Western PA Local News category, Page 1089
Oakmont man guilty of 3rd-degree murder in 3-year-old daughter’s death
An Oakmont man was convicted of third-degree murder in the starvation death of his daughter. Bella Seachrist, 3, died June 9, 2020, after she became unresponsive and was taken to UPMC St. Margaret hospital near Aspinwall. In addition to the homicide charge, Jose Salazar-Ortiz Sr., 32, was found guilty of aggravated...
Norwin elementary school teacher is finalist for state teacher of the year
The state Department of Education announced Friday that Rachel Kalberer, an elementary teacher in the Norwin School District, is among 12 educators nominated to be the 2024 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. Other finalists and their school districts are: Anthony Angelini, Conewago Valley; Brittney Bell, Carmichaels Area; Jonathan Bickel, Eastern...
Pittsburgh releases annual farmers market schedule
Pittsburgh this week announced the city’s 2023 farmers market schedule, with sites this year in Squirrel Hill, East End, Carrick and North Side. All markets sell farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese and baked goods, city officials said, and several sites also sell flowers, small gifts and hot prepared foods. “CitiParks...
Girardi, Karaica seek Lower Valley district judge seat
For the first time in more than 20 years, the Lower Valley magisterial district will have a new judge. Mitchell Karaica, 50, of Springdale, and Michael Girardi, 37, of Cheswick, are seeking the seat currently held by David Sosovicka. Sosovicka is not seeking reelection to instead pursue senior judge status....
Army Corps announces upper Allegheny River lock openings for boaters
Locks on the upper Allegheny River will be open during specific dates and times this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District announced Friday. The corps will provide locking services to recreational boaters through a partnership with the Allegheny River Development Corp. Allegheny River locks six through nine...
Ligonier Township crash sends 1 to hospital
One motorist was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment following a Friday morning wreck in Ligonier Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. Firefighters freed the motorist by removing a door of the vehicle that crashed shortly after 9:30 a.m. along Route 30 near the former...
Delmont approves ‘jake brake’ ordinance
Delmont residents may not get the “no-jake-brake” signs exactly where they want them, but they will get several installed in the borough. When residents initially brought complaints to council about trucks using the Jacobs engine brake system, commonly called “jake brakes,” Delmont police Chief T.J. Klobucar had concerns about enforcement,...
Apollo man accused of tackling, strangling woman during argument ordered to stand trial
An Apollo man accused of tackling a woman and strangling her during an argument has been ordered to stand trial. Joseph Kipling Norris, 38, of the 300 block of South Fourth Street was charged with a felony count of strangulation along with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. Norris waived...
Kiski Township supervisor candidate’s Only Fans page sparks criminal investigation
Only Fans strikes again. A candidate for Kiski Township supervisor is the latest person forced to contend with leaked news that she has a page on the social media site featuring racy photos of herself. But it might not be supervisor candidate Brittany Hilliard who ends up paying the price...
$4.4 million East End property retains century-old charm, grandeur
The 14,000-square-foot residence in Pittsburgh’s East End known as the Kelly House can comfortably accommodate a party of 100 guests or more. Despite its size, it also has a cozy feel that makes it perfect for family gatherings. Set on a 1.4-acre lot at 1145 Beechwood Blvd., the grand brick...
Morning Roundup: Implosions raze portion of closed Washington County power plant
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, May 12, 2023: Implosions level closed Washington County power plant A series of two controlled implosions razed part of a shuttered coal-fired power plant in Elrama, Washington County, on. Friday. An initial implosion shortly after 9:30 a.m, announced...
Police charge teens in Penn Hills carjacking
Penn Hills police have charged three 15-year-old boys in the robbery and carjacking of a pizza delivery driver Wednesday night in township. Police said the driver for Domino’s Pizza was bleeding from a cut above his eye when officers arrived shortly after 11:30 p.m. at Pennoak Manor Drive. The driver...
New Greensburg GetGo store part of convenience trend in downtown food options
The GetGo Cafe + Market gas station and convenience chain expects to have a downtown Greensburg location open by early August, taking the place of a shuttered Family Video store that was razed to make way for the new business on South Main Street, near Euclid Avenue. It’s a change...
Airfares take a dip ahead of summer vacation season
Airfare is down a bit from this time last year for Americans eager to travel again. But it’s still more expensive to pack your bags and board a flight than before the covid-19 pandemic. The overall cost of travel is up 18% compared with April 2019 and up 2% versus...
Westmoreland human service department expansion to focus on public health, welfare
Westmoreland County’s new human services department will be expanded to advocate for health and welfare concerns, including homelessness prevention, and programs to deal with food insecurity. Commissioners this week approved creation of four new positions and revised job descriptions for two others as part of an overall increase in the...
The Stroller, May 12, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free gardening program offered in New Kensington Penn State Master Gardeners...
Ligonier Township supervisors question work done by fellow board member’s company
Two Ligonier Township supervisors are raising concerns after a company co-owned by a fellow board member did about $15,500 worth of work for the municipality over four years. But Supervisor John Beaufort said he was trying to leverage his background in construction and project management in an effort to help...
New Kensington schedules public hearing on motorcycle club’s use of building
A public hearing is scheduled on a motorcycle club’s request to use a building in a residential area of New Kensington as its clubhouse. City council will hold the hearing Monday, May 22. The Vultures Motorcycle Club goes into the hearing already fighting an uphill battle. The city’s planning commission...
Giant Eagle no longer king of Western Pa. grocery market as Walmart, other stores draw more shoppers
Shoppers may have more options for where they buy their eggs and butter these days, but two grocers dominate Southwestern Pennsylvania by far. Walmart and Giant Eagle together took nearly half of the grocery dollars in the region last year. Despite O’Hara-based Giant Eagle being the hometown grocer, Walmart has...
Failures aside, banks remain a safe bet for most people’s money
Despite the high-profile failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank this year, most bank deposits are safe because of federal insurance, local bank officials and a financial expert said. “The majority of the deposits are safe because they are insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance...
3 Democrats running for mayor in Mt. Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant Mayor Diane Bailey will face two Democratic challengers in Tuesday’s primary election. The winner will face off in the fall against Republican Nicholas Lucia, who in unopposed on the GOP ballot in a bid to succeed his grandfather as mayor. Jerry Lucia died Dec. 17, 2021, at 76,...
Hampton Council debates referendum to provide option for tax increase
Hampton Township Council floated the possibility of adding a referendum to November’s ballot that would give them the option to increase the earned income tax rate. While council members seemed to agree about the necessity of this change, they disagreed on whether the referendum should be voted on this November...
Authorities: Pittsburgh man arrested while attempting to flee the country
Authorities say a Pittsburgh man, facing charges in Allegheny County, was arrested while attempting to flee the country Wednesday night. 30-year-old Emeka Ukaegbu is facing charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief after allegedly breaking into a North Side apartment and taking several items. Pittsburgh police charged Ukaegbu in December...
Officials ID dead body found along Ohio River shoreline at Neville Island
Officials have identified a man found dead Thursday afternoon along the Ohio River in Ohio Township as a Pittsburgh man who was reported missing in March. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Brandon Pfeifer Davis, 22, was pronounced dead shortly after 2:15 p.m. Thursday in the 2800 block of...
Westmoreland approves $12 million finance package for New Kensington-Arnold development
The Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday approved a $12 million financial package to support construction of a manufacturing development that straddles New Kensington and Arnold. The commissioners will allocate $1 million from the county’s covid-relief funds and another $3 million from the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. The money will...
