Renatta Signorini stories, Page 68
Westmoreland law enforcement agencies get $1.5M in grants
Five law enforcement agencies in Westmoreland County have been awarded $1.5 million in state funding that will help at least two of them make technology upgrades. The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office received the largest share of the five, $497,000, from the local law enforcement support grant program through the...
Vintage blow mold figurines are hot this holiday season
It didn’t take long for the angel blow mold Christmas decoration Laura Kochasic dropped off for sale at L&L Fleatique II in Adamsburg to find a new home — someone bought it the same day. The vintage hollow plastic holiday light-up figures have resurged in popularity this year with retailers...
Sewickley Township woman charged in fatal crash
A Sewickley Township woman is accused of being impaired when she crossed over the center line of Arona Road, slamming head-on into another vehicle and killing its driver, according to court records. Ahna L. Malik, 43, was arrested last week on charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the...
Florida man charged in $74,000 theft from Saint Vincent College
A Florida man was jailed this week without bail on state police accusations that he used fraudulent checks to steal nearly $74,000 from Saint Vincent College, according to court papers. Troopers said Alfredo N. Paiva Matos, 28, deposited the checks into a bank account belonging to NPM Alliance Corp., what...
16-year-old boy surrenders to police, is charged in Monessen teen’s death
A 16-year-old boy accused in the fatal shooting of another Monessen teen surrendered to authorities Wednesday evening on homicide charges. Terry Newton was arraigned and is being held without bail at Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said authorities and sheriff’s deputies had searched...
1 seriously injured in Hempfield crash
A Greensburg woman was taken to a hospital with serious injuries Monday after state police said she crashed into an SUV at the intersection of Toll and Business Route 66 in Hempfield. Troopers said Deborah O. Anderson, 62, did not stop at a stop sign at the end of an...
Florida man charged in retail theft ring that hit Hempfield Ross store
An undercover state trooper helped crack an organized retail theft operation that officials said has been targeting Ross Dress for Less stores in 10 states, including one in Hempfield, according to court papers. On Saturday, a Florida man police believe is involved in the ring was arrested. Yan R. Duquesne...
Station wagon crashes in Penn Township after police chase, driver charged
An Allegheny County woman who did not have a valid drivers license was arrested Saturday after leading Jeannette police on a chase on Route 130 and colliding with other vehicles, according to court papers. Police said Anessa Lynn Short, 21, of Port Vue, was impaired at the time. She is...
Westmoreland district attorney announces online information platform
A new tool will provide citizens with updates about crime investigations and prosecutions from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. The Crimewatch online platform, which is designed for law enforcement, will give residents access to information related to crime and public safety. Residents can choose to receive notifications about new...
Former Westmoreland youth services center director files discrimination lawsuit
The former director of Westmoreland County’s Regional Youth Services Center claims in a federal lawsuit that she was discriminated against when she was replaced by a man who made $25,000 more than her. Nicole Kamer of East Vandergrift filed the action against the county Friday. In February 2020, Kamer was...
‘Union Station Riot’ depicts dark side of railroad strike
A painting at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art shows the dark side of a railroad strike in 1877. The oil painting, titled “Union Station Riot,” depicts the station in Pittsburgh’s Strip District on fire during the Great Railroad Strike. Its artist, Martin B. Leisser, was there reporting for Harper’s...
Jeannette turns down offer from county to pay for patrols at housing complex
Jeannette police will not be doing extra patrols beyond their regular duties at Jeannette Manor after a city council majority rejected a proposed agreement with the Westmoreland County Housing Authority. The housing authority had offered $20,000 that would be paid as overtime to city officers for their work doing the...
Stowe woman accused of bilking $13K in Westmoreland rental assistance cash for properties she doesn’t own
An Allegheny County woman is accused of stealing $13,000 in emergency rental assistance after police said she claimed to be the landlord of two properties in Murrysville and Export, according to court papers. Janice L. Koranteng, 57, of Stowe was arraigned this week on charges of theft, forgery, identity theft...
Texas truck driver granted bail in Hempfield hit-and-run case
A Texas man was granted bail Thursday after spending two weeks behind bars in connection with a Hempfield hit and run that left a man seriously injured. District Judge Joseph DeMarchis set $100,000 bail for Quantae Beavers, 25, of Dallas. DeMarchis previously denied bail after Beavers’ Nov. 30 arrest in...
Donations down as Salvation Army kettle drive nears final stretch before Christmas
Todd Harris’ well-wishing bellows and bell ringing can be heard throughout a Hempfield parking lot when he’s on duty. The Greensburg man is dedicated to volunteering for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign, ringing a bell so much during his shifts that he hears it in his sleep. He is...
Man arrested after Jeannette flashlight attack
A city man who Jeannette police said attacked another man with a flashlight this week turned himself in Thursday. Authorities had sought information on his whereabouts after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The wounded man was taken to a hospital for numerous face and head injuries, police said....
Allegheny jail officer suspended after crash, DUI charges in North Huntingdon
A Penn Township man arrested last week in connection with a North Huntingdon drunken-driving crash that left another motorist seriously injured is suspended without pay from his job at the Allegheny County Jail. A county spokeswoman said Dwight D. Edwards has worked as a corrections officer at the jail for...
$10K reward offered for information about embalmed head found in Beaver County
A $10,000 reward is being offered for this week only in the bizarre case of a woman’s embalmed head that was found lying along a road in Beaver County in 2014. The Beaver County Detective Bureau and Economy Borough police are offering a $5,000 reward that is being matched by...
Woman accused in robbery slips handcuffs, found driving stolen truck, officers say
An Allegheny County woman arrested in a robbery at a Hempfield store Saturday is accused of slipping out of a handcuff at the state police station and stealing a pickup before being stopped on Route 22 in Murrysville, according to court papers. Kristy R. Zalac, 33, of Liberty is being...
‘It wasn’t easy,’ but Jeannette holds line on taxes
Jeannette Council passed a 2023 spending plan Thursday that does not include a property tax increase. The $5.9 million budget includes plenty of spending cuts as the city saw revenues decrease. Chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy attributed the decrease to a lower amount of earned-income tax funds that could be...
Volunteers sought for new Jeannette recreation board
Jeannette is creating a recreation board that, council members hope, will be made up of volunteers interested in providing activities for all city residents. Council gave an initial approval Thursday to an ordinance establishing the board. The ordinance must pass a second vote before it is official. People already are...
Trevor Noah signs off of ‘Daily Show’ with heartfelt farewellVideo
Seven years after stepping into the role, Trevor Noah bid farewell Thursday night on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” During his final episode, Noah thanked his fans and audience, as well as Black women in his life and in America. He appeared to become teary-eyed when talking about Black women...
Amazon will tip your delivery driver if you ‘thank’ them through Alexa
Amazon customers with Alexa-enabled devices can send a dose of goodwill to their delivery driver through a program the company announced this week. And the gratitude won’t cost the customer anything. Customers can use the device to say “Alexa, thank my driver” to have an appreciative message — and $5...
East Huntingdon man arrested after setting fire to Reservoir Street home
An East Huntingdon man is behind bars after state police said he started a fire Wednesday morning in the house where he lives with a relative, according to court papers. Joseph C. Bosas, 59, was charged with aggravated arson, reckless burning, risking catastrophe and related offenses. Police and firefighters were...
Police say man stole ambulance from Mt. Washington medical call
An Ohio man was arrested early Friday after Pittsburgh police said he stole an ambulance while paramedics were handling a medical call in Mt. Washington. Paramedics were treating a patient around 4:30 a.m. on West Sycamore Street when the ambulance was stolen. Authorities said it was driven onto the Parkway...
