Local category, Page 1913
Allegheny County president judge acknowledges systemic racism in the courts
President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark said in an open letter posted on the court’s website it is time for Allegheny County’s judicial system to recognize systemic racism and work to combat it. The longtime Allegheny County prosecutor turned family court judge posted the letter to the community last week with...
Allegheny County robbery spree suspect arrested in Indiana
An Idaho man is accused in a string of armed robberies in Allegheny County and eastern Ohio, authorities said Tuesday. Miambo Maombi, 21, was arrested June 16 in Hendricks County, Ind., after police say he ran away from a traffic stop. Allegheny County Police said they believe Maombi could be...
Expert testifies on use of force at former Derry mayor’s trial
A police use-of-force expert testified Tuesday that he believed the former Derry Borough mayor acted appropriately when he used a gun to stop a fight among three children because he believed a knife was involved. Cliff Jobe Jr., a retired state trooper, said Kevin M. Gross, 40, made attempts to...
Republicans condemn election reform bill as an ‘extreme power grab’
U.S. Senate Republicans used a filibuster to block the Democrat-backed “For the People Act” — an election reform bill — Tuesday in Washington. Pennsylvania lawmakers voiced opinions on the legislation ahead of a test vote needed to begin debate on the bill in the Senate. “This would be the most...
National Weather Service confirms tornado hit near Cranberry
The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado hit the Cranberry area during a round of strong storms Monday afternoon. The tornado struck near Mt. Pleasant Road and Dean Road in the Mars area of Allegheny County, National Weather Service Meteorologist Shannon Hefferan said Tuesday. The tornado brought 70 mph winds...
Friends, admirers remember Kara Leo, Mt. Lebanon baker killed by tree branch
The small Beverly Road storefront of Kara Kakes in Mt. Lebanon was dark on Tuesday morning. Normally it would have been open by 10 a.m. and illuminated more than anything else by Kara Leo’s constant smile. It’s the overwhelming memory people have of her. The woman who brought the bakery...
New Kensington police charge teen with attempted homicide
New Kensington police issued an arrest warrant for a 17-year-old charged with two counts of attempted homicide. Police on Monday charged Isaac Anthony Weihrauch of Springdale, according to court records. Police have not responded to requests for information about the incident in which Weihrauch is charged. The incident occurred Saturday,...
Shady Side Academy graduate Porter Markel enters U.S. Naval Academy
A Shady Side Academy graduate is among an elite 7.5% of applicants admitted to the Class of 2025 Plebe Summer at the U.S. Naval Academy. Porter Markel of Fox Chapel was inducted June 20 and will begin six grueling weeks of basic midshipman training in Annapolis, Md. Markel is one...
Kiski Area appoints Jason Lohr as acting superintendent
Kiski Area School Board appointed a member of the district’s administrative team as acting superintendent Monday. Jason Lohr, who has served as assistant to the superintendent for K-12 education, administration and federal programs since 2016, was named to guide the district while the school board searches for a replacement for...
Scott man, out on bond after being accused of submitting fake PPP loans, charged with applying for another
A month after he was arrested on federal charges accusing him of submitting fake applications to obtain $3.8 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans during the covid-19 pandemic, a Scott Township man submitted a new loan application seeking a half-million dollars, investigators said. Randy Frasinelli, 65, now faces additional charges...
Bell woman charged with setting home on fire, filing insurance claim
A former Bell Township woman is accused of setting her home on fire last year after being unable to sell it and then filing an insurance claim for the loss. State police said Britny Alandria Parks, 28, of Harker Heights, Texas, told two former friends she would be willing to...
Wings Across Westmoreland art project lands in Smithton
Smithton is spreading its wings, so it’s appropriate the town will be the next site for a Wings Across Westmoreland community art installation. Framed in the shape of a pair of wings, the art piece incorporating images of the town’s present and past will be unveiled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday...
Baldwin-Whitehall School Board votes to increase taxes
Residents of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District will see a tax increase for the 2021-2022 school year. The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board voted unanimously on June 16 to approve the 2021-2022 final operating proposed budget, totaling $74,147,952. The current tax rate for 2020-2021 is 21.76. mills. The millage will increase by .87,...
Public invited to participate in interactive Juneteenth art display at Aspinwall park
A public art display this week at Aspinwall Riverfront Park will honor and raise awareness of Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, that was recently signed into law as a federal holiday by President Biden. Entitled “Opening Doors,” the artwork was conceived by...
Cultural Trust JazzLive series returns to in-person performances
A popular staple of the summer arts scene in Pittsburgh is returning to the Cultural District next month. The BNY Mellon Presents JazzLive program is bringing jazz musicians back for a 10-week series of live concerts Downtown. This year, they will be performed at the new Allegheny Overlook Pop-Up Park,...
10 Greensburg businesses share $90,000 in covid-19 relief funds
Several Greensburg business owners are sharing $90,000 in grant funding aimed at helping them recover from the economic fallout of the covid-19 pandemic. Issued by the Greensburg Community Development Corporation as part of the Covid-19 Main Street Jump Start program, the funding went to 10 city businesses that experienced financial...
It’s time again to celebrate Greensburg’s Summer in the City
After an absence of several years, Greensburg’s Summer in the City festival is set to return this week. The four-day festival that draws people to downtown Greensburg and highlights local businesses and restaurants runs from Thursday through Sunday. The event is hosted by the Greensburg Businesses & Professional Association, the...
Sewickley’s Sharp Edge to close; Caliente Pizza to open in same spot
This fall, the Sharp Edge in Sewickley will be no more. In its place at the rear of 510 Beaver St. will be a new Caliente Pizza & Draft House location. It will be one of two new locations. The other will go in the Sharp Edge’s Crafton location. The...
Food podcast: Pittsburgh food bank reports LGBTQ+ community sees higher food insecurity rates
This week’s podcast is a Food Justice is Social Justice episode featuring the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. The goal of this initiative is to create awareness about social inequality while educating food bank supporters in Southwestern Pennsylvania of numerous organizations in the region that are focused on ending racism and...
Al Franken, Richard Marx among shows scheduled for Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Drusky Entertainment announced three shows coming to Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall — singer Richard Marx and comedians Al Franken and Frank Caliendo. Tickets for all three events go on sale here at 10 a.m. Friday. Marx takes the stage at 7 p.m. Oct. 14. The Grammy-winning artist’s...
Air Supply to perform at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg
Air Supply will perform at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. The show is at 8 p.m. Aug. 7. Tickets are $49.75- $79.75 and go on sale here at 10 a.m. Friday. Band members Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock met on May 12, 1975, the first day of rehearsals for “Jesus...
Butler man gets jail time for assaulting KDKA cameraman during Pittsburgh protestVideo
Jordan Erdos didn’t initiate the attack on a KDKA photographer during last year’s protests in Downtown Pittsburgh over the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. But the 21-year-old from Butler did get swept up in the mob mentality that led to it — pushing his way through the crowd...
Highlands bids farewell to retiring staff, makes new hires
Highlands School District said goodbye to a dozen retirees Monday and welcomed a few to new positions. At the school board’s meeting, Superintendent Monique Mawhinney recognized the employees. They include teachers, paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers and others, some of whom had been with the district since the early 1990s. Mawhinney thanked...
5 things to know about delta variant of coronavirus
Even as covid-19 vaccines become widely available and pandemic restrictions begin to relax, a new variant of the virus raises new worries. The delta variant, first identified in India, is classified as a “variant of concern,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As the variant circulates in...
Volunteers needed to prepare Burtner House for 200th anniversary celebration
Some helping hands are needed to get a historic Harrison farmhouse ready for a big event later this year. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Burtner House. A celebration is planned for Saturday, Sept. 18. But before then, volunteers are being sought for a cleanup...
