Western PA Local News category, Page 1918
‘Aging in place’: Westmoreland among tops in nation for natural population loss
Westmoreland County had the seventh-largest natural population decline last year compared to counties across the country, according to population estimates from the census. The estimates show Westmoreland lost 1,943 people in 2020 through natural population changes, meaning there were more deaths than births. “The description of what’s happening in Westmoreland...
Nesting success at U.S. Steel Irvin plant: 2 juvenile bald eagles take playful flightsVideo
Two juvenile bald eagles raised at a nest on the property of the U.S. Steel Irvin plant in West Mifflin have been putting on impressive aerial displays around the plant. “Our employees have enjoyed watching from a distance as these eagles, ‘Irvin and Claire,’ as our team named them, continue...
Hempfield looking to community to help pay for proposed playground
Hempfield leaders are looking to the community to help pay for a proposed playground at Hempfield Park. The playground, to be located near the park’s amphitheater, will cost $460,000 for the equipment and installation. According to Aaron Siko, director of parks and recreation, through the township’s current efforts and projects,...
Chief: Spark from fire pit caused Penn Township house fire
A spark from a log in a back porch fire pit is being blamed for a fire that destroyed a Penn Township house late Friday night. An outdoor couch at the home of Kayleigh and Skyler Burkland of 1083 Wedgewood Drive, caught on fire from the log and the fire...
Charity dek hockey tournament going on in Oakmont, Banksville this weekend
A charity dek hockey tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society is going on this weekend at Oakmont and Banksville rinks. The annual Hockey for Life contest has returned to Riverside Park in Oakmont after a year hiatus due to the pandemic. Organized by Riverview Dek Hockey, the nonprofit home of...
Westmoreland Winds offer eclectic program at Hempfield Park
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra continued its Live on the Lawn outdoor summer concert series Friday with a performance by the Westmoreland Winds. In their second season, the concerts are presented at the Smail Auto Group Amphitheater at Hempfield Park. This week’s concert featured an ensemble including Tom Godfrey, flute; Renate Sakins,...
1 dead in South Side Slopes shooting near youth football fieldVideo
One man died early Friday evening in a shooting near a youth football practice in the South Side Slopes, authorities said. The shooting happened near Quarry Field off of South 18th Street less than 12 hours after Pittsburgh Public Safety officials held a media conference to discuss an uptick in...
SUV crashes into Unity bank; no injuries reported
A branch of First Commonwealth Bank in Unity was damaged when it was struck by a small SUV that swerved off Route 30 early Friday evening. No one was injured, but the building on Sharky’s Drive was extensively damaged in the crash that occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m., according to...
Recording of controversial Sewickley council meeting releasedVideo
The Tribune-Review has obtained a recording of the May 11 Sewickley council meeting in which elected leaders fired their borough manager. It is a recording that council voted against publishing and a personnel move that was not on the meeting’s original agenda and took place following a closed-door discussion. The...
Ribbon cut on new Brentwood municipal buildingVideo
Brentwood officials, accompanied by state and Allegheny County leaders, cut the ribbon to their new borough building. A celebration of a near decade’s worth of planning took place July 22 as doors to the 10,000 square-foot building at 3735 Brownsville Road were ceremoniously opened to the public. “There were a...
Contaminants found in McKeesport water system, do not drink order extended for 30 customers
Water restrictions in McKeesport were extended Friday for about 30 residents in the city’s Lower 10th Ward after contaminants were found in samples collected from homes this week. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said a majority of the homes and businesses were removed from the “Do Not Drink” order...
Family will bid farewell to fashion icon B. Smith in Scottdale ceremony
Late fashion icon and Everson native Barbara “B.” Smith will be laid to rest next to her parents Saturday in the Scottdale Cemetery. The private ceremony and interment of Smith’s ashes will be attended by family, including her younger brother, Dennis, and his four grown daughters. Smith, 70, died Feb....
Jury complies with Jeannette woman’s wishes and finds her guilty
A Jeannette woman dared Westmoreland County jurors to convict her Friday. After nearly two hours of deliberations, they complied. Deborah Samulski, 62, was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of filing false reports with a local gas company and city police. During a two-day trial, jurors questioned her mental health, and...
Churchill public hearing on potential Amazon site likely to stretch several more days
Churchill Borough’s ongoing public hearing regarding a potential Amazon distribution center is likely to stretch several more days. During the public hearing — which began Monday and continued Thursday evening — Texas-based Hillwood Development is outlining their proposal for an Amazon distribution center at the former site of the George...
National Night Out picnic to be held at Northmoreland Park
Allegheny Township is hosting a picnic next month at Northmoreland Park as part as part of the community’s participation in National Night Out. It’s a free gathering aimed at building relationships between first responders and the community and serves as a positive crime and drug prevention event. Coordinated by the...
Mosser Casting is looking for paid extras on the film ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’
Wanted: children ages 11-14 and adults, 18 and older who want to have a part in a movie. Nancy Mosser Casting is seeking the individuals to portray bar and bat mitzvah guests for the film “Cha Cha Real Smooth” starring Dakota Johnson, directed by Cooper Raiff, who is also starring...
PennEnergy to install well on Ekastown Road in Buffalo Township
PennEnergy will be installing a well site in Buffalo Township after gaining approval from township officials. Construction at the site, located at 765 Ekastown Road, is slated to begin later this summer, said Amanda Peterson, a stakeholder relations manager with PennEnergy. Some township residents have voiced concerns on social media...
Carnegie Mellon researchers teach autonomous vehicles to navigate narrow, car-lined streets
Driving through Pittsburgh’s narrow, car-lined streets can pose a challenge to even experienced drivers. It’s a particularly difficult situation to teach to autonomous vehicles without a human driver behind the wheel. A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers at the Argo AI Center for Autonomous Vehicle Research developed an algorithm...
Second 14-year-old charged in Duquesne homicide
A second 14-year-old boy faces homicide charges in connection with a fatal shooting earlier this year in Duquesne, according to charges filed against him Friday by Allegheny County Police. Carlo Owens, of Duquesne, is charged with homicide, conspiracy and robbery in the death of 21-year-old Damont Adams. An alleged co-conspirator,...
Verona man’s furry green motorcycle helmet attracting attention on A-K Valley roads
Jeff Barnes wants you to notice him. That’s why the Verona man who works in New Kensington dons a furry, green motorcycle helmet cover with a Muppet-like face when he rides around the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond. Yes, he enjoys seeing people smile when they get a glimpse of his...
Work along Sample Road scheduled to last through September
Motorists who use Sample Road in Hampton should allow extra travel time for the next two months. The road will be limited to single-lane alternating traffic beginning Monday and lasting through late September. Work will happen from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., PennDOT announced. The limited traffic will allow crews...
Greensburg man who fathered child with teen pleads guilty to sexual assault
A Greensburg man will serve up to 23 months in jail for the sexual assault of a New Kensington teenager who gave birth to his child. Marcus Franklin Crawford, 25, formerly of Jeannette, pleaded guilty Friday to statutory sexual assault, corruption of a minor and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Police...
Jury unable to reach verdict in Jeannette drug, gun case
A Westmoreland County prosecutor will seek to retry a Pittsburgh man on gun and drug charges after a jury was unable to reach a verdict this week. Prosecutors contend Stefon Wilson, 23, along with other adults and a juvenile, sold heroin and cocaine from a Jeannette home in 2019. Jurors...
Aspiring scientists can find much to do at Sharpsburg Community Library
Sharpsburg Community Library has transformed its courtyard into a hands-on creative station for summer. Elementary-aged students last week were treated to one-hour mini camps, through Carnegie Science Center, where budding engineers tangled with experiments fit to test their inner Thomas Edison, organizers said. “The kids are learning electrical and structural...
Entrepreneur, philanthropist John G. Rangos Sr. dies just before 92nd birthday
Entrepreneur and philanthropist John G. Rangos Sr. died Wednesday, one week shy of his 92nd birthday. Rangos died following a brief illness, according to a news release from the John G. Rangos Sr. Charitable Foundation. The release said he died surrounded by his children — John Rangos Jr., Alex Rangos...
