Local category, Page 1674
Lab-confirmed cases of omicron variant detected in Allegheny County
A day after the Allegheny County health director said the covid-19 omicron variant had been found in the county’s wastewater, lab testing has identified two confirmed cases of the quick-spreading variant, officials said. One test was collected from a man Dec. 7, and it was confirmed to be the omicron...
Kiski Area students raise more than $12K for charities with annual Cav-A-Thon
Students from the Kiski Area School District have been having fun, fundraising. The district’s annual Cav-A-Thon wrapped up this week, raising more than $12,500. The event raises money for Alle-Kiski Valley charities. “It will be shared with the Alle-Kiski HOPE Center, Kiski Valley Food Bank and the Stuff-A-Bus organization,” said...
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, former Pitt player, hosts toy drive in McKees Rocks
Rayhonna Russell watched as her 2-year-old daughter Marlei looked through all the toys. The little girl in the bright pink coat ran from one to another to another, picking one up, pointing to another, smiling and giggling. She was one of many children who came to Kelly and Nina’s Daycare...
Fast response to fire in Penn Township home limits damage, firefighters say
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a blaze Thursday limiting damage to a home in Penn Township, Harrison City Volunteer Fire Chief Gene Good said. The fire at the residence on Chris Drive was reported just before noon. “We were able to contain it to an upstairs bathroom,” Good said....
Police: Man arrested for threatening Scottdale family, nearly striking policeman with car
A Fayette County man who said he planned to harm relatives in Scottdale in a barrage of text messages this week intentionally swerved his car toward a responding police officer who was investigating the threats, according to court papers. The Scottdale patrolman, Michael Whipkey, said in court documents he turned...
Plum School District’s Make-A-Wish telethon exceeds $1M lifetime goal
With Plum School District’s Make-A-Wish telethon closing in on a lifetime collection of $1 million, high school teacher Rick Berrott was being cautious. It would be OK if they came up short, Berrott said, because whatever money they raised would go to a good cause. His caution proved to be...
Former Penn Township policeman cited for hunting violations
A retired Penn Township policeman was cited by the state game commission this month for five summary hunting violations. Authorities said Augustine DeGuffroy, 66, illegally shot an antlerless deer on Dec. 1 along Richmond Drive in Penn Township. DeGuffroy, a township resident, did not have a hunting license at the...
Troopers say Verona woman stabbed man in Derry Township during argument
State police arrested an Allegheny County woman early Thursday after she was accused of stabbing a 37-year-old Derry Township man during a domestic argument, according to court records. Betty J. Babb, 36, of Verona, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, harassment and simple assault. She was ordered held in...
Harrison taxes expected to remain steady in 2022
Harrison residents likely won’t pay higher real estate taxes next year, pending a final vote by commissioners on the township’s 2022 budget. The board is considering a $5 million budget proposal that maintains the property tax rate at 5.1 mills. If approved, owners of a home assessed at $100,000 would...
Leechburg kids spread Christmas joy with surprise gifts for Lee Haven Towers residents
A cover of “Last Christmas” was blaring from an apartment with its door wide open when Madison Chiusano, 6, and Olivia Chiusano, 3, walked up to it with a red stocking. “We have a gift for you,” Madison cheered as a man walked out donning an elf hat and red...
Alcoa-inspired flagpole with metal Christmas tree shines on near Route 66 in Gilpin
A flagpole in Gilpin has a unique holiday addition, compliments of a former Alcoa employee. “It’s Dad’s Alcoa flagpole tree,” joked Joseph Kovalchik of his late father’s handmade aluminum creation. John Kovalchik worked for 34 years as a maintenance electrician at Alcoa’s research lab in New Kensington. He died in...
Westmoreland Shop With a Cop benefits more than 600 children this year
Nine-year-old Zyire Sanu reached deep into a shopping cart loaded with toys to locate a package containing boxing gloves that he had picked from a shelf at Walmart in North Huntingdon. After locating the gear and declaring them his favorite selection of the day, the Pittsburgh kid turned to his...
Pittsburgh argues that Italian-American group has no right to challenge Columbus statue removal
Attorneys for the City of Pittsburgh said that a lawsuit filed against it last year to save the Christopher Columbus statue at Schenley Park ought to be dismissed because the organization that filed it doesn’t have standing. In documents filed last week in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, the city...
Hempfield supervisors plan to issue bonds to pay for aggressive infrastructure plan
Hempfield supervisors plan to use up to $33 million in bonds to complete capital projects in 2022. The plan, unanimously approved this week by supervisors, includes refinancing a 2015 bond — which could save the township $130,000. “It’s a positive vote,” said George Reese, supervisors chairman. “It’s going to be...
Pittsburgh police recover car stolen at New Kensington Sheetz
A car stolen Wednesday night from New Kensington was recovered about five hours later by Pittsburgh police, New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer said. The car, a 2021 Audi S5 sport sedan, was taken from the parking lot at Sheetz on Freeport Street shortly before 10 p.m., Deringer said. It...
Greensburg approves 5-year contract with Waste Management, rates to increase 32%
Greensburg officials approved a new five-year contract with Texas-based Waste Management that will increase residential rates. Council members approved the measure this month. According to the five-year contract, city residents will see collection costs rise from $17.45 per month per household to $23 per month per household. That’s a $5.55...
Bicyclist seriously injured in South Huntingdon, driver charged with DUI
A Sewickley Township woman is accused by state police of being under the influence of controlled substances when she hit a bicyclist, seriously injuring him, according to court papers filed last week. Kimberly Lynn Kustra, 46, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and related...
East End Cooperative Ministry steps up during pandemic
The poor are often invisible. “They don’t have buying power, they don’t have a political voice, because they can’t donate to campaigns and therefore are forgotten … invisible,” said Carole Bailey, CEO of East End Cooperative Ministry in East Liberty. “People in poverty do not consume news in the same...
Police say Eden Christian security guard traveled to Mississippi to meet girl for sex
A Butler County man who worked as a security guard at a Pittsburgh Christian school was arrested after police say he traveled to Mississippi to meet a girl for sex. Hernando police said Samuel James Hugg, 28, of Mars, had been sending sexual messages for days to an undercover officer...
College athlete travels across the country for liver transplant at Pittsburgh’s UPMC
Taylor Dockins cried as she listened to UPMC chief of transplantation Dr. Abhi Humar discuss her medical journey. Humar talked about her perseverance for five years fighting cancer and then learning she needed a liver transplant. The two connected when she traveled 2,400 miles for the operation. “Dr. Humar saved...
Westmoreland County DA-elect Nicole Ziccarelli says transition team not getting cooperation from predecessor
Westmoreland County District Attorney-elect Nicole Ziccarelli said Wednesday she and her new administrative team are set to begin work Jan. 3 to replace outgoing prosecutor John Peck, who she said has so far refused to cooperate with the transition. “My predecessor is not interested in creating a transition team with...
Ligonier man’s Christmas story takes on new life
Carl Smith was a young father, worried about disappointing his children 50 years ago when he spun a Christmas tale that became a family tradition. At the time, he had no idea the tale would take on a life of its own, going so far as to be featured in...
Kiski police arrest Vandergrift woman in North Apollo stabbing
Kiski police have arrested a woman accused of stabbing a man in North Apollo early Thursday morning. Police said the suspect, Amy Hepler, 38, of Vandergrift turned herself in at approximately 9 a.m. Police said officers responded around 2:15 a.m. to a report of a domestic assault at a home...
Pitt Panthers players encourage Burrell students to end mental health stigma
Pitt wide receiver Tre Tipton suffered a collapsed lung in 2016 and laid in the intensive care unit at a Miami hospital for four days. It was the turning point in his young life, despite years of suffering from depression, experiencing gun violence firsthand and dealing with multiple family hardships,...
Zoning amendments in Pittsburgh curb number of parking spots for restaurants
Zoning amendments approved by Pittsburgh City Council this week will, among other things, limit the number of parking spots required at restaurants. The measure will require that restaurants — including fast food locations — must provide a transportation impact study to the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. The Zoning Board...
