Western PA Local News category, Page 1943
Storms spur widespread power outages, downed trees across Western Pa.
Thousands of people remained without power Thursday morning after storms rolled through the region the day before. Duquesne Light reported at 8:15 a.m. that about 3,400 people were still without power, down from more than 25,000 about 12 hours earlier. “Severe storms moved through our region this afternoon, causing widespread...
Pittsburgh council, teachers’ union leader talk about ’emergency’ in school system
It’s been five months since Pittsburgh City Council declared a state of emergency in the public school system. The legislation was passed to begin a process by which the city’s leaders would work with Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders to address a racial achievement gap between white and Black students and...
South Greensburg gets grant to improve traffic signal
South Greensburg will get a new traffic signal at the borough’s busy intersection of Broad Street and Huff Avenue, the result of a $237,270 grant from the state. The existing traffic signal is old and outdated and there is a need for the newest signal technology, said Jaime Peticca, borough...
Families flock to Clinton’s Sunrise Farm during peak blueberry-picking season
Jasper Holmes, 2, made his way through a row of blueberry plants on Clinton’s Sunrise Farm, plucking berries to put into his Sesame Street-themed basket — though most of the berries went directly into his mouth instead. Jasper’s mother, Karlee Holmes of Vandergrift, said they have been visiting the farm...
Family House buys Courtyard by Marriott in Pittsburgh for $20.5M
Family House Pittsburgh, an organization that serves patients and families staying in Pittsburgh for medical care each year, announced Wednesday it has bought the Courtyard by Marriott hotel located on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield. Family House, a non-profit charitable organization, provides an affordable “home away from home” for patients and...
Food Podcast: What is causing food insecurity in the Three Rivers region?
On this week’s episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union, we dive into a topic that impacts our entire community: What is causing people to be food insecure? It’s a topic many food banks have struggled with as they try not only to feed their communities...
Westmoreland County: Crash knocks out utility line, some courthouse phone service
Phone and internet communications were disrupted at the Westmoreland County Courthouse on Wednesday after a key utility line for service provider Consolidated Communications was damaged. County commissioners Chairman Sean Kertes said the line was damaged in a traffic crash Tuesday night in Monroeville, affecting the ability to make inbound and...
Vehicle fire slows turnpike traffic near Donegal
An empty FedEx truck traveling eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Donegal and New Stanton exits was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon, Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief Jerry Lucia said. Both eastbound lanes of the tollroad were closed until the fire was extinguished, Lucia said. The incident occurred about three...
Public hearings scheduled about how to spend Pittsburgh’s $335M in relief cashVideo
The debate over how to spend the $335 million Pittsburgh is set to receive under the American Rescue Plan enters its public phase Saturday, when city council holds the first of two hearings on a proposal released last week by Mayor Bill Peduto’s office. The hearing, set for 10 a.m.,...
American Legion Auxiliary Post 980 looking forward to return of Craft Show Extravaganza in Plum
The American Legion Auxiliary Post 980 is hosting its third Craft Show Extravaganza from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 18. The craft show will be the first big event for the auxiliary since it canceled multiple fundraising events last year. The free event will be held indoors and outdoors...
R.K. Mellon Foundation announces $2.6 million grants to stimulate ‘new-economy’ jobs locally
The R.K. Mellon Foundation has a few goals aimed at helping people get jobs — and it’s got the money to get started. Targeting what foundation Director Sam Reiman calls “new-economy jobs,” the foundation is providing $2.6 million spread out over 16 grants. “With our new strategic plan, we are...
Weekend lane restrictions planned along Route 28
Motorists will encounter lane restrictions on Route 28 in the Lower Allegheny Valley over the weekend, PennDOT reported. Crews will be patching concrete and making other repairs between the Millvale interchange in Shaler and the Highland Park Bridge/Aspinwall interchange in Sharpsburg and O’Hara from 7 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m....
Cleveland zoo sues Pittsburgh zoo over Asian Lantern Festival name
The Cleveland zoo is suing the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for trademark infringement, claiming the Pittsburgh zoo’s upcoming Asian Lantern Festival is a ripoff of the Cleveland zoo’s annual event in place since 2018. Cleveland Metroparks alleged in the federal lawsuit filed last week that the zoo has held...
Pennsylvania’s covid cases remain low, despite slight uptick in positivity rates
Coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania continue to remain at low levels not seen since the very beginning of the pandemic in 2020. In the past week, according to reports from the state’s Department of Health, 1,250 new cases of the virus have been recorded. That number has not been so low...
Derry Township cruise to honor memory of classic car enthusiast
There’s no question Dan Quinn would have loved to attend a car cruise set for July 18 in Derry Township. Instead, members of his Latrobe family will represent him at the event, organized by a friend as a memorial to the classic car enthusiast who lost his battle with cancer...
Yukon siblings hope lemonade stand nets $500 for fire department
At the end of May, Laken Cope finally allowed her six children to create their own lemonade stand — something they’ve always wanted to do. Now, the kids are set to hold their third sale this weekend to benefit the local community. After selling their first batch of homemade lemonade,...
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Harvest Fair back in full swing
After a modified but still-successful Harvest Fair in 2020, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is bringing back its signature fundraiser in full force this fall. “I am really happy to report that the event is on for this year,” said volunteer Carol Huff, of O’Hara. The Harvest Fair is scheduled for...
Westmoreland news includes concerts, turkey dinner and wine tasting
Church event • Community Church of Hecla, 537 Hecla Road, Mt. Pleasant Township, will have vacation Bible school from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 19 to 23 for children age 3 to teenagers. Details: 724-396-8065 or 724-466-2855 Fundraisers • Community Church of Hecla, will host a turkey dinner from...
West Jefferson Hills School District budget hikes taxes nearly 4%
Property owners in the West Jefferson Hills School District will be paying more in real estate taxes next year. Officials raised rates to combat rising pension, salary and health insurance costs, as well as pandemic-related expenses. The board voted 5-4 on June 24 to adopt its 2021-22 budget with a...
Letter to the editor: Quaker Valley School District on path to teaching Critical Race Theory
In recent communications with the Quaker Valley school board, the board president stated that the board has “not adopted policies in the past 65 years since the founding of Quaker Valley that ban” materials and “and will not do so at this time.” They further explained, “that a decision not...
State police seek teen runaway from Derry Township facility
State police are searching for a teenage girl who ran away from an Adelphoi Village facility in Derry Township. Police said Kendra Yates, 16, who is Black, was last seen just before 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. She was wearing a gray sweatshirt, black sweatpants and black sandals. Anyone who sees...
The Stroller, July 7, 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. Participants welcome to march in Aug. 7 Westmoreland Co. Firemen’s parade The New Kensington Bureau of Fire will host the 128th...
Duquesne Light outages affect more than 1,000 in eastern Allegheny County
About 1,400 Duquesne Light customers remained without power Wednesday morning as a result of 11 scattered outages in eastern Allegheny County. Ashley Macik, a spokesperson for the utility, attributed the outages to high temperatures that caused “equipment issues” overnight. “Our crews are safely working as quickly as possible to restore...
Year of virtual events highlights career opportunities for court reporters, captioners
At a time when large numbers of people are taking a critical look at their careers after more than a year of massive economic upheaval during the covid-19 pandemic, Community College of Allegheny County professor Mary Beth Johnson has a suggestion: court reporting. “I’ve taught court reporting for 45 years,...
Illness precedes end of watch for Greensburg Fire Department bloodhound
Members of the Greensburg Fire Department Bloodhound Team are mourning the loss of Sophy, an 11-year-old veteran bloodhound who died Tuesday after an extended illness. During her service with the team, Sophy took part in 111 deployments, assisting area fire departments and law enforcement agencies, concluding with her final response...
