Western PA Local News category, Page 1734
Army Corps to update public on $500M-plus nuke cleanup in Parks Township
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will update residents on the status of the $500 million-plus cleanup of the nuclear dump in Parks Township in a virtual meeting Thursday evening. Excavation for the cleanup will start in 2024 at the 44-acre dump off Route 66. It is formally known as...
Jeannette looks to lease dash and body cameras for police department
Jeannette police could be getting another measure of protection — dash and body cameras. Police Chief Donald Johnston Jr. said having video evidence of arrests or incidents could help bolster criminal cases as well as deter potentially violent encounters with the public. “When you’re not able to provide that footage,...
Jeannette to use some federal American Rescue Plan money to buy new radios for firefighters
Jeannette firefighters are getting an upgrade to their radio systems with the help of American Rescue Plan funding. Fire Chief Bill Frye said he plans to purchase 23 new portable radios, a mobile radio for in a fire truck and a new radio repeater as well as upgrade the fire...
Jeannette officials debate how to spend $900K allocation from American Rescue Plan
A measure that would create a process for Jeannette businesses to apply for a portion of the city’s American Rescue Plan funding could be voted on during council’s Thursday meeting. Councilwoman Robin Mozley requested the item be placed on the agenda after officials heard from a business owner inquiring about...
Lower Burrell has unsold property in county repository; councilman buys tiny parcel
When Lower Burrell Councilman Chris Fabry was buying a new home on Aloha Drive, the city treasurer told him about an unclaimed sliver of neighboring land. City Treasurer Brian Eshbaugh alerted Fabry and some other residents about small properties adjacent to their own in an effort to get them onto...
Brackenridge Council votes to hold steady on 2022 property taxes
Brackenridge residents will pay the same amount in property taxes next year after council approved the borough’s $1.1 million budget. Council voted Dec. 2 to maintain the real estate tax rate of 6.2 mills — the same as it has been since 2018. “It’s a tight budget,” Borough Secretary Denise...
Pittsburgh City Council again revises proposal to amend city’s parking code
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday again revised a proposed change to the city’s parking code. The proposed legislation, introduced by Councilman Bobby Wilson in October, would create hybrid residential parking permit areas where drivers without a permit could pay to park for a limited time. It also would create non-resident...
Former priest secretly filmed teen boy in Target bathroom in Pittsburgh, police say
A former priest named in the 2018 Catholic Church abuse report was arrested Tuesday after police said he filmed a teenage boy in the bathroom of an East Liberty Target store, according to court records. Paul G. Spisak, 77, of East Carnegie, is charged with sexual abuse of a minor,...
Export officials: Sewage surcharge to remain in place for now
An $8 surcharge on Export sewage customers was only supposed to be in place for a year. Yet, when it came up for a vote in May, council members voted to keep it in place. With bills totaling more than $50,000 coming in related to its ongoing long-term flood control...
New Kensington police issue warning about leaving cars running after rash of thefts
New Kensington police are warning people not to leave their vehicles running while unoccupied after a number of thefts were reported. City police posted the notice on social media Wednesday morning noting that a specific area of concern is the Sheetz in the 300 block of Freeport Street, where several...
Woman accused of dealing drugs after cop finds half-ounce of suspected meth during traffic stop
Washington Township police accused a woman of selling drugs after finding more than half an ounce of suspected methamphetamine when she was pulled over for speeding. Deborah Jane Babyak, 60, of Carnahan Road in Bell Township was charged with a felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with the intent...
Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears arguments over school mask mandate
As Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has defended its school mask mandate in court over the past three months, it has relied on a portion of the state health code that allows for the “surveillance of disease.” On Wednesday before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Senior Deputy Attorney General Sean Kirkpatrick presented...
Freeport couple creates Christmas display with a Halloween twist
A Freeport couple wants to wish everyone a happy haunted Christmas via a new holiday display. James Libengood said this is the first December he and his wife, Melissa, decided to decorate their front yard and home for the holidays. However, it does not feature the traditional reindeer and snowmen....
Food Podcast: The nicest Grinch in PittsburghVideo
On the latest episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union on the TribLIVE podcast network, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank meets the nicest Grinch in the ‘Burgh. Whoville isn’t the only town with a famous Grinch! In fact, Pittsburgh’s Grinch has a huge heart for helping...
Fill the Ambulance event in Hempfield will accept Toys for Tots donations
Lorenzo Garino isn’t sure how many toys will fit in an ambulance, but he’s going to find out this weekend. Mutual Aid Ambulance Service is partnering with Z&M Harley-Davidson in Hempfield for a Fill the Ambulance event benefiting Toys for Tots. Garino, Mutual Aid’s director of operations, said the Greensburg-based...
Holiday train display returns to Penn Hills VFD Station 224
A favorite holiday tradition has returned. The train display is back at the Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department Station 224 in Verona. The display, which was forced to take a hiatus last year because of the pandemic, is now in its 15th year, and the intricate model display is as...
Kuzma reappointed as Quaker Valley School Board president
New board members were sworn into the Quaker Valley School Board at its reorganization meeting on Dec. 7. Members sworn in included Kuzma and Daniela Helkowski, both of Region 1; incumbent Kati Doebler, of Region 3; and newcomer Stratton Nash, of Region 2. Both Kuzma and Marna Blackmer were selected...
Freeport’s Small Town Christmas parade draws a crowdVideo
Sleigh bells rang throughout Freeport as hundreds of people packed the main street sidewalks for a chance to see Santa and other groups marching in the Small Town Christmas parade. At least 20 groups marched in the celebration Saturday including various Freeport Area High School athletic teams, the marching band,...
Pittsburgh city solicitor leaving city government post
Pittsburgh City Solicitor and Chief Legal Officer Yvonne Hilton will be leaving her role with the city, Mayor Bill Peduto announced Monday. Hilton began working with the city in August 1997. In the 24 years since, she has served as an assistant city solicitor, associate city solicitor and deputy city...
Washington County man gets a leg (lamp) up on Christmas decorations
Matthew Pagac, 32, of Centerville, Washington County, has a leg up on Christmas decorating. Pagac built a custom illuminated “leg lamp” for his front lawn, installing it Saturday. He said he was inspired to “go big” with his holiday decorating because it’s his daughter’s first Christmas and he was inspired...
Newly reaccredited National Aviary boasts seasonal activities
The National Aviary has received an early Christmas gift, with renewed accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Glad tidings from the facility on Pittsburgh’s North Side also include the return of special holiday events after a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic. “AZA accreditation is the gold...
Greater Latrobe School Board eyes tax appeal settlements, $6K revenue boost
Greater Latrobe School District expects to increase its annual revenue by more than $6,000 by resolving tax squabbles over four properties. At its regular Dec. 14 meeting, the school board will consider settling the four tax appeals, each resulting in a revenue gain for the district. “While they’re not windfalls,...
Fugitive in custody after fight with deputies, troopers in rural Westmoreland County
A New Florence man acquitted in the 2015 killing of a St. Clair Township police officer was taken into custody late Tuesday in rural Westmoreland County after fighting with county sheriff’s deputies and state troopers, authorities said. Ray A. Shetler Jr., 37, was taken into custody at a mobile home...
Pittsburgh Festival Opera brings ‘Ho-Ho-Holiday Extravaganza’ to Edgeworth Club
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” Mezzo-Soprano Marianne Cornetti started singing those words when asked about the inspiration of holiday music for her upcoming performance. “I could listen to Christmas music all year long,” said Cornetti, who will be Mrs. Claus at the Ho-Ho-Holiday Extravaganza on Dec. 19...
Newly elected Gateway school director will not serve due to health issues stemming from covid-19
The recently elected James Lomeo does not intend to serve on the Gateway School Board of Directors because of lingering covid issues. Lomeo won one of four contested seats during a Nov. 2 election, leading a pool of six candidates with 4,209 votes. Shortly after being treated at a hospital,...
