Local category, Page 1576
Greensburg taps 14-year veteran for police chief
Greensburg City Council tapped a 14-year veteran to serve as the police department’s new chief. Shawn Denning was promoted to the position after this week’s meeting. Denning, who takes over his new role immediately, succeeds Robert Stafford, who retired in January. “I have the utmost respect for the title of...
Book challenges are becoming more frequent, driven in part by social media
The time, thought and effort that English teachers and librarians put into their work is not random, says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director for the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “They have college degrees, they care very deeply about the work they do, and to suggest that the objections of...
Scottdale man killed while snowblowing was always there for family
Family always came first for Brian P. Hyde of East Huntingdon. “We always came first for my mother and dad,” said his eldest son, David Hyde. “Dad was always there for us, too. Not only us but anyone who needed help, whether family or friend, acquaintance. … He was always...
Drug dealer’s 10-year prison sentence includes 1 month hiatus from confinement
A Clairton man convicted of running a major drug trafficking operation in Westmoreland County has been granted a one month hiatus from prison. Lindsey R. Wright, 42, who was sentenced late last week to serve up to 10 years in prison, will be released to house arrest before his newly...
Accuser says 2-year minimum sentence not justice for sexual assault
A Penn Township woman told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday that the two-year minimum sentence for the man who sexually assaulted her while her young child was in another room in her home wasn’t long enough. “A two-year sentence for what he has done is not justice. My life...
Norwin graduates JJ Matijevic, Max McDowell in MLB spring training camps
A pair of former Norwin sluggers will get to continue chasing their dreams of playing in the majors. JJ Matijevic and Max McDowell have been invited to spring training — Matijevic with the Houston Astros and McDowell with the New York Yankees. Both nonroster invitees saw promotions from Double-A to...
Suspended Latrobe therapist accused of sex charges wants 7 trials for allegations raised by 10 former clients
A suspended mental health therapist wants seven separate juries to hear evidence from 10 former patients who claim they were victims of sexual assaults, harassed, groped or subjected to other inappropriate behavior during counseling sessions over the last decade. Gregory P. Miscik, 60, of Latrobe was first charged in November...
Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef to close Downtown Pittsburgh bar after 35 years
After 35 years serving Downtown Pittsburgh customers corned beef sandwiches and frosted mugs of beer, Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef is closing at the end of March. Sammy Firman has operated the Sammy’s location on Liberty Avenue since its inception, and he said the bar and restaurant “had a good run.”...
Westmoreland happenings: spring tea, 1920s-themed gala and NAACP prayer luncheon
Church News • The Caring Closet at Greensburg Church of the Brethren, 554 Stanton St., is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays. Free food, clothing, shoes and more available. Donations of canned food and non-perishable items are welcome. Call the church to arrange for a pickup. Details: 724-834-2130....
Medical marijuana dispensary coming to New Kensington
A vacant pizza shop along Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington is expected to become the city’s second medical marijuana dispensary this year. City officials confirmed Zen Leaf, headquartered in Nevada, is set to take over the space formerly leased by Papa John’s across from Giant Eagle and adjacent to...
Pittsburgh City Council proposal would turn to nonprofits for infrastructure funding
Legislation being introduced to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday would seek voluntary payments from nonprofits to help pay for infrastructure improvements and, in turn, replace a controversial proposal to get the money by imposing a 1% tax on tuition and medical bills. The legislation cosponsored by Burgess and Councilman R....
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship holds annual ‘Shark Tank’ competition
Excitement was buzzing in the auditorium of the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship on March 10 as the school held its fifth annual Shark Tank event. The event dubbed “Soaring Shark Tank” strives to give young entrepreneurs the experience of pitching their businesses to receive investments to help further...
Sewickley Public Library receives $750,000 grant for facility upgrades
Sewickley Public Library received a $750,000 Keystone Grant for Public Library Facilities, as part of nearly $5.3 million in funding awarded to 21 libraries in 17 counties for the construction and rehabilitation of public library facilities. The Keystone grants are offered to help public library facilities improve operations, install equipment...
Henry Rollins bringing ‘Good to See You 2022’ spoken word tour to Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Henry Rollins needs to talk. The mesmerizing, Grammy-winning spoken word artist hasn’t toured since 2018. He had planned to tour in 2020 and 2021, but we all know what happened. “We have all been through something and I am no different,” said Rollins in a phone interview. In just four...
Big warm-up, temps near 70, part of wild weather week for Pittsburgh area
From 8 inches of snow and wind chills in the single digits to 60-degree temperatures in a matter of days. That’s the hairpin turn into spring the weather is making this week. By Wednesday, temperatures will be flirting with 70. “We can thank something called warm advection,” said Jenna Lake,...
Volunteers bring therapy dogs to AIU’s Sunrise School in Monroeville
Talk about feeling welcome. “We usually come here one Friday a month,” Gloria Frick said, “and they always tell us, you can come every Friday.” As a volunteer for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Frick leads groups of four-legged friends to various locales, including the special-education Sunrise School in Monroeville....
Oakland Portal project to prompt lane closures on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh
Work related to the Oakland Portal development project will result in lane closures along Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Oakland and Uptown neighborhoods, the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure said Monday. Work being done by Peoples Gas will obstruct one or two travel lanes on Fifth Avenue between Robinson Street...
Trafford man accused by police of assaulting woman, resisting arrest
A woman accused a Trafford man of assaulting and choking her inside an apartment and told police she ran inside a neighbor’s apartment for safety late Friday, according to court documents. Police arrived at Cavitt Avenue to find Kevin L. Krivansky, 49, who lives nearby, attempting to force his way...
Pittsburgh man accused of attacking 3 guards at Westmoreland County Prison
A Pittsburgh man being booked into the Westmoreland County Prison last week is accused of attacking three guards, according to court papers. Jason Owens, 20, was arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated and simple assault. He is being held on $25,000 bail in each of three cases. County detectives said...
Pittsburgh muralist Janel Young is new Westmoreland Museum resident artist
Janel Young sees the Artist-in-Residency program at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art as a way to push her artistic practice in new directions. The Pittsburgh native, who recently moved to Chicago, began her seven-month residency on March 6. Her work will include working on a public art project and...
East Deer braces for large increase in water rates
East Deer Commissioners are searching for options to ease an expected hefty increase in residents’ water rates. Tarentum Borough, from which the township purchases water in bulk, approved a rate increase in December as part of its 2022 budget. The East Deer increase takes effect May 1. Rates for East...
Pittsburgh City Controller’s office launches site to track American Rescue Plan spending
Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb’s office has launched a webpage where people can track how the city is spending its American Rescue Plan money. The American Rescue Plan Trust Fund Monitoring Page is part of the website Fiscal Focus Pittsburgh, which the Controller’s Office has maintained since 2018. The site...
Irwin to consider Oak Street parking restrictions
Irwin officials are expected to discuss a proposed ordinance next month to help residents on Oak Street find open parking spaces in front of their homes, which are located across the street from businesses. Borough council could consider a residential-only parking ordinance for the eastern side of the street, between...
Tarentum, Brackenridge will consider sharing services
Tarentum and Brackenridge officials will team up to consider sharing certain municipal services to save tax dollars. It’s an idea Brackenridge Mayor Lindsay Fraser said makes sense because of the proximity of the two boroughs. “Given the geography, maybe we can, hopefully, look at merging some of our services,” Fraser...
Dozens of Port Authority routes out of service Monday following weekend of call-offs
Dozens of Port Authority bus routes across Allegheny County were out of service early Monday, a continuation of the weekend service disruptions spurred by employee call-offs, an apparent protest against the authority’s looming vaccine mandate. Port Authority sent out the first alert at about 6:10 a.m., warning on its service...
