Local category, Page 1868
Former Ida’s restaurant in Arnold collapses a day before scheduled demolition
Crews on Monday were to begin demolishing the Arnold building that formerly housed Ida’s Place Italian restaurant. On Sunday, the building at 1605 Fifth Ave. collapsed on its own. No one was injured. “I’m glad that the eyesore is down,” Mayor Joseph Bia said. “Once it’s gone and cleaned up,...
Arnold murder suspect pleads to minor drug-related offense
A New Kensington man charged in a fatal shooting last year in Arnold appeared in a Westmoreland County courtroom Monday and pleaded guilty to a minor drug-related offense as he continues to await trial on a charge of first-degree murder. Mario M. Gatti, 31, is scheduled for trial in October...
PWSA receives $24 million state loan for sewer line repairs
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has been given a $24 million low-interest state loan for wastewater infrastructure repairs. City officials announced the loan Monday. It’s part of a nearly $100 million Pennsylvania Investment Authority (PENNVEST) funding package for clean water infrastructure projects in 19 counties. The PWSA will put...
New Kensington prostitute sentenced for sex trafficking of teen
A former New Kensington woman will serve up to 10 years in prison for her role in a sex trafficking and prostitution ring that utilized a 14-year-old girl to maximize their earnings. Shannon Lynn Shannon, 46, formerly of Texas, pleaded guilty in November to felony counts of trafficking in minors,...
Pa. law enforcement, lawyers, legislators try to raise awareness of human trafficking
A 22-year-old man from Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. A 46-year-old Chinese national from Mt. Pleasant. A 26-year-old man from Buffalo, N.Y. All three face charges of human trafficking in cases connected to the greater Pittsburgh area. And, on Monday, state police announced charges against three people accused of running a human...
Owner of Lower Burrell auto repair shop vows to reopen after fire
Sharpe Automotive owner Arthur “Artie” Grazier vowed Monday that he would reopen his Lower Burrell shop after repairing damage from a Sunday night blaze. “Half of my customers showed up wishing me luck. Someone even brought me a pizza,” Grazier said late Monday morning. “This is a great community.” The...
Man, woman charged by Latrobe police with selling fatal dose of fentanyl, heroin
A Latrobe man is in the county prison on $75,000 bond and charges are pending against a 34-year-old woman after city police accuse them of selling fentanyl and heroin to a man who died of an overdose, according to court papers. Zachary R. Dunlap, 27, was arraigned Monday on charges...
Woman caught with loaded handgun in her purse at Pittsburgh International
An Ohio woman tried to take a loaded handgun through security at Pittsburgh International Airport on Monday, the 16th person to do so this year, authorities said. The woman, from Youngstown, was stopped by Transportation Security Administration officers after they spotted a handgun in her purse as it went through...
Leechburg carnival returns, will help fire department raise money for new engine
The Leechburg Carnival is returning after being canceled last year because of the pandemic. The popular event raises money for the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Department. It will be held from Aug. 2-7 at the fire company grounds located at 268 Canal Street. The department is trying by August 2022 to...
Enough to make you go ‘Wawa’: Sheetz isn’t coming to Oakland as sign indicates
Not yet coming to Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood: A Sheetz store on Forbes Avenue. But a sign that appeared on chain link fencing surrounding a former Marathon gas station appeared to indicate otherwise over the weekend. It had the Sheetz logo on it and “Coming soon!” The site is set to...
Pittsburgh police identify teen charged in South Side shooting
Pittsburgh police on Monday identified the teenager charged in connection with a shooting last week on the city’s busy South Side. Taiden Harvey, 15, of Clairton, is charged with two counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, firearms violations and two counts each of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. He is...
ATV driver arrested for DUI after crashing into state police vehicle following chase in Westmoreland, Indiana counties
The driver of an all-terrain vehicle accused of fleeing a traffic stop along the border of Indiana and Westmoreland counties is facing DUI and other charges after police say he crashed into a patrol car. An unidentified female passenger on the ATV driven by Jason E. Rittenour, 38, of Clarksburg,...
Bowser Automotive plans to open collision center on William Penn Highway in Murrysville
Bowser Automotive has been a recognized name in the Pittsburgh region since getting its start in the early 1980s. And after three decades of making their home in the Murrysville area, the Bowser family is bringing the business to their hometown. The company this month purchased a 2.5-acre property on...
Empty South Side Burger King prompts police response
Pittsburgh police responded to a fast food restaurant Sunday night after they received reports there were no employees in the restaurant. Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said police responded and found the Burger King on East Carson Street empty. He said police attempted to find someone to lock the door,...
Salem man accused of attempting to hit 6 people with SUV and pointing handgun, troopers say
A 36-year-old man who became angry after being told to leave a Salem home early Sunday was arrested by state troopers after other residents accused him of twice attempting to strike them in his SUV and pointing a handgun at them as he drove away. Joshawa Levi Nuttall of Salem...
Man accused of assaulting police, attempting to hit restaurant workers with pickup truck in North Huntingdon
A bizarre incident outside a McDonald’s restaurant in North Huntingdon resulted in the arrest of a Hempfield man on numerous charges, including aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and DUI, according to township police George J. Gardner, 46, failed to post $50,000 bond and was ordered held in the county prison after...
UFCW, Giant Eagle announce new contract with wage increases
A new four-year contract that Giant Eagle employees ratified last week includes wage increases, continues no-cost health care benefits and provides new protections for LGBTQ+ workers, according to a joint statement released Monday by the company and union. The agreement covers about 5,300 employees who are members of United Food...
New bench at Mt. Odin honors 4 who were dedicated to the Greensburg golf courseVideo
If added together, the memories of those honored with a new memorial bench at Mt. Odin Golf Course in Greensburg would be countless. The bench bears the names of Russell and Dorothy Bell, Patrick “Roo-Loo” Cribbs and Donald “Moe” Hoyle, all of whom became staples at the Greensburg facility after...
Abraham Lincoln statue returns to street corner in WilkinsburgVideo
Abraham Lincoln stood tall when the United States was at a crossroads during the Civil War. Now he is once again standing tall at the crossroads of Penn Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard, along the historic Lincoln Highway in Wilkinsburg. A new bronze statue of the 16th president of the United...
Concert in the Park returns to Murrysville following pandemic hiatusVideo
After being forced to take a year off because of covid concerns, Murrysville recreation officials will bring back the annual Concert in the Park, which has taken the place of Murrysville Community Day in recent years. In a nod to continuing covid-19 developments both locally and nationally, special events and...
Jeannette Wreaths Across America plans big expansion this yearVideo
Organizers of the Jeannette area’s Wreaths Across America effort are hoping to triple the number of veterans honored after a successful first year under the program. Frank and Linda Drury of Jeannette want to raise $27,000 to place about 1,800 wreaths at five cemeteries. “I’m doing everything this year full...
Antiques on the Avenue returning to downtown Greensburg
Vendors will line South Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Greensburg this weekend as part of the third annual Antiques on the Avenue event. Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, shoppers will have the opportunity to search through estate jewelry, furniture, primitives and vintage items offered by dealers who will...
In brief: Santa’s Summer Breakout, storytelling at Bradford Woods Reserve and more in Hampton
Santa’s Summer Breakout event Santa’s breaking out the fun at Bakerstown Alliance Church on July 31, and the entire community is invited to join him. This free event is happening from 1 to 4 p.m. on the church grounds at 4030 Bakerstown Road, Gibsonia. “It’s been a hard year for...
In brief: Plum Creek rummage sale, blood drive and more in Plum, Oakmont
Plum Creek church rummage sale The Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek is hosting its 59th annual rummage sale on Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tents will be set up outdoors to accommodate selling of items such as gardening...
In brief: Student news, online giving event, food distributions and more in Monroeville
Student news Ryan Mahokey has been placed on the Gettysburg College dean’s honor list for outstanding academic achievement in the spring 2021 semester. Students with a quality point average of 3.60 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for a semester’s work are placed on the college’s dean’s honor list. Online...
