Western PA Local News category, Page 1554
Man fatally shot in McKeesport identified
Allegheny County Police said a McKeesport man died after being shot Friday afternoon in that city. The county Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Michael Gunter, 22, of McKeesport. Officers responded to the shooting along the 100 block of Fifth Avenue around 1:35 p.m. Police said first responders found...
Police: Man killed in White Oak crash, another person hospitalized
A man was killed and another person injured in a three-vehicle crash in White Oak on Friday afternoon, Allegheny County Police reported. The crash happened around 12:40 p.m. along the 3100 block of Jacks Run Road. Police said first responders found a man deceased when they arrived. Another person was...
Area artists get out to paint Bushy Run Battlefield scenes
Five area female artists spread across the historic Bushy Run Battlefield on Friday, painting scenes of how the state park is today rather than what is was 259 years ago when British and colonial troops fought a decisive battle against Native Americans in what was once hilly woodlands. Patricia Dickun...
Greensburg man found guilty of child rape
Prosecutors said a Greensburg man faces up to 372 years in prison after he was convicted Friday of the rape of a 5-year-old child and recording videos he took of a woman engaged in sex acts with the boy. Westmoreland County jurors deliberated just more than two hours before returning...
Seventh Street Road in Upper Burrell reopened after fatal motorcycle accident
A 1-mile stretch of Seventh Street Road in Upper Burrell was shut down Friday afternoon while police investigated a fatal motorcycle accident, according to authorities. The accident occurred around 4 p.m. near the township’s volunteer fire department and was reported by a passing motorist, according to a Westmoreland County 911...
Redevelopment experts advise local officials at Westmoreland ‘blight boot camp’
If local officials want to start the uphill fight to combat blight and begin revitalizing their communities, multiple speakers at a “blight boot camp” held Friday at Westmoreland County Community College said they’ve got to start on the ground. Multiple speakers, including Christy Bean Rowing, executive director of the Washington...
Allegheny Township man’s ‘reign of terror’ ends with rape, sexual assault convictions
Jurors on Friday found an Allegheny Township man guilty of four rapes and the sexual assaults of two other woman in crimes prosecutors said dated back to the early 2000s. Eric Wright, 50, could receive up to 100 years in prison for the rape offenses, according to Westmoreland County District...
‘Clean-Up Day was a huge success’ in Hampton
They like their community to be spick and span. More than 100 Hampton residents turned out for the municipality’s annual Clean-Up Day in April, including the young and old, individuals and families. The crowd gathered at the Hampton Community Center on McCully Road early on a Saturday morning, enjoying doughnuts...
Grief remains as police continue investigating deadly Pittsburgh Airbnb shooting
As mourners began saying goodbye to two teenage boys shot and killed at a weekend party, Pittsburgh police continued working through what Chief Scott Schubert called “a complex investigation” that needs more people to come forward with what they know. A funeral for 17-year-old Jaiden Brown was held Friday. The...
Pittsburgh police, ATF find many guns seized from juveniles were stolen
Half of the guns seized in cases involving kids and firearms in Pittsburgh last year were stolen, according to new data provided Friday by a joint task force between police and federal agents meant to figure out how children are getting guns. The deep dive began, said Pittsburgh police Chief...
Police seek tips from public about 2 runaway teenage girls from New Kensington
The New Kensington Police Department is seeking the public’s help locating two runaway teenage girls. The cases are not related. • Police are searching for Sarah Chessario, 14, who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 125 pounds. No clothing description for Chessario was available from investigators. Police...
ATI Vandergrift expansion on schedule; more jobs expectedVideo
Construction on the multimillion-dollar expansion project at ATI’s Vandergrift mill is on schedule. Last year, ATI announced plans to invest more than $65 million to shift operations from standard stainless steel to produce specialty steel for a global market, primarily for energy, defense and aerospace. A new bright anneal external...
‘Smash burger’ joint Moonlit Burgers to add Duquesne University location
After gaining acclaim as a pop-up restaurant, and then setting up a brick-and-mortar spot in Dormont, the popular Moonlit Burgers is expanding. The restaurant known for its signature “smash burger” is planning to open a new location on the Duquesne University campus in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood later this summer. “When...
Pony Club, animal rescue team will be showcased at Ligonier Township event
Folks who have developed some horse sense are ready to share it with others Sunday during a season kickoff event for the Rolling Rock Hunt Pony Club. Founded in 1954, the club has about 50 members. It is one of 13 groups that helped establish the United States Pony Clubs...
Troopers accuse Mt. Pleasant area man of multiple burglaries
A former employee of a Donegal Township event center is accused of repeatedly burglarizing the facility since he was fired this month. Donald “Duck” Bailey, 61, is accused of stealing a utility terrain vehicle, alcohol and scratch-off lottery tickets from the Stonehenge Lodge since being terminated April 13, state police...
Teachers at Urban Pathways K-5 vote to unionize
This week, educators and staff members at Urban Pathways K-5 Charter School in Downtown Pittsburgh voted 15-7 in favor of organizing a labor union under the Alliance of Charter School Employees AFT Local 6056, a branch of the American Federation of Teachers of Pennsylvania. According to AFT, the 15-7 vote...
Hempfield welcomes new businesses, loses restaurant
Several new businesses have opened recently in Hempfield, including two new stores at Westmoreland Mall, while one family-run restaurant shuttered. In all, three new stores opened their doors last month: Dunkin’, located inside Walmart along Route 30, and Charlotte Russe and Lids at Westmoreland Mall. Lupi & Leo, located along...
Springdale VFD’s annual Jubilee comes to an end after 9 decades
The Springdale Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Jubilee carnival has been canceled, with no plans of returning. Zach Wilhem, secretary for the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, said decreased attendance in the last 10 years and costly overhead expenses led to the decision to stop holding the event. “This announcement is made...
Pittsburgh council hears debate on possible historic designation of Tito House
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday listened to community members debate the future of the Tito House, a building in the city’s Uptown neighborhood that is nominated for historic designation. If it doesn’t earn historic designation, the building will likely be torn down for new development on the site. Dallas-based Fountain...
Women artists use their ‘Visual Voices’ for Jeannette gallery show
Artists showing in the third “Women in Art” exhibition at You Are Here in Jeannette were given a specific assignment. The submitted works had to adhere to the theme, “Visual Voice.” Each artist filled out a statement that began, “I use my visual voice to speak to …” Previous “Women...
Penn Middle students prepare to stage ‘Beauty & the Beast’Video
Less than a decade ago, Maddie Nick was on the stage at Penn-Trafford High School. At the time, it seemed like a big challenge. “When you’re on the stage, you have a lot to remember, but you don’t appreciate the full scope of what it takes to put on a...
North Dakota man faces charges for sexually exploiting Washington County girl
A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted a North Dakota man on Tuesday for sexually exploiting a girl from Washington County. Nicholas Nesdahl, 27, could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 after he allegedly produced and received child pornography, according to the Department of...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: April 22-24
Come out and play The City of Greensburg Recreation Department will host the first of five classic backyard game sessions from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at Lynch Field, 520 New Alexandria Road, Greensburg. People of all ages can drop in at any time during the event to play four...
Nature center program to replace lawns with wildlife habitat serves as ‘anti-grassroots’ campaign to improve environment
For many people, the lush green lawn and meticulously landscaped gardens surrounding their homes can be like a slice of heaven. But no matter how beautiful or verdant, when it comes to supporting the ecosystem, most lawns and gardens are hell on earth, experts say. To help combat what environmentalists...
Penn Hills organization puts all hands on deck to help others
Nestled uphill on Frey Road in Penn Hills is a center that offers a variety of services many residents may not be aware of. The Western Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Development Center is a nonprofit that “has become the only search and rescue agency in Western Pennsylvania,” according to the...
