Renatta Signorini stories, Page 2
Limits on commercial water use at Beaver Run Reservoir sought by environmental group
An environmental group on Thursday asked Westmoreland County commissioners to ban the removal of water by fracking companies from Beaver Run Reservoir during periods of drought. Gillian Graber, executive director of Protect PT, a nonprofit citizen environmental group, said the concerns were brought to the commissioners after similar requests made...
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pat McAfee wager on Penguins-Flyers playoff series
The impending NHL hockey playoff series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers has even the state’s governor getting in on the action. Though he represents all of Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro says he is decidedly a Philadelphia fan when it comes to sports. Shapiro made a friendly wager with...
Jeannette boosts pay for new patrol officers to address 3 open positions
Two agreements between Jeannette and its police union are aimed at filling three open full-time positions in the department and alleviating rising overtime costs. Council approved the measures that will increase pay for new hires in 2026 and allow the police chief to collect overtime pay. So far this year,...
Jeannette parks could see camera installation
Cameras could be installed at five parks in Jeannette this summer. City officials are seeking bids for the installation of 12 cameras that will provide police with a direct link to the goings on at the parks. “We’ve had some vandalism in the parks,” said city manager Ethan Keedy. A...
State police make arrest after killing of pet cat
State police made an arrest Tuesday in connection with what they described as the brutal killing of a pet cat in Derry Township. Police charged Tyler Rost-Maiolie, 27, with aggravated animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and related offenses. A resident on Guthrie Road, just off Route 981 north of New Alexandria,...
Greensburg another step closer on easements for Northmont flood control project
An easement agreement was approved Monday with one of two Hempfield property owners who have been in negotiations with Greensburg officials related to a flood control project in the Northmont neighborhood. Greensburg council on Monday OK’d the agreement, which calls for a $26,000 payment to John Maline, owner of property...
Jeannette receives land that would allow expansion of public works department
The Westmoreland County Land Bank is donating a property to Jeannette that could be used for future expansion of its public works garage. City council last week approved the donation of the land on North Fourth Street that shares a border with the public works property. The land bank acquired...
Ligonier gazebo plays prominent role in trailer for ‘Hershey’ filmVideo
Ligonier’s Diamond features prominently in the trailer for the film “Hershey,” set to premiere in theaters on Thanksgiving. Near the end of the 2-minute trailer, released Monday, buildings around the Diamond and the gazebo at the center of it are shown during a celebration scene. Filming took place in the...
Former Manor police officer sentenced for impersonating UPMC officer, theft
A former Manor police officer was sentenced to three years of probation for impersonating a UPMC police officer at a health system building and taking credit cards and a key from an employee’s office, according to Allegheny County court records. Justin R. Hall, 41, of Washington Township pleaded guilty and...
Hospital plans parking for 95 cars on West Otterman in Greensburg
A building on West Otterman Street in Greensburg is slated to be demolished to make way for additional parking for Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital. Health system chief marketing and communications officer Kelley Skoloda said demolition of the former Overly Door Co. building is expected to start this month. The land...
Greensburg man accused of raping teen
A Greensburg man accused by police of raping a teenage girl was arrested Thursday. Greensburg police said DNA belonging to Bill Rey Murray, 29, was found on clothing worn by the girl who reported the sexual assault in October, according to court papers. Murray denied sexual contact with the girl...
Former South Greensburg fire chief accused in apparent theft of $290K from cemetery association
The former South Greensburg fire chief was arraigned Thursday morning on a felony theft count involving $290,500 that went missing from St. Clair Cemetery Association in Hempfield. Matthew Thomas White, 49, of Hempfield overpaid himself for salary and commission and wrote himself checks that were deleted from the accounting system,...
Monessen church seeks donations for generators to be sent to Ukraine
A Monessen church is collecting donations that will be used to send generators to people in Ukraine where war has been raging for more than four years. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church is taking part in the Power of Hope program, an effort being coordinated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church...
St. Clair Park improvements may be considered by Greensburg officials
Greensburg officials are planning to take a look at St. Clair Park to see if improvements can be made. Council is expected to vote next week on a measure to retain architectural engineering services to examine the green space. Mayor Robb Bell said if the measure is passed, the planning...
Police seek identity of man involved in fight outside Export pubVideo
State police are seeking help from the public to identify a man seen throwing punches last month outside Jigger’s Pub in Export. The man is seen in surveillance video released by police Tuesday walking out of the bar onto a sidewalk and talking to two people who were outside just...
Electric bill scam snares Derry Township man
A Derry Township man was tricked by a scam Monday after receiving a call from someone who claimed he was delinquent on his electric bill, according to state police. Troopers said the caller claimed to be representing Direct Energy and said the resident’s power would be shut off if a...
Input sought on plan to reduce deer population at national park sitesVideo
A public meeting is scheduled for mid-April as officials at Southwestern Pennsylvania’s three national parks finalize a plan to manage an overpopulation of white-tailed deer. The plan has been in the works for more than a year as deer have had a detrimental effect on vegetation at Flight 93 National...
Jeannette considers pay boost for overnight firefighters
Jeannette fire Chief Bill Frye is seeking a higher wage for firefighters who cover overnight shifts. Frye is asking city council to consider raising the hourly rate from $8.25 to $12 in an effort to encourage firefighters to spend the night at the fire station. They respond to calls alongside...
IronRock Tap House in Hempfield is set to become Plaza Azteca
A sale is pending to transfer the former IronRock Tap House in Hempfield to the owners of Plaza Azteca, a Mexican restaurant with locations in 12 states. Jesse Cortez, commercial real estate adviser with The Colony Agency, on Friday confirmed Plaza Azteca is under contract to buy the property along...
State trooper found not guilty of domestic violence back on duty
A state trooper who was acquitted last year of domestic violence allegations has returned to work, according to a Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson. Trooper Nicholas E. Hood, 33, had been suspended without pay in early 2024 as charges of simple assault and harassment were filed against him by the state...
Police: North Huntingdon man used handgun to threaten municipal authority worker
A North Huntingdon man was arraigned Thursday morning on police accusations that he threatened a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County worker with a handgun. Township police said the worker was turning off the water at Mykola Prut’s home Wednesday when Prut chased him with the weapon, according to court papers....
Tax clinic set on IRS audits, denied claims and penalties
A federal tax clinic is being planned for April 10 to help low-income individuals and families navigate legal issues with the Internal Revenue Service. Summit Legal Aid’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic will be held at the Laurel Highlands Workforce and Opportunity Center at 310 Donohoe Road in Hempfield. Attorneys and legal...
$7.5M Fallingwater project designed to ensure iconic home will stand the test of time
The results of a $7.5 million preservation project at iconic Fallingwater are practically invisible to visitors. This subtlety was entirely intentional, as the primary goal was to ensure architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s revolutionary home design stays intact for decades without altering its historic aesthetic. Finishing touches are wrapping up at...
Straight-line winds damage properties in North Huntingdon
When Frank Kingerski peeked out of his North Huntingdon home Wednesday after an overnight tornado warning, he noticed something was missing. All four of his sheds had disappeared, mangled into pieces and scattered through a grassy field behind his house. “It was devastating,” he said while surveying the damage to...
Hempfield man charged with DUI in fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 70
A Hempfield man was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of a fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 that involved three tractor-trailers, according to state police. Daniel W. Oliver, 80, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of risking a catastrophe, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and...
