Local category, Page 1984
Astrobotic space museum planned for Pittsburgh
Museums are generally known as places where historic objects are stored and displayed. But a new museum dedicated exclusively to space is as much about the future as it is the past. Space robotics company Astrobotic announced Tuesday it is opening the Moonshot Museum, which it says is Pennsylvania’s first...
Prantl’s hit with health citations for opening Squirrel Hill bakery without permit
The Allegheny County Health Department has shut down and cited Prantl’s Bakery for opening a new location in Squirrel Hill without a health permit, department records show. The bakery’s new location on Forbes Avenue was shut down by health inspectors April 28 for operating with a health permit, failing to...
New Kensington Council rejects use of office building for counseling services
New Kensington Council has denied a nonprofit’s request to use an office building on Industrial Boulevard for its outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services. Southwest Behavioral Care, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, sought the city’s permission to use the vacant building at 400 Industrial Blvd., about...
Leechburg Memorial Day Parade is back on
Leechburg’s Memorial Day Parade will happen after all. The borough had announced it was canceling the annual parade for the second year in a row because of the covid-19 pandemic. But following Tuesday’s announcement that Gov. Tom Wolf plans to ease gathering restrictions in time for the federal holiday, borough...
Activists call for Pittsburgh to cancel bid for supplies of less-lethal weapons
Activists on Wednesday called on Pittsburgh officials to cancel a bid seeking supplies of “less-lethal” weapons like the ones deployed against protesters in Pittsburgh and other cities during civil unrest. “These munitions are turned on people fighting for the rights of Black and brown community members,” said Joshua Friedman, of...
Coronavirus vaccine bills sent in error to some Excela Health patients
Several hundred people who got vaccinated against the coronavirus through Excela Health were erroneously billed, a mistake being blamed on a quick effort to get clinics up and running, according to Tom Albanesi, the hospital system’s chief financial officer. Health system officials tried to contact those who got a bill...
Johnstown man accused of sending sexually explicit photographs to Derry Township girl
A Cambria County man was arrested Wednesday on charges of exchanging sexually explicit photographs with a juvenile girl in Derry Township, according to state police. Colt T. Bopp, 22, of Johnstown, was arraigned on charges of corruption of a minor, criminal use of a communication facility, knowingly possessing sexual photographs...
Drop box added at Murrysville location ahead of May 18 primary
Westmoreland County officials say more than 15,400 mail-in ballots have been sent out to voters ahead of the May 18 primary. Another batch of more than 800 ballots is ready to go out, Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said. The deadline to apply for mail-in ballots is May 11. They...
Sutersville woman accused of sexually assaulting teen
State police charged a Sutersville woman with sexually assaulting a teenage boy last year in Hempfield while he was finishing up the school year virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to court papers. An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Ashley Elizabeth Sherry, 21. State police said they were...
Irwin man gets 15 years for role as ringleader of gang’s drug operation
An Irwin man who led a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Western Pennsylvania will serve 15 years in prison. Christopher Highsmith, who was responsible for the distribution of 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, pleaded guilty to a single count of drug conspiracy in September before U.S. District...
Irwin woman accused of falsifying police documents, claiming to be male officer in insurance claim investigation
An Irwin woman was arrested Wednesday after authorities said she claimed to be a male police officer to an insurance investigator and falsified several documents relating to a claim, according to court papers. Sharon K. Powell, 49, is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft, criminal use of a communication facility,...
La Roche student newspaper rebranded with new name, focus on digital publishing
The student newspaper at La Roche University in McCandless has revamped its format to reflect changes in the industry and to allow student journalists to focus on digital publishing. The La Roche Courier has ended a 25-year run and is being replaced by the Redhawk Post, which will allow readers...
Ligonier Valley police seeking pickup truck involved in hit-and-run
The Ligonier Valley Police are seeking help in identifying who was driving a pickup truck that was involved in a hit-and-run crash into a building early Wednesday. Police reported the crash occurred about 12:20 a.m. at the corner of South Fairfield and Loyalhanna streets in the borough. A porch was...
Mt. Pleasant Area, Yough schools to host covid vaccine clinics following similar events in Greensburg, Hempfield
Hayden’s Pharmacy will conduct covid-19 vaccine clinics at additional Westmoreland County schools after administering doses of the Pfizer vaccine to several hundred recipients Tuesday at Greensburg Salem Senior High. A voluntary clinic on Thursday at Mt. Pleasant Area School District will be available only to students age 16 and older....
Site near Monroeville Mall eyed for new $91 million VA outpatient clinic
Veterans in the eastern suburbs could soon have easier access to health care. Milwaukee-based Summit Smith Development was recently awarded a contract to develop a 64,000-square-foot outpatient clinic near the Monroeville Mall for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. JLL, the real estate firm that brokered the deal, said in...
On the Move: Promotion for Irwin woman, scholarship for Norwin senior
Irwin native Bethany Dressler, who lives in Erie, was promoted to account manager for HUB HDH, a global insurance broker with offices in Erie. Dressler, a Norwin High School graduate, has worked at HUB for seven years. Its regional headquarters is in downtown Pittsburgh. She previously was enrollment coordinator. Dressler...
Allegheny County reports 2nd-lowest covid case total in past month
The Allegheny County Health Department on Wednesday reported its second-lowest covid-19 case total in the past month. The county added 158 new cases Wednesday. Only the 94 cases reported April 26 was lower. It’s also the second-lowest total dating back to March 15, when 124 were reported. The county’s coronavirus...
South West Communities Chamber outlook discusses tolls, covid-19 and more
Officials from several communities banded together during a May 4 virtual meeting against the implementation of a toll on an I-79 bridge in Bridgeville. The virtual meeting was part of the Southwest Communities Chamber of Commerce 2021 Community Outlook. Participants of the call included managers and administration officials from Bridgeville,...
1st Pittsburgh International Literary Festival to get people talking, reading
The Pittsburgh International Literary Festival, known as “LitFest,” hopes to get people talking through reading. Hosted by the City of Asylum @ Alphabet City based on Pittsburgh’s North Side, the virtual event will feature authors from all over the world discussing topics that encompass Black, Indigenous and all people of...
Export officials vote to keep $8 sewage surcharge in place
Two Export council members want the borough to keep its word and remove an $8 surcharge on sewage customers that was originally intended to expire after a year. But ongoing expenses related to its long-term flood control plan and its participation in a state environmental consent order kept that from...
2 Democrats in race for Leetsdale mayor
In Leetsdale, incumbent Democrat Mayor Peter Poninsky is up against Democrat Sandra Ford in the primary. According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, no Republicans are on the ballot. Here are the responses to the questions posed to the candidates by the Sewickley Herald. Sandra Ford...
Food Podcast: Food bank farm preps to grow produce for Pittsburghers
When people think of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, they usually think about a warehouse filled with food. Not many people realize the food bank not only houses and distributes food to the people of Western Pennsylvania, but it also grows it. But 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, on...
Westmoreland news includes bus trip, UFO conference and chicken dinner
Arts • Diamond Theatre of Ligonier will conduct auditions for the play, “A Hiro’s Tale,” from 7 to 9 p.m. May 7 and 8 at the theater, 210 W. Main St. Performances will be July 23 to 25. Actors of all ages are needed, no experience necessary. Rehearsals will be...
Greensburg Salem presents ‘Charlie Brown’ as livestream musical
Beloved cartoon characters come to life for Greensburg Salem High School’s spring musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The production, streaming Friday through Sunday, follows a day in the life of the neighborhood gang from Charles Schulz’s long-running “Peanuts” comic strip. “‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ is a...
News and events in the greater Murrysville area for the week of May 3, 2021Video
The following news and events are happening in the coming weeks in the Star’s coverage area. To submit briefs or upcoming events, email pvarine@triblive.com. Delmont Concert Band to play Ligonier concert series The Delmont Concert Band will play as part of the 71st annual Sunday Evening Band Concerts sponsored by...
