Western PA Local News category, Page 1637
Hempfield man pleads guilty to lesser charges in connection with knife attack
Westmoreland County prosecutors this week dismissed assault and strangulation charges against a Hempfield man accused in the stabbing of a woman during an argument over rent. During guilty plea hearing for Franz Nute Wade Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Echard told Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger that “evidentiary issues”...
Ross police union members cast ‘no confidence’ vote for chief
For a second time, members of the union representing police officers in Ross have taken a “no-confidence” vote in the leadership of Chief Joe Ley. A letter sent on Tuesday from the executive board of the Ross Township Police Association announced that 27 officers voted in favor of the no...
Fox Chapel teen, emergency responders and dispatcher honored for saving boy’s life
New Year’s morning began with a crisis for the Stephany family of Fox Chapel. Their youngest member, Max, 11, was found unconscious inside their Riding Trail Lane home. Parents Rob and Molly Stephany tried all they could to wake him up. However, Max did not respond and was not breathing....
Norwin director claims assignment on racism was critical race theory teaching
A Norwin school board member claims that a high school social studies teacher gave students an assignment on systemic racism in America, which was an example of critical race theory instruction, despite the school administration’s previous assertion that it was not being taught in the district. Director Shawna Ilagan contended...
Renovate or build a new school? That’s the question being posed in Hempfield Area
Officials with the Hempfield Area School District are gearing up to make a decision next month on whether they will renovate or build a new high school. School board members this week unanimously voted to retain PNC Capital Markets LLC as underwriters once a project is chosen and hired Krakoff...
Speed limits in most Pittsburgh parks dropping to 15 mph
Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to reduce the speed limit in the city’s parks to 15 mph, down from 25 mph. The measure allows the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to make exceptions. Councilman Bobby Wilson, who sponsored the bill, said there will likely be higher speed limits on...
Pittsburgh recognizes February as Mayor Ed Gainey Month
Pittsburgh City Council announced Tuesday that the city is dedicating February as Mayor Ed Gainey Month. “I can’t imagine recognizing Black History Month without recognizing our own mayor in the city of Pittsburgh,” said Council President Theresa Kail-Smith. Gainey, of Lincoln-Lemington, became the city’s first Black mayor when he took...
Documentary about opioid addiction crisis to be screened in GreensburgVideo
A documentary film about the drug addiction crisis being screened Friday in Greensburg is relevant to the entire community, said Richard Jones, executive director of Sage’s Army. It’s “very short-sighted” to think addiction doesn’t affect Westmoreland County as a whole, he said. “The truth is this applies to all of...
Monessen man jailed on $75K bond after accused by police of assaulting 3 children
A 34-year-old Monessen man is in the Westmoreland County Prison on $75,000 bond after city police arrested him on accusations he assaulted three children left in his care, according to court records. Darrelle D. Mott is accused of assaulting the children Feb. 17 at a residence. Police said they were...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $12.8M allocation for Bus Rapid Transit project
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday allocated $12.8 million to Port Authority of Allegheny County’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit project. Port Authority has touted the BRT project as a “high-quality, bus-based transit system that delivers fast, comfortable and cost-effective services via dedicated lanes and frequent operations.” The plan for the Downtown-Uptown-Oakland-East...
Alta Via restaurant to expand into Pittsburgh’s Market Square
The Downtown Pittsburgh hospitality scene is buzzing again and adding another popular restaurant to the neighborhood. Alta Via, an Italian restaurant inspired by California cuisine, is expanding from its original home and into Market Square, according to the big Burrito Restaurant Group. The group owns the Mad Mex chain and...
Former Leechburg police chief Michael Diebold ordered to prison for failing to register as sex offender
Despite an impassioned plea to serve his sentence on house arrest, former Leechburg police Chief Michael Diebold will spend 18 to 36 months in prison for failing to properly register as a sex offender. Diebold, 44, pleaded guilty in December 2018 to soliciting sex online from a state trooper posing...
Police: 15-year-old girl hurt after running into car on West Seventh Avenue in Tarentum
A 15-year-old girl was flown to a hospital from Tarentum on Monday after police say she ran into the side of a car on West Seventh Avenue. The driver, a man from Tarentum, remained at the scene and is not facing any charges because he did not commit any violation,...
Pittsburgh protester gets 2 years of probation, social media ban
A prominent protester from Pittsburgh will serve two years of probation after pleading guilty Tuesday in six separate cases. Shawn Green, who goes by the name Lorenzo Rulli, also must also stay off social media as part of the agreement. Rulli, 20, of the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, pleaded guilty to...
Pine Community Center programs offer path to personal fitness
Pack on some unwanted pounds during the coronavirus shutdown that are still difficult to shed? Or maybe that New Year’s resolution to finally get in shape is still gnawing at you. Whatever the reason, if fitness is your goal, there are a host of programs being offered at the Pine...
New Kensington Camera Club offers classes on product photography and more
The New Kensington Camera Club is offering four free photography classes at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. Among the offerings is a March 5 workshop called Lightbox Photography for amateur shutterbugs wanting to improve their techniques for lighting and photographing products to sell on Facebook, Craigslist and elsewhere. The...
Man arrested in theft of $8,200 bicycle from Greensburg shop
Several search warrants led Greensburg police to arrest a New York City man who they believe stole an $8,200 bicycle from a local shop, according to court papers. Joziha J. Clemens, 21, was arraigned Friday after being extradited to Westmoreland County. He was being held on $75,000 bail at the...
Tull Family Foundation donates $20 million to Sewickley Academy
The Tull Family Foundation donated $20 million to Sewickley Academy, making it the largest donation in the school’s history, according to the school’s press release on Tuesday. Head of Sewickley Academy Ashley Birtwell expressed how thrilled she was about the possibilities the donation brought for the school. “As we continue...
Seeing double: 2-22-22 is not your ordinary Tuesday
Some dates just stick out. Today is one of those. It’s Feb. 22, 2022, or 2-22-22. People are calling it “Twosday” and it falls on a Tuesday, which makes it even more of an anomaly. Known as a palindrome, which means it reads the same backward and forward, people take...
Retired Lower Burrell electrician sparks interest in lamp figurines via Penn Hills marketplace
When Willard “Bill” Booth decided to retire after being an electrician for 38 years, he decided to use his skills to pursue a fun hobby. The 60-year-old started making industrial-styled pipe lamps out of repurposed electrical parts and miscellaneous objects. His specialized hobby has produced figurines of baseball players, musicians,...
Man accused by police of stealing car from Bell driveway, setting it on fire after crashing it
A Kittanning man was arraigned Tuesday on state police accusations that he stole a car from a Bell home, crashed it and set the interior on fire, according to court papers. Robert James Booth, 29, is charged with reckless burning, theft, risking catastrophe and related offenses. Troopers said a Dodge...
Highland Hose firefighter injured in Tarentum fire expected to recover fully; aid sought for families
A Tarentum volunteer firefighter is expected to make a full recovery after his feet became trapped on an aerial ladder while he and others were battling a fire at a duplex Monday. Richard Schuller, 22, was trapped near the far end of the ladder as it was extended from an...
Garbage truck strikes school bus in Ross, no injuries reported
A school bus in the North Hills School District was struck by a garbage truck Tuesday morning on Roseland Avenue in Ross. In an email to district parents, school officials said Highcliff Elementary students on Bus No. 696 were onboard when the truck backed into the school bus around 8:30...
Week in pictures: Feb. 14-20
A selection of the best photos from Tribune-Review photographers from around the Pittsburgh region from the week of Feb. 14-20. Previous weeks Week in pictures: Feb. 7-13, 2022 Week in pictures: Dec. 6-12, 2021 Week in pictures: Nov. 29 - Dec. 5, 2021 Week in pictures: Nov. 22-28, 2021 Week...
Satchels of Caring Foundation closing after nearly 2 decades giving hope to cancer patients
Over the course of 19 years, these hand-sewn fabric bags contained more than scarves, journals and tissues. They also carried hope for recipients dealing with cancer. What started as a project in 2003 through the American Cancer Society, the Satchels of Caring Foundation was formed initially to help women who...
