Western PA Local News category, Page 1911
Fox Chapel Area parents divided on district’s proposed mask-wearing policy
Fox Chapel Area School District parents have started opposing online petitions regarding the district’s proposed voluntary mask-wearing policy for students and staff. A petition drive on ipetitions .com, started Tuesday by Sarah Stanger, asks the district to require mask-wearing on campus and had gathered more than 375 signatures as of...
Franklin Regional hosts meet-and-greets, open houses for incoming students
As part of the Franklin Regional transition program for community preschoolers, district officials held an outdoor StoryWalk, featuring the beloved storybook character, Pete the Cat. The event was held on three evenings at the newly renovated Franklin Regional Primary School, the former Sloan Elementary, to accommodate all registered students and...
‘When it’s your kid, it’s not minor’: Penn-Trafford removes mask, distancing protocol in proposed health and safety plan
Penn-Trafford School Board will vote on the district’s proposed health and safety plan for the coming academic year at its meeting Aug. 9. The proposed plan will not require students, teachers or staff to wear masks or maintain social distancing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidelines...
Hempfield hires a fire inspector
Sean Hearn is the new fire inspector for Hempfield . Hearn, whose salary will be $60,000, will be responsible for inspecting commercial properties to ensure there are no fire related issues. According to township manager Jason Winters, Hearn will also focus on fire prevention and inspections with township businesses in...
Severe thunderstorm watch issued as storms approach Pittsburgh region
Damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes are possible with storms expected to reach southwestern Pennsylvania this afternoon, a National Weather Service meteorologist said. The service issued a severe thunderstorm watch at 3:30 p.m. that runs until 10 p.m., meteorologist Lee Hendricks said. The watch covers a swath from Indiana through...
Allegheny Township ice cream stand is up for sale
A popular ice cream business in Allegheny Township is on the market. Sweetie’s Ice Cream, at 6273 Leechburg Road, is listed for $339,000 with Jason Mazzei of Keller Williams Realty. Co-owner Edward Spix, who has owned it for almost a decade, said, “It’s time to move on.” Mazzei said he...
Quaker Valley school board approves 2021-22 health and safety plan
The Quaker Valley school board voted unanimously 8-0 with one board member absent to approve the school district’s 2021-22 health and safety plan on July 27. The plan will take effect at the start of the school year on Aug. 25 for students in grades K-9 and Aug. 26 for...
Organist Paul Jacobs to perform at Westminster Presbyterian Church
One of Pittsburgh’s favorite performers, organist Paul Jacobs, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. This will be his fifth performance there, rescheduled from March 2020. A concert with Paul Jacobs is always an exciting and uplifting experience, with his superb music-making and delightful commentary. Jacobs...
Missing Indiana County boy, 5, drowns in neighborhood swimming pool, police say
A missing 5-year-old Indiana County boy died after being found late Wednesday unresponsive in a swimming pool near his home, according to state police. Troopers, neighbors, first responders and a canine search team from Westmoreland County helped to look for Lenny Hatinda after he left his White Township home around...
Allegheny County Police arrest suspect in fatal North Braddock shooting
A North Braddock man is accused of the fatal shooting of a Swissvale man in North Braddock early Thursday morning, Allegheny County Police said. The suspect, Robert Lawson-Johnson, is charged with homicide and firearms violations in the shooting death of Benjamin Dixon, 33, in the 1200 block of Rebecca Avenue...
Ohio man killed, driver injured in tractor-trailer crash on Pa. Turnpike near Donegal
A Columbus, Ohio, man was killed and another person was injured in a crash early Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to state police. Crews were dispatched to the eastbound lanes at mile marker 91, about one mile east of the Donegal interchange at 3:55 a.m. Thursday for reports of...
‘So unbelievable’: Police say Mt. Lebanon man killed parents, fatally shot himself
Neighbors heard at least a dozen gunshots early Thursday before police and SWAT officers swarmed a quiet stretch of Gilkeson Road in Mt. Lebanon, where police say a man killed his parents and then opened fire on police. “We were trying to go to sleep when we were awakened by,...
The late Ellen Toy, longtime volleyball coach, honored with court in Vandergrift’s Kennedy Park
A new volleyball court in Vandergrift aims to honor the memory of a longtime devoted Alle-Kiski Valley coach and teacher. The Ellen Toy Grass Court at Kennedy Park recently was completed. It was made possible by funding from the nonprofit We Serve First Foundation. “Let’s let people know there’s a...
Police: Man in critical condition, 2 others taken to hospital, after shooting in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood
A man is in critical condition, and two others were taken to the hospital, following a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood Wednesday night, police said. Pittsburgh police and EMS responded to the 1600 block of Brownsville Road around 11 p.m. where they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, according...
Pa. fish commission considers statewide opening day for trout
The head of the region’s Trout Unlimited chapter supports having a single opening day for trout season in the state — the first Saturday in April — as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is considering. “I would support an earlier opening day because of the impact of climate change...
East Liberty bank building fails to gain historical designation, could be demolishedVideo
An effort to preserve a 51-year-old Modernist bank building in East Liberty failed to gain the support of Pittsburgh City Council members this week. The building, at 6112 Penn Ave., is a landmark that should be preserved, Councilwoman Deb Gross said. But Gross was the only council member who thought...
More upgrades coming to Creekside Park in Oakmont
Oakmont officials have approved the next round of improvements to Creekside Park. Council awarded an estimated $338,000 project to DeFrank Development for the relocation of a parking lot, grading and repaving of an existing trail and a new outfield fence for the baseball field. The company was the lowest of...
Diocese: 2 Catholic churches in Penn Hills, as well as 1 in Monroeville and Pitcairn to close in August
Two Catholic churches in Penn Hills will soon close their doors for good. Diocese of Pittsburgh officials said St. Bartholomew Church, at 111 Erhardt Drive, and St. Gerard Majella Church, at 121 Dawn Drive, are in poor physical condition. A recent decree from Bishop David Zubik cited both roofs, as...
2 hospitalized after Route 30 crash in North Huntingdon
Two people were taken by ambulance after being injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday night in North Huntingdon, according to county emergency officials. Eastbound Route 30 was partially closed for just under an hour after the crash, which was reported at 8:48 p.m. A Westmoreland County 911 supervisor said two...
Plum Community Center reopens after more than a year of covid closure
Doris Morris could hardly hold in her excitement. The Plum senior, like many in the borough, had been waiting with anticipation for the doors of the community center at 499 Center-New Texas Road to reopen after being shuttered due to the pandemic. After a major renovation including air purifiers in...
Riverview School District officials preparing for the start of the 2021-22 school year
New computer devices at the elementary schools, districtwide updated facilities and familiar friendly faces are among what is awaiting Riverview students this coming school year. Superintendent Neil English said his Oakmont and Verona staffers are excited to welcome students back to full-time, in-person learning starting Thursday, Aug. 26 after more...
Whitehall man who threatened to ‘blow up’ Treasury Dept., attack CIA pleads guilty to explosives charges
A Whitehall man who made threats online to blow up government buildings in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. using homemade bombs has pleaded guilty to gun and explosives charges. Kurt Cofano, 32, was convicted of three counts of five counts brought by a grand jury indictment in connection to his arrest...
The Stroller, July 29, 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. Free paper shredding event planned in Lower Burrell A free paper shredding event will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 1...
Sewickley ready for its Netflix closeupVideo
Several Sewickley residents and businesses are ready to see how the borough looks on the small screen via a new Netflix dramedy. “The Chair,” a six-episode production written by executive producer Amanda Peet, is slated to be released Aug. 20. It stars Golden Globe-winner Sandra Oh of “Killing Eve,” David...
Pittsburgh man caught with child sex videos gets 1 year, 9 months in prison
A federal judge sentenced a Pittsburgh man caught with videos depicting children younger than 12 years old engaged in sexual acts to serve a year and nine months behind bars. Philip Wagner, 44, will must also spend at least eight years on probation following his release from federal prison, Acting...
