Local category, Page 1755
8 battle for 4 Plum council seats
There are four Plum council seats open as voters take to the polls in November. Two former councilmen, three incumbents and three newcomers make up the eight-candidate field for the council positions. On the Democratic side, candidates are Michael Creighton, Jennifer Lynn Pusateri, David Odom and Justin Michael Tuskan. Republican...
Pittsburgh police lose 2nd officer to covid-19
A second Pittsburgh police officer has died from covid-19, police officials said Thursday night. Sgt. Richard ‘Rick’ Howe, of Cecil, died Thursday afternoon at St. Clair Hospital, officials said. He was 51. “We lost a good officer, a good supervisor and an even better person today,” said Cmdr. Edd Trapp,...
3 tornadoes confirmed in region, power being restored
Radar confirmed that three tornadoes touched down in the region Thursday evening and National Weather Service surveyors will spend the next couple days gathering information about them and other potential twisters, according to meteorologist Jason Frazier. Those tornadoes were near Mt. Nebo and Hampton in Allegheny County and Buffalo Township...
Federal lawsuit accuses Pittsburgh police of using excessive force during George Floyd protest arrest
A McKees Rocks man filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against three unnamed Pittsburgh police officers, as well as the city of Pittsburgh, claiming he was falsely arrested following his participation in a protest over the death of George Floyd last year. John Connors alleges in the lawsuit filed by Pittsburgh...
Pa. Supreme Court: Pittsburgh didn’t have authority to pass housing voucher anti-discrimination ordinance
The state Supreme Court on Thursday agreed with a lower court that the city of Pittsburgh didn’t have the authority in 2015 to pass an ordinance barring landlords from discriminating against tenants who used federally subsidized housing vouchers. City Council passed the ordinance to protect those with “Section 8” housing...
Quality assurance manager hired for Westmoreland elections, pay is $80K
Westmoreland County will pay $80,000 a year to the man hired to serve as the quality assurance manager for the election bureau. Commissioners created the position this year to serve as a backstop for potential problems in the department that oversees elections. This week, the commissioners — acting as the...
Pandemic bonuses approved for Westmoreland Manor staff
Nurses, administrators and support staff at Westmoreland Manor will receive bonuses for their work over the last 20 months during the coronavirus pandemic. County commissioners on Thursday voted to divert about $670,000 of the $1.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds awarded directly to the county-owned nursing home this...
Brackenridge church hosts concert series for people to ‘relax and refresh’
The sanctuary at Trinity United Methodist Church in Brackenridge will double as an intimate concert venue this weekend. Veteran blues singer Miss Freddye will be belting out her chart-topping, soulful tunes to kick off a concert series aimed at faith and fellowship. Dubbed the “Leading Lady of the Blues,” Miss...
Late Freeport youth baseball coach Greg Wells to be celebrated with fall festival Sunday
Friends, family and former players of a late Freeport Area Youth Baseball coach plan to gather for a special event Sunday in Freeport. The inaugural Greg Wells Memorial Fall Festival is set for the baseball fields in Freeport Community Park. Wells, a Harrison native and Buffalo Township resident, was a...
Former Larimer School to be renovated in Pittsburgh housing development project
The latest phase of a development in Pittsburgh’s Larimer section will bring more mixed-income housing to the neighborhood and renovate the former Larimer School, which has sat empty for over 40 years. Officials broke ground Thursday on Phases III and IV of Cornerstone Village, which is being developed by St....
Allegheny County jury tells judge it is deadlocked in South Side sex assault case
The jury deliberating the sexual assault case against former Istanbul Sofra owner Adnan Pehlivan told the judge Thursday afternoon that it was deadlocked. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Anthony M. Mariani asked the jury of seven men and five women to continue their deliberations until 4 p.m. and return Friday...
Tricky displays offer treat for those who enjoy the Halloween season
They don’t call it spooky season for nothing. From skeletons to ghosts, and vampires to goblins, front yards across Westmoreland County are filled with creepy-crawlies this time of year. But some folks can’t help but go over the top when it comes to seasonal decorations. The National Retail Federation estimates...
Pittsburgh police: Bloomfield man hit woman in head with pumpkin during parking dispute
A man from Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood launched pumpkins at a grandmother who parked in front of his home to pick up her grandchild a few doors down, police said. James Gazis, 41, is charged with aggravated assault and propulsion of missiles in connection with the Wednesday altercation. A criminal complaint...
Activists continue to protest gas wells in Penn TownshipVideo
A yearslong battle against fracking in Penn Township continued Thursday when a local environmental group asked the state to deny permits for two unconventional gas wells. Fifteen members of Protect PT protested outside the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s southwest regional office on Washington’s Landing in Pittsburgh. They expressed concerns...
Lawsuit alleges UPMC is refusing to provide medical exemptions for school mask mandate
A group of parents and guardians from across Western Pennsylvania filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the acting secretaries of the state health and education departments, as well as UPMC, alleging that their children are being illegally denied medical exemptions from the school mask mandate. Ten plaintiffs from Kittanning, New...
Child escapes injury when hit by vehicle in Freeport
A 12-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle early Thursday morning in Freeport but did not appear to suffer any major injuries, according to state police. The incident occurred at about 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of Fifth and Washington streets in the borough, troopers said. A Suzuki Aerio being...
Wooden Door Winery in Vandergrift to resume regular hours
Vandergrift’s winery is set to reopen after having erratic hours for more than five months. Wooden Door Winery at 101 Custer Ave. will welcome wine enthusiasts back starting Oct. 28. Co-owner Jeff Pollick said operating hours at the normally year-round winery were disrupted because of personal reasons. “It’s been a...
Sewickley council candidates sound off
Sewickley residents will have a variety of candidates to choose from on the ballot in their respective wards for council. In Ward 1, incumbents Brian Bozzo and Sean Figley and newcomers Todd Hamer and Craig Waller are running for two, four-year seats on council. In Ward 2, incumbent Todd Renner...
Gov. Wolf calls for improved worker wages, sick leave, safety during Pittsburgh visit
Touting an economy “on the comeback,” Gov. Tom Wolf during a Thursday stop in Pittsburgh announced an executive order and his support for a slew of bills aimed at improving the wages, benefits and safety of workers statewide. “It’s a misconception that stiffing your workers is the way to high...
Murrysville area: Blood drive, Halloween play, band fundraiser, more
Submit briefs and local news to the Star by emailing pvarine@triblive.com. AMVETS to host blood drive AMVETS Post 85 in Murrysville’s White Valley neighborhood will host an Oct. 30 blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are recommended by calling 412-209-7000, but walk-ins will be welcomed. An appointment...
North Huntingdon names acting manager, effective Nov. 1
North Huntingdon commissioners have promoted assistant manager Mike Turley to interim manager when Jeff Silka leaves the job Nov. 1. Turley will also serve as secretary, treasurer and right-to-know officer. Silka’s resignation was approved Wednesday. He submitted his resignation in late September to take a similar position in Cumberland, Md....
Penn-Trafford inducts 1st group into Alumni Hall of Fame
The Penn-Trafford High School Alumni Hall of Fame inducted 12 members into its first class, 18 months after its inaugural ceremony was delayed because of covid restrictions. The inductees gathered with family and friends and Penn-Trafford administrators at the Manor Valley Golf Club for a luncheon, followed by the awards...
Penn-Trafford area: Food drive, Halloween play, more
Lions Club to hold election day food drive The Manor Lions Club will hold an Election Day Food Drive on Nov. 2 to support the Manor Food Pantry. Donation boxes will be placed at the Manor Polling Station and the Manor Community Building. Voters are asked to bring nonperishable food...
Norwin area: Pirohi sale, craft show, bus trip, more
Craft, vendor show at New Hope Church The New Hope Church Craft & Vendor Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Circleville Volunteer Fire Department social room, 129 Robbins Station Rd., North Huntingdon. Lunch can be purchased, and the sale of baked goods...
Ballot misprint affects some Allegheny County voters
An “isolated calibration issue” led to barcodes being printed on the wrong mail-in ballot envelope for some Allegheny County voters, officials said Thursday. The printing issue resulted in a barcode that was supposed to be on the declaration envelope instead being printed on the secrecy envelope, said county spokeswoman Amie...
