Local category, Page 1976
2 decades after being sentenced to death, Richard Baumhammers remains in prison
Twenty years ago this month, a jury in Western Pennsylvania had an important question to answer: should Richard Baumhammers be put to death for what he did? “Sentencing someone to death, that’s not an easy decision,” said Ron Frew on a recent rainy day in May. Frew, 67, lives in...
Former Mt. Pleasant police officer sentenced to prison for sexual assaults
A Westmoreland County prosecutor argued in court Monday that a former part-time Mt. Pleasant Borough police officer who used an escalating level of violence in sexual attacks against three women should spend up to 50 years in prison. “Law enforcement officials carry badges. If you look at it, it’s a...
Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg school boards to discuss renewing partnership agreement
The school boards for Pittsburgh Public Schools and Wilkinsburg School District will hold a joint board meeting Tuesday to discuss possible renewal of a 5-year-old partnership that allows Wilkinsburg students to take advantage of several PPS programs. Officials from both districts gathered for a virtual news conference last week, touting...
Scene75 in Edgewood Towne Center closing permanently
Scene75, a large indoor entertainment center, appears to be the latest victim of the covid-19 pandemic, as its Edgewood Towne Center location is closing permanently. The Ohio-based company opened the Edgewood location at the site of a former Kmart in 2018. Scene75 offered an array of entertainment, ranging from an...
Friends of Flight 93 announces heroism award to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11Video
To promote the legacy of the crew and passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Somerset County fighting terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, the national memorial support organization Monday announced a heroism award to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Donna Gibson, president of the Friends...
15-year-old charged as an adult in connection with Hill District homicide
One teen is charged with killing another as a group of friends were hanging out last month in Pittsburgh’s Bedford Dwellings, according to court paperwork. Deron Darby, 15, is charged as an adult in connection with the April 24 death of 17-year-old Isaiah Freeman. Witnesses told police a group of...
Work starts on paver pathway for Delmont Library’s Outdoor Learning CenterVideo
Delmont Public Library officials were hoping members of the public would buy 250 pavers to help them pay for a pathway connecting the elements in their Outdoor Learning Center. Instead, the public bought nearly 400, and on Monday morning, work was already underway. “We’ll have about 4,000 pavers,” Grassel said....
EZPZ Gatherings keeps food simple, memorable
Ever wonder how to create those trendy charcuterie boards bursting with meats, cheese, fruits and veggies? Now you don’t have to. A new prep kitchen is scheduled to open May 16 in Aspinwall, where owner of EZPZ Gatherings, Sarah Tuthill, will create the elaborate spreads for you. “I’m not a...
Man jailed in fatal overdose case accused of new drug charges following New Stanton arrest
A 48-year-old man being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond in connection with a fatal overdose of a North Huntingdon woman was charged with additional drug-related complaints stemming from his arrest in New Stanton,according to court documents. Jason A. Lewis, 48, of Boston, was arrested May 3 by...
Murrysville-Export-Delmont covid figures tallied for the week of May 10, 2021
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,477 coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. In the past week, 15 new cases were reported. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the...
Uniontown man raises over $57K for new liver thanks to Facebook group that mocks baby boomers
Gary Rider of Uniontown needed a liver transplant. But he couldn’t afford the medical bills. So he did what many people in similar situations do and started a GoFundMe page. He also started selling his possessions, one of which was an air compressor. He put an ad up for the...
‘Chalk the Walk’ art activities planned in Latrobe, Murrysville
Colorful drawings and uplifting messages will cover the Lincoln Avenue Trail in Latrobe on Saturday, as Latrobe-GLSD Parks & Recreation and Latrobe Art Center host a free art activity. “Chalk the Walk” is scheduled for 9 a.m.-7 p.m. all along the trail that runs the length of Lincoln Avenue, from...
State posts lowest number of new covid cases in 7 months
Not since early October has the daily covid case report for Pennsylvania been so low. New case numbers were down across the state, with Allegheny and Westmoreland counties posting their lowest numbers of the year — marks not seen for seven months. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health posted...
2 accused of boarding Jeannette school bus; driver hurt during attack
Two people are accused by police of boarding a Jeannette school bus, with one of them attacking the driver, according to court papers. Aaron Blocker Jr., 40, of Jeannette, is wanted on an arrest warrant. He is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, unauthorized school bus entry and harassment. Lacy...
2nd winning ‘Strike It Rich’ lottery ticket, worth $360K, sold in Westmoreland County
Someone will be able to finance quite the summer vacation after purchasing a prize-winning lottery ticket worth more than $360,000 in Murrysville. A progressive top-prize ticket worth $360,832 for the Pennsylvania Lottery’s “Strike It Rich” game was sold at the Sunoco fuel station and Choice Cigarette Discount Outlet at the...
Wendy Bell out of WJAS lineup
Wendy Bell is no longer in the weekday lineup on talk radio station WJAS. “All I can tell you is it’s a personnel matter and it’s currently being handled by the company,” said Michele Bradac, a spokeswoman for St. Barnabas, which owns the radio station. The radio station posted a...
Greensburg Central Catholic teacher wins national Teacher as Hero award
A Greensburg Central Catholic High School teacher was one of 10 educators across the country awarded the Teacher as Hero award from the National Liberty Museum. Erin Tiedeman, arts department head at the school, earned the designation, which recognizes outstanding educators who represent best practices in teaching while serving as...
Pittsburgh’s mayoral election features 2 established candidates and 2 novices
Pittsburgh’s mayoral race pits two political insiders, the incumbent and a longtime state representative, against two outsiders, a retired cop and an Ivy League-educated math tutor/ride-hailing driver. Talk of equity and reform unite the men, but each have different approaches to the subject. The May 18 Democratic primary likely decides...
Fox Chapel Area earns Blood Drive Hero award from Vitalant
As Fox Chapel Area High School Community Outreach Director, Rachel Machen’s mission is to show students how to put good into the world. Machen, longtime organizer of the school’s blood drives for Vitalant, didn’t let the covid-19 pandemic thwart her efforts. She arranged blood drives at a nearby Harmar location...
2 charged in Jeannette break-in, assault of resident
A Jeannette man is being held without bail after police said he broke into a city home and attacked a sleeping woman, according to court papers. Police said Jamar Abdul McIntosh, 42, pointed a gun at the woman and punched her several times. He was arrested Thursday. Police said the...
Drenched: Steady rainfall sets records in Western Pa.
May showers bring May flowers? Yes they do. The steady rains the area has received in the early part of this month are setting records. The seven straight days of precipitation that fell in the Pittsburgh-area from May 3 through May 9 brought an unprecedented total of 2.32 inches of...
In brief: Oakmont officials consider ban on coal tar, student news and more in Plum, Oakmont
Oakmont officials are considering adopting a resolution to ban coal tar, a toxic chemical used to seal asphalt driveways. There currently are no borough restrictions on the material some contractors use to seal driveways. The black liquid also frequently is used on parking lots and playgrounds. Fox Chapel approved its...
In brief: Farmers market returns, plant sale and more in Monroeville, Pitcairn
Farmers market The Monroeville Lions farmers market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Monroeville Community Park, 2399 Tilbrook Road. For more information, visit monroevillefarmersmarket.com. Plant sale The Monroeville Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 22 at...
In brief: Richland Memorial Day service, mobile shredding event and more in Pine, Richland
Join the American Legion Post No. 548 at Richland Community Park for a Memorial Day Service to honor the men and women who have fought to defend the United States. Please note that the park will be closed to all other activities during this event. Participants will have the option...
In brief: Riverfront Theater Company holding open auditions, Aspinwall yard sale and more in Aspinwall, Fox Chapel
Riverfront Theater Company holding open auditions Open call auditions for “Into the Woods Jr.-Happily Ever After” for students ages 14-19 in Pittsburgh are being hosted on several dates in May. The Riverfront Theater Company in Aspinwall will present the one-act show outdoors at Aspinwall Riverfront Park on Aug. 4, 5,...
