At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
Notice to patrons Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, will be closed Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday. The library will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and remain closed through Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. Northland’s regular operating hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through...
Man pistol-whipped during armed home invasion in Swissvale
A man was pistol-whipped during a home invasion in Swissvale on Sunday, Allegheny County Police said. The armed home invasion in the 2500 block of Delaware Avenue was reported to 911 shortly before 6 p.m. First responders found a man suffering from head lacerations. He was taken to a hospital...
Hundreds gather in Squirrel Hill to hear account of Israeli held captive by Hamas for 491 days
For Jay Idler, reading the first published account of an Israeli taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, was difficult, but necessary. “A lot of the hostages are appropriately closed in after having such a traumatic experience,” said Idler of Squirrel Hill. “Having someone elaborate after what they went...
Fire destroys Cook Township house; man left homeless
Firefighters had to battle a smoky fire at a Cook Township house Sunday while being careful as ammunition in the house was exploding, a fire official said. There were no injuries from the fire along Hoods Mill Road off Route 130, said Chestnut Ridge Fire Chief Shawn Kestner. The owner,...
Monessen man charged after 24 shots fired during fight outside Springdale restaurant
Springdale police have charged a Monessen man after two dozen shots were fired outside a borough business late Saturday night. Police charged Armando Antonio Diaz, 22, with robbery, theft, aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment, and firearms offenses, according to court records. According to a criminal complaint, an officer monitoring...
Tattoo artist plans new studio, community hub at former Manos Gallery in Tarentum
The former Manos Gallery in Tarentum will continue to be filled with art, albeit a different medium. Artist Chris Provenzo plans to open Golden Rule Tattoo Co. on Jan. 3 in the building along East Fifth Avenue. “Tattoo design is versatile, and I’ve worked very hard to try to create...
3 injured in Penn Hills crash
Three people were injured early Sunday morning in a two-vehicle accident on Verona Road early Sunday morning, Penn Hills Fire Department No. 7 said in a Facebook post. Penn Hills police said the accident was reported at 2:15 a.m. and that the injuries were minor. One man was...
Avian enthusiasts prepare for annual Christmas Bird Count
It wasn’t just the usual suspects showing up for the Mon Valley’s annual Christmas Bird Count. While counters noted a slight drop in hairy woodpeckers — 17 spotted last year compared to 20 the year before — the 2024 survey yielded a fantastic collection of new species, providing a fresh...
Alle-Kiski Senior Citizen News – Dec. 7, 2025
Armstrong County Senior Centers Apollo Thursday: Christmas party with $5 gift exchange. Covered dish optional. Hours: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Details: Charlotte at 800-368-1066 or Amy at 724-478-1410. The center is at 707A N. Fifth St., Apollo. Freeport Tuesday: money bingo. Friday: Christmas party. The center is at...
Chartiers Valley area real estate transactions, week of Dec. 7, 2025
Bridgeville Stephan Hess sold property at 1609 Critchfield Drive to Austin Hatfield and Samantha Raegan for $285,000. Terence O’Leary sold property at 216 Hickman St. to Michelle Herwitt for $125,000. Patrick Dolan sold property at 400 Commercial St. to P6 Investments L.P. for $400,000. Ryan Mellor sold property at 1360...
Jeannette business district: ‘Fledgling stages of being reborn’
As people were flowing into Jeannette’s downtown business district Saturday for the city’s holiday parade, there was a positive vibe among several business owners along Clay Avenue that downtown is seeing a revitalization. “It’s slowly coming back. There’s a lot of great things happening. We just need more,” said Jen...
The Stroller, Dec. 7, 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. Toy drive to benefit...
Elected officials eye Springdale data center proposal as borough council prepares to vote
The decision to approve or reject a developer’s proposal to build a massive data center in Springdale is ultimately up to its borough council. With a decision set to be handed down in just over a week, state and local politicians say they, too, have been keeping an eye on...
Shoddy oversight plagues Pittsburgh police moonlighting program
On most days, uniformed Pittsburgh police officers work off-duty gigs across the city. These side jobs are supposed to be a win-win-win arrangement: Businesses pay for a highly trained and visible police presence to provide security or direct traffic; officers looking for extra cash enjoy a lucrative side hustle; and...
Shoddy oversight plagues Pittsburgh police moonlighting program
On most days, uniformed Pittsburgh police officers work off-duty gigs across the city. These side jobs are supposed to be a win-win-win arrangement: Businesses pay for a highly trained and visible police presence to provide security or direct traffic; officers looking for extra cash enjoy a lucrative side hustle; and...
2nd community meeting planned in Springdale ahead of data center vote
Springdale residents and other locals will gather for a second community meeting ahead of borough council’s vote on a massive proposed data center at the site of the former Cheswick Generating Station. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at From Italy Pizza in Springdale. Organized by...
Highlands community shocked after popular teacher, photographer accused of sexually assaulting 2 boys
Sean Dicer was a familiar face in the Highlands School District community. He’d be seen at various sports events and activities, taking pictures of students. He was a popular teacher. That made the news that broke Friday about Dicer, 53, being accused of sexually assaulting and extorting two boys at...
Child welfare advocates critical of ‘hidden foster care’
The circumstances surrounding the death of 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey in Fayette County have played out in similar fashion throughout Pennsylvania, said Cathleen Palm, founder of the Center for Children’s Justice. Adults, whether biologically related or not, are accused of sometimes horrific abuse of children. As in Renesmay’s case, there may...
Forever lost: Fayette County girl died as she and siblings faded from support system viewVideo
They called them mom and dad. It was a family of sorts, two adults and five children, cobbled together from different biological parents. The pictures that Kourtney Eutsey and Sarah Shipley posted on their Facebook pages showed the typical trappings of raising kids — matching pajamas at Christmastime, New Year’s...
Verizon/Fios customers could lose access to local NBC station
Customers of Verizon/Fios could lose access to local NBC affiliate WPXI TV as early as Dec. 15 if Verizon and the station’s owner don’t reach a carrier agreement. In a statement from WPXI owner Cox Media Group, the station said Cox had come to agreements with every other pay TV...
Penn-Trafford alum launches nonprofit to give back to hometown
Penn-Trafford alumnus Andrea Lonzo-Porter was raised to understand the importance of helping others. “I come from a very, very large family,” she said. “We’ve always helped each other any way we could, whether it was time, money, just showing up. It taught me the importance of taking care of other...
1 dead in shooting outside New Kensington Elks Lodge
New Kensington and Westmoreland County police continue to investigate after a man was shot dead early Saturday morning, a spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said. County detectives were called to assist New Kensington police outside the Elks Lodge on Third Avenue around 3:30 a.m., said Melanie Jones,...
Substitute teacher shortages leave some districts scrambling to avoid ‘vicious cycle’ in schools
During Allegheny Valley School District’s two-month search for a consistent high school biology teacher, Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said other teachers, outside substitutes and even school principals stepped in to keep the science class going. Eventually, the district found a long-term substitute with an emergency biology certification to fill the role...
The Stroller, Dec. 6, 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. Festival of Trees raffle...
As budget deadline looms, pressure mounts on Pittsburgh council to reject Gainey spending plan
There’s a rebellion underway in Pittsburgh’s city hall. Frustrated with outgoing Mayor Ed Gainey’s 2026 budget proposal, City Council members are increasingly plotting how to blow up his spending plan. Gainey’s budget avoids tax increases and layoffs. But critics have derided it as dishonest and “sloppy.” As Pittsburgh barrels toward...
