Western PA Local News category, Page 1992
Former Dormont store owner, extradited from Israel, convicted of 2004 rape
An Israeli man who fled the Pittsburgh area in 2004 after being accused of rape was found guilty Thursday by an Allegheny County jury. Moshe Journo, 56, will be sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Bruce Beemer on July 12. The jury found him guilty of rape, aggravated indecent assault, sexual...
Food Podcast: A look at the food bank’s mobile farmers market
June is fruits and veggies month, so this week’s podcast focuses on the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s innovative way to get fresh produce from local farms to areas where healthy food is difficult to find. It’s called the Green Grocer, and while it looks like a food truck, you...
Allegheny County hospitalizations drop to 10th of December’s peak
Covid-19 hospitalizations in Allegheny County dropped to 88 on Friday, just a tenth of the county’s peak total in December. On Dec. 16, 881 patients were hospitalized in the county. Just a month later, the county’s total had fallen by 50%, hitting 425 on Jan. 17. The total stood at...
Hampton playground renamed for former councilwoman, township stalwart Martha Hunkele
The large playground at Hampton Community Park will be renamed for former council member Martha Hunkele, who by all accounts is among the township’s most ardent supporters. Hunkele served on council for 14 years, having most recently been elected in 2019 but forced to resign because of health concerns. She...
Pole, guiderail repairs after tractor-trailer crash on I-70 temporarily closes eastbound lane
The right lane of Interstate 70 eastbound near the New Stanton exit is expected to reopen later today after a tractor-trailer crash damaged a light pole and guiderail. The Thursday morning crash affected traffic for hours as the truck was removed from an embankment near mile marker 56. The left...
‘Magic’ mushroom grow operation found at Rostraver home, police say
A suspected psychedelic mushroom grow operation was discovered in a Rostraver home Thursday while police said they were investigating threats made by the property owner, according to court papers. Authorities arrested Michael Jonathan McClain, 45, who is being held without bond at the Westmoreland County Prison. Township police were called...
Grant for new road paves way for The Woodlands to expand Bradford Woods campusVideo
Rain showers forced Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new road that will allow The Woodlands campus in Bradford Woods to expand to take place inside. But the weather didn’t dampen the spirit of the event, which was attended by state and county officials who helped secure funding for the project....
Monroeville Convention Center to host Fire and EMS Show
In another sign of things getting back to normal, the Monroeville Convention Center will once again host a firefighter and EMS expo this weekend. The show is under new management and branding. Gratzie Ventures presents the Monroeville Fire & EMS Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10...
Quaker Valley Middle School book club donates 1,000 books to Ambridge Area School District
A Quaker Valley Middle School book club donated 1,000 books to two Ambridge Area School District schools as a part of its effort to eliminate book deserts. ProjectLIT, formed in April last year, wanted to donate books to a school that did not have an in-house library or limited access...
Frazer seeks over $7.7M in taxes by Pittsburgh Mills real estate owners
Frazer officials are going after six Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills real estate owners for at least $7.7 million in delinquent special tax assessments. On Tuesday, Supervisors William Creevey and Lori Ziencik voted to authorize filing a municipal claim and collection proceedings against the property owners. Supervisors Chairman Matthew Beacom was...
Penn Area Library’s new director looks toward more public events, community outreachVideo
James Facer arrived at his new position — executive director for Penn Area Library in Penn Township — by an interesting route. The Tacoma, Wash., native was living in Chicago when his wife, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, got a job in Pittsburgh in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic....
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 4-6
Grab your sunscreen. It’s going to be a summer-like weekend with temperatures in the 80s. Here are some ways to spend it. Take pride Pittsburgh Pride Group will be hosting virtual and in-person events this weekend. The “Pittsburgh Pride Revolution March” begins at noon on Saturday in front of the...
Hempfield Area officials making plans for next school yearVideo
Students in the Hempfield Area School District will not have the option to participate in a hybrid model of learning during the 2021-22 school year, officials announced this week. Instead, much like in a typical year, students will choose between attending in-person classes five days a week, joining the Hempfield...
Police say man stabbed in sword attack on North Side
A man was hospitalized Friday after being stabbed during a possible landlord-tenant dispute on Pittsburgh’s North Side, according to Pittsburgh police. Authorities were called to Brighton Place just before 4 a.m. and found the man with two stab wounds. Police said he had been attacked with some type of sword....
The Stroller, June 4, 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. Free children’s summer food programs to open The Kids Meal Network summer food program will host free grab and go meal...
Greensburg YMCA set to reopen its doors
The Greensburg YMCA will reopen to members June 14. In late September, it closed most of its facilities because of covid-related restrictions and because fewer members returned after the facility reopened last summer. “Our reopening will be a slow process until we’re able to hire necessary staff,” said Suzanne Printz,...
Youngwood Park N Pool, to open Saturday at age 60, gets updates through grant
The Youngwood Park N Pool will enter its 60th season Saturday with renovated facilities — thanks to nearly $180,000 in grant money. The community development block grant was primarily used to make the locker rooms, parking lot and pool sidewalk handicap accessible, said Ed Christafano, president of the Youngwood Area...
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship holds 8th grade graduation outsideVideo
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship’s graduating eighth graders were able to have a proper send-off under the sun at graduation on June 4. Graduation was held outside for the first time on a field in front of the school. Families and friends were able to sit under a tent...
Volunteers sought to remove flags at West Newton Cemetery
Volunteers are needed Saturday to remove the more than 350 U.S. flags that were installed last month to honor local veterans for the 27th Annual Avenue of Flags at the West Newton Cemetery. Those interested in helping are asked to meet at the cemetery office on Vernon Drive at 9...
Pickup crashes into Tarentum house, driver suffers minor injuries
A man was taken to a hospital late Thursday after crashing his truck into a house in Tarentum. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said the wreck occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the 300 block of East Eighth Avenue. Tarentum police at the scene of the crash said a man...
Introducing the Leechburg Area High School Class of 2021
Here is the Leechburg Area High School Class of 2021: Cheyenne Sioux Beatty, Coltin Eli Bowser, Savanah Athena Coffman, Dylan James Cook, Noah Brayden Crawford, Cameron Gabriel Curfman, Christopher James Gerstel, Ivan Guo (valedictorian), Dalton Gary Hamm, Madison Mae Hanan, Allen Boyd Harvey, Michaela Dawn Hoover, Breanna Nicole Krawczyk, Dylan...
No action taken on Vandergrift police officer’s employment following lengthy closed-door meeting
The fate of a Vandergrift police officer who has been the target of an internal investigation for his conduct while on duty during an April incident remains unresolved. Officer William Moore, a 20-year veteran of the department, has been on paid leave since shortly after the April 17 incident. During...
Police investigate deadly daytime shooting in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood
Police are investigating a shooting Thursday evening in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood that left one man dead, officials said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Robert Thomas, 36, of Pittsburgh. Shortly after 5:30 p.m., emergency dispatchers received several 911 calls about someone getting shot near the 300...
U.S. Attorney: Hillandale Farms accountant embezzled $6.8M, spent stolen money on luxury cars, condo, travel jaunts
A former accountant of Greensburg-based Hillandale Farms was arrested Thursday on federal charges of bilking nearly $7 million from the nationwide egg distributor, then funneling the stolen money through businesses across Western Pennsylvania and spending it on lavish personal items such as collectible cars, real estate, high-end dining and travel....
State House committee hearing in Brackenridge focuses on blightVideo
Combating and preventing blight were discussed Thursday during a public hearing hosted by state lawmakers in Brackenridge. Members of the House Urban Affairs Committee, including first-term state Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso, R-Oakmont, heard testimony from Allegheny and Westmoreland county officials and business owners during the three-hour hearing at the Salvation...
