Western PA Local News category, Page 1708
Pittsburgh’s SWAT team responded to domestic incident in Knoxville; suspect surrenders
Pittsburgh’s SWAT team responded to a home in the city’s Knoxville neighborhood Tuesday night after receiving a 911 call for a domestic incident. Officers responded to the 200 block of Zara Street around 7:30 p.m. On scene, the caller told police a man was in the home armed with a...
Pamela’s Diner is closing in Squirrel Hill, but its other locations will remain
After 42 years in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, Pamela’s Diner is closing. Closure of the restaurant was announced in a news release Tuesday by co-owners Gail Klingensmith and Pam Cohen who have several Pamela’s locations throughout the Pittsburgh area. All other Pamela’s locations will remain open. The decision was largely...
Disciplinary action initiated against 9 Pittsburgh police officers in tasing, death of man in Bloomfield
The Pittsburgh police have begun the disciplinary process for nine people involved in the October tasing and subsequent death of a homeless man. Mayor Bill Peduto confirmed on Tuesday that disciplinary action reports have started to be served following a Critical Incident Review Board that concluded about two weeks ago....
Westmoreland housing authority seeks to scratch out bedbug problem at Jeannette Manor
Ron Tonin has had enough. For days now, Tonin, 53, who is confined to a wheelchair, said he is forced to sleep in the hallway outside his apartment in Jeannette Manor to avoid a bedbug infestation that has left him with welts on his back and extremities. “I’ve lived here...
Travel this week expected to inch toward pre-pandemic numbers, state police release Christmas weekend stats
More than 5.4 million motorists are expected to take to the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Christmas and New Year’s Day, inching toward pre-pandemic numbers, officials said. Projections call for 460,000 turnpike motorists on New Year’s Eve and 350,000 on New Year’s Day. Over the Christmas weekend, state police across the region...
Pa. court rules against former Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris in campaign finance case
A state appellate court ruled Tuesday that former Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Darlene Harris must pay fines levied against her for failing to file financial disclosure reports during her campaign in 2019. In a 20-page opinion, the Commonwealth Court found that the $4,150 fine levied against Harris was not excessive and...
Experts say vaccinated people with health problems still face serious covid risks
Despite recent cases in which vaccinated people got infected and died from coronavirus, getting inoculated is still the best protection against the virus, according to medical experts. While the Allegheny County Health Department’s online covid dashboard does not distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated people in its death data, it does...
Accident on Route 22 in Murrysville hampers traffic
A crash affected westbound traffic on Route 22 in Murrysville near Monroeville Tuesday afternoon. The accident by McDonald’s and in the area of the Blue Spruce Shoppes was reported at 4 p.m., a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. Two passenger vehicles collided in a “T-bone”-type crash, the dispatcher said. There...
Powerball jackpot climbing at $441M, but not nearly a record
Lora Trenney of Kiski Township is feeling lucky. The 40-year-old bartender at Cicero’s Bar and Grill in Leechburg bought a Powerball ticket Tuesday during her work shift. The lottery jackpot swelled to an estimated $441 million with a cash option of $317.5 million for the Wednesday drawing, according to the...
Penn Township man arrested in stabbing deaths of father, aunt waives right to hearing
A 41-year-old Penn Township man accused in the stabbing deaths of his father and elderly aunt avoided a hearing Tuesday on two criminal homicide charges and opted to proceed to trial. Neal M. Hubish, who has a history of violence and mental health issues, was arrested Nov. 9 after he...
Pittsburgh bans traffic stops for minor violations
Pittsburgh police will no longer be able to conduct traffic stops for minor, secondary violations. City Council on Tuesday approved legislation banning such traffic stops, despite calls from residents and one councilman for a public hearing ahead of a vote on the measure. The legislation, introduced by Councilman Ricky Burgess...
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey to be inaugurated in virtual ceremony
Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey said Tuesday that his inauguration will be held virtually. He said he decided to hold his inauguration and swearing-in ceremony virtually “in accordance with guidance from public health officials.” The inauguration, scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, will be streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel, Comcast...
1 dead, another injured in I-279 crash in Ross
A man was killed and another injured in a crash early Monday on the Parkway North in Ross. State police said David P. Rennebeck, 67, of Pittsburgh, died from injuries suffered in a two-car crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 279. Rennebeck had been driving a car that struck...
Pittsburgh to partner with University of Cincinnati researchers to improve emergency response
Pittsburgh is looking to partner with the University of Cincinnati researchers to analyze police department data so the city can respond better to emergencies. The proposal, approved this month by City Council, would allow Pittsburgh police and the city’s Office of Community Health and Safety to partner with the university’s...
Commissioners award demolition contracts for abandoned structures in Harrison
Harrison will keep a township contractor busy not only with demolishing structures but doing some building work, as well. Township commissioners awarded two contracts to Ron Gillette Inc. and expanded another. The commissioners approved a contract for Gillette to tear down a number of abandoned, blighted structures in the Natrona...
Gas prices falling after setting new Christmas Day record
Average gasoline prices are coming down in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation but remain significantly higher than they were a year ago, according to price tracking service GasBuddy. According to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations in Pittsburgh, gas prices fell 2.1 cents per gallon in the past week...
Tarentum woman charged with lying on application to buy gun
A Tarentum woman was charged with a felony after police say she intentionally provided false information about her past when filling out an application to buy a gun at a sporting goods store. Robin A. Ratz, 66, of Heuser Way was charged by Harrison Township police with a felony count...
Westmoreland economic development marketing director retires after one last deal
Joe Sisley’s fingerprints are all over economic development in Westmoreland County. “Joe has sold or leased every property in Westmoreland County’s industrial park system,” said Jason Rigone, executive director of the county’s Industrial Development Corp. There are more than 170 companies occupying 1,200 acres of land and — until the...
East Vandergrift man accused of stealing $42K from nursing home patient
An East Vandergrift man is accused of stealing nearly $43,000 from a man who gave him access to his bank and credit card accounts when he went into a nursing home. John William Ebner, 33, of McKinley Avenue, was charged by Vandergrift police with theft, receiving stolen property, access device...
Diversity, inclusivity topics in Westmoreland Community Action survey
A survey open through Feb. 22 will help Westmoreland Community Action determine how the agency can help with issues related to diversity and inclusiveness. Welcoming Westmoreland is a project the Greensburg-based agency and other groups are undertaking in an effort to foster growth and development through diverse cultures that exist...
Belle Vernon man accused of attempted Christmas burglary in Rostraver
A Belle Vernon man is behind bars after police said he attempted to break into a home in Rostraver on Christmas with his young child in tow, according to court papers. Scott Michael Shetter, 29, is charged with attempted burglary, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. He...
Shed gifted to Tarentum community garden found destroyed
A much-appreciated storage shed given to Tarentum’s community garden was found Thursday to have been destroyed, said the Rev. Phil Beck, an organizer of the group that oversees the garden. Beck of First United Presbyterian Church in Tarentum said he believes the shed at the Greg Blythe Friendship Garden on...
The Stroller, Dec. 28, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Knead Community Café welcomes donations Knead Community Café, New Kensington, is accepting donations to help the daily operation of the café, 1011...
New coffee shop in Freeport creates cozy gathering place for cup of joe
Virginia Lindsay didn’t set out to open a coffee and tea shop in Freeport when she and business partner Karen Heilman started looking for a new venture in which to get involved. But they knew they wanted to put their creativity and energy into something that was in the heart...
Gilpin decides on projects for $80,000 of federal covid relief funds
The Gilpin supervisors intend to allocate $80,000 of the township’s federal covid relief money. The money is part of $125,400 received from the federal fund designed to help communities come back from a broad range of issues they faced in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. Township supervisors Chairman Charles...
