Western PA Local News category, Page 1760
Shaler Area makes decision regarding graduation gowns
During the Nov. 10 Shaler Area School Board meeting, superintendent Dr. Sean Aiken announced that a committee, newly formed to discuss the subject of graduation gowns and the current tradition of having boys wear blue and girls wear white, had come up with three possible options to move the district...
Overly’s Country Christmas is a year-round venture for the holidays in Westmoreland County
Workers have been scrambling this week to string lights for the displays spread across the Westmoreland Fairgrounds near Norvelt, unpack countless late-arriving boxes of holiday gifts and shelve them at Overly’s General Store in preparation for Thursday’s opening of Overly’s Country Christmas. Visitors to the annual show will see many...
Former Hempfield drug treatment counselor indicted on fraud, identity theft charges
A former Greensburg woman was indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities said she used the identity of a person she met at a Hempfield drug treatment center to secure a bank loan and credit card, according to court papers. Nina Marie Barkley, 34, is charged with bank fraud...
Police: Loaded gun, ammunition found in woman’s bag at Pittsburgh airport checkpoint
A loaded .380-caliber gun was found in a woman’s duffle bag at Pittsburgh International Airport on Thursday morning, Allegheny County Police said. Federal Transportation Security Administration officers found it in an X-ray machine around 5:20 a.m. at the main security checkpoint and alerted county police. The TSA said the black...
Businesses across New Ken getting in on ‘Shop Small Crawl’ for Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is going to be big in New Kensington. More than 40 businesses, from downtown to Parnassus, are expected to participate in the first New Ken Shop Small Crawl on Nov. 27, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We want...
Plum library, schools team with 412 Food Rescue to get leftovers to needy residents
Pam Fauls heard about the 412 Food Rescue program long before the coronavirus put people out of work and caused prices to skyrocket because of shutdowns and short supplies. But it wasn’t until restrictions on in-person gatherings were lifted that she was able to launch a program in her own...
Edgeworth receives grant to replace aged, lead water lines
Aged, lead water lines will be replaced throughout Edgeworth and surrounding communities, thanks to funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. The $250,905 low-interest loan and $394,095 grant will help replace pipes in community homes throughout the area, and no raise in service fees is expected, according to Christine Hurni,...
The Stroller, Nov. 18, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Burrell High School to present fall play The Burrell High School Drama Club will present its fall play, “Artist Retreat,” at...
Pittsburgh police warn of catalytic converter thefts in multiple areas
Pittsburgh police are warning the public about a recent string of catalytic converter thefts from vehicles. Police said four catalytic converters have been taken from vehicles over the past three weeks in the Friendship, Bloomfield and Garfield neighborhoods. Other similar thefts or attempted thefts have been reported throughout the city...
1 killed, 3 hurt in head-on crash on I-79 in Butler County
One person was killed and three others were injured Wednesday in a head-on crash on Interstate 79 in Butler County, state police said. The crash happened shortly before 5 p.m. on the highway in Muddy Creek Township. State police said James E. Dapper, 58, of Zelienople, was driving a pickup...
State Education Department says Norwin’s ‘masks optional’ move is a misinterpretation of court ruling
The Norwin School Board’s decision this week to maintain the policy of allowing students the option of wearing a mask could cause school officials to “lose the sovereign immunity and may personally face lawsuits from those who may be affected by any official’s attempt to ignore the order,” the state...
New name, high-tech tree debut at PPG Place skating rink
As skaters glide along the ice, they will encircle a 360-degree immersive tree that lights up and plays music. The 60-foot-high structure is decorated with more than 103,200 lights and thousands of ornaments. The tree has a sophisticated computer programming system. Friday is opening day for the newly-named UPMC Rink...
3 indicted in ‘grandparent scheme’ targeting Pa. seniors by posing as fake attorneys, bail bondsmen
A federal grand jury has indicted three out-of-state residents for targeting elderly Western Pennsylvanians in a so-called “grandparent scheme” that involved posing as attorneys and bail bondsmen to bilk their victims out of at least $250,000. Roderick Feurtado, 54, and Tarek Bouanane, 45, both of Las Vegas, and Roberto Gutierrez,...
Sheraden man charged with September shooting that injured toddler
A Pittsburgh man has been arrested in connection with September shooting that injured a toddler in the city’s Sheraden neighborhood. Derrick Brandon faces charges of reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child after police say he was involved in a Sept. 26, 2021, shooting on Glasgow Street that...
Pittsburgh advances proposal to purchase North Side site for new public works facility
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a measure to move a Department of Public Works facility out of Riverview Park to a new site on the North Side, despite concerns that the proposed site is involved in ongoing litigation regarding a billboard. The proposal calls for moving the Department of...
Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris’ contract terminated via 8-1 vote
Woodland Hills School District officials voted Wednesday night to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective Dec. 17. The vote was 8-1, with board member Andre Patterson casting the lone dissenting vote. Patterson participated via Zoom. Harris was present in the meeting room, sitting next to board president Jamie...
Crowd gathers to remember New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw, killed on duty 4 years ago
More than 100 people gathered Wednesday evening outside New Kensington City Hall to honor the life of fallen New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw. New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo led a memorial service near the Brian Shaw Memorial outside City Hall on the fourth anniversary of Shaw’s death. Shaw was...
West Deer residents split on whether proposed well pads will benefit township
West Deer residents have differing opinions on whether the township should approve proposed natural gas well pads at two locations in the township. Residents and taxpayers spoke Tuesday during the ninth and final public hearing regarding the proposal presented by Olympus Energy LLC. The hearing took place at West Deer...
Convicted sex offender to serve 9 years in prison for failing to register with police
A former Greensburg man living in North Carolina was ordered Wednesday to serve up to nine years in prison failing to register as a convicted sex offender. Ozzy James Bowland, 37, pleaded guilty to one felony charge that requires convicted sex offenders to register current addresses and provide their photographs...
Pair accused of stealing copper wire from shuttered ATI plant in Gilpin
A man and woman each were charged with four felony counts in connection with the theft of about 150 pounds of copper wire on Tuesday from the idled Allegheny Technologies Inc. plant in Gilpin, according to police. Township police arrested John Diehl, 37, of Clinton Township and Casey Finley, 35,...
Ties in 39 races to be broken Friday in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County election officials said 39 races on the Nov. 2 ballot ended in ties that will be broken Friday through a casting of lots, including one open seat for Jeannette city controller where 30 candidates each received one write-in vote. The county’s elections board on Wednesday issued a precertification...
Castle Doctrine debated as defense in Arnold shooting trial
A Westmoreland County prosecutor argued Wednesday that Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine is not an applicable defense in the murder trial of a Churchill man charged in connection with a fatal shooting last year in Arnold. Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello said jurors should not receive legal instructions about the statute that...
Holiday happenings around Westmoreland: Christmas parades, turkey trots and more
Here is a listing of upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday related events around Westmoreland County. If you have a community event you would like to be considered, please email details to gtrcity@triblive.com. Dec. 2 Greensburg 52nd Annual Luminary Night will be held from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Greensburg. Dec. 3...
Police: Law student from Pittsburgh killed by train in Vermont
ROYALTON, Vt. — A driver who died after being hit by an Amtrak train had crossed the tracks, backed into a driveway to turn around, and was attempting to cross back when he was hit, investigators in Vermont said Wednesday. The crash happened at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the...
Shawn McGorry named Shaler Area School District Distinguished Alumnus
Shawn McGorry, a member of Shaler Area High School’s class of 1976, has been named the Shaler Area School District 2021 Distinguished Alumnus. McGorry was recognized during Shaler Area High School’s National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Nov. 4 for his accomplishments following high school graduation and his contributions to...
