Western PA Local News category, Page 1895
Police: Man treated for medical issue shoots at first responders, flees
A Clairton man is awaiting arraignment after police said he shot at them following treatment for a medical issue by paramedics. Michael S. Spence, 28, is facing numerous charges in two cases, including aggravated assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment. Police and paramedics responded to Spence’s home on Wylie Avenue...
Citizens Bank set to close Ligonier, New Kensington, Ross branches
Citizens Bank is set to close branches in Ligonier Borough, Ross Township and New Kensington by early December. Bennett Griesmer, spokesman for Citizens Financial Group, confirmed the New Kensington branch, at 901 Fifth Ave., is slated to close Nov. 17, while additional closures are set for Dec. 7, at the...
Plum presents a Will Ferrell comedy classic for this month’s Movies in the Park series at Larry Mills Park
Plum’s Movies in the Park series returns to Larry Mills Park this weekend. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to watch the Will Ferrell soccer comedy “Kicking and Screaming” at the park off Fontana Drive on Saturday night. Gates open at 7 p.m. with the movie to start...
DEP stops Kiski Township from burning residents’ yard brush
The state stopped Kiski Township from collecting residents’ yard brush to burn on township-owned property. The Department of Environmental Protection received an anonymous complaint about the township burning residents’ yard brush, a free service the township has provided for years, said township Secretary Patrick Bono. Residents would drop off their...
Greensburg diocese reinstates limited mask requirements
Responding to a surge in the coronavirus delta variant, the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg on Monday reinstated requirements that priests and church volunteers wear face masks indoors, regardless of whether they received their covid vaccination. Those attending worship or indoor parish events are “strongly encouraged” to wear a mask as...
Felony sex counts dismissed as part of plea deal in New Kensington assault case
A Bridgeville man pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on Monday after a Westmoreland County prosecutor agreed to dismiss four violent sexual offenses in connection with allegations made two years ago by a former girlfriend. Terry James Clawson, 30, told a Westmoreland County judge it was in his...
Jury seated in trial of Allegheny Township man charged in 6 sex assault cases
A Westmoreland County jury was seated Monday to hear evidence in six cases against an Allegheny Township man charged with sexual assaults against two young children, a teenager and two adults. Prosecutors contend Eric Alan Wright, 50, raped two children — including one accuser who told police the sexual assaults...
Stream bank stabilization work closes Westmoreland Heritage Trail near TraffordVideo
It’s been a fairly dry summer in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Yet when the rain has come, it has tended to come as part of heavy storms dumping a lot of water all at once. Every time it has done so, Westmoreland Heritage Trail volunteers including Doug Webster would worry about the...
North Hills school board fails repeated attempts to OK return-to-school health plan over mask debate
The North Hills School Board will take another crack at approving a return-to-school plan for the fall after failing to pass the measure because of differing opinions among board members on the use of face masks. The board suspended its Aug. 5 meeting and will reconvene Aug. 17 to reconsider...
Sewickley Academy issues letter to parents addressing reasons for changes, including ‘toxic culture’
The Interim Head of School at Sewickley Academy, Ashley Birtwell, sent out a letter Aug. 4 to parents addressing the recent turmoil of events that have occurred at Sewickley Academy over the past six weeks. The letter, which the school also sent to the Sewickley Herald, comes after Academy representatives...
Latrobe council meeting postponed due to lack of quorum
Latrobe Council’s monthly voting meeting has been postponed to Aug. 23 because the seven-member panel lacked a quorum to hold the session as regularly scheduled, on the second Monday of the month. The postponement was attributed to “reasons beyond our control” in a posting Monday on the city’s Facebook page....
Former state prison in Hempfield scheduled for sheriff’s sale
A former state prison in Hempfield is scheduled to be sold at a Westmoreland County Sheriff’s sale on Sept. 7 as part of a mortgage foreclosure seeking payment of $5.6 million. The sheriff’s sale notice is the most recent chapter in the ongoing saga of the former prison located on...
Covid concerns prompt Westmoreland tax office to close Monday
The tax office in the Westmoreland County Courthouse complex was closed Monday because of coronavirus concerns. “We have no positive cases,” said Alexis Bevan, the county’s human resources director. The tax office is on the first floor of the Greensburg courthouse annex building on Pennsylvania Avenue and was locked Monday...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to leaving explosives outside PNC Plaza
A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to leaving a backpack full of combustibles near PNC Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh last year. Matthew Michanowicz, 53, pleaded guilty to one charge of violating federal firearms laws. Michanowicz, of the city’s Duquesne Heights neighborhood, was arrested by Pittsburgh police in...
Donora man accused by police of having stolen gun, cash after 100 mph Rostraver chase
A Donora man is behind bars after state police said he led them on a 100 mph chase Sunday in Rostraver, according to court papers. Troopers said they seized $3,000 and a stolen handgun from Jashawn Anthony Mackall, 27. He is charged with receiving stolen property, weapons violations, unlawful body...
5 things to know about lambda and other covid variants
The delta variant of covid-19 is the main focus of health officials right now because it accounts for most new cases across the country, but experts also have an eye on the lambda variant that already swept through South America. The lambda variant was discovered in Peru in December ,...
Free Westmoreland Symphony concert will celebrate Lincoln Highway history
Take a musical journey along the Lincoln Highway during “Rhythm of the Road,” a free outdoor concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lincoln Highway Experience in Unity. The nation’s first transcontinental road for automobiles, dedicated in 1913, helped spawn new business and cultural opportunities as travelers passed through...
#PHiLLTERspace looks to save Penn Hills Cinemas by transforming it into a live entertainment hub
A local talent and Penn Hills resident hopes to save and transform the space at Penn Hills Cinemas into a live entertainment hub. The project dubbed “#PHiLLTERspace” will use the theater as a community live arts experience center while it is not showing movies by combining grassroots and independent live...
‘Welcome Home’ event planned at space that memorializes slain Homewood man
Kenneth Stubbs is not forgotten. The 53-year-old native of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood was found dead Feb. 23, 2014, in Penn Hills, in what authorities say was a homicide. He owned several properties in the neighborhood and operated Ken Stubbs’ Auto Sales. The investigation into Stubbs’ killing remains open and no...
Chatham’s campus in Richland teams with CMU to offer enrichment programs for older learners
For the past three decades, older people interested in continuing their education have been able to take a wide variety of courses at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Starting this fall, a number of those enrichment courses will be available at Chatham University’s Eden Hall campus...
Fox Chapel Area School District to host covid-19 vaccination clinic
Fox Chapel Area School District will offer a covid-19 vaccination clinic Tuesday, Aug. 10, about two weeks ahead of the first day of school Aug. 24. The Pfizer vaccine will be available to people ages 12 and older during the event at O’Hara Elementary School, 115 Cabin Lane. Sponsored by...
Fox Chapel Area modifies proposed mask plan to include all students
A vote on Monday night by the Fox Chapel Area School Board will determine whether students of all ages will be required to wear masks when school returns Aug. 24. The board is expected to vote on the district’s health and safety plan during a meeting at 7 p.m. The...
In brief: Concert in Fairview Park, Carnegie Farmers market, more in South Fayette, Carnegie
Concert in the Park set for Aug. 20 South Fayette’s next Concert in the Park event is scheduled for 5-9 p.m., Aug. 20 in Fairview Park at 129 Greenwood Drive. Rob Eldridge and the Warm Auction are slated to play from 5-6:30 p.m. and Shades of Time are scheduled for...
In brief: South Hills Chorale concert, legislative lunch, more in South Hills
Legislative Lunch The South Hills Chamber of Commerce will host Sen. Devlin Robinson, Rep. Natalie Mihalek, Rep. Dan Miller, District Judge Ron Arnoni and other local elected officials for an engaging and informative discussion and update on the status of upcoming legislation aimed at enhancing opportunities for businesses. The Legislative...
Wilkins man claimed to be policeman during traffic stop, troopers say
A Wilkins man was arrested Friday after police said he claimed to be a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop with a state trooper, according to court papers. Jonathan Matthew Kauric II, 38, who also lists a Mt. Pleasant address, is charged with impersonating a public servant, disorderly conduct,...
