Western PA Local News category, Page 1617
Troopers serving warrant in Indiana County say suspect had heroin, cocaine, marijuana, meth
A state police fugitive task force learned a man wanted for skipping court hearings was hiding out in a Blairsville apartment March 2, where they descended and found him atop “a second-story roof walkway on the roof and looking to escape by climbing a brick wall,” Trooper Stephen Limani said....
Letter to the editor: What’s wrong at Sewickley Academy?
Having two children who graduated from Sewickley Academy, as well as a grandson who is now attending, I have been viewing the recent turmoil at the academy that publicly surfaced in June of 2021 with concern. But, based on what I observe and hear, have been very cautiously optimistic. Certainly,...
Semper Gratus to hold 6th annual charity Shamrock Shuffle 5K
Semper Gratus is ready for its sixth annual charity Shamrock Shuffle 5K in West Leechburg on March 12, the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. The annual event raises funds to support pediatric patients with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Last year, the organization raised $140,000 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma...
Police seek public’s help in search for runaway New Kensington teen
New Kensington police are seeking the public’s help in a search for a runaway teenager. Monae Matthews, 15, is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs about 145 pounds. Police said she might be in the Pittsburgh area. Anyone with information about the teen is asked to call the New...
North Hills takes 23rd in National High School Cheerleading Championships
The North Hills High School cheerleading squad battled through injury and covid to get to their goal of competing at the cheer competition in Orlando, Fla., the weekend of Feb. 12. After competing in the WPIAL competitive spirit competition in Hempfield where they qualified for the PIAA State Competition in...
Fern Hollow Bridge construction expected to begin in April
Less than two months after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh, PennDOT officials are announcing both design and construction efforts are underway to replace the bridge. The new structure will remain along the same roadway, with four lanes for vehicles, shoulders, a sidewalk, and a shared-use path. Construction is...
UPMC moves forward with plans for 636-bed hospital in Pittsburgh’s Oakland
Health care giant UPMC is moving ahead with plans to build a new 636-bed hospital in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission was briefed on the proposed development Tuesday. Called the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital bed tower, the project was first unveiled nearly five years ago. At the time, UPMC touted...
2nd man arrested in bail scam that targeted Hempfield woman
A second New Jersey man has been arrested in connection with a bail scam that duped a Hempfield woman out of thousands of dollars. Noel Medrano-Abreu, 29, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. He was arraigned Tuesday, with the help of an interpreter, on two conspiracy...
Dewey Bunnell excited to bring rock group America to Greensburg on 50th anniversary tourVideo
We can be thankful to England for a lot of things, especially for America. No, not the country. After all, we fought for that. I’m talking about America the folk-rock group, the band that produced hit songs like “Ventura Highway,” “I Need You,” “Tin Man” and of course “A Horse...
Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company member returns from service in Air Force
When Jimmy Hartz became a volunteer firefighter with the Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company last year, he couldn’t have imagined how much his fellow firefighters would impact his life in the future. Hartz is an Air Force Reservist with the 911th Pittsburgh Air Wing and was deployed on June 25, 2021....
Fort Ligonier program looks at Gen. John Forbes’ place in history
Fort Ligonier will commemorate the anniversary of the death of Gen. John Forbes with a special program at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Center for History Education at the historical complex at routes 30 and 711 in Ligonier. “This new event is meant to shine some light on the man...
Portrait of Patsy: Singer brings country legend’s spirit to Hampton
Music was the order of most days at the Rhodes house in South Greensburg. “Dad would play guitar and sing. My mother would harmonize while she was doing dishes,” Cathi Rhodes said. “I thought everyone grew up this way. I’d go to some of my friends’ houses, and I’d say...
Highland Park Bridge ramps to Aspinwall, Sharpsburg closed through May
Motorists who use the Highland Park Bridge ramps to connect to Sharpsburg and Aspinwall will need to allow extra time after the ramps were closed Tuesday for a long-term project. Northbound and southbound off-ramps from Route 28 to Freeport Road are scheduled to be closed through May, PennDOT announced. Crews...
Faces of the Valley: Saxophonist Don Aliquo still hitting high notes as jazz performer at 93Video
Don Aliquo doesn’t skip a beat when asked to share his formula for a music career that began with sing-alongs around the piano as a toddler and shows little sign of slowing down at age 93. “What’s my secret? Those 11 steps outside this door and this,” he says with...
Pine-Richland High School Public Policy team in Sweet 16 nationwide and other student achievements
The Brewer Foundation and New York University announced Pine-Richland High School is one of the “Sweet 16” teams for the Annual International Public Policy Forum — the first and only contest that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues...
Crews respond to fire in North Braddock
Crews responded to a fire in North Braddock on Tuesday morning. The fire was reported at 6:19 a.m. in the 500 block of Stokes Avenue, an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. The dispatcher said no one had been taken from the scene with injuries, though crews were still battling the...
The Stroller, March 8, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community Easter Egg hunts, breakfasts with the Easter Bunny and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Applications being accepted for Rotary scholarships The Rotary Club of Leechburg will award community service...
Springdale aims to address infrastructure by drafting 5-year plans
Getting a handle on infrastructure status and needs appears to be a major priority for the Springdale Township commissioners. The commissioners, during their meeting Thursday, Feb. 24, said they have asked township engineer, Sean Naylor of Senate Engineering, to provide a proposal on formulating three 5-year plans. Areas of the...
New Kensington woman killed in crash in Maine
NAPLES, Maine — A 22-year-old New Kensington woman was killed in a pickup truck crash, police said. The single-vehicle crash happened on Sunday night in Naples when the truck collided with a tree, police said. Police said two occupants had freed themselves from the vehicle and two others were trapped...
Franklin Regional ‘pauses’ teaching of novel about Iranian Revolution after complaints
Franklin Regional School District is “pausing” use of a novel in a freshman honors English course after school board members asked administrators to review its use amid concerns from some residents in the district. “Persepolis,” Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel about growing up as a 10-year-old girl amidst the Iranian Revolution...
Students from 8 school districts compete at Saint Vincent’s Pasta Bridge Engineering Competition
Nineteen teams of students from eight school districts in Western Pennsylvania were hoping to keep things “al dente” Monday night at the 15th annual Pasta Bridge Engineering Competition, held at Saint Vincent College. That wasn’t the case for one of three Norwin students teams. “We had some issues with the...
‘Jeopardy!’ run ends for Pittsburgh woman: ‘I got to live my dream’
After four consecutive wins on the “Jeopardy!” television game show, Pittsburgh resident Margaret Shelton was defeated on Monday, ending her nearly weeklong run. Shelton risked all of her $12,300 in Final Jeopardy! and was defeated by Maureen O’Neil of New Hampshire. Shelton amassed $79,700 in earnings over her four-game win...
Jury orders West Mifflin School District to pay $2.9M to former superintendent
A federal jury on Monday ordered West Mifflin School District to pay nearly $3 million to former Superintendent Daniel Castagna in connection with his 2019 firing. The jury late last week ruled in favor of Castagna, now acting superintendent at Woodland Hills, on all but one of the claims he...
Man dies after collapsing at Allegheny County Jail
A 26-year-old man died Sunday shortly after collapsing at Allegheny County Jail. A jail spokesman said the man, later identified by family members as Gerald Thomas, exited his cell shortly after noon and asked other inmates for assistance before collapsing. “A medical emergency was called, and life-saving measures were performed...
Dispatcher: Person hurt in Munhall building collapse
One person was transported to a hospital after being injured in a Monday building collapse in Munhall, authorities said. Allegheny County dispatch said the collapse was reported around 4:15 p.m. at 501 E Ninth Ave. It is the home of Steadfast Outreach. Firefighters were still on scene around 6 p.m....
