Local category, Page 1741
New Kensington man gets 1 day in prison for stealing brother’s VA benefits
A New Kensington man will spend one day behind bars for stealing more than $130,000 of his older brother’s veterans benefits to buy himself luxury items — including a diamond ring, GMC Sierra pickup truck and Harley Davidson motorcycle. Andrew Ziacik, 57, also must pay $75,000 in restitution to his...
Estranged wife of GOP U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell testifies he abused her and children
The estranged wife of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell testified during a child custody hearing Monday that his fits of rage toward her began within the first few months of their relationship, and the rage later turned into abuse. But she said under oath that it wasn’t until early...
1935 Seagrave fire truck’s a relic worth preserving, Leechburg firefighters sayVideo
Jim Vigna of Leechburg knows companies just do not make fire trucks like they used to anymore. He is reminded of that fact whenever he tends to the borough volunteer fire company’s 1935 Seagrave. The roughly 25-foot-long truck was acquired the year it was made in a Columbus, Ohio, factory,...
Resolution would name park over Pittsburgh’s I-579 after activist Frankie Pace
A park being built over Interstate 579 in a $32.3 million project linking Pittsburgh’s Hill District to Downtown would be named after community activist Frankie Pace, under a City Council resolution proposed Monday. Born in 1905, Pace was a longtime community activist and head of the Hill District Community Council....
North Allegheny school cafeterias serve up tasty choices
Things are getting more delicious at North Allegheny, thanks to the choice-friendly, student-focused meals being served throughout the district’s 12 school cafeterias.’ Gone are the days when school lunches were a one-size-fits-all approach on a tray. Today, students have more variety, with healthier and tastier choices, according to Judy Ostronic,...
Guilty plea deal rejected in 2018 Jeannette murder and arson case
A Jeannette man charged with murder and arson in connection with a deadly fire in 2018 that killed one person and injured another rejected a proposed plea bargain that would have spared him from a life prison sentence. Brian Rendon would not accept a deal to plead guilty to a...
Pittsburgh City Council approves requiring registration, inspections of rental units
A proposal to create a rental registration and inspection schedule for Pittsburgh’s rental units gained final approval by City Council on Monday, advancing a measure that had been stopped by a judge when officials previously tried to implement it. The proposal, approved by all six council members present Monday, would...
Ballot error costly as Westmoreland officials scramble to fix 11th-hour mistake
Westmoreland County paid more than $8,100 for postage to correct errors that appeared on 151 mail-in and absentee ballots sent out to voters in two Mt. Pleasant Borough precincts. Officials on Monday confirmed the ballots erroneously instructed voters to choose one of two candidates seeking council seats in the borough’s...
Voter turnout projected to hit 30% in Westmoreland County
More than 200,000 Westmoreland County voters — or more than 80% of those registered — cast ballots during last fall’s Presidential Election. A year later, turnout for Tuesday’s election is expected to be just a fraction of that, election officials said. “We’re saying it will be be around 30%,” said...
Local veterans invited for free dinner, camaraderie at Sharpsburg VFW
Local veterans who served at any time and in any location are welcome to the Sharpsburg VFW for a free dinner on Sunday. “We don’t care where you live, where you served or for how long,” Post 709 Commander Pat Corcoran said. “This is veterans celebrating veterans. “We’d love to...
1 flown from water drilling rig fire in Mt. Pleasant Township
One person was severely burned after a fire started while crews were operating a water drilling rig in Mt. Pleasant Township Monday afternoon, officials said. According to Kecksburg Fire Chief Adam Krozel, a company was drilling a water well at a home along Freeman Falls Road when something ignited, causing...
Norwin employee arrested, details scant from school district, police
A Norwin Middle School employee was arrested outside the building Friday, according to North Huntingdon police and the school district. Superintendent Jeff Taylor did not identify the employee or their position at the school located at 10870 Mockingbird Drive in the township. In a statement issued Monday, Taylor the district...
1-actor play in Pittsburgh explores iconic movie monster in ‘Karloff’
Halloween may be over, but Prime Stage Theatre aims to entertain horror fans with “Karloff: The Man and the Monster,” a one-actor play exploring the life of renowned movie monster Boris Karloff. Opening Nov. 5 in the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh’s North Side, the production explores the 60-year career...
Isaly’s chipped ham, Klondikes celebrated in new historical book
Is there a Western Pennsylvanian who hasn’t eaten Isaly’s chipped chopped ham or sung along to the advertising jingle, “What would you do for a Klondike bar?” Now they can learn how Isaly’s grew from horse-drawn milk wagons to become the world’s largest dairy storechain in the Senator John Heinz...
Pitt will require covid-19 vaccination by Dec. 6
The University of Pittsburgh will require its students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated for covid-19, effective Dec. 6. The requirement applies to all Pitt campuses. Students, faculty and staff must be vaccinated or have received an approved vaccine exemption, university officials announced Monday. Those who fail to comply with...
Latrobe merchants sweeten Shop Hop event with pie walk
Pie lovers and bargain hunters both will find a reason to visit downtown Latrobe on Wednesday for the business district’s final Shop Hop of the year. During the Fall Fest Pie Walk, slated for 4 to 7 p.m., visitors stopping at participating downtown merchants will have the opportunity to sample...
Pittsburgh requiring city employees to be vaccinated against covid-19
Pittsburgh is requiring all city employees without medical or religious exemptions to be fully vaccinated against covid-19 by Dec. 22, officials announced Monday. Employees are considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two weeks after one dose of...
Hays Woods purchase gets final OK, to be Pittsburgh’s 2nd largest park
Hays Woods is set to become Pittsburgh’s next public park, after City Council voted Monday to authorize the city to take ownership of the 624-acre site. Pittsburgh will buy the property from the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority for $1, plus costs. The URA bought the site in the city’s Hays...
Incumbent, 3 newcomers in race for 3 city council seats in Latrobe
Four candidates are vying for three open seats on Latrobe City Council in Tuesday’s general election. The field includes incumbent Jim Kelley, a Democratic nominee who was the sole listed primary candidate, and three newcomers who waged successful write-in campaigns: William Yuhaniak, a Republican nominee, and Ann Amatucci and Bridget...
Norwin: Mask issue prominent in divisive school board campaign
The battle among eight candidates seeking four seats on the Norwin School Board features a slate of four Republican candidates who have opposed the district following the state mandate requiring masks in schools. Newcomers Christine Baverso, 44, Alex Detschelt, 45, and Shawna Ilagan, 39, join incumbent Raymond Kocak, 58, on...
5 candidates vie for 4 open seats on Delmont council
Five candidates will compete for four open seats on Delmont Council in the Nov. 2 election, each with their own ideas for the future of the borough. “With input from the citizens of Delmont, council needs to identify issues and plan to correct them as we move into the future,”...
Phipps includes Pittsburgh’s sinkhole bus in garden railroad display
Trains, bridges, tunnels, plants and a sinkhole bus? Yes, the Pittsburgh sinkhole bus is one of the features in the new “Garden Railroad: Bridges and Tunnels” exhibit at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Oakland. “What I love about Pittsburgh is it is a city that rallies around the weirdest...
Derry Township man arrested in theft of car left running outside convenience store
State police accused a Derry Township man of stealing a car while its owner was inside a convenience store last week, according to court papers. Troopers said they found the Chevrolet Cruze about 27 miles away and identified Aaron Michael Thompson, 27, as the suspect. He is charged with theft...
Sheraden man accused of dousing woman, child with lighter fluid during argument
Pittsburgh police accused a man of dousing a woman and a child with lighter fluid during an argument early Sunday morning in Sheraden. Officers from the Zone 6 station responding to a 911 for a domestic dispute at around 1 a.m. encountered a woman and a child who were sprayed...
6 candidates vying for 4 seats on Trafford Council
Trafford residents will seat at least two new members on council in 2022 and possibly four, depending on the outcome of the Nov. 2 general election. Two incumbents and four newcomers are vying for the four available openings. Longtime Councilman Casey L. Shoub Sr., 70, a Democrat, is seeking his...
