Western PA Local News category, Page 1933
Michigan couple arrested in stolen pickup on Pennsylvania Turnpike
A traffic stop along the Pennsylvania Turnpike near New Stanton this week resulted in the arrest of a man wanted for questioning in connection with the theft of two pickup trucks, according to court documents. After troopers stopped Allan J. Brady, 35, of Adrian, Mich., for speeding on the toll...
Pittsburgh International Airport’s $1 billion modernization project back on trackVideo
Pittsburgh International Airport officials are poised to start a $1 billion-plus project that will create a new landside terminal in Findlay Township, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said Wednesday. “We have an agreement with the airlines. They have agreed to pay for this, and we will be breaking...
Plan approved to continue with consolidation of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education will move forward to consolidate California, Clarion and Edinboro universities into a single university in Western Pennsylvania, the state schools’ board of governors decided unanimously Wednesday. Work also is underway to combine Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities into a single unit in...
McCandless OKs 1st step toward allowing backyard chickens
McCandless council approved a zoning change that allows residents to raise chickens if they can meet certain conditions. But the town won’t be issuing permits for backyard chicken coops until a separate measure is approved later this month to set the guidelines for raising backyard chickens. Council spent a significant...
Route 30 westbound near Ligonier reopens after being shut for downed utility wires
A section of Route 30 westbound outside of Ligonier reopened after 4 p.m. after it closed when a trailer hauling an oversized load pulled down utility wires onto the highway Wednesday morning. Ligonier Valley police reported the incident occurred west of Ligonier in Ligonier Township before noon, according to a...
Pine-Richland board chided for providing scant details about closed-door meetings
A lawyer representing several residents of the Pine-Richland School District is accusing the school board of violating the Sunshine Act by failing to provide details of a June 21 closed-door meeting they believe was held to discuss renewing the contracts for the superintendent and assistant superintendent. School officials say they...
Database of police misconduct launches in PennsylvaniaVideo
Police departments statewide must now use a database to track complaints and misconduct allegations against officers, a move meant to keep problem officers from moving from department to department. The launch of the Police Misconduct Database comes one year after Gov. Tom Wolf signed the legislation into law. The legislation...
Food Podcast: Pittsburgh food bank’s mission for equity, diversity and inclusion
On this episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union, we take a look back at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Food Justice is Social Justice Initiative. It has been one year since the food bank launched the initiative. The goal is to create awareness about...
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce street sale returns with more activities, car cruise July 31
An end-of-the-month celebration in Oakmont is expected to give businesses a boost. The Oakmont Chamber of Commerce’s annual street sale is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31 along Allegheny River Boulevard. The main thoroughfare will be blocked to traffic from California to Pennsylvania avenues for the event....
Man arrested after police say he confronted woman with PFA against him at Westmoreland courthouse
An Arona man is behind bars after police said he yelled at a woman headed to a protection-from-abuse hearing involving him at the Westmoreland County Courthouse, according to court papers. Shawn E. Grbach, 43, is facing two counts of intimidation of a witness. County detectives said Grbach confronted the woman...
Preserved 1922 Sears mail-order home in McCandless provides glimpse into the pastVideo
Alicia Dallago had no clue that the McCandless home she bought in 1998 represented a unique slice of American history. She was just enthralled by the way it looked and made her feel when she stepped inside. “I loved the antique look and quality of the house,” said Dallago, 79,...
Eat’n Park, Turner Dairy Farms partner to create Smiley Cookie Milk
Turner Dairy Farms in Penn Hills has taken its milk plenty far off the beaten path in the past, with flavors ranging from strawberry to chocolate-banana to the “Star Wars”-themed blue “Blue Banthamilk.” Its latest offering comes as part of a partnership with local mainstay Eat’n Park: Smiley Cookie Milk,...
South West communities receive fire, EMS grants
Local fire and EMS companies have received grants from the annual Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program. The program is open to volunteer and career fire companies, emergency medical services and rescue squads, according to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, which oversees the grant applications. The...
Hampton Community Pool celebrates Christmas in July
Snow cone elves are hard at work prepping for Hampton Community Pool’s Christmas in July festival. The event will be 1:30 to 3 p.m. on July 21 at the pool along McCully Road. “Our elves on staff work many hours making several hundred snowballs leading up to this day,” pool...
Pennsylvania recruiting new school bus drivers amid shortage
Over 1.5 million Pennsylvania students rely on bus drivers to get to and from school, sporting events and other activities — but the industry is struggling to overcome a driver shortage. The Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) — which consists of over 300 school bus contractors and industry partners —...
Massive boost in state education funding is not much help to Franklin Regional
Pennsylvania’s 2021-22 education budget includes the largest funding increase for public education in the state’s history, some $416 million. That is little consolation to Franklin Regional school officials, however, who found themselves again raising taxes to the state’s Act 1-mandated limit for the coming year, or risk cutting programs and/or...
R.K. Mellon Foundation to invest $1M in companies’ best ‘social-impact’ ideas
The Richard King Mellon Foundation is looking to invest $1 million in three companies whose members can pitch the best ideas for making a social impact in areas like economic development, economic mobility, health and well-being and environmental conservation. The social-impact investment competition will ask for-profit companies to submit ideas...
Regulations lifted: Anglers can catch fish of all sizes at Raccoon Creek State Park
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is lifting fishing restrictions beginning Saturday at the Upper Pond in Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County to clear out as many fish before draining it. Anglers can take fish, starting Saturday, of all seasons, sizes, and creel limits in the Upper Pond...
New Kensington police ask for help finding 16-year-old runaway
New Kensington police are asking for the community’s help in finding a teenage runaway. Patience Daniella Lynn Johnson, 16, was last seen at her home in the city on July 6, police said. Police Det. Dino DiGiacobbe said police believe Johnson may still be in the New Kensington area, or...
Westmoreland news includes concerts, meetings and reunions
Class • Laurelville Retreat Center, 941 Laurelville Lane, Mt. Pleasant Township, will host Ann Talarek at a Lunch and Learn event at noon July 24 in Laurelville’s small dining hall. Talarek is horticulturist at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Mill Run. After lunch guests will go outside with Talarek to...
Former Hempfield lab owner ordered to jail, house arrest in kickback scheme
The owner of a defunct Hempfield drug testing lab who admitted to paying kickbacks to a Kentucky doctor for referrals will serve 60 days in jail. William Hughes, 74, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone on Tuesday to serve an additional year of home detention and...
Monroeville Girl Scout earns Gold Award for social media project giving the amputee community a platform
Annie Garness had to think quickly about her Girl Scout project when her idea of putting together an adult amputee camp fell through because of covid restrictions last year. The 19-year-old Girl Scout was determined to provide a space for people with disabilities to raise awareness and be highlighted. For...
Pitt hikes tuition, room and board costs for fall 2021
The cost of Pitt education is increasing this fall as the university prepares to resume routine operations after more than a year of pandemic restrictions. The increases, adopted Tuesday, call for a 2.5% bump to the lowest base tuition at Pitt’s Oakland campus, taking the cost for Pennsylvania residents from...
1 arrested in North Huntingdon drug bust
A McKeesport man is being held without bail after North Huntingdon police said they busted him for selling heroin Tuesday, according to court papers. Joshua Kevin Bavin, 40, is charged with drug offenses. Township police worked with a confidential informant to arrange a buy from Bavin just before 1 p.m....
Pittsburgh council advances proposal to spend $335 million in covid relief cash
There will be more public input as Pittsburgh City Council decides how to allocate $335 million in federal coronavirus relief money, council President Theresa Kail-Smith said Wednesday. But that input will likely be heard after council has approved a plan for how to spend the money. “This is the first...
