Western PA Local News category, Page 1519
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust president and CEO Kevin McMahon retiring at end of 2022
When J. Kevin McMahon arrived in Pittsburgh 21 years ago to work for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, remnants of the seedy red-light part of Downtown that became the Cultural District were still in place. “The city was starting to emerge from its past, but I looked right out on Liberty...
Latrobe Elks hope to attract new members with new lodge building
The Latrobe Elks Lodge and Golf Club hopes to attract members with a new building. The Elks held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building Wednesday. About two dozen people came to the Derry Township organization to celebrate and enjoy refreshments. The new building, which overlooks the Elks’ golf course, features...
State Rep. Emily Kinkead holds off Democratic challenger in the 20th State House District
State Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Brighton Heights, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Pennsylvania’s 20th State House District, according to unofficial results. As of Wednesday afternoon, with 97% of precincts reporting results, Kinkead had collected 65.6% of the votes counted compared with challenger Nick Mastros’ 34.4%, unofficial tallies showed. Mastros, of Ross,...
Members of Ukrainian church in Carnegie deliver supplies to beleaguered nation
As humanitarian aid continues to head for Ukraine, reports inevitably crop up about supplies not necessarily reaching their intended destinations. “That may have been undermining the effort here to get people to assist Ukraine,” Alexander Konecky said. “So I felt that when I was finally able to go there and...
Inflation blamed for Westmoreland municipal authority cost overruns
Inflation led to an 11% increase in Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County expenses in March, and utility leaders said Wednesday they are bracing for more cost overruns in the months ahead. “I don’t think prices will get cheaper, and we will continue to look at overages,” authority business manager Brian...
Voter turnout strong for Westmoreland primary as political leaders look to fall campaign
More than 41% of Republicans and nearly 40% of registered Democrats in Westmoreland County voted in Tuesday’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate primaries, numbers that have local political leaders predicting an energetic fall campaign. The county’s results closely mirror statewide totals as Democrats backed Lt. Gov. John Fetterman for Senate while...
State Rep. Jessica Benham wins Democratic nomination in 36th State House District
State Rep. Jessica Benham, D-South Side, trounced her opponent in Tuesday’s Democratic primary race in the 36th State House District, according to unofficial tallies. Benham was first elected in 2020 to a strong Democratic district that includes Brentwood, Mt. Oliver and several Pittsburgh neighborhoods, including all or parts of Arlington,...
Court rejects John Lesko’s appeal in 1980 western Pa. ‘Kill for Thrill’ spree
One of the last appeals for Pennsylvania’s longest-serving death row inmate has been denied. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Tuesday rejected 64-year-old John Lesko’s request for a new trial and sentencing hearing. He was convicted in the 1980 murder of Apollo police Officer Leonard Miller,...
State Rep. Rob Mercuri of Pine secures GOP nomination in uncontested primary race
First-term state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, ran unopposed Tuesday to unofficially secure the Republican nomination in the 28th State House District. No Democrats appeared on the ballot. Mercuri collected more than 7,500 votes on Tuesday, according to unofficial election returns. He won the seat in 2020, replacing Speaker of the...
New lawsuit contends retaliation against Sewickley Academy in race debate
A lawsuit filed Wednesday against Sewickley Academy alleges that faculty members were told to teach “both sides” of issues such as slavery in the school’s Black history classes, after last year’s controversy over allegations about a social justice program. Michael-Ann Cerniglia, D. Barrett Gough, Jill Korber Small and Gail Wolfe...
Acme man jailed on $250K bond, accused of raping boy
A 33-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a six-year-old boy in 2020-2021. Brandon J. Hoffer of Acme was arrested and ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $250,000 bond after he was charged with 26 felony and misdemeanor criminal counts filed...
La’Tasha Mayes poised to win Democratic nomination in 24th State House District
Reproductive rights activist La’Tasha Mayes is poised to secure the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania’s 24th State House District. As of Wednesday afternoon, Mayes had collected 46.7% of the votes counted compared with recently elected state Rep. Martell Covington’s 37.8% and fair housing activist Randall Taylor’s 15.5%, according to unofficial tallies....
Allegheny Valley School District agrees to 5-year contract with its teachers
Teachers and the school board in the Allegheny Valley School District have forged a new five-year contract. On Tuesday, the board unanimously ratified the agreement after the Allegheny Valley Education Association had done so earlier in the day. Under the new contract, the 78-member teaching staff will receive an average...
Ligonier Township property listed at $1.45 million was inspired by builder’s dream
Builder Joseph Minyon said the idea for the 12,000-square-foot, chateau-inspired home he built in Ligonier Township came to him in a dream. “I saw a bird in flight with wings outstretched — I’m not sure what kind of bird it was, but I’ll say it was an eagle,” he said....
Scott Township auctioning off 1972 Triumph Spitfire to help community
Call it a classic way to raise money. Scott Township is currently auctioning off a classic two-passenger British sports car, a 1972 Triumph Spitfire IV. All of the proceeds from the auction will go to Scott Township and can be used for the likes of road maintenance, community programs and...
Cindy Kirk secures GOP nomination in 30th State House District
Former Allegheny County Councilwoman Cindy Kirk won her Republican primary race in the 30th State House District by more than a 4-to-1 margin, according to unofficial tallies. As of Wednesday morning, with nearly 98% of precincts reporting results, Kirk had collected more than 81% of the votes counted compared with...
Pittsburgh Opens event aims to draw people Downtown
Editor’s note: The location of Thursday’s event was incorrect in the original version of this story. The second Pittsburgh Opens event — one in a series of gatherings meant to bring people back to the city’s Downtown area — is scheduled to be held Thursday. The event is slated to...
Judge won’t remove lawyer in federal gun case against suspect in Cassandra Gross disappearance
A judge on Wednesday refused to remove the attorney for a Unity man suspected in the 2018 disappearance of Cassandra Gross from his representation in an unrelated gun case. Instead, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak ordered that Komron Jon Maknoon continue working with Thomas G. Stanko, 51, in...
Pittsburgh planners OK new Alcosan chemical storage building along Ohio River
Alcosan has received approval to build a new chemical storage facility at its treatment plant along the Ohio River. Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission approved the plans Tuesday after the authority made some aesthetic improvements to its plans. Alcosan is planning to tear down two existing storage buildings at the site and...
Outstanding votes in Allegheny County could sway races, but will take time to count
Allegheny County elections officials have tallied the vast majority of votes cast in Tuesday’s primary, but some races remain too close to call and could be decided by remaining votes that need to be tabulated. Officials said some of the outstanding votes will be counted on Friday, but it’s unlikely...
Norwin area: Memorial Day parade; library book sale, golf outing, more
Irwin plans Memorial Day parade Retired Army Col. Kenneth Gongaware, a Norwin High School graduate, will be the keynote speaker at the Memorial Day observance at Union Cemetery in Irwin on May 30. Prior to the observance, a parade will proceed from Main Street in downtown Irwin at 10 a.m....
Protect PT to host discussion on gas well development
Community group Protect PT will host a May 26 meeting at 6:30 p.m. to host a discussion about gas well development in the Level Green area. It will take place at the group’s new Community Environmental Education Center, 3344 Route 130, Suite B in Penn Township, and will include Protect...
Scouts join elected officials for chamber flag raising in Collier
Members of Boy Scout Troop 2 in Bridgeville had the opportunity to meet numerous elected officials during a May 5 flag-raising ceremony at the South West Communities Chamber Of Commerce headquarters in Collier. Among those joining the Scouts were Bridgeville Mayor Betty Copeland, state Sen. Devlin Robinson and Rep. Anita...
Pittsburgh planners to consider plans for 20-story tower above Downtown’s YWCA building
Plans for a proposed 20-story tower with 300 apartments above the former YWCA of Pittsburgh building in Downtown now include a rooftop pool, two-story restaurant and health club, according to a project architect. City Club Apartments LLC bought the former YWCA of Pittsburgh building at 305 Wood St. for $4...
Former debutantes to co-chair The Cinderella Ball
A memorable evening 15 years ago inspired two friends to create that same remarkable experience for other young women. Kelly Waldman and Courtney Elizabeth Benson were debutantes at the 81st Cinderella Ball in 2007. The night inspired them to become co-chairs for the 96th annual event on May 28 at...
