Western PA Local News category, Page 1613
Jury to deliberate Friday in paralyzed Vandergrift man’s lawsuit over swimming pool injury
A Westmoreland County jury will begin deliberations Friday to determine if a Washington Township couple is responsible for injuries that left their son’s best friend paralyzed after he broke his neck in 2013 in their backyard swimming pool. Lawyers for Michael Fraser, 29, of Vandergrift contend Robert and Laura O’Black...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison for dealing heroin
A Pittsburgh man who had been orchestrating a major heroin ring was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison, the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh said. Donald Lyles Jr., 28, pleaded guilty in September in federal court in Pittsburgh to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute the...
West Penn Power agrees to nearly $1.2M fine in 2018 West Deer electrocution death
Nearly four years after a West Deer man died after coming into contact with a fallen live wire, Pennsylvania’s utility oversight board has agreed to a nearly $1.2 million settlement with West Penn Power, which must also undertake remediation work meant to prevent the series of failures that led to...
Greensburg Salem’s use of traditional school holiday names draws dissent
Tradition trumped inclusiveness this week as the Greensburg Salem School Board selected holiday names for use on the district’s 2022-23 school calendar. The board voted 8-1 to use time-honored names for three holidays when students get to stay home: Christmas Break, Easter Break and Columbus Day. The vote came after...
Pittsburgh estates attorney facing charges in alleged embezzlement scheme
A Pittsburgh attorney already suspended from practicing law for mishandling client funds is facing criminal charges that he stole more than $230,000 from three estates and improperly charged for his services. Gordon D. Fisher, 76, will have a preliminary hearing on April 25 on charges of theft by failure to...
Vietnam veterans eligible for pinning ceremony in North Huntingdon
Vietnam War veterans will be able to receive a commemorative pin to honor their service during a ceremony at 2 p.m. March 31 in the J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781, Billott Avenue, North Huntingdon. The ceremony is being held in conjunction with National Vietnam War Veterans...
Delmont woman charged with threats against judge
A Delmont woman was charged amid allegations that she threatened to hang the Westmoreland County judge who is overseeing her ongoing custody dispute. Detectives said Jennifer Gesuale, 42, posted a YouTube video on March 7 in which she is alleged to have called for the murder of Westmoreland County Common...
Hempfield substitutes getting a pay raise
Substitute teachers in the Hempfield Area School District will see a boost in their daily pay, an effort by district leaders to remain competitive during the pandemic. Board members this week voted to bump pay rates to $200 per day for substitute teachers who are teaching for a contracted teacher...
$3M in grants announced for Southwestern Pa., including Mill Creek in Ligonier Township
Well before starting a 32-year career with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Jim Miller said he enjoyed fishing as a teenager along Mill Creek in the village of Waterford in Ligonier Township. “It was well known even then as a cold-water fishery back then and had natural trout. It...
Water main break shuts down section of Pittsburgh’s Butler Street
A water main break shut down a portion of Butler Street in Pittsburgh on Thursday, authorities said. The break happened near the 62nd Street Bridge on the border of Stanton Heights and Upper Lawrenceville, according to city and county officials. Authorities closed Butler Street between 57th and 62nd streets and...
Manchester Orchestra coming to McKees Rocks’ Roxian TheatreVideo
Indie rock band Manchester Orchestra has the longevity and the success to be a staple of both the late-night talk show and festival circuits. With their 2021 album, “The Million Masks of God,” the four-member, Atlanta-based outfit also shows its lyrical and thematic depth. Touring behind “Masks,” Manchester Orchestra comes...
Snow in forecast won’t put freeze on St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday in Lower Burrell
A weekend weather forecast calling for at least several inches of snow won’t be enough to put a damper on the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Lower Burrell, according to organizers. “A little bit of snow isn’t going to stop the fun,” said Terry McClain, who organized this year’s...
Judge rules against Port Authority union’s vaccine mandate challenge
An Allegheny County judge on Thursday ruled against the union representing Port Authority bus drivers in their challenge of a covid-19 vaccine requirement taking effect next week. In a two-page order, Common Pleas Judge John McVay denied Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have...
O’Hara officials hope to expand Community Park trail repairs through grants
O’Hara Township is seeking a second round of grants in as many months to finance a trail stabilization project in O’Hara Community Park. Township officials on March 8 approved applications for a $125,000 grant through the Commonwealth Finance Authority’s Statewide Local Share Assessment Program, and a $62,500 grant through the...
Norwin area: Pinning ceremony, bus trip, more
Vietnam War veterans pinning ceremony slated Vietnam War veterans will be able to receive a commemorative pin to honor their service during a ceremony at 2 p.m. March 31 in the J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781, Billott Avenue, North Huntingdon. The ceremony is being held in...
Penn-Trafford area: Pancake breakfasts, pinning ceremony, more
Level Green Lions to serve pancake breakfast Level Green Lions will hold a pancake and sausage breakfast from 7 a.m. until noon March 19 at the Level Green Community Building, 123 Murrysville Road. Blueberry or plain buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes are “all you can eat.” Meals also include sausage and...
URA set to invest $2.5M in affordable housing in Hazelwood, East Hills, East Liberty
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is poised to invest more than $2.5 million in new construction and rehabilitation of 144 affordable housing units in the city’s Hazelwood, East Hills and East Liberty neighborhoods. The URA board is scheduled to vote Thursday to authorize using a $620,000 grant to build four new...
Murrysville: Book sale donations, trail bridge closure, hot chocolate hike, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. AAUW collecting for community book sale The Murrysville American Association of University Women is collecting donations of gently used books starting April 1 for the group’s used book sale on partnership with the Murrysville Community Library. The sale will take place May...
Spring Fever Festival returns to Monroeville
The 23rd annual Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever Festival is scheduled from March 18-20 at the Monroeville Convention Center. Festival hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Exhibitors from 11 states will have 165 booths set up, offering a variety...
Upper Burrell firm donating up to 1% of March sales to support Ukrainian refugees
Polyconcept North America, an international business in the Westmoreland County Business and Research Park in Upper Burrell, is donating up to 1% of its March sales revenue to humanitarian relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees. The main page of the company’s website is promoting its efforts, stating: “We’re proud to support...
Man pleads guilty to fatally shooting stepbrother after 2019 Pittsburgh fireworks
A North Side man who, in 2019, unintentionally shot his stepbrother during a melee between two groups of teens following the July 4 fireworks in Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree murder. Camerin Caldwell, 20, will be sentenced by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente on June 23....
Hampton Community Library storytime offers fun, flexibility
For parents, mornings can be kind of hit or miss, as staff members at Hampton Community Library are well aware. “If your kid wakes up tired or grouchy,” Annie Avondolio said, “you can still make it to storytime.” She is the children and youth librarian, and she’s excited about a...
Police accuse man of using counterfeit checks bearing Pine builder’s name to steal cash
A man from Altoona is accused of using fake bank checks bearing the name of a Pine building contractor to get more than $5,200 in cash. David Clark Modrey, 36, of 6th Ave., was charged by the Northern Regional Police Department with one count of felony theft by deception and...
In brief: Seedling sale, Guatemala Mission 5K and more around Pine, Richland
Seedling sale The North Area Environmental Council is holding its annual seedling sale. The sale offers a wide variety of non-invasive plants, trees and wildflower seed mixes to add to the beauty and natural habitat of your back yard and the ecological health of the region. NAEC is partnering with...
Pittsburgh mayor appoints new economic opportunity manager
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said Tuesday he is appointing Ricardo Williams to be the city’s economic opportunity manager. “One of my priorities as mayor is ensuring that every one of our residents has access to economic opportunity,” Gainey said in a statement. “Williams and his team will be laser-focused on...
