Western PA Local News category, Page 1623
Judge said Export man’s jail sentence is message to drug dealers, community
A Westmoreland County judge said an example needed to be set to highlight the ongoing drug epidemic when he sentenced a former Export man to jail for selling fentanyl-laced heroin to a friend who died of an overdose. A jury in December acquitted Kelly Ryan Frank, 54, of drug delivery...
4-vehicle crash in Hempfield closed eastbound Rt. 30 lanes for 30 minutes
A four-vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of Route 30 near the Route 130 bridge in Hempfield closed the eastbound lanes of the highway Thursday afternoon, a Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety supervisor said. Multiple emergency responders were at the scene of the accident, which occurred at 4:20 p.m....
Sharpsburg Community Library exhibit features impactful borough family
One of the first Black families to settle in Sharpsburg in the early 1920’s is being honored with an exhibit at the Community Library along Main Street. “Breaking Barriers: 4 Generations of a Black Sharpsburg Family” is a collaborative effort of the borough’s historical commission, the library and Kayla Portis,...
North Allegheny school board approves pricey tech refresh upgrade
The North Allegheny School Board has approved a technology refresh and upgrade for the district with a potential price tag of $3 million. The vote came during a March 2 special meeting. The cost will be financed over four years and the anticipated yearly payment should not exceed $750,000, according...
State trooper based in Hempfield charged with harassment
A state trooper’s duties have been restricted after he was cited this week in connection with an incident at his Mt. Pleasant Township home. Michael S.J. Predajna, 37, is facing two counts of harassment. Citations filed by state police indicate that he slapped someone at his home at 2:10 a.m....
Future of Pittsburgh hyperloop gets murky with company layoffs
Virgin Hyperloop announced last week that it will lay off more than 100 workers and shift its focus from passenger to freight service, according to The Financial Times. The transportation company has been working to develop technology that would send large pods through vacuum-seal tubes at speeds exceeding 500 mph....
Man dies following mine incident in Somerset County
SOMERSET — A miner is dead after he was injured Wednesday in an underground incident in Hollsopple. According to Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees, the incident was reported just before 11 a.m. and the man, whose name has not been released, was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, where he...
Pittsburgh City Council proposal would require mayor to make sure budget proposals are legal
Pittsburgh City Council is considering legislation that would require the mayor’s office to make sure budget proposals comply with federal, state and local laws and the city’s home rule charter before they are introduced to council. This comes after former Mayor Bill Peduto proposed a major pay raise for council...
Fayette priest gets prison term for sexually abusing altar boy
UNIONTOWN — A western Pennsylvania Roman Catholic priest who sexually assaulted an altar boy for several years has been sentenced to 2 1/2 to five years in state prison. The Rev. Andrew Mark Kawecki of Greensburg will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years once he’s...
Troopers arrest Ohio man after finding 1 kilo of cocaine in his SUV on Pa. Turnpike
An Ohio man is behind bars after state police said they found 1 kilogram of cocaine hidden in the SUV he was driving Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Jose O. Pacheco-Diaz, 41, of Lorain — located about 30 miles west of Cleveland — is charged with drug and weapon violations....
Murrysville area: FRAA opening day, glass recycling dates, Bible study group, more
Submit news, briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Athletic association sets opening day for April 23 The Franklin Regional Athletic Association will host its 2022 opening day April 23 at Murrysville Community Park. Opening ceremonies will take place at noon in the park, 4056 Wiestertown Road in Murrysville. Team practices...
Norwin area: St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Vietnam War observance, more
Irwin to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Downtown Irwin will be the site of a pre-St. Patrick’s Day festival featuring Irish music, traditional Irish food, beer and activities for children from noon to 4 p.m. March 12. Restaurants will be serving Irish-themed delicacies and there will be shamrock scavenger hunt. Children’s...
Penn-Trafford area: Vietnam War ceremony, time capsule, more
Norwin Elks to honor Vietnam War vets The Norwin Elks will conduct its Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony from noon to 2 p.m. March 29 at the Norwin Elks Lodge, 135 Elks Lane, Manor. Veterans of the Vietnam War and all other veterans will be able to enjoy a complementary...
Invisible Man Brewing secures enough Girl Scout cookies to host brew pairing event
Cookies and milk are a classic combination. Kids love them. Santa loves them. Cookies and beer? Not quite as common. Despite supply-chain issues that have affected the delivery of Girl Scout cookies in some parts of the country, the annual treats will be paired with several local beers, courtesy of...
Pittsburgh Ballet’s 2022-23 season to be ‘fresh, bold and challenging’
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director Susan Jaffe has issued a warning for the company’s 2022-23 season: “The audience is going to see a different side of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre — it’s not all fairies and tutus.” While the ballet will present classical favorites, audience members and the dancers themselves also...
‘A Conversation: Sharing History of Sewickley’s African American Community’ event held at Tull
St. Matthew AME Zion Church/Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society and The Sewickley Community Center led “A Conversation: Sharing History of Sewickley’s African American Community” at The Tull Family Theater on Feb. 27. Photos dating back to the early 1900s through current times highlighted the thriving African American social and business...
Pittsburgh pastel artists show ‘Pure Colors’ at North Hills Art Center
“Pure Color,” an exhibit by the Pittsburgh Pastel Artists League, will run March 12 through April 8 at the North Hills Art Center. A reception is planned for 5-7 p.m. March 19, with first- through third-place cash awards to be presented at 6 p.m. The show will include 25 member...
Penn Hills bus garage parking lot expansion plans on pause
Plans for an expansion of a Penn Hills bus garage parking lot along Saltsburg Road were put on pause as council considers amending its zoning ordinance. Krise Transportation has served as Penn Hills School District’s main bus service provider for years. There are about 170 employees and about 150 buses...
Arnold to consider proposal for gas station, convenience store on Freeport Road
Arnold Council will consider a proposal for the redevelopment of a former gas station along Freeport Road. Mike Thakkar of Yashvi Oil said he wants to open a gas station and convenience store at 1610 Freeport Road. The property is between Woodberry Road and Warren Avenue. The property and its...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: March 4-6
Mother-daughter artwork An opening reception for “A Little Bit of Everything,” a joint exhibition of paintings by Indiana County artists Jolene Joyner and Jonelle Summerfield, is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St. A former surgical nurse, Joyner is a member of the Indiana Art...
Chance discovery sparks renewed interest in North Park’s pine tree ‘star’ planted in 1938Video
Ken Interval doesn’t think of himself as some sort of sleuth. But the Pine resident has keen observational skills that came into play when he recently spotted what appeared to be a stand of trees in North Park that were planted in the shape of a giant star. “I’m a...
Former trolley trail to be revitalized as walking, biking path in Pittsburgh’s West End
A former trolley trail connecting Crafton with Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood is going to be transformed into a walking and biking path. Pittsburgh City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith said she’s been working to revamp the trail since before she took office in 2009. The West End Trolley Trail will begin...
Sessions to get underway to shape a better Greensburg
Input from Greensburg residents is key to successfully updating the city’s 14-year-old comprehensive plan, city leaders said as they prepare for public sessions to begin this week. The sessions, broken into three rounds, will give community members an opportunity to weigh in on the project and suggest any improvements needed...
Pittsburgh woman now a 3-day ‘Jeopardy!’ winner
A woman from Pittsburgh’s East End is on a roll as a contestant on the popular game show “Jeopardy!” Margaret Shelton won for the third consecutive game on Thursday, amassing $17,200, to raise her three-day total winnings to $58,200. On Thursday’s show, Shelton saved the best for last by wagering...
Pittsburgh group Black, Young & Educated grows to keep amplifying Black youth’s voices
Created three years ago by high school students, a Pittsburgh group to increase the visibility of Black youth’s voices continues to grow along with its founders. Black, Young & Educated (BYE) is, among other projects, planning to create a documentary called “We Got Power,” highlighting the Black experience in Pittsburgh....
