Western PA Local News category, Page 156
Pittsburgh autonomous vehicle firm Aurora hits the gas on driverless truck rollout
Pittsburgh-based Aurora Innovation is accelerating the rollout of its driverless trucks as it looks to evolve from a promising experiment to a profitable enterprise. A new route that launched last week — the company’s second — runs from Fort Worth to El Paso in Texas. It spans about 600 miles....
Westmoreland judges seek return to bench amid political headwinds
All three Westmoreland County judges who are seeking new 10-year terms on the Common Pleas Court bench know there is political attention this year on judicial retention. They also worry the large sums of cash spent to campaign for and against the retention of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices could...
Teen girl stabbed in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood on Halloween
Pittsburgh police are investigating a stabbing in the city’s Allentown neighborhood that left one teen hospitalized and another juvenile detained. Officers were dispatched Friday at about 7:20 p.m. to the 700 block of East Warrington Avenue for a group of juveniles fighting. Public Safety spokeswoman Eliza Durham said officers located...
Jury to begin deliberations in fatal shooting of honors student outside Pittsburgh restaurant
A jury next week will begin deliberating the fate of a man accused in the 2021 shooting death of a North Hills honors student outside his family’s Strip District restaurant. Closing arguments took place Friday after a weeklong retrial of Howard Hawkins, who is accused of killing Ahmir Tuli, 18,...
Consequences mount as federal government shutdown, state budget impasse drag on
As the federal government shutdown moves into its second month and the state budget impasse drags into its fifth, the consequences of political inaction are mounting. Affordable Care Act premiums are poised to skyrocket, energy assistance is stalled, and a federal judge Friday ordered the Trump administration to keep SNAP...
Yough school board: 5 candidates seek 4 seats
Four Yough School Board incumbents and one challenger are running for four seats on the board in the Nov. 4 election. Three of the incumbents — Matthew Gardner of South Huntingdon, Linda Knor and Monica Ustazewski, both of Herminie – won on both the Democratic and Republican tickets in the...
Assault charge upheld against hunter in 2023 shooting
The criminal case against a hunter charged with aggravated assault after allegedly wounding a man in a Smithton field nearly two years ago will proceed to a trial, a judge ruled Friday. Following a lengthy hearing that featured testimony from the shooting victim and a state game warden, Westmoreland County...
H.D. Berkey students help their peers, families through ‘Change War’
Generosity — and some friendly competition — led to H.D. Berkey Elementary students in Arnold collecting spare change to help families in need as the holiday season approaches. During the month of October, students raised more than $1,000 toward needy families in a “Change War,” an initiative organized by second...
New Italian restaurant Cork & Crust to open in Oakland hotel
Led by an award-winning chef, a new Italian restaurant is expected to open in Oakland by the end of the year. On Thursday, The Oaklander Hotel on on Bigelow Boulevard announced that the new restaurant — Cork & Crust — will have three-time James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist and featured...
Door Dash driver admits stealing packages from porches in multiple communities including Greensburg, Fox Chapel and Plum
An Indiana County man was sentenced to state prison Friday for stealing thousands of dollars worth of packages from porches in four counties and putting the goods up for sale on Facebook Marketplace. John D. Manning, 35, was sentenced to one to three years in prison followed by four years...
PennWest review aims to make programs stronger; some existing could ‘sunset’
The goal of an ongoing review of academic programs at Pennsylvania Western University is to ensure offerings meet area workforce demands in a way that’s sustainable to the college, said James Fisher, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs. PennWest, a state-owned university comprising campuses in California, Clarion and...
Lower Burrell manager Greg Primm recognized by international organization
More than 8,000 municipal managers attended the International City/County Management Association this week in Tampa, Fla., but only about a dozen were recognized for longtime service to the profession. One of them was Lower Burrell City Manager Greg Primm, who is coming up on 35 years as a municipal manager...
Greater Latrobe School Board race includes 4 incumbents, 4 newcomers
Voters in Greater Latrobe School District have eight candidates to choose from to fill four school board seats in the Nov. 4 municipal election. The field is split evenly between incumbents and newcomers — but some have aligned themselves into two separate campaigns, each including three candidates. Campaigning together are...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit to pause rail service Downtown on Monday
Pittsburgh Regional Transit on Monday will offer no rail service in Downtown Pittsburgh as crews repair overhead electrical lines. Regular service is expected to resume Tuesday morning. Inbound rail service will end Monday at Penn Station. a seldom-used stop behind The Pennsylvanian building across from the Greyhound station. The transit...
3 compete for 2 spots on Mt. Pleasant Council
Three candidates are running for two spots to represent Mt. Pleasant’s 3rd Ward. Republican Cynthia “Cindy” Stevenson, who has served more than 15 years on borough council, and Democrat Michael Barrick, who is finishing his first term, are running for reelection. Republican Nicholas Lucia is seeking his first term. Updating...
Irwin: 5 seeking 4 seats on council
Irwin voters will be able to choose from five candidates, including three incumbents, running for four council seats in the Nov. 4 election. Councilmen Tyler Baum and Frank Rossi, both Republicans, are seeking reelection to another four-year term, while Fonda Dalbow, appointed to council in July to replace Ron Romeo,...
Hempfield supervisors race attracts 4 candidates for 2 seats
Four candidates for Hempfield supervisor have separated into two opposing teams with each side hoping to win both open six-year terms. Becky Durbin has paired up with longtime incumbent Doug Weimer, while Paul Kosko is campaigning with Jerry Fagert, who served on the board eight years ago. All four candidates...
North Huntingdon fire station sued for wrongful death
The widow of a Herminie man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a North Huntingdon volunteer fire station, claiming staff served her husband excessive alcohol, which resulted in his fatal fall. Brandon M. Schmeltz, 44, died on Feb. 12, about two weeks after a fall down a staircase in...
PJ McArdle Roadway to close for routine maintenance
A portion of PJ McArdle Roadway in Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington neighborhood will be closed next week for routine maintenance. The street will be closed between Grandview Avenue and the Liberty Bridge from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Crews with the Department of Public Works will be performing...
AT&T to erect 93-foot antenna at Highlands football field to improve cellphone service in Harrison
AT&T will erect a new light standard with a cellular antenna attached on property owned by Highlands School District. The Harrison Township commissioners voted 4-0 at its October meeting to approve a conditional use for the project following a public hearing. Commissioner Eric Bengel voted “present.” No one from the...
5 things to know about Pittsburgh’s mayoral race
Pittsburgh voters on Tuesday will elect a new mayor. Incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey lost the Democratic primary in May, leaving voters to choose a new leader for the city. Here are five things voters should know: Who are the candidates? The Democratic candidate is Corey O’Connor, 41, of Point Breeze....
Name of new Harrison restaurant at former Anchor Inn is nod to township’s history
A new Harrison restaurant will pay homage to the township’s past. Owners Corey Pistininzi and Sean Watson on Thursday revealed the name of the eatery — Salt and Steel – a nod to industrial giants Penn Salt and Allegheny Ludlum (now ATI). Both manufacturers were pivotal in the township’s growth,...
Lawsuit over Westmoreland courthouse garage project settled
A lawsuit filed by a Allegheny County construction company to rebuild an underground garage and public courtyard at the Westmoreland County Courthouse has been settled. Commissioners on Thursday voted to pay Carl Walker Construction of Robinson an additional $700,000 for work the company said it was required to perform to...
Game commission seeks information after deer is illegally shot in North Huntingdon
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is looking for information after authorities believe a white-tailed deer was illegally shot Sunday over bait on private property in North Huntingdon. State game wardens in the Southwest Region said the deer was shot between Colonial Manor Road and Cornwall Drive, not far from Route 30,...
Morning Roundup: Ross firefighters help free motorists; crash briefly slows Route 28 traffic
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Oct. 31: Ross firefighters free 2 after crash on McKnight Road Crews from Seville VFC in Ross had to remove the passenger-side door of a highly damaged car Thursday evening to free two occupants following a single-vehicle crash...
