Local category, Page 1950
Penn-Trafford’s Class of 2021 gets parade through the neighborhood
Members of Penn-Trafford’s Class of 2021 participated in the second annual Senior Recognition Parade on Wednesday. Seniors, many in decorated vehicles and traveling with friends, lined up at nearby St. Barbara’s Church before weaving through the neighborhood and ending at the high school....
Body of Punxsutawney man who had been missing in Gilpin found in Allegheny River
The body of a Punxsutawney man missing since Saturday in Gilpin was found Wednesday afternoon in the Allegheny River, according to the Armstrong County coroner. Coroner Brian Myers confirmed that the body of Nathan “Nate” Lauer, 38, of Punxsutawney, was found near the same area he was reported missing over...
Strong storm causes damage, outages; Memorial Day forecast calls for more rain
Rain and cool temperatures may put a damper on the first half of Memorial Day weekend, but bad weather wasn’t waiting for the holiday to rear its ugly head. A strong storm system moving through the region Wednesday evening downed trees and electrical wires and caused power outages. The National...
Child sex abuse survivors, supporters pressure Pa. Senate leader Kim Ward to bring bill to vote
Survivors of clergy child sexual abuse turned up the heat this week on state Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, depositing a pouch of silver coins on the Hempfield Republican’s desk and labeling her a “Judas.” Ward’s failure to schedule a Senate vote on a bill that would provide a day...
Allegheny County jail guard charged in drug scheme released on bond
The former Allegheny County correctional officer accused in state court of taking illegal drugs into the jail and charged in federal court with possessing a modified shotgun will be released from custody pending trial. Lewis Bagnato, 32, of Kennedy, has been in custody at the Allegheny County Jail since he...
16-year-old Jeannette boy ordered to trial as adult on charges of shooting 17-year-old
A 16-year-old Jeannette boy will stand trial as an adult on attempted homicide and related charges in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old boy in the city in April. District Judge Joseph DeMarchis ruled there was sufficient evidence presented at the preliminary hearing Wednesday for Desean Ingram for him...
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce’s 2nd annual Arts & Libations Crawl draws crowd thirsty to help local businesses
The sun shined down upon hundreds of people thirsty to support local businesses in Oakmont. Several breweries and five wineries were among the drink vendors that participated in the second annual Arts & Libations Crawl presented by the Oakmont Chamber of Commerce. They set up shop in the storefronts of...
Westmoreland courthouse bomb threat nets probation sentence
A South Huntingdon man will serve one month on probation for a threat police said he made late last year to bomb the Westmoreland County Courthouse. Micheal W. Stephens, 58, was charged Dec. 30 with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct in connection with an incident in front...
Murrysville-Export-Delmont covid figures tallied for the week of May 26, 2021
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,494 coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. In the past week, four new cases were reported. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the...
Former Pagans leader Katona granted 1 month delay to report to county prison
The former national leader of the Pagans motorcycle club will have an additional period of freedom before he must report to the Westmoreland County Prison to serve out the remaining months of his sentence on prior drug offenses. Dennis “Rooster” Katona, 54, of Hempfield was expected to turn himself in...
$3.4M to fight blight coming to Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
Communities in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are receiving about a quarter of the combined $12 million in state grants to combat blight, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced. In Allegheny County, 23 municipalities and organizations are receiving about $2.1 million, while five in Westmoreland County are getting about $1.3 million. Projects...
Will Tony Moreno run as a Republican in Pittsburgh mayoral race?
Democratic Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Ed Gainey may face a Republican opponent in the fall, based on early results of write-in votes released Tuesday. Retired Pittsburgh police officer Tony Moreno, 51, of Brighton Heights, has received 1,379 Republican write-in votes thus far. Moreno ran a populist campaign as a Democrat, but...
South Park woman sues Dollar Bank, says it failed to protect her from multimillion dollar scam
A 79-year-old South Park woman is suing Dollar Bank for negligence, alleging that it failed to stop her from wiring millions of dollars to scammers. Mary Clayton made four wire transfers totaling $4.3 million to a cryptocurrency account in the summer of 2019 from a Dollar Bank branch, according to...
Christine Allen resigns from Sewickley Council weeks after manager was fired
Christine Allen said she could no longer be a Sewickley council member after her colleagues moved to fire the borough’s manager. “In light of everything, I just can’t (stay),” Allen said. “As a Christian, I prayed on this a lot, and I cannot stay on this council.” She submitted her...
Speed humps coming to Webster Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
An effort to reduce how fast people drive on Webster Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Upper Hill District will be expanded upon with the addition of more speed humps next month, the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure announced. About two-thirds of the vehicles using Webster exceed the 25 mph speed limit,...
Hometown Heroes banners to be displayed in O’Hara
O’Hara’s roads will be dotted with new banners saluting Hometown Heroes as the military program renews. The township will accept reservations for banners to honor those who have served the U.S. Armed Forces. “Council loves the banner program, as it honors true heroes of our community,” township Manager Julie Jakubec...
Greater Latrobe plan to shift French, German instruction online draws protest
Greater Latrobe School Board this week approved a proposed $57.7 million budget for the 2021-22 school year with a recommended 1-mill tax hike. But it was a plan for 2022-23 — the beginning of a gradual phase-out of in-person French and German language instruction at district secondary schools — that...
Westmoreland Intermediate Unit wants to spread students’ kindness via videoVideo
Students from around Pennsylvania have a chance to share their message of kindness at this year’s Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units’ annual conference at Seven Springs. The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit is collecting short video messages and plans to play them at the conference Sept. 20-22. Curriculum services director Tim Hammill...
McCandless considering measure to allow residents to raise chickens without going afoul of the law
After nearly two years of public discussion, McCandless has crafted a measure that sets guidelines for residents to raise chickens without running afoul of the law. Council on May 24 held a public hearing on an ordinance that will allow residents living in single- or two-family homes, as well as...
Bethel Park couple contends in lawsuit that physical therapist infected them with covid
A Bethel Park couple is suing Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy Association and a therapist there, alleging that she failed to properly wear a mask when she visited their home in the fall and infected them with covid-19. John Boyle and Cheryl McKinney became so ill, they were both hospitalized,...
‘Losing a good one’: Belavic leaves mark at Level Green Elementary in Penn-Trafford School District
After 24 years with the Penn-Trafford School District, Level Green Elementary School first grade teacher Janna Belavic has arrived at her retirement. Belavic taught sixth grade at Trafford Middle School for one year, then spent the remaining 23 at Level Green. She also served as a technology assistant for the...
Allegheny County reports 5th straight day of covid cases under 100
Allegheny County on Wednesday reported its fifth straight day of double-digit covid cases — a streak the county hasn’t seen since October. According to the Allegheny County Health Department, there were 72 additional cases reported to raise the county’s total to 101,056. Totals for the previous four days were 62,...
Grants pay for new basketball court in Blawnox
A new basketball court is on tap for Blawnox, thanks to two recently awarded state grants. The project will see a full-size court installed near the Blawnox Hi-Rise where the old tennis courts sat. The cost is about $105,000. “That area has not been used in quite a few years...
Green Party candidate hopes to shake up Pittsburgh councilVideo
A Green Party candidate for the Pittsburgh City Council seat held by Anthony Coghill is hoping to capitalize on a progressive movement that propelled state Rep. Ed Gainey to a win over Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto last week. “People in Pittsburgh and across the country are beginning to realize we...
Over 500 Freeport students showcase their art in virtual art show
About 550 students, ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade, are showcasing their creative talents in Freeport Area School District’s virtual art show. The show, which features art from students taking classes in person and remotely, is being held online for the second year because of the covid-19 pandemic. Before covid-19...
