Renatta Signorini stories, Page 101
Air quality action day advisory in place for Southwestern Pennsylvania
Tuesday’s hot weather means unhealthy levels of ozone in Southwestern Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Sunshine coupled with temperatures in the mid-90s prompted the agency to issue a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Outdoor activities should...
Man dead after swimming in Monongahela River in Washington County
A Washington County man died Sunday after he was pulled from the Monongahela River in New Eagle, according to the county coroner. James DeAngelo, 23, of Venetia was swimming in the river near a boat docked at the Beach Club Marina when authorities said he became unresponsive around 7:30 p.m....
Fundraising ongoing for Somerset County post-9/11 War on Terror memorial
A groundbreaking ceremony is planned this week in Somerset County for a new memorial honoring those who fought and died in the Global War on Terror. Organizer Randy Musser said the first phase of the memorial at Patriot Park, across Route 30 from the Flight 93 National Memorial, should be...
Excela Health lifting some visitor restrictions, closing covid testing center
Excela Health is closing its Unity covid-19 testing center and lifting some restrictions for hospital visitors as coronavirus cases continue to drop in Westmoreland County, officials announced. The center on Frye Farm Road opened after the first cases of the coronavirus were discovered in the county in March 2020 and...
Man charged in connection with New Alexandria crash that injured 2
An Indiana County man is headed to trial in connection with a 2019 three-vehicle crash in New Alexandria in which one person was hospitalized, according to court papers. State police said Todd Douglas McCoy, 41, of Buffington was under the influence of antidepressant and smoking cessation drugs at the time...
Penn Township woman arrested in drug bust
A Penn Township woman is behind bars after a drug bust at her home Wednesday afternoon, according to court papers. Susan Marie Basa, 59, is charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of drug possession as well as single counts of criminal use of a...
South Huntingdon man charged after gun fires inside bar
A South Huntingdon man was charged Wednesday in connection with a gun being discharged at a Sewickley Township bar last month. Andrew John Takach, 42, is facing charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. State police said they were called at 3 a.m. June 16 to the Boot Scoot’n Saloon...
Youngwood man charged with having boy steal packages from neighborhood porches
A Youngwood man was arrested Tuesday, accused by police of directing an 8-year-old boy to follow delivery trucks around the borough and steal packages dropped off at homes, according to court papers. Alexander Leon Soroka, 39, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and child endangerment. Troopers were called to...
Charges filed in 2019 Sewickley Township crash that injured 2
A North Huntingdon man was jailed Monday in connection with a 2019 drunken-driving crash in which two people were hurt, according to court papers. Brandon Lamont Pugh, 24, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, driving under the influence, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle and a dozen summary...
State, local police plan Independence Day sobriety patrols, checkpoints in Westmoreland areaVideo
Beware, Westmoreland County drivers — local and state police are going to be keeping a close eye out for intoxicated motorists over the next several days. State troopers and the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force both said they plan to have roving patrols and stationary sobriety checkpoints around the area...
Unity man accused of chasing woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield
A Unity man is behind bars after state police said he chased a woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield during a fight, according to court papers. Mucahit Demir, 25, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and walking on a highway. Troopers were called just before 1:30...
Salem man accused of fleeing, hiding from police in Route 30 chase
A Salem man is accused of speeding away from state police over the weekend on Route 30 and hiding in a wooded area before being caught, according to court papers. Aaron Patrick Weimer, 55, is charged with fleeing from police, driving under the influence and related offenses. Troopers were on...
2nd suspect charged in Jeannette shooting
A McKeesport man arraigned Monday is accused by police of ordering the April shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Jeannette, according to court papers. Brandon Lee Ingram, 24, was charged last week with solicitation to commit homicide, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Authorities said Ingram ordered his younger brother to...
Hiring still a problem across most industries
Despite inventive ways to lure new job candidates, owners and managers in many industries have been striking out for months on filling open spots. There was 20 openings in late May at Charley Family Shop ‘n Save stores in Murrysville, Hempfield and Greensburg. Co-owner Tom Charley said the grocer started...
Pandemic business survival a question of help, perseverance
Some relied on government funding to get through. In other cases, employees pitched in, volunteering their time instead of taking a paycheck. Others switched gears entirely, revamping their business plan. Whatever the means, local businesses found a way to survive months fraught with government-mandated shutdowns, capacity restrictions and headaches brought...
Fairfield man jailed; police say he stomped on woman’s head while wearing steel-toed boots
A Fairfield man is being held without bond after state police say he stomped on a woman’s head after a Christmas dinner last year, according to court papers. Zachery Allen Collier, 26, was charged Friday with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, stalking and related offenses. Troopers said Collier went to a...
Westmoreland will borrow $140 million to keep pension fund solvent
Westmoreland County plans to borrow about $140 million to bolster its pension fund. County commissioners this week unanimously approved a bond issue to ensure the fund that pays benefits to more than 1,300 government retirees remains solvent over the next 30 years. Finance director Meghan McCandless said the amount will...
2 sisters accused in break-in, attack at Mt. Pleasant Township home
Two sisters were arrested this week because state police said they broke into a Mt. Pleasant Township home and attacked a woman. Authorities said the pair came back two days later in an apparent effort to repeat the attack but left as police were being called, according to court papers....
Former Franklin Regional school director charged with stealing campaign signs
Charges were filed Wednesday against a former Franklin Regional school director after state police said he stole campaign signs belonging to three candidates. Gary J. English, 65, is facing three misdemeanor counts of theft and a summary disorderly conduct offense. He denied the allegations. “I didn’t steal any signs,” English...
Greensburg woman charged with weapons violation in shooting investigation
A Greensburg woman was charged Wednesday with a weapons violation in connection with a weekend shooting in the city. Victoria Jasmine Wilkins, 22, is facing a charge of carrying a firearm without a license, a misdemeanor. Police said in court papers she and Issac C. Morton, 20, of Greensburg retrieved...
Former Derry mayor acquitted in case involving gun pulled on 4 childrenVideo
Derry Borough’s former mayor was acquitted of all charges against him Wednesday in a 2019 incident in which he pulled gun during a fight among three children at a park. Jurors deliberated for nearly four hours and cleared Kevin M. Gross, 40. He had been charged with simple assault, reckless...
Expert testifies on use of force at former Derry mayor’s trial
A police use-of-force expert testified Tuesday that he believed the former Derry Borough mayor acted appropriately when he used a gun to stop a fight among three children because he believed a knife was involved. Cliff Jobe Jr., a retired state trooper, said Kevin M. Gross, 40, made attempts to...
Greensburg man charged with sexually assaulting girl
A Greensburg man in a probationary program on child endangerment and cruelty to animals charges was arraigned Sunday, charged with sexually assaulting a girl, according to court papers. John Harry Patak III, 30, is charged with aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors and related offenses. City police...
Vandergrift man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 2 girls
A Vandergrift man pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting two girls, avoiding trial. Eric Jermain Emory, 35, will be sentenced June 28. Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney James Lazar said Emory waived a presentence investigation. Prosecutors are recommending a state prison sentence for Emory, who has been jailed since July....
Leechburg man gets probation in crash that seriously injured woman
Life hasn’t been the same for Helen Shaw after her car was forced off the road in Allegheny Township by an unlicensed driver. She can’t do some her favorite activities, like swim or take her dog for a walk, because the pain becomes overwhelming. Mostly, she stays at home. “The...
