Local category, Page 1679
Allegheny County Mental Health Court program marks 20th anniversary, graduation
Timothy Treganowan, who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, became addicted to heroin at age 27 after he broke his back and was prescribed opioids. In 2017, while incarcerated for burglary and receiving stolen property — crimes committed, he said, to fuel his habit...
Pittsburgh council to vote on whether police can make minor traffic stops
City Council on Monday continued debate about a measure that would prohibit Pittsburgh police from pulling people over for minor, secondary violations. Though council was originally scheduled to vote on the legislation Monday, members delayed the final until next Tuesday at the request of Councilman Anthony Coghill, who has repeatedly...
Westmoreland doles out retroactive pandemic hazard pay to top administrators
Nearly two years after the fact, Westmoreland County’s senior executives, department heads and other top administrators will receive bonuses for their work in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved retroactive pandemic pay for about 60 county officials for 10 days of work between March...
Peduto Chief of Staff Dan Gilman to take on new role at Duquesne University
Dan Gilman, who served as Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff, announced Monday that he will be taking on a new role at Duquesne University when Peduto leaves office in January. Gilman will serve as a senior advisor to Duquesne University President Ken Gormley and will move into the chief...
Pittsburgh approves spending plan for $10.8 million parks tax fund
City Council on Monday approved the spending plan for the fund holding the money collected through the Pittsburgh’s new parks tax. This will be the first year the city has the dedicated fund to use for park projects. The trust fund is projected to contain $10.8 million at the start...
Tarentum shooting victim identified
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim of a fatal shooting in Tarentum last week as Arquwonna Wright, 30, of Tarentum. According to police, Wright was shot late Thursday night along Main Street near the apartment building where she lived with her two children, 4 and 6 months....
Charges against Latrobe councilman, former firefighter to be dropped after deal reached
Moments before the start of a court hearing Monday for a Latrobe councilman and a former city firefighter accused of stealing department funds to pay private legal fees, defense attorneys met privately with the prosecutor and resolved the criminal case. Assistant District Attorney Leo J. Ciaramitaro emerged from the chamber...
Westmoreland County signs on to $26B settlement in opioid lawsuit
Westmoreland County on Monday signed up to be part of a proposed $26 billion national settlement with three major drugmakers to end a lawsuit over the ongoing opioid epidemic. The county and its 11 largest municipalities would receive up to $22 million over the next 18 years, commissioners said. “This...
Governor orders flags to half-staff in memory of Mt. Pleasant mayor, fire chief
State flags at government buildings across Pennsylvania will fly at half-staff until sunset Wednesday by order of Gov. Tom Wolf, in honor and memory of late Mt. Pleasant mayor and fire chief Gerald “Jerry” Lucia. He died unexpectedly Dec. 17 and will be buried Wednesday. Lucia had responded to a...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey announces transition team details
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey on Monday introduced new members to his transition committee as he prepares to take office next month. The announcement came virtually after he said he tested positive for covid-19 Monday morning. “This is a robust group of people that came together here,” Gainey said of his...
Sharky’s taking donations for holiday meal distribution, aiming to serve 600
Cindy Love of Latrobe can remember delivering a holiday meal to a family in need last year, and the look on a little boy’s face as it arrived. “It really broke my heart,” said Love, a volunteer who helped deliver more than 450 meals cooked by the staff at Sharky’s...
Gas prices falling as omicron variant surges, stalling oil demand and prices
Average gasoline prices continue to fall as cases of the covid omicron variant surge, leading oil demand and prices to stall, an industry analyst said Monday. “The decline in gas prices will likely continue until new covid cases slow down,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for price-tracking...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey tests positive for covid
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey announced during a virtual press conference Monday that he has tested positive for covid-19. Gainey said he tested positive after taking a rapid test in the morning. He was holding a virtual press conference to announce his transition team. Gainey said he was exposed to the...
Pittsburgh council approves changes to hiring process for assistant directors
Pittsburgh City Council on Monday approved a measure that gives them some oversight in the process of hiring assistant and deputy directors for the city. The legislation affords City Council the opportunity to interview people who are appointed to those positions. City Council previously did not get to approve or...
Russian national gets time served in money laundering, cybercrime scheme in Western Pa.
A Russian national was sentenced to time served for his role in an international money laundering scheme on Monday. Maksim Boiko, 31, pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2020, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The case was prosecuted in Pittsburgh because the funds that were attempted to...
Film-friendly atmosphere, ideal locations bring director back to W. Pa. for ‘The Pale Blue Eye’
A rich history, varied landscape and welcoming community have drawn director Scott Cooper back to Southwestern Pennsylvania to film his upcoming adaptation of “The Pale Blue Eye” for Netflix. “It’s an incredibly pleasant place to shoot,” said Cooper, “and it works exceedingly well for the 1830s Hudson Valley.” Cooper and...
Scottdale farm earns American Dairy Association’s community outreach award
After a local farm was named the American Dairy Association North East’s among its Dairying For Tomorrow award winners in the Community Outreach category, its owners immediately lived up to the title. Maple Bottom Farm, with facilities in Scottdale and Dawson, Fayette County, donated their Dairying For Tomorrow award to...
Delmont police use local instructor for state-mandated harm-reduction training
When Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 59 of 2020 into law, one of its elements was mandatory police officer training to include harm-reduction components such as de-escalation, defensive and control tactics. For Chief T.J. Klobucar of the Delmont Police Department, that was as simple as a quick phone call to...
Beverly’s Birthdays cookie competition in Irwin showcases young bakers
The best cookie bakers aren’t always grandmothers in flour-dusted aprons. A group of young bakers showed their kitchen competence Sunday during the fourth-annual Great Birthday Bake hosted by Beverly’s Birthdays at Antonelli Event Center in Irwin. Their creations scaled the heights of culinary creativity with original recipes and presentations worthy...
Trafford councilman honored by state group
A state association says the president of Trafford council is tops when it comes to leading his community. The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs honored Kristopher “Kris” Cardiff with its Outstanding Council Member of the Year Award. Cardiff, 44, who has served on council since January 2014, has been president...
Ring in 2022 with an all-ages party in Penn Hills
Hebron Community Center plans a community celebration to ring in the new year. The event will be held Dec. 31 at the Barclay Building of Hebron Church, 10460 Frankstown Road in Penn Hills. Families with young children can attend 5:30-7:30 p.m. and welcome the new year at 7 p.m. Adults...
In brief: Holiday office closures, free parking and more in Sewickley area
Sewickley municipal offices closed for holiday The Sewickley municipal offices will be closed Dec. 23, 24, 30 and 31. Bell Acres borough office closed for holiday The Bell Acres borough office will be closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 27. Free parking There will be free parking Fridays after 1 p.m....
Braddock man dies after being hit by vehicle in Forest Hills
A 62-year-old man died after being hit by a vehicle in Forest Hills on Sunday, Allegheny County Police said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the man as Christopher Weiss of Braddock. Police said the collision happened shortly before 6 a.m. at Ardmore Boulevard and Digital Drive. They said the...
2 Gateway band members tapped for a decorated drum and bugle corps
Two Gateway High School band members received contracts to compete this upcoming summer with a decorated junior drum and bugle corps from Wisconsin. Josh Burns and Nick Nikou, a trumpet and euphonium player respectively, were chosen after auditioning in November for the Madison Scouts, which travels the country from June...
New Kensington council to consider traffic impact of proposed Popeyes restaurant
A proposal to build a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington will face its final hurdle before city council in early January. The mayor and council are scheduled to hear an appeal to grant a conditional use to the city’s zoning at 7 p.m. Jan....
