Local category, Page 1683
Police seek tips from public about late-night fatal shooting in Tarentum
Homicide detectives are seeking tips from the public about a fatal shooting in Tarentum late Thursday night. The shooting was reported at about 11:08 p.m. in the 300 block of Main Street. Neighbors reported hearing between five and seven shots fired in rapid succession. The location is near the intersection...
Pittsburgh extends and expands contract with Parks Conservancy
Pittsburgh City Council voted Tuesday to expand its contract with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, clearing the way for the nonprofit to work at additional city parks. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has worked with the city since 1998 to restore and improve the city’s parks, starting with its biggest ones: Frick,...
Rain postpones Lantern Walk in Fox Chapel’s Salamander Park
A celebration of light in Fox Chapel will have to wait. Heavy rain predicted for Saturday has postponed the park conservancy’s Winter Solstice Lantern Walk until Saturday, Jan. 8. “For the safety of our guests, we have to push it back,” said Mandy Steele, councilwoman and conservancy co-founder. The lantern...
Volunteers sought for Christmas Bird Count
Be part of what’s called the country’s oldest citizens science project by counting birds in the Pittsburgh Christmas Bird Count, happening in the North Hills and beyond. Master birders, casual birders and novices can take part in the early winter bird census coordinated by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania....
Death of Florida man killed in pedestrian/vehicle crash in Monroeville ruled accidental
The death of a Florida man struck by an SUV in Monroeville in September has been ruled an accident. Kenneth Allan Kissell Jr., 32, of Nokomis, Fla., was hit and killed by a vehicle near the intersection of Route 22 and Elliot Road around 9 p.m. on Sept. 23. Allegheny...
Port Authority’s 2022 fares include 25-cent hike for pre-paid riders, flexible pass policy
Beginning Jan. 1, the Port Authority of Allegheny County will raise the single-trip fare for prepaid riders and ConnectCard users by 25 cents, to $2.75. Other changes in the new year will provide those same riders a three-hour window for unlimited free transfers while allowing greater flexibility for pass holders....
Schools in Western Pa. reacting to general threats of violence posted on TikTok
A social media warning of potential violence at schools across the United States on Friday — largely deemed to be not credible — still had police and districts across Western Pennsylvania on alert. “Greensburg Salem had all of our school police officers on duty, and our local police department was...
Pittsburgh area humanities organizations among those sharing $1.4 million in recovery funds
A dozen area humanities organizations received grants of up to $16,000 to bolster their efforts. The grants were awarded by PA SHARP, it was announced Thursday. PA SHARP stands for Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan. Making the list of local organizations receiving $16,000 grants were City of...
Westmoreland commissioners trim deficit in 2022 budget, which overspends but won’t raise taxes
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday approved a 2022 budget that increases spending but also trims a projected deficit by nearly $7 million. The property tax rate will remain unchanged at 21.49 mills. “Overall, we are financially looking solid as we move forward into the next two years,” Commissioner Sean Kertes...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Dec. 17-19
‘Does Someone Need a Hug?’ “Elf the Musical” comes to the stage of the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, courtesy of Actors and Artists of Fayette County. A Sunday matinee is sold out. Based on the 2003 movie starring...
Franklin Regional elementary students ready for the holidaysVideo
Students at Franklin Regional Primary and Intermediate schools have had a busy holiday season. From serving snacks for staff to STEAM projects and more, elementary students have been making the most of the new and renovated buildings they returned to this school year. Franklin Regional students will be on winter...
Hampton holds line on 2022 property taxes
Hampton council on Dec. 15 passed a budget that will enact no increase to taxes in 2022. “Overall revenues are projected to increase by $1,163,000 to $15,902,000,” said Finance Director Rob Omecene via email, with most of the revenue increase coming from the covid Relief Funds. Expenses for the township...
Developer reaches deal to buy property for proposed $475M Pittsburgh riverfront project
A Washington County-based developer is moving ahead with plans for a proposed $475 million project that would bring a massive Ferris wheel, splash park, marina, ice skating rink and housing to Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood. The city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority on Thursday approved selling a 5.5-acre property to Millcraft Investments for...
MAWC water rates unchanged in new budget set for approval in January
Water rates for Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County customers are expected to remain unchanged during the 2022-23 fiscal year. A preliminary budget unveiled this week calls for the authority to retain its rate structure even as inflation has raised the costs associated with routine repairs and other upgrades planned for...
Kennywood investing in new look for 125th birthday
The planning has begun. Kennywood is preparing for a really, really big party. The West Mifflin amusement park turns 125 years old on Dec. 18, 2023. And it wants to look its best. Like most celebrations, in order to be ready for the soiree, the park will need time to...
Police charge 19-year-old who shot himself in foot with unlawful carry
A Lower Burrell man was charged with carrying a gun without a license after police say he got drunk and shot himself in the foot while showing off the weapon to a friend. Logan Robert Farr, 19, of Violet Drive was charged by Lower Burrell police with a felony count...
Controller blasts Westmoreland commissioners over rejection of pay raise proposal
Westmoreland Controller Jeff Balzer called a vote by county commissioners Thursday to reject proposed raises for three of his office supervisors “incompetent or political.” For the second time this year, Commissioners Doug Chew and Gina Cerilli Thrasher voted down a request from the controller to increase the pay of three...
Gateway School District cancels Thursday meeting and activities, high school instruction remote Friday due to social media threat
Gateway School District officials have canceled a special school board meeting, all after school activities and are moving to remote learning as a result of a social media threat. Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole said the threat was discovered by the district Thursday. Cole declined to disclose details except that...
Police: Monroeville man was nearly 4 times the legal limit at time of fatal August crash
Police said a Monroeville man had a blood-alcohol level of nearly four times the legal limit when he struck and killed another man along a Monroeville road in August, according to charges filed this week. Cody Riggins, 27, is charged with drunken driving, involuntary manslaughter and homicide by vehicle in...
New York Times honors The Westmoreland with best art book choice
The catalogue for “Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee,” currently showing in The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, has made the list of The New York Times Best Art Books of 2021. The 240-page, fully illustrated, full-color hardback catalogue includes an essay by The Westmoreland’s chief curator...
Approved rate hikes for Duquesne Light, Columbia Gas lower than initially sought
Duquesne Light Co. and Columbia Gas Co. of Pennsylvania customers in the region will pay more for electricity and natural gas next year, but less than the utilities wanted under a settlement approved by state regulators Thursday. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission unanimously approved a settlement with Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Light...
Harrison man accused of shooting up house while people watched football game
A Harrison man was charged with felony criminal mischief and a dozen other counts accusing him of shooting up a house after getting into an argument with people there watching a Steelers game. In addition to the felony count, Zeya Dixon, 24, of Park Avenue, Sheldon Park, was charged with...
Penn-Trafford area: Truck stuffed with toys, tree recycling sites
P-T community fills truck with toys The Penn-Trafford community filled a classroom with hundreds of donated toys for the Penn Township police department’s recent “Stuff-A-Truck” event supporting school district families who need assistance this holiday season. More toys were collected this year than previous years, a high school spokeswoman said....
Pittsburgh City Council wants to tweak process for hiring assistant, deputy directors
Pittsburgh City Council is considering a new process for hiring the city’s assistant and deputy directors. This comes after City Council recently considered legislation that would have required council approval for assistant and associate city directors. Those roles currently do not require council approval at all. The new measure, something...
Proposal to stop Pittsburgh police from making minor traffic stops moves forward
Pittsburgh City Council advanced a proposal to stop city police from pulling over motorists for secondary traffic violations, despite concerns that it could make roads less safe and prevent police from uncovering more serious crimes during minor traffic stops. Proponents said the measure would address a disproportionate number of traffic...
