Western PA Local News category, Page 1466
Abortion decision will lead some to question Supreme Court legitimacy, experts say
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the 50-year precedent that was Roe v. Wade and roll back abortion rights in this country could cause many Americans to question the court’s legitimacy, legal experts and constitutional scholars said Friday. The scholars said nothing has changed in American jurisprudence to lead...
$121M project set to begin at Route 51 interchange in Rostraver
The reconstruction of the Interstate 70 and Route 51 interchange in Rostraver has the distinction of being the highest-dollar-value project ever bid in PennDOT’s District 12. Golden Triangle Construction Co. in Oakdale was the winning bidder at $120.6 million. Work has gotten underway, but the impact for motorists will be minimal...
Pittsburgh councilman to introduce legislation that would protect abortion access in city
Legislation expected to be introduced to Pittsburgh City Council next week aims to preserve abortion access in the city if Pennsylvania bans abortions. Councilman Bobby Wilson, a Democrat from Spring Hill, sponsored three separate bills hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, deciding that Americans do not...
Gateway School Board adopts budget with 4.1% tax increase
Gateway School Board on June 21 adopted the 2022-23 budget of $92.5 million, reflecting a 5.61% increase from the last school year’s spending plan. As a result of the increase, the district’s real estate tax rate will increase by 4%, to 21.7479 mills. This equates to approximately $2.17 on each...
Funerals for Westmoreland County’s unclaimed veterans moved to larger venue
Funeral services next month for 15 veterans whose remains sat unclaimed at the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office will be relocated to Hempfield Park to accommodate a larger-than-expected crowd. Officials said there has been an “overwhelming response” from the community to attend the ceremony. Coroner Tim Carson said Friday he expects...
Some religious leaders laud abortion ruling, others say choice is needed in ‘morally responsible circumstances’
Jeanne K.C. Clark can remember a time when women were forced to resort to drastic measures before the 1973 Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade gave them a constitutional right to abortion. “Women had to travel,” said Clark, of Shadyside. “There were doctors who did abortions, some of them...
Medical examiner identifies Pittsburgh man killed in Hill District shooting
A Pittsburgh man who was fatally shot Friday afternoon in the city’s Hill District has been identified as 18-year-old Maleek Thomas, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The shooting occurred shortly before 2:45 p.m. in the area of the Bedford Dwellings apartments. Thomas was taken to UPMC Mercy,...
Single-lane restrictions set through end of July on Route 910 at northbound Route 28 Harmar interchange
PennDOThas announced single-lane restrictions will begin Mondayon Route 910 at the northbound Route 28 interchange in Harmar. The restrictions will occur on northbound Route 910 at the Harmar (Exit 11) interchange between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. until the end of July. Crews from Swank Construction Co. will perform concrete...
Search for new Tarentum manager moving along quickly
The search for a new Tarentum manager is moving at a good clip, according to borough leaders. “We’ve already started to get applicants, and they’re quality people,” council President Scott Dadowski said. “I can’t share too much, but my fingers are crossed that things will be happening in the next...
State officials, Highlands administrators recognize achievements of Sheldon Park students in Harrison
Rising Highlands fourth grader Genisus Prager said the best hack she has learned for getting good grades is to ask questions. “You have to listen and help others, but you also have to know when to ask for help yourself,” said Genisus, 9. Her method appears to have worked. Genisus...
Doors Open Pittsburgh offering river tour
Doors Open Pittsburgh, an organization that prides itself on encouraging Pittsburghers to embrace their curiosity about Steel City history, is heading out on the water for the first time. It’s all part of a new boat tour called “Bridges, Buildings, and the Architecture of the Three Rivers” scheduled for Sunday,...
Dick’s Sporting Goods to reimburse travel expenses for employees seeking abortions
In the wake of Friday’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the nation’s constitutional protections for abortion and leaving the decision up to each state, the Pittsburgh-based Dick’s Sporting Goods national chain of stores announced support for its employees seeking abortions. In response to the...
Guardian Angels Parish expected to close 5 of 7 churches
Meager finances and dwindling attendance will force Guardian Angels Parish in Harrison to reduce its seven churches into two campuses later this year. “Decisions to recommend the closing of churches are never easy and never taken lightly,” said the Rev. John Lendvai in a letter to parishioners. “This is a...
$332,000 Olmsted Commons park planned for Vandergrift’s historic district
Vandergrift is working with the Westmoreland County Land Bank on plans for Olmsted Commons, a $332,000 half-acre park in the borough’s historic district. The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded $151,000 for the project. The borough will provide in-kind services to match the grant award. The site is...
Freeport Area School Board passes tax increase after close vote
In a 5-4 vote, the Freeport Area School Board narrowly passed its 2022-23 budget calling for a real estate tax increase of 6.7% for Butler County residents and a 1.68% increase for Armstrong County residents. Three of the four board members who voted against the budget said they didn’t want...
URA, RIDC announce first tenant for $39M warehouse project in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood
A $39 million project to build warehouses in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood neighborhood has landed its first tenant, according to the Regional Industrial Development Corp. of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority. The RIDC and URA said this week that Ferguson Enterprises LLC, a plumbing, HVAC and industrial product distributor,...
Pittsburgh’s Swindell Bridge is being resurfaced, will undergo more repairs later this year
Pittsburgh’s Swindell Bridge is being milled and resurfaced in a project that began Friday, officials said. The 1,097-foot-long bridge, which stretches over the Parkway North on the North Side, is rated in poor condition, PennDOT records show. It opened in 1930 and is used by about 5,700 vehicles a day,...
Pennsylvania average gas price dips below $5
The average price for a gallon of gasoline has dipped back below $5 in Pennsylvania, according to AAA. The state’s average fell from $5 on Thursday to $4.98 on Friday, AAA reported. The average has come down 6 cents per gallon in the past week. The average cost has been...
Hempfield Area continues debate on change to curriculum review of challenged books
A policy related to evaluating course material soon could be changed even as Hempfield Area School Board members remain split over the best way to proceed. The monthslong conversation, which began in March when a small group of parents challenged two books available to high school students, continued this week...
Turnpike to close 6 hours between New Stanton and Breezewood
Motorists traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Saturday night can expect to be detoured by a six-hour lane closure. The shutdown will impact all lanes between the New Stanton Interchange, Exit 75, and the Breezewood Interchange, Exit 161. All lanes will be closed from 11 p.m. Saturday through 5 a.m....
West Leechburg to see tax increase under new school district budget
A portion of the Leechburg Area School District will see a real estate tax increase for the next school year. School directors adopted a $15.5 million budget that will hike real estate taxes in West Leechburg by 6.85 mills — an almost 6% increase. Real estate taxes will remain the...
Sewickley area student news for the week of June 24, 2022
The following students were named to the Dean’s List at Ohio University for the spring 2022 semester: Andy Chrvala, Alexa Otto, Michael Mucha, Jamma Downey and Camden Kiggins. Margaret Gerlach, daughter of Gregory and Karen Gerlach of Sewickley, received a bachelor of arts in educational studies and French & Francophone...
Scottdale Pride expands for year 2, aims to launch nonprofit
Until last year, there was no such thing as an LGBTQ Pride event in Scottdale. Now, the Scottdale Pride committee is looking not only to expand the second annual event, but also the group behind it. Stephen Elcock said he and the other committee members seek to launch an official...
Uniontown woman dead following shooting outside bar
A Uniontown woman was shot and killed outside a city bar on Thursday night, according to police. Officers responded to the 200 block of North Gallatin Avenue outside McPatton’s Pub around 10:20 p.m., where they found Samantha Harden, 34, with a single gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead a short...
Turnpike interchange at I-79 and Southern Beltway now fully open
The Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange connecting Interstate 79 and the Southern Beltway will open fully on Friday. The 19-mile Southern Beltway links I-376 near the Pittsburgh International Airport to I-79 at the line between Allegheny and Washington counties. The $800 million project was undertaken with the goal of easing congestion on...
