Western PA Local News category, Page 1810
Allegheny County scraps remote drop boxes for mail-in voters; Councilwoman pushes to bring them back
Voters still are encouraged to cast ballots by mail in the upcoming election, but there won’t be drop boxes available in satellite locations across Allegheny County like there were during last year’s presidential race. And Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald says he has no plans to bring the remote boxes...
Norwin superintendent reaches out to parents following Confederate clothing incident
Norwin’s top administrator reached out to parents in the school district via email Wednesday, days after two students wore racially insensitive clothing to class. “These images are offensive to many within the Norwin community,” Superintendent Jeff Taylor wrote in the emailed statement. “This situation … (is a) learning opportunity to...
In McCandless council race, only Ward 2 is contested
In McCandless, council seats are open in Wards 2, 4 and 6, but the Ward 2 seat is the only race that’s contested. In Ward 2, two newcomer candidates for council, Marcia Pearson and Jack Casey, will square off for the open seat. In Ward 4, newcomer Jason Singer is...
9 people homeless after fire erupts at home in Hempfield
A house fire in Hempfield on Wednesday evening displaced nine people, according to township fire Chief Tony Kovacic. In all, five adults and four children were impacted by the fire reported on the 400 block of Newport Drive around 6 p.m. Officials said the fire that began in the kitchen....
Pittsburgh City Council amends proposal for Walnut Capital’s Oakland Crossings development
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday approved amendments to tweak legislation that would allow for a controversial, large-scale development in Oakland before sending the proposal to the Planning Commission. Walnut Capital, a local developer best known for revitalizing the East End’s Bakery Square, has proposed a major transformation of the city’s...
Covid vaccinations on the rise in Allegheny County, statewide
First-dose covid vaccinations in Allegheny County rose for the 18th straight day on Wednesday, data show, and officials said the county has surpassed the 800,000 mark for residents with at least once dose. At the same time, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that 70% of Pennsylvanians ages 18 and older are...
Covid death of veteran Jeannette EMS paramedic declared to be in ‘line of duty’
First responders said longtime Jeannette EMS paramedic William J. “Bill” Sekora was the answer man — the person first responder veterans and newcomers alike usually went to with their questions. “And almost always, Bill did have the answer,” said Randy Highlands, operations director of Jeannette EMS. “He’s definitely going to...
Pittsburgh moves step closer to buying senior center building in West End
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a measure that would permit the city to buy a building currently housing the West End Healthy Active Living Center. The building at 80 Wabash St. has been home to the senior center for over 20 years and would remain a senior center after...
Westmoreland County approves drop boxes for mail-in ballots
A drop box for mail-in ballots will be available at the Westmoreland County Courthouse starting Oct. 18 and at five regional locations during the two weekends before the Nov. 2 general election. Westmoreland elections officials said more than 19,000 ballots were mailed to voters on Wednesday, according to election bureau...
Brian Wilson, special guests bring Beach Boys catalog to The Palace
Some things just never get old. For original Beach Boy Al Jardine, that includes singing the songs that made the group famous 60 years ago. Jardine will perform hits and deep cuts from the group’s vast catalog with co-founder Brian Wilson on Oct. 19 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg....
Highlands parent collecting coats to help students in need
Highlands parent Christina Faltot was looking for a way to “do good during the bad.” “In the midst of 2020, I was personally lost in the negativity of our world. Between isolation and division of covid and a very divided community over the election, I just wanted something to throw...
New roundabouts at I-70 exits spotlighted during tour
PennDOT’s ongoing Interstate 70 improvement projects were center stage this week during a tour that highlighted the importance of transportation funding. The tour took a group of state legislators, contractors and engineering consultants to several roundabouts in Sewickley Township and New Stanton while also stopping at a concrete plant to...
2nd day of suppression hearing in Tree of Life synagogue attack focuses on suspect’s medical treatment
As soon as the man accused of killing 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue building in Squirrel Hill was placed in an ambulance the morning of Oct. 27, 2018, a Pittsburgh homicide detective said he read the suspect his Miranda rights. Immediately, the detective testified Wednesday, Robert Bowers...
Rapid covid testing coming to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Outbound passengers flight soon will be able to undergo rapid covid-19 testing at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The pre-departure testing, which is by appointment only and is not covered by medical insurance, should be available to commercial passengers in about two weeks, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the...
Greater Latrobe OKs superintendent’s retirement, promotion of assistant
Greater Latrobe School District’s top administrative leaders passed the baton this week, as the school board approved Superintendent Georgia Teppert’s retirement and promoted Assistant Superintendent Michael Porembka to succeed her. The transition will happenat the beginning of 2022, with Teppert departing on Jan. 3 and Porembka picking up where she...
Arnold backs Westmoreland dividing up covid relief funds to municipalities
Arnold Council is getting on board with Export Mayor Joe Zaccagini’s proposal for how Westmoreland County could best allocate $105 million in covid relief funds. Zaccagini recently proposed distributing the money equally among the county’s 65 municipalities. Arnold Councilman George Hawdon said the city also will suggest the county do...
Food Podcast: Why more food banks are creating government affairs departmentsVideo
On the latest episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union on the TribLIVE podcast network, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank talks to a man who has played a critical role in securing food for the three rivers region. Dennis McManus is set to retire at the...
Tarentum couple says ‘I do’ at UPMC St. Margaret so hospitalized mom can attend
Tarentum residents Chaz and Amanda Wilburn were married earlier this month in the chapel at UPMC St. Margaret, in a ceremony they called a dream that arose from a nightmare. Chaz Wilburn spent 38 days in the hospital this summer with congestive heart failure. While he was recovering, his mom,...
County parks officials seek volunteers for Hobgoblin Hike scare stations in Rostraver
Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation officials are looking for a few good hobgoblins. Well, you probably don’t have to dress specifically as a hobgoblin, but parks officials are seeking additional volunteers to help with this weekend’s Hobgoblin Hike, set for Saturday at Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver. “Volunteers age 15...
Westmoreland happenings: business expo, Rosary rally and Octoberfest
Art • The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will host an exhibition of the works of Michael Max Mosorjak through the end of October at the museum, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. From 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 15, there will be a meet and greet with the artist, an...
Troopers seeking details on meth dump site found in Indiana County
State police in Indiana are seeking information on a methamphetamine dump site found by a man picking up trash in a wooded area in Buffington Township in the southern portion of the county. Troopers said the dump site was reported along Dilltown Heights Road about 9 a.m. Oct. 6 after...
Arnold candy shop celebrates 75th season making chocolate dreams come true
A smell of homemade chocolate hits the nose the second that doors are opened at Valos Chocolates. The eyes are drawn to decorated tables and shelves full of chocolate-coated nuts, cherries, raisins, pretzels, caramels and clusters. Such has been the experience at the Arnold candy shop along Freeport Road for...
West Overton fundraiser guests will sample long-awaited rye distilled on-site
Guests at West Overton Village and Museums’ upcoming fundraising dinner will be among the first to sample the long-awaited rye whiskey being distilled on-site. The dinner is scheduled for 5-8:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the East Huntingdon historical complex. It’s been more than 100 years since whiskey was distilled at...
Survey: Half of firms in Pittsburgh region don’t require covid vaccines; some using incentives
As the debate rages nationally over whether employers should require covid-19 vaccines for workers, a recent survey of businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania found that close to half of all firms have decided not to mandate the shot to protect against the coronavirus. On the other hand, less than 30% of...
Letter to the editor: Gateway’s need for equity director is real
In 2011, I was elected to the Gateway School Board. Gateway has been discussing and working at reducing the achievement gap since 2013. In 2015, Gateway published an equity audit of the school district. In 2016, Gateway established an Achievement Gap Committee, which produced a number of recommendations. In 2018,...
