Western PA Local News category, Page 1893
Embracing our differences at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall
If you spend much time chatting with a public librarian, chances are you’ll end up hearing a lot of idealistic talk. Lofty terms like intellectual freedom, equity of access and civic engagement are always rolling off our tongues — we tend to be a pretty values-driven bunch. Of course, we...
The Stroller, Aug. 11, 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. Mobile vaccination clinic planned Aug. 18 in Harrison Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host a mobile covid-19 vaccination clinic from...
Ribbon-cutting scheduled for completion of shared-use path on Springhill Road
All traffic restrictions are scheduled to end on Springhill Road in Harrison as construction on a new shared-use path nears completion. “Our plan is to end the traffic restrictions on Thursday and complete the project by Monday,” Allegheny County Public Works spokesman Brent Wasko said Tuesday. Some miscellaneous work, mostly...
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival moving from the North Shore to the Strip District
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival is carving out a new space. After three years on the North Shore, the two-day event in October has found a new home in the Strip District. The new location will be on Railroad Street between 28th Street and 29th Street. The free event is scheduled...
Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force planning sobriety checkpoints, patrols
Members of the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force are planning an enforcement weekend around Westmoreland County later this month. They’ll be out looking for intoxicated motorists during roving patrols and stationary checkpoints Aug. 19-23. The group did not release specific details or locations but said all of the enforcement activities...
Woman in critical condition following Manchester shooting
A woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition after being shot Tuesday evening in the city’s Manchester neighborhood, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers from Zone 1 responded to a report of shots fired along Bidwell Street near Pennsylvania Avenue around 6:15 p.m., and arrived to find a woman...
Strong Women Strong Girls Inc. and Sarah Heinz House receive Enterprise grants
Two Pittsburgh non-profit organizations have been awarded $70,000 in local “ROAD Forward” grants from Enterprise Holdings through the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. Strong Women Strong Girls Inc. and Sarah Heinz House Association will each receive $35,000. The grants are made available to “advance social and racial equity,” according to a statement...
Man charged in arson damage to D’s Six Pax & Dogz in Swissvale
Wheeling Police arrested a Pittsburgh man on Wednesday wanted on charges he started a fire that damaged a Swissvale bar over the weekend, according to police and West Virginia news reports. Joseph Pepp, 28, is charged with three counts of aggravated arson. Pepp is accused of setting fire to a...
Latrobe wrestling coach on trial, accused of failing to stop and report alleged hazing incidents
Ritual hazing among members of the Greater Latrobe Area Junior High School wrestling team was ongoing as the boys’ coach stood feet away, a district administrator told a Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday. That testimony came during the first day in the nonjury trial of former wrestling head coach Cary...
New cardio monitors a ‘lifesaver’ for Allegheny, Westmoreland EMS outfitsVideo
For an 18-year-old man who suffered a heart attack, the use of a new remote cardiac monitor/defibrillator by Plum first responders proved to be a lifesaver. EMS personnel were providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the patient’s heart had stopped, said Brian Maloney, director of operations for Plum EMS. The patient was...
Chartiers Valley administrator in line to become Kiski Area’s next superintendent, district’s first female leader
An administrator with the Chartiers Valley School District is poised to become Kiski Area School District’s next superintendent — and the first woman to hold the district’s top post. Kiski Area School Board is expected to vote Monday, Aug. 16 on a proposal to hire Misty Slavic to a three-year...
Inspection to restrict traffic Wednesday, Thursday on Hulton Bridge
Traffic will be restricted on the Hulton Bridge over the Allegheny River between Harmar and Oakmont for inspection work Wednesday and Thursday, PennDOT announced. The work will be done between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day, weather permitting. There will be lane restrictions in each direction between Freeport Road...
Kiski Township police twice have a run-in with a dancing man high on narcotics over weekend
Kiski Township police said they fielded calls regarding the same Apollo man twice over the weekend for public intoxication, possession of suspected illegal drugs and other charges. Douglas E. Laedlein of Apollo is facing charges of criminal trespass, loitering and prowling at night, possession of controlled substances and public drunkenness....
Blairsville woman pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $600K from Indiana doctor’s office
A Blairsville woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges that she embezzled nearly $600,000 from the Burrell Township doctor’s office where she worked, according to acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman. Sandra Jo Doak, 63, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing false income tax returns before U.S. District Judge...
Norwin teachers union: ‘productive’ contract talks Tuesday
The Norwin School Board and the district’s teachers union had an eight-hour “productive negotiation sessions” Tuesday and will resume talks on Sept. 1, the day after the current five-year contract expires, a union official. Both the school district and the Norwin Education Association have “a number of issues” remaining to...
Downed power line sparks fire at Ross day care center, 35 kids evacuated safely
Thirty-five children were evacuated from a childcare center in Ross Township on Tuesday after a tree knocked down power lines that sparked a fire, according to authorities. Firefighters from several departments responded to the Hiland Childcare Center in the 800 block of Perry Highway shortly after 1:30 p.m. The childcare...
Video of South Side fight sparks investigation of Pittsburgh police officers
An incident involving several Pittsburgh Police officers on the city’s South Side is under investigation, according to a public safety spokesperson. A video circulating on Facebook appears to show a fight Aug. 8 outside of the Cambod-Ican Kitchen at the corner of East Carson and South 17th streets. The footage...
Highmark, AHN step up covid vaccination requirements for employees
Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network officials said Tuesday they are taking strict measures to ensure their more than 43,000 employees get vaccinated against covid-19. The health systems said they expect to reach a 100% vaccination rate for all eligible employees by the end of September unless they have a...
Plum Borough Community Library brings back its outdoor concert events
Plum Borough Community Library is a place to rock. That notion will be readily visible Aug. 24 with the return of the library’s Concert on the Concrete series. People of all ages are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for the event. Plum native and multi-instrumentalist and composer...
University of Pittsburgh names new director of Nationality Rooms
The University of Pittsburgh named a new director of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs — someone who is very familiar with the many benefits students can reap from the cultural staple. Kati Csoman, who received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Pitt, assumed the role on Tuesday. She...
Greensburg woman facing charges after police say she assaulted man, stole his dog
A Greensburg woman is accused of assaulting a man and stealing his red nose pit bull during an altercation in the city last week. Cynthia Marie Finch, 29, is facing several charges after witnesses told police she jumped out of a red SUV, pushed a man to the ground and...
Arnold Palmer airport director optimistic after Spirit flights remain cancel-free so far this week
After a week of mostly canceled and delayed flights, Spirit Airlines’ service improved dramatically this week at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Spirit, the sole commercial carrier at the Unity airport, “had definite issues,” said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority. But he expressed confidence at the...
North Allegheny’s back-to-school plan leaves wearing masks up to staff, parents
Students in the North Allegheny School District are scheduled to return to in-person instruction five days a week on Monday Aug. 23 with some covid-19 safety measures in place – but no requirement for staff and students to wear masks. The return to school and the health and safety plans...
West Deer man gets 5 years in prison for crash that killed girlfriend
A West Deer man who drove under the influence of marijuana and killed his girlfriend in a Hampton crash will spend more than five years in state prison after he was sentenced Tuesday. Carl Keating, 34, pleaded guilty in May before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Beth A. Lazzara to...
Hampton votes to approve masks for younger students
Hampton elementary students, and those in sixth grade at the middle school, will be required to wear masks when classes begin Aug. 26. School board members voted 8-1 on Aug. 9 to approve the district’s health and safety plan, which includes a mask mandate for elementary staff and visitors. The...
