Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 74

Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg is partnering with the Pittsburgh International Airport to dole out winter coats that never quite made it to their intended destination. For the fourth consecutive year, the ministry has received an array of warm weather clothes left at the airport by travelers and other visitors....

After sprouting along the Tarentum business district the past several weeks, three wildly creative straw-stuffed figures have been crowned winners in this year’s Scarecrow Contest. First place went to “Bad Hair Day,” a creation by Hailey’s Hair Creations and Spa, along Fifth Avenue. With an armful of hair dryers, combs...

Brackenridge residents cast a ballot for change on Tuesday, electing a new mayor for the first time in 12 years. Political newcomer Lindsay Fraser, who is not affiliated with any party, handily won the election against Democratic incumbent Thomas Kish by more than 30%, with a total of 275 votes...

Local veterans who served at any time and in any location are welcome to the Sharpsburg VFW for a free dinner on Sunday. “We don’t care where you live, where you served or for how long,” Post 709 Commander Pat Corcoran said. “This is veterans celebrating veterans. “We’d love to...

After years battling addiction and shunning attention, Christa Jones credits her recovery — and her family — for her transformation into a community activist. Jones, 43, of Tarentum works as an administrative supervisor at Allegheny Family Network, where she spends her days providing programs and education for parents of children...

What began as a small stack of shirts and pants for clothing emergencies at Highlands Middle School will expand in November into a large-capacity Ram’s Den open to all students. The room will stock things from sweatpants to toothpaste to canned food. “If a student is at school and has...

A bus driver with W.L. Roenigk Inc. was fired Thursday after a Pittsburgh Public Schools student was found at the company’s bus garage in McKees Rocks after sleeping through her stop. Parents of the child, a student at Pittsburgh Beechwood PreK-5, reported her missing when she didn’t get off the...

A free diaper giveaway is being held outside PNC Park from 10 a.m. to noon Friday. It will be a drive-through event in the cul-de-sac on Mazeroski way, near the right-field gate. The event by Global Links and the Western PA Diaper Bank will serve up to 500 vehicles. Families...

A man turned himself into police Thursday after Sharpsburg surveillance video showed him firing two gunshots along Main Street, one hitting a passing car. Justin Craig faces charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment stemming from the Oct. 17 incident, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. Police said Craig left...

A 12-year-old student from Chartiers Valley School District died Wednesday after collapsing at basketball practice, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Jayson Kidd, of Bridgeville, collapsed during warm-ups at about 5 p.m. and was taken to a local hospital where he died. Kidd was a student at the...

The body of a Ford City man missing since Sunday was discovered in the Allegheny River on Friday morning, according to the Armstrong County coroner. Todd Tremont, 59, was reported missing by family members, police said. Initial search efforts were focused along a Rails to Trails path near the Allegheny...

Students at Carson Middle School in North Allegheny School District saw extra security when they arrived to class Thursday after someone posted an online threat that was vague but still concerning to district officials. Officials were notified Wednesday of an online threat against a “CMS student,” Superintendent Melissa Friez told...

Some residents of Kennedy Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Perry South section had to jump to safety after their homes caught fire early Thursday, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety officials. No one was injured in the fire that spread to at least three homes. The fire, which started in a two-story home...

The recommendation by Brackenridge Zoning Hearing Board for a former personal care home to operate as a homeless shelter is a step toward much-needed housing support in the Highlands School District, a former school board member said. “We need to lift people up when they are down,” said Misty Woody,...

Sharpsburg voters will see two familiar faces on the ballot for mayor. Brittany Reno and Joe Simbari, both current council members, are competing for the office. The current mayor, Matthew Rudzki, is not running for re-election. Reno won the Democratic nomination in the May primary. Simbari got the Republican nomination...

One person was injured in a fire early Wednesday in Wall Borough, according to Allegheny County dispatchers. Emergency responders were alerted just before 8 a.m. to the fire at 617 Dawson St. Heavy flames were showing at the two-story home when firefighters arrived. Dispatchers said they did not know the...

Latrobe police have canceled a missing person alert issued early Wednesday. Daniel Jacobs, 69, has been located, police posted to social media. He is safe and in good health, police said. Officers thanked the public for its help. Jacobs had last been seen walking in the city on Oct. 14....

Motorists who travel along Route 28 should be aware of two traffic shifts today. Construction crews will be working in two separate areas in Harmar and O’Hara, with both projects impacting traffic. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., bridge work in the southbound lanes will create a single-lane restriction in...

North Hills School District students will learn online Wednesday so that district bus drivers can attend a funeral for longtime colleague Nancy Von Vreckin. A notice posted to the district’s website said Von Vreckin drove for the district more than 40 years. “Many of her closest friends were also her...

Highlands High School could be without its pool for the next several months if leaders greenlight a major renovation to resolve costly leaks. “We’ve had problems for a while, and we’ve spent more than $4,800 so far trying to solve the issue,” said Chris Reiser, the district’s buildings and grounds...

One person was killed when a dump truck collided with a train in Jefferson Hills, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. The victim has not been identified. The incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. Monday. A Wheeling and Lake Erie train had been crossing Route 51 near Worthington Drive when...

Tarentum Council is expected to rename three alleys in upper East Tarentum to resolve duplication, officials said. Council will consider the move during its Nov. 9 meeting . The alleys are named Cedar, Center and Locust. The problem is the borough also has Cedar, Center and Locust streets. “These alleys...

A man has been arrested for allegedly threatening a woman from Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood with a gun inside her home early Monday, police said. Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda Mueller said the home invasion happened in the 1800 block of Belleau Drive just before 3 a.m. Thomas Harper, 23, has been...

Penn Township Ambulance will offer free car seat safety inspections Monday. The event will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at the station, 1030 Sandy Hill Road, Irwin. Parents/caregivers can have their car seat reviewed to make sure it is the safest selection for a child’s age and weight and...

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to roll through parts of the region late Monday. Some of the showers may be strong enough to bring damaging winds and large hail, said Michael Brown, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. “It’s typical late-October weather,” Brown said. Temperatures will be mild...