Local category, Page 1500
Bernie Sanders stumps for Summer Lee at Pittsburgh rally
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied in Downtown Pittsburgh on Thursday in support of congressional candidate Summer Lee, in an attempt to help her win what has become a contentious race in the final days before Tuesday’s primary election. Lee, a progressive state representative from Swissvale, is leading in polls for...
Lawsuit alleges Pittsburgh’s inclusionary zoning ordinance is unconstitutional
Just 10 days after Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey signed an inclusionary zoning bill into law, the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh filed a federal lawsuit against the city alleging it improperly shifts the burden to fund low- and moderate-incoming housing to residential real estate developers. The lawsuit alleges the ordinance...
East Huntingdon industrial park is an official sellout
The sixth industrial park in Westmoreland County will be filled to capacity with the impending sale of a 6-acre lot in East Huntingdon to a plastics manufacturer, officials announced Thursday. The Westmoreland commissioners, acting as the county’s Industrial Development Corp., approved a $319,000 deal with Roechling Industrial Mt. Pleasant LP...
Political newcomer seeks GOP nomination over legislator in state Senate 38th District race
A political newcomer is looking to earn his first elective office as a state senator. Jake Roberts, 31, of Ross will be facing state Rep. Lori Mizgorski, 55, of Shaler for the Republican nomination in the state 38th Senatorial District race. Both candidates have similar views on abortion following the...
Troopers accuse man accused of fleeing traffic stop in North Belle Vernon
State troopers said they identified a 31-year-old man accused of fleeing a traffic stop Saturday and leading police on a chase for several blocks through North Belle Vernon after he jumped out of his pickup and left behind his cellphone. Lorenzo D. Russell, 31, of Monessen, was arraigned Wednesday in...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s transition team delivers recommendations to address key issues
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s transition team released a report Thursday outlining 69 recommendations to address pressing city issues in four key areas, ranging from immediately creating a new process for hiring the next police chief to offering paid internships for Pittsburgh students. “We want this document to be the roadmap...
Police: Man faces felony gun charge after hitting New Kensington woman with pistol during dispute
A Penn Hills man faces a felony firearm charge after a woman accused him of striking her with a handgun during an argument at her New Kensington apartment. Rashaad Kahill Blair, 26, of the 1000 block of Olympic Heights Drive, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and defiant...
California men accused of defrauding older Americans indicted in Pittsburgh
Two California residents have been indicted in federal court in Pittsburgh after prosecutors said they scammed older victims — including three in Western Pennsylvania — out of more than $1 million. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, charges Thien Phuc Tran, 32, and Ton Huynh Bui, 29, both of Santa Ana, Calif.,...
McKeesport teen gets 2 to 4 years for involuntary manslaughter in fatal shooting
A McKeesport teen accused of accidentally shooting and killing a friend last year will serve two to four years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter. Phillip Payne, 17, admitted to shooting Dontae McKenith, 18, at McKenith’s mom’s house on Soles Street in McKeesport on July 24, 2021....
Fallen Westmoreland County police officers recognized at park ceremony
The ultimate sacrifice of 27 law enforcement officers in Westmoreland County was recognized Thursday by their peers, families and friends. For Rosemarie Reed, it was especially welcome. “This means a lot to me,” she said. “Just knowing the fact that my husband is being recognized for his service.” St. Clair...
State Rep. Jessica Benham faces primary challenge from Stephanie Fox in South Hills
Pennsylvania’s 36th State House District has seen its share of political drama since former longtime state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick, announced his retirement in 2020. Readshaw’s retirement triggered a controversial race that included a Democratic candidate who had praised former President Donald Trump, yet was still supported by the Allegheny...
Penn-Trafford area: Senior citizen groups meet
Patsy Cline music featured at meetings for seniors Singer Cathi Rhodes will perform as country singer Patsy Cline at these upcoming meetings held at the Community United Methodist Church, 3487 Route 130, Harrison City: • Penn Township Senior Citizens, 1 p.m., May 25. Lunch is $6; dues are $2. Masks...
Ukrainian refugee finds new home in Pittsburgh
When 2022 began for Daria Zhuravska, she was feeling good about her life in Ukraine. The 27-year-old Kyiv resident had landed a job as an office manager for an information technology company. She was living with her boyfriend, not far from her family and friends and enjoyed taking dance and...
Latrobe city manager resigns for 2nd time, accepting private sector job
Michael Gray is resigning a second time from his role as Latrobe’s city manager. Gray confirmed Thursday in an email statement that the change is effective May 20. “My decision to resign was voluntary as I was offered employment in the private sector,” Gray said. “I will be assisting the...
Reports show fatal crashes increased in Pennsylvania in 2021
Traffic crashes in the U.S. are increasing at a record pace, according to the latest data estimates from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. NHTSA estimates of the first nine months of 2021 project that more than 31,700 people died in vehicle crashes from January to September 2021. That’s an...
Ukrainian refugee finds new home in Pittsburgh
When 2022 began for Daria Zhuravska, she was feeling good about her life in Ukraine. The 27-year-old Kyiv resident had landed a job as an office manager for an information technology company. She was living with her boyfriend, not far from her family and friends, and enjoyed taking dance and...
Fundraiser set up to fulfill dream of Pine-Richland 3rd grader who suffered near-fatal injury
Doctors say it will be a while before Pine-Richland third-grader Josie Kovacic is able to do the things she did before suffering a traumatic spinal injury in late February while on a ski slope. But when the Wexford Elementary School pupil is ready, friends and family are hoping to make...
McCandless seeks input for rezoning through online mapping activity
Only a few more weeks remain to participate in an online zoning activity that could help shape the future of McCandless. The “Preserve, Enhance, Change! Mapping McCandless” is an online, interactive website that allows residents and other community stakeholders to “drop a pin” on places in town they’d like to...
Photo Album: Sewickley Academy prom
The theme was A Night in Hollywood for this year’s Sewickley Academy prom. Members of the junior and senior classes – along with their guests – danced the night away at the Priory Hotel on the North Side on April 23....
Murrysville girl excited to be part of coming-of-age story
The Pittsburgh Youth Chorus and Hill Dance Academy will collaborate to present a coming-of-age story told through choral ballet this month. “‘Crossings’ is a coming-of-age story — told through dance, vocal music, and spoken word — of a young African-American woman growing up ‘Uptown’ and confronting racism in her community,”...
North Allegheny School District’s proposed final budget includes tax increase
A tax increase for North Allegheny School District may be coming for the 2022-2023 school year if the proposed final budget is approved as is in June. The school board voted, 5 to 4, at its May 11 meeting, to approve the proposed final budget with a millage rate increase...
Plum principal swaps ‘interim’ for official title
Since November, the principal of Plum’s Pivik Elementary School had been working with “interim” as part of his title. With the school board’s approval, Michael Gauntner now is the lead administrator minus the temporary connotation. “Really, I didn’t really think about that. The title doesn’t mean anything. It’s just having...
Comcast awards $1 million in grants for small Pittsburgh businesses
Pittsburgh small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and Asian Americans, will be on the receiving end of $1 million in grants from Comcast as part of its RISE Investment Fund. RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment.” Comcast says it was formed...
Newly elected state Rep. Martell Covington faces primary challenge from 2 Dems
Just weeks after a special election determined who would finish out newly elected Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s term in the state House, three Democrats are running to win a full, four-year term in the seat starting early next year. Democrat Martell Covington, a former legislative aide to state Sen. Jay...
Done dill: Picklesburgh festival returns for another year
It’s a sign of the season: Picklesburgh. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership on Thursday announced the pickle-themed festival will be back for another year. PDP officials noted that they are still working with the city to “finalize a new footprint,” which likely means the event will be even larger than in...
