Western PA Local News category, Page 1654
Herb Ellerbrock, reptile keeper who helped bring Komodo Dragon to Pittsburgh Zoo, dies at 73
Herb Ellerbrock’s fascination with reptiles was so intense as a kid growing up in Sharpsburg, his parents hung a sign outside their home and turned the front room into a shop for him to collect and sell snakes. That shop helped fuel the boy’s passion for reptiles and amphibians and...
Fetterman a no-show so far in U.S. Senate candidate forum series
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Braddock, is facing criticism for failing to sign up for an online candidate event organized by a coalition of Democratic political groups in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The SWPA Grassroots Coalition is hosting a series this month where Democratic U.S. Senate...
Trial begins for man accused of fatally shooting neighbor over argument in Wilkinsburg
A Wilkinsburg man is on trial this week for a 2019 shooting death. Dilon Bartifay, 34, is charged with criminal homicide stemming from the Nov. 16, 2019, incident at the corner of Ross and Center streets in Wilkinsburg. Detectives said that Bartifay killed Gregory Lamont Blair Sr., 46, whose son...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to robbing downtown bank, attempted to rob another
A Pittsburgh man has pleaded guilty in federal court to bank robbery and attempted bank robbery charges. Timothy Sowinski, 53, admitted to the crimes before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon, federal officials announced Wednesday. Officials said Sowinski entered the Northwest Bank on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh on March 12,...
Hospital leaders hopeful as covid cases decline, staffing remains an issue
Hospital leaders across Western Pennsylvania are hopeful that a downswing from the coronavirus pandemic’s omicron variant appears to be here. They reported decreasing positive case rates and hospitalized covid patients, a welcome reprieve from the onslaught around the holidays and beginning of 2022. “That’s not to say there won’t be...
Community forum set as Greater Latrobe School District develops a facilities master plan
Greater Latrobe residents this month will learn about a planning and visioning process underway at the school district and will have an opportunity to provide input toward a facilities master plan that will result from that process. A community outreach forum for the plan is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb....
Police charge 2 in shooting outside Greensburg bar, still seeking 1 suspect
Greensburg police used witness interviews and video provided by the Rialto Bar and the Palace Theatre to piece together evidence to charge two men in a downtown shooting Jan. 30 that injured two people. Evan R. Curley, 23, of Greensburg and Stevin “Twogunz” German, 27, of Uniontown face attempted homicide...
Rep. Mercuri’s bill making it easier to complete mortgage process signed into law
Changing some of Pennsylvania’s antiquated laws can be a laborious process that often takes a backseat to more pressing legislation. But when the governor issued emergency orders during last year’s coronavirus shut down to prevent a halt in mortgages being issued, a lawmaker from Pine Township saw a chance to...
Scores of bridges around Westmoreland County are rated in poor condition
Westmoreland County has 143 state-inspected bridges that are rated in poor condition and will need maintenance work, if they haven’t already been closed. PennDOT lists a bridge as being in poor condition if its deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert has a condition with a low rating. A bridge will be...
Covid continues decline in Western Pa., expert says ‘worst of pandemic is largely over’
Covid-19 cases dropped by more than half over the past week in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties as well as statewide, and an infectious disease expert says the statistics likely signal the omicron-driven surge has reached its peak. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, Allegheny County recorded 3,850 cases, an average...
Oakmont’s Olive Branch Studios moving to Manos Gallery in Tarentum
The Olive Branch Art Studio on Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont will be moving to the Manos Gallery in Tarentum at the end of March. Owner Sara J. Kirsch will be named resident artist at the new location, where she will not only continue to display her own work but...
Fox Chapel family enjoys winter fun at O’Hara Township Community Park
The winter weather did not stop a Fox Chapel family from having fun at O’Hara Township Community Park on Feb. 7 Hannah and Jon McGovern played with their children, Fiona, 2, and Finn. The children used the swings, merry-go-round and other playground equipment as they all made their way through...
Delmont mayor breaks 3-3 deadlock in appointing new council member
Delmont Mayor Alyce Urban is empowered to break a tie vote, if one should come up at a council meeting. But in six years, she hasn’t been called on to do so. Tuesday night, she had to do it twice in order to fill the seat vacated by her husband,...
Former Pitt emergency management director pleads guilty to stealing PPE, selling it online
The former director of emergency management at the University of Pittsburgh pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing more than 13,000 pieces of personal protective equipment from the school’s stockpile at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic to sell at inflated prices online. Christopher Casamento, 42, of Ross, will be sentenced on...
PNC Park hosting American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb
Competitors can make like a PNC Park hot dog vendor by scaling the steps of the Pittsburgh baseball stadium during the March 19 Fight For Air Climb, hosted by the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania. Now in its 16th year, the local fundraising event joins 41 others across the United...
The Journal needs Ash Wednesday fish fry notices by Feb. 17
The North Allegheny Journal needs notices of Ash Wednesday fish fries by noon Feb. 17 to be published in the Feb. 24 print edition, which is the last edition before Ash Wednesday. This deadline applies to Ash Wednesday fish fries only. Fish fry notices can be sent to Sandra Skowron...
Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre postpones ‘Aqualung’ show at The Palace
Martin Barre, the longtime guitarist for progressive rock band Jethro Tull, has postponed his upcoming concert at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre: “Aqualung” 50th Anniversary Tour, originally set for 8 p.m. Thursday, has been rescheduled for 8 p.m. March 23. All tickets for the original performance...
The Herald needs Ash Wednesday fish fry notices by Feb. 17
The Herald needs notices of Ash Wednesday fish fries by noon Feb. 17 to be published in the Feb. 24 print edition, which is the last edition before Ash Wednesday. This deadline applies to Ash Wednesday fish fries only. Fish fry notices can be sent to Sandra Skowron at sskowron@triblive.com....
Food Podcast: Pittsburgh Flying Disc Ice Bowl supports the Food BankVideo
On this week’s episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union on the TribLIVE podcast network, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank talks about a fun way to get outside while supporting your neighbors this winter. Players are gearing up for the 21st Annual Pittsburgh Flying Disc Ice...
Bill Palmer resigns as Greater Latrobe school director; Rhonda Laughlin returns as appointee
Local optometrist Dr. Rhonda Laughlin is returning as an appointee to the Greater Latrobe School Board after an absence of just a few months. The board this week selected Laughlin by a 7-1 vote to fill a seat vacated by the Feb. 4 resignation of veteran school director Bill Palmer....
Youngwood man accused of rape
A Youngwood man was arraigned Wednesday on state police accusations that he bound a woman’s hands and raped her for hours last month, according to court papers. Brandon Robert Giron, 22, is charged with kidnap, rape, unlawful restraint and related offenses. Troopers said they were notified Jan. 21 by the...
Texas native Jane Glenn spearheaded community projects in New Kensington over 60 years
On a Sunday afternoon in March 1958, a Texas woman sitting outside a coffee shop in New Orleans caught the eye of a man from Leechburg. Before too long, she found herself in New Kensington. Jane Glenn arrived in New Kensington newly wedded to that Leechburg man — James Glenn...
Billie Eilish, her mom donate plant-based meals to Pittsburgh nonprofit
Billie Eilish’ s “Happier Than Ever” world tour isn’t just about feeding each city with good music. It’s about nourishing the people there. too. Before Eilish’s Tuesday performance at PPG Paints Arena, the singer supplied food to 412 Food Rescue, a Pittsburgh-based organization that prevents food from going to waste...
Trucker on turnpike accused of driving erratically arrested for DUI, heroin possession
A truck driver from Latrobe accused of refusing to allow other motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to pass and leading troopers on a 10-mile pursuit was arrested Tuesday, accused of driving under the influence, possession of heroin and multiple traffic charges, state police said. A trooper had to maneuver to...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey requests 2nd 30-day pause on Oakland Crossings proposal
Consideration of Pittsburgh’s proposed Oakland Crossing zoning ordinance had been put on hold for another 30 days. Walnut Capital, the Shadyside developer that revitalized Bakery Square, has proposed a major transformation of a portion of the city’s Oakland neighborhood. Oakland Crossings, a 17-acre project, would require a zoning amendment, which...
