Local category, Page 135
4 Plum alumni return to alma mater to galvanize high schoolers
Brian Kelly, a 1993 Plum graduate, told a personal finance class at his alma mater that he didn’t have the best grades in high school. More than 30 years later, he’s the head of PNC Healthcare and an executive vice president at the bank. Kelly is among four honored alumni...
What is ‘Six Seven’? Steelers get in on the fun
What in the world does “six seven” mean? Perhaps the better question would be: What doesn’t “six seven” mean? Steelers tight end Darnell Washington celebrated with a “67” dance after scoring a touchdown Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Washington celebration just added to the mainstream madness — those numbers...
McCandless raffle offers memorable experience for youngsters, granting cool rides to school
Forget the bus. These McCandless youngsters received more memorable morning rides to school Oct. 15 as part of the McCandless Adventure raffle. Getting picked up by a McCandless police car on a recent Wednesday morning was the highlight of the week for Peebles Elementary student Austin Steiner, 11. “He was...
Arnold approves settlements with former police chiefs Josh Stanga, Eric Doutt
Arnold Council voted this week to approve financial settlements with two former police chiefs — Josh Stanga and his predecessor, Eric Doutt. Council agreed to a financial settlement that pays $12,000 to Stanga, whose resignation was accepted on Sept. 9. He was suspended in August 2024 after being arrested by...
2 candidates to face off for Allegheny Township supervisor seat
The two candidates running for Allegheny Township supervisor say they want to build on the municipality’s business growth and development. Democrat Dave Gatty, 71, and Republican Frank Weissert, 48, are seeking a six-year term on the Allegheny Township board of supervisors. Supervisor Michael Korns didn’t seek reelection. Gatty, a retired...
Theatre Factory prepares to stage ‘Beetlejuice Jr.’
Tyler Shaffer doesn’t know how many times he watched the 1988 Tim Burton gothic comedy, “Beetlejuice.” But it was a lot. “Watching it has been a Halloween tradition for my family forever,” said Shaffer, 16, of Jeannette, who will play the titular villain in the Theatre Factory’s production of “Beetlejuice...
Verona man accused of tampering with sprinkler system at senior high-rise, displacing 56 residents
An 82-year-old man is facing charges after being accused of causing extensive damage to a seven-story senior high-rise and temporarily displacing nearly 60 residents Thursday night in Verona. Steven Speis, a building resident, is charged with a felony count of criminal mischief along with misdemeanors for allegedly tampering with a...
Franklin Park residents to select mayor, 3 council members; decide on government study commission
Franklin Park residents will be electing a mayor and three members of council on Nov. 4, as well as for forming a commission to study changing the borough to a home rule charter form of government. Longtime Republican Mayor Dennis O’Keefe is challenged for reelection by Democrat Cristen Fiffik. Three...
‘Life-changing’: Task force promotes advocacy, education for families of children with disabilities
For Shashwathee Kamalesh, resources from Local Task Force 3 on the Right to Education in Allegheny County have been a lifeline as she navigates life as a parent of a child with disabilities. “Every step of my journey, I feel like I’m supported,” said Kamalesh of Marshall, whose 12-year-old son,...
Shadyside ‘mini-mansion’ on the market for $5.3 million
A “mini-mansion” offering one of the biggest residential lots in Shadyside is on the market for $5.3 million. But what exactly is a mini-mansion? Howard Hanna Realtor and listing agent Roslyn Neiman explained why she described the property at 5238 Ellsworth Ave. as such. “A mini-mansion is pretty impressive and...
Illusionist to headline fundraiser to end shame of substance abuse, mental health disorders
Las Vegas star and former “America’s Got Talent” semifinalist Murray SawChuck, a master at blending humor with illusion, is bringing some much-needed comic relief and awe to Stand Up Against Stigma, a fundraiser set for Nov. 22 in Harmony. The show, presented by the Stop the Judgment Project, will be...
Iron City Distilling ready to release its first whiskey, in the making for 2 years
Matt Strickland knows how to time travel. It’s a feat the 44-year-old master distiller was able to accomplish with Iron City Distilling’s Bridge Batch, a creation born from a blend between a barrel of the distillery’s 7-year-old sourced bourbon and some of its own 2-year-old stock. Its release on Saturday,...
E-bikes under review in McCandless after complaints of usage on Brandt Trail
The safety and use of electronic bikes, also known as e-bikes, are under review in McCandless because of an increase in calls over concerns and complaints. Regulating e-bikes is not easy since these recreational transportation devices may, in some instances, fall under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. However, they can be...
Preliminary report pinpoints location of deadly Clairton Coke Works blast
A new, independent investigation into a deadly explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works facility in August had similar findings to an earlier study done by an independent federal agency. Engineering Design and Testing Corp., retained by U.S. Steel, released preliminary findings this week that found the explosion took...
Social media influencer charged after jumping into Pittsburgh zoo enclosure
Police have charged an Ohio social media influencer with hopping a fence on his birthday last month at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s elephant enclosure, where he was nearly trampled twice by the animal. “Almost elephant food,” the man, 19-year-old Noah Thomas, captioned a video of the encounter posted to...
2 injured in Unity crash
Two people were taken to hospitals Friday after a crash on Route 30 in Unity shut down part of the highway, according to state police. Troopers said Robert W. Reed, 60, of Latrobe, turned from the middle lane of Route 30 east onto Wimmerton Boulevard around 6 a.m. when the...
The Stroller, Oct. 17, 2025: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Annual Festival of Faith...
8 candidates vying for 4 seats on North Allegheny School Board
Four seats are open on the North Allegheny School Board this general election, which is Nov. 4, with only one incumbent, Paige Hardy, seeking reelection. Other terms ending are currently held by Dr. Vidya Szymkowiak and Leslie Britton Dozier, both of whom served one term beginning in 2021. Also not...
Inside-out: Open space outside, privacy inside become homebuyer priorities in wake of pandemic
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series on real estate market trends in Western Pennsylvania. The pandemic may have ended, but its impact on how people live — and buy homes — hasn’t. Real estate agents say the once-coveted “open concept” is not as popular as buyers reshape...
North Huntingdon zoning board rejects request for gun shop at banquet center
A North Huntingdon man’s attempt to sell guns in the family’s banquet facility was rejected by a zoning panel. The North Huntingdon Zoning Hearing Board last week rejected an appeal from James Stratigos, owner of JGS Arms LLC, for an occupancy permit for a gun shop in a section of...
Developers of would-be data center in Springdale offer first testimony to council
Developers presented the first part of what could be monthslong testimony on Thursday in an effort to earn approval for a massive data center project in Springdale. Allegheny DC Property Co. offered new details about potential tax revenue from the proposed project to a packed council chamber filled with more...
Coroner’s ruling pending in Westmoreland jail inmate’s death
A female inmate was found dead in a jail cell this month, the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office said Thursday. Deputy Coroner Al Lonzo said Amber Knepshield, 32, was pronounced dead at 12:22 a.m. in a Westmoreland County prison cell Oct. 3. Lonzo said the office is awaiting results from an...
Pine-Richland celebrates 2025 homecoming
Pine-Richland School District marked Homecoming 2025 on Sept. 19, capping the day with a 56-14 win over Plum. The celebration began with a Staff vs. Students softball game, followed by the Homecoming Festival and student-led parade, complete with decorated floats and candy tossing, before the football game. Members of the...
TribLive collects 42 awards for excellence in journalism
TribLive garnered 42 awards for journalistic excellence Thursday in the Keystone Media Awards and Keystone Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists annual contests. The awards are presented annually to news organizations in Pennsylvania for print, online and broadcast journalism. TribLive’s awards included first-place honors in the categories of headline...
North Hills marks Homecoming 2025 with close pink-out game against Shaler, night of dancing
North Hills School District celebrated Homecoming 2025 with a close game against Shaler on Oct. 10 and a dance the following evening. Friday night’s game was a pink out, with proceeds benefiting 412Thrive, a local nonprofit that helps people impacted by breast cancer and genetic mutations that lead to cancer....
