Allegheny County steps up pollution checks after Clairton blast
Regulators are temporarily stepping up pollution monitoring in the Mon Valley after a deadly explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works on Monday sparked worry about the release of toxic gases. The Allegheny County Health Department announced Thursday it’s deploying two air quality monitoring vans provided by the Pennsylvania Department...
Westmoreland convention center study revealed, casino area is preferred site
An $86 million hotel and conference center adjacent to Live Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall could infuse more than $720 million into the community in just 10 years. That was the conclusion of a six-month study commissioned by the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce. Local leaders are hopeful the study...
5 highlights from Taylor Swift’s 2-hour Travis Kelce podcast interviewVideo
When the world found out this week Taylor Swift would be a featured guest on the “New Heights” podcast, fans were sent into a frenzy. It’s hosted by Swift’s boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his brother, retired fellow football player Jason Kelce. They teased the upcoming...
Concerns arise over lawyer representing Washington County DA in death penalty feud
Two Pittsburgh lawyers involved in efforts before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to curb the Washington County district attorney’s use of the death penalty are questioning why his office is being represented in the matter by a private attorney who charges nearly $500 an hour. The defense lawyers for Devell Christian,...
Vape sensors to be installed at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School
Vape sensors will be installed in restrooms and common areas at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School in New Kensington. The New Kensington-Arnold school board this week approved buying and installing vape sensors at Valley at a one-time cost of $12,800, said Superintendent Chris Sefcheck. There is an ongoing annual maintenance fee...
Deadline looms for signatures to study possible adoption of home rule charter in Franklin Park
Franklin Park residents only have until Aug. 26 to collect the 164 signatures required to be placed on the next election ballot to serve on a commission to study the pros and cons of possibly switching to a home rule charter. The borough needs to have seven residents on the...
Authorities identify 2nd person killed in Clairton Coke Works blast
A second Westmoreland County man was identified as the other victim who was killed Monday in an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. Steven Menefee, 52, of the village of Tarrs in East Huntingdon, was pronounced dead at 7:26 p.m. at the scene of the blast, the Allegheny County...
Police investigate suspicious item along Route 30 exit to Turnpike in North Huntingdon
State police were investigating the Thursday morning discovery of what they described as a suspicious item in North Huntingdon. Troopers worked at Route 30 west and the entrance ramp to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Trooper Steve Limani said the item was found inside a broken wooden box by a PennDOT worker...
Among NA’s new faces are assistant principal at Franklin, special education/gifted coordinator, basketball head coach
North Allegheny held its first school board meeting after a short summer break on Aug. 6, marking the occasion with two new hires, including a new assistant principal for Franklin Elementary School. Audra Meehan joins Franklin, one of North Allegheny’s seven elementary schools, replacing Tommie Guess, who now is the...
Community Supermarket in Harrison sets closing date
Harrison has about two months left with a grocery store in the heart of town. George Sears, general manager of Community Supermarket, said the store will tentatively close Oct. 31. It has operated at Heights Plaza since 2002. “It could be a week earlier, depending on how things go,” he...
Plum hires 2 principals to fill roles at high school, middle school
Plum School Board voted on Tuesday, Aug. 12 to hire two new principals about a week before the first day of school. Colleen Pegher joins the district as assistant principal at Plum High School, and Rachel Lintelman takes over as assistant principal at Plum Middle School. Pegher previously served 11...
Edgewood Elementary to start late due to ongoing building renovations
Woodland Hills School District students are sharpening their pencils and putting together their backpacks for the first day of school, but not everyone will be back in the classroom as expected. Edgewood Elementary school students will now have late start to the 2025-26 school year. Building renovations are still underway....
Indiana Township appoints new police chief, announces new 4-year police contract
This month marks the end of an era in Indiana Township law enforcement and the start of a new one. Police Chief Steven Colucci is retiring after 29 years in the township force. Supervisors on Aug. 13 unanimously passed a resolution honoring Colucci for his service. Colucci is also expected...
Latrobe man sues bar, driver over brother’s death in DUI crash
The brother of a motorcyclist killed in Jefferson Hills in March by an allegedly drunken driver is suing the motorist and the bar that served him that afternoon. John J. Wobrak, 69, of West Mifflin, was fatally struck in Jefferson Hills on March 14 — just three minutes after driver...
New Kensington man charged after inmate fight at Westmoreland prison
A New Kensington man awaiting trial in a shooting was charged by police Wednesday with beating a man at the Westmoreland County Prison. The injured inmate had to get multiple staples in the back of his head at a hospital, according to court papers. Amarion M. Michaux, 19, is charged...
Tarentum residents can report nonemergency issues online
Tarentum residents have a new way to report nonemergency issues to the borough. Officials are rolling out an online reporting form at tarentumboro.com. People can report things like potholes, broken streetlights, graffiti and downed trees. Property maintenance concerns also can be submitted. The reports will be read directly by borough...
Registration open for Pittsburgh airport terminal tour
Registration to attend Pittsburgh International Airport’s open house of the new terminal opened to the public Friday. The $1.7 billion modernization project began in 2019 and is offering 10,000 people a first look at the terminal’s updated features on Oct. 11 from noon to 7 p.m. “We’ve said from the...
Lower Burrell adds streets to paving plans
Three streets are being added to Lower Burrell’s paving program this year. Council approved the paving of Clarendon Avenue, Tioga Street and Prospect Circle, which were not among the streets council approved in July as part of the paving program. The original streets, located primarily in the city’s Kinloch section,...
The Olive Branch, a fair-trade store in Pine, marking 50 years with special celebration
The roots of The Olive Branch reach back 50 years, when the fair-trade store, now located in Pine, began with just $250 in seed money and a motivation to help others. To celebrate, the store is hosting a 50th anniversary event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6 at...
Morning Roundup: Penn Hills police seek info on armed robber; it’s college move-in time again
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025: Penn Hills police seek pizza shop robber Penn Hills police are seeking information on a suspect who committed an armed robbery Aug. 9 at Pasquale’s Pizzeria along Saltsburg Road. Restaurant staff turned over surveillance video...
Hempfield Area looks to bolster curriculum oversight at elementary schools
Hempfield Area School District is looking to add another layer of oversight to the curriculum at its five elementary schools. The school board will vote next week on assigning one chairperson per K-5 grade level. Each chairperson would help ensure continuity in learning at the district’s Fort Allen, West Point,...
The Stroller, Aug. 14, 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. Community block party planned...
North Huntingdon couple celebrating 50th anniversary; among the few who have reached that milestone
A North Huntingdon couple will be celebrating 50 years of wedded bless on Aug. 16, making them among the few couples that celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Kenneth and Vickie Vargo Tickerhoof will be joining family and friends during the evening of Aug. 16 at the Greenhouse Winery on Gracin...
Police charge East Deer man with sexual assault of a minor
Allegheny County Police have charged an East Deer man with sexually assaulting a minor along a walking trail. Brian Ball, 40, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, sexual abuse of a minor, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old, indecent...
Jeannette’s Smarto remembered for strong community ties, commitment to family
Janice Smarto made a name for herself in real estate and community service, but it was dedication to her family where she stood tall, her daughter said Wednesday. Smarto, 82, died Aug. 10 from injuries sustained in a fall two weeks earlier in her Jeannette home. “She was a spitfire...
