Western PA Local News category, Page 1345
Police: Man shot in chest in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood
A man was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after being shot in the chest in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood. Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said officers were dispatched around 10:25 a.m. Wednesday for a reported shooting along the 7200 block of Bennett Street. Officers found a man in a...
Pittsburgh man accused of killing off-duty Oakdale officer ordered to stand trial
A Pittsburgh man accused of killing an off-duty Oakdale police officer following a road rage incident in July will stand trial. Kevin McSwiggen, 40, appeared for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Nick Martini. Following testimony, all charges were held for trial, including charges of criminal homicide and two...
Sewickley officials delay taking action on parish demolition request
Sewickley officials want a structural study done on a historic district property before possibly authorizing its demolition. Council tabled action at its Sept. 13 meeting on a recommendation by the borough’s historic review commission to deny a demolition request from the the Divine Redeemer Parish. Parish officials want to raze...
Double bubbles: Plum artist’s work featured on cans from pair of breweries
Move over, Andy Warhol. You’re familiar with his Campbell’s Soup Cans, the paintings that rocked the art world when he unveiled them — wow! — 60 years ago. Today, quite a few artists are rocking a different type of can, one that may be even more popular than soup: Beer....
Cloggers, runners, kayaks and more Freeport September by the River festival
Live music, craft and food vendors, and activities galore will highlight Freeport’s September by the River celebration Saturday and Sunday. “We hope to cater to loyal attendees over the years and bring in some new folks,” said Cheyenne Filous, secretary of the Freeport Renaissance Association, which is sponsoring the event....
Lower Burrell to crack down on sewage bill scofflaws
While most Lower Burrell residents pay their sewage and recycling bills, owners of homes with wells and vacant homes in the city have delinquent bills totaling almost $172,500. City council intends to do something about that. It is preparing to pass an ordinance that will allow the city to put...
Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam banned from, then reinstated to Airbnb
Bethany Hallam was just about finished planning her late October birthday vacation to watch the Steelers play in Miami, then travel to North Carolina for the Pitt-UNC game, and then finish in Philadelphia to see the Steelers take on the Eagles. “It’s like my dream birthday trip,” said Hallam, who,...
Scottdale coffee shop owners have reason to celebrate during this year’s fall festival
When Melville Petrosky first entered the coffee shop in the former Collections by Marty building in Scottdale a few years ago to see a friend’s artwork on display, he had to leave. Not because he didn’t like the space, but because he loved it. “I always wanted a coffee shop,”...
Glassport man accused of selling guns stolen from North Huntingdon home
A Glassport man accused by police of selling several guns stolen from a North Huntingdon home was arraigned Wednesday on theft charges. John S. Hudak, 47, took photographs of the guns and communicated with potential buyers through Facebook messages, according to court papers. Police believe 13 handguns and long guns...
Westmoreland set to end deal with Monessen for blight project
Westmoreland commissioners on Thursday are expected to terminate a contract with Monessen to coordinate a plan to remove blighted properties in the city. Officials signed off on a $7,500 deal late last year in which the county planning department would oversee efforts to identify and publicize efforts to remove dilapidated...
Video shows route that police say man took to get gasoline before burning Homewood house, killing 3
When Rico Carter arrived at his burning house early on the morning of Dec. 20, 2017, he raced toward it, hoping to save his mother, girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter. But in a chaotic scene capture in a police car dashcam video, Carter was intercepted near the front porch by...
Greensburg OKs 5-year union contract, code enforcement retirement and hiring
Union members of Greensburg’s recreation and public works and operations staffs will see annual pay hikes under a new five-year contract. City council this week approved the contract with Teamsters Local 30 that runs from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2027. The 21 workers included in the bargaining unit...
Debate persists over proposed zoning changes for Oakland neighborhood
Residents and community leaders remain at odds about a package of proposed zoning changes for Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. The future of development and zoning regulations in the neighborhood has been a hotly contested issue for months as a controversial development, neighborhood plan and zoning package have left the neighborhood divided....
Hempfield man stopped at Delmont Dairy Queen with guns told police he was ‘fighting the shadow fake presidency’
A 2021 involuntary mental health commitment prohibited a Hempfield man from possessing a firearm, but Delmont police said they confiscated three loaded handguns from him after an incident at a Dairy Queen on Saturday, according to court papers released Wednesday. The man claimed to be an undercover state trooper who...
Pittsburgh man accused of killing off-duty Oakdale officer ordered to stand trial
A Pittsburgh man accused of killing an off-duty Oakdale police officer following a road rage incident in July will stand trial. Kevin McSwiggen, 40, appeared for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Nick Martini. Following testimony, all charges were held for trial including charges of criminal homicide and two...
Former NFL player attacked North Versailles woman in front of her 11-year-old son, police say
A former NFL player is accused of breaking into a North Versailles home and beating a woman in front of her 11-year-old son earlier this week. Rontez Miles, 33, of Forest Hills, is charged with burglary, aggravated assault, simple assault and criminal mischief in connection with the alleged attack. A...
Aging and the Healthy Brain: Monroeville church presents educational program
Area residents learned about Aging and the Health Brain on Sept. 12 at Monroeville United Methodist Church. The free educational program was planned by the church’s Adult Ministries Committee and the Health and Wellness Committee. The event focused on the process of healthy brain aging and the mental health challenges...
Man who stabbed cousin to death gets reduction in sentence
An Allegheny County Common Pleas judge on Wednesday reduced the sentence for a man convicted of stabbing his cousin to death. Emmanual Jones, who was originally ordered to serve 8 1/2 to 17 years in prison will now serve seven to 14 years. Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski handed down the...
Rotary Club of Monroeville to host International Day of Peace celebration
The Rotary Club of Monroeville is preparing for its first International Day of Peace event. The event will be hosted at the Peace Pole in Monroeville Community Park West at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21. In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly declared every third Tuesday of September as International Day...
Pittsburgh launches online tool to share budget information
Pittsburgh officials on Wednesday launched a new online tool that aims to encourage residents to learn more about the city’s budget. The online tool allows residents to find information about the budget process and where money goes. City officials touted the initiative as a way to increase transparency and awareness...
Kiski Area’s new curriculum director eager to help students ‘reach their full potential’
A new curriculum-related position with a federal focus has been added to the lineup of administrative jobs in Kiski Area School District. Emily Mather is the new director of curriculum and instruction and the director of federal programs. Her annual salary is $110,000. Mather began the new job July 1....
Facebook petition drive starts in support of North Allegheny library secretarial positions
Members of an online Facebook group are hoping to make their voices heard in any discussion regarding whether library secretarial positions in the North Allegheny School District could be eliminated by next summer. Keep NA Libraries Strong was started on the popular social media site early this September. The organization...
Thieves target cars at Westmoreland County parks
Westmoreland County Park Police are investigating a rash of thefts from cars at county parks, including one apparently linked to a fraudulent transaction at a Hempfield financial institution. Daylight thefts have occurred throughout the county park system, according to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, and have included purses and other items stolen...
Hempfield school officials, police investigating after bus picks up person who claimed to be a student
The Hempfield Area School District is investigating after a person claiming to be a student was picked up by a school bus Wednesday morning and dropped off at the high school. According to information sent to parents, the driver of bus 65 received permission from the bus garage to pick...
Pittsburgh secures funding to boost DUI enforcement, which is about half what it was 5 years ago
Pittsburgh police are making about half the DUI arrests they did just five years ago, but a state grant could help the bureau ramp up enforcement, officials said Wednesday. A $174,000 grant from PennDOT’s Highway Safety Division will help pay for overtime for officers to work DUI checkpoints and patrols,...
