Murrysville advanced to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard U14 Eastern Ski Championships this month, his father credited his training — both on and off the slopes. “He was beating kids by three and four seconds, and honestly a lot of that has to do with biking,”...
Murrysville area: Cleanup week, youth fishing tournament, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Municipal cleanup week begins April 25 Murrysville Cleanup Week will take place April 25-30. Residents can receive permit passes to take items to the Valley Landfill, 6015 Pleasant Valley Road, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the week, and from 7-11...
Gateway brings back musical originally planned for 2020
In 2020, Gateway band director James Hoeltje was in the middle of rehearsing a song from the musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” called “Toledo Surprise,” when the cast got its own surprise. They were sent home, at first for two weeks and then for the remainder of the school year as...
Indiana Township farm’s goat cheese wins top spot at World Cheese Championships in WisconsinVideo
An Indiana Township farm has partnered with local businesses to create one of the world’s best cheeses, at least according to the judges at the World Championship Cheese Contest, held March 1-3 in Wisconsin. Bamboozle cheese, created from a blend of goat and cow’s milk at Goat Rodeo Farm &...
State police: Phone scammers seeking donations for fallen troopers’ families
If you get a call asking to donate to the families of two fallen Pennsylvania state troopers, the president of their association wants you to know: It’s fake. The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association warned residents statewide this week about groups pretending to raise money for the families of troopers Martin...
Police: Rankin man charged in connection with fatal Knoxville shooting
A 23-year-old Rankin man was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting Friday in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood. Akeyba Sanchez was charged with criminal homicide and denied bail, according to court documents. Zone 3 police officers on patrol near Brownsville Road and Bausman Street heard gunshots around 2:45 a.m. on Friday,...
Pennsylvania tick survey turns up concentrations of rare Powassan virus variety
In the final year of a statewide tick surveillance program that began in 2018, state researchers are seeing a troubling uptick in a form of Powassan virus carried by black-legged ticks, the same species that spreads Lyme disease. Deer tick virus was present in more than 80% of tick samples...
Murrysville GOP organizer will challenge Silvis in 55th District
A Murrysville political organizer will challenge fellow Republican and state Rep. Jason Silvis in the May primary election for the newly shaped 55th District. Jill Cooper of Murrysville been active in local politics for more than a decade, working as part of the Murrysville Export Republican Committee and serving as...
Study identifies potential east suburb path to connect Westmoreland, Allegheny trails
Allegheny County officials on Friday released a feasibility study for a project connecting the Westmoreland Heritage Trail to the Great Allegheny Passage by way of the Turtle Creek Valley, which runs through Pittsburgh’s east suburbs. Several proposed routes could serve to link the Westmoreland Heritage Trail from its western terminus...
Murrysville teen heads to eastern regional skiing championships in Vermont
The competition generated by sibling rivalry means that following in your big brother’s or sister’s footsteps isn’t always appealing. But for Becket Pottinger of Murrysville, whose older siblings were both competitive skiers, it’s motivation. “Watching the way they ski, hearing the advice they’ve been given, plus going to almost all...
American wagyu proves popular with Crabtree butcher, though some have beef with price
Gary Bardine isn’t into social-media commenter flame wars. The fourth-generation butcher at Bardine’s Country Smokehouse in Crabtree is into good, quality food — even if it generates a few negative comments on his Facebook page. “I brought some American wagyu in as a gift for my brother,” Bardine said. “He...
Faced with loss of his district, state Rep. Bob Brooks opts not to run for re-election
When the new maps for Pennsylvania’s legislative districts were released, state Rep. Bob Brooks was more than a little disappointed to discover his 54th District was being shifted across the state to the Norristown area. On Thursday, the Murrysville Republican announced he will not seek re-election. “Government has many forces...
Murrysville: Easter pet photos, youth fishing tournament, scholarships, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Easter pet photos session at Heritage Trail The Murrysville Recreation Department will host an Easter pet photos session from 10 a.m. to noon, April 9 at the Westmoreland Heritage Trail visitor center on Route 22. The event is free to attend, but...
Debate continues about teaching ‘Persepolis’ at Franklin Regional schools
Franklin Regional School Board members, administrators and parents on Wednesday continued their discussion about the district’s decision to pause the teaching of “Persepolis,” Marjane Satrapi’s award-winning graphic novel, in the ninth grade honors English class. District officials said earlier this month that the school board’s curriculum committee wanted to make...
1 dead following Washington County house fire
A Carroll Township man died of injuries suffered during a fire at his home early Thursday morning, according to emergency officials. Firefighters were called to Van Voorhis Lane in Carroll, across the Monongahela River from Monessen, around 5:15 a.m. Thursday morning. Crews from Carroll Township, Bentleyville, Monongahela, New Eagle and...
Fayette County man arrested after charging state police with knives
State police arrested a Perry man they said charged them armed with a pair of large knives on Tuesday. Troopers responded to a residence near Water and First streets in Perry Township, Fayette County, shortly after 1 a.m., for a report of man who had ingested rat poison and threatened...
