Local category, Page 1999
Alle-Kiski Valley communities see populations fluctuate, according to census
The Alle-Kiski Valley’s population has declined since the 2010 census, but four of its communities are growing, according to census estimates. The Valley’s 42 municipalities had a combined population of 190,950 in 2019, down about 3% from the 2010 census, the numbers show. Bucking that trend were Oakmont, which saw...
88-year-old woman last seen in Homewood found safely
Pittsburgh police say an 88-year-old woman last seen in the city’s Homewood section has been found safely....
North Huntingdon, Latrobe police expecting body cameras
With the increase in controversial and sometimes deadly encounters between law enforcement and citizens across the country, more local police departments in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are looking to outfit officers with body cameras — but they are scrambling to pay for them. “There’s no question that law enforcement needs...
Braddock Council candidate, 2 other Allegheny County men arrested in Altoona on heroin trafficking charges
Three Allegheny County men — including a candidate for Braddock Council — were arrested in an alleged drug-trafficking operation in Blair County, according to Altoona police. Raemon Prunty, 21, is listed as running for a council seat in Braddock in the municipal elections in May, according Allegheny County election information....
Study: Fungal disease killing over 90% of 3 bat species in Pa., elsewhere
Southwestern Pennsylvania bats were part of a new large national study that flagged a die-off nationally of more than 90% of certain bats in less than 10 years. The bats in question are the northern long-eared, little brown and tri-colored bats. Researchers also found declines in Indiana bat and big...
Wildlife webcam viewership more than doubles; 2 screech owls nuzzle and more surprises
Two screech owls in Murrysville were caught on video nuzzling or rather grooming each other, a clutch of bluebird eggs have hatched and tired migrating birds are stopping at a drip bird bath in Key Largo, Fla. All are sights anyone can access in seconds and on demand. Apparently more...
2 Alle-Kiski Valley towns hold cleanups to observe Earth Day
Two Alle-Kiski Valley communities held community clean-up days Saturday in observance of Earth Day. Volunteers in Blawnox and Plum took to the streets for several hours Saturday morning, cleaning up parks and other public areas. In Plum, it was the fifth year the cleanup has been held. Groups met at...
Mt. Pleasant walking route proposed under state health program, would be 1st in Westmoreland
The YMCA of Laurel Highlands is joining a state effort to get residents outside and walking on a regular basis. Located in East Huntingdon, the Y is planning to establish a designated walking route in adjacent Mt. Pleasant Borough as part of the state’s WalkWorks program. It would be the...
Weekend road work continues on Parkway East in Pittsburgh, Parkway West near Robinson
Lane closures and traffic stoppages on both the Parkway East and Parkway West will continue Saturday night through the rest of the weekend, according to PennDOT. In Robinson, Moon and North Fayette townships, shoulder-patching work on the Parkway West will happen — weather permitting — until around 10 a.m. Sunday...
Greensburg church, others partner to fight vaccine hesitancyVideo
Bishop Carl Jones of Greater Parkview Church in Greensburg admits having many reservations earlier this year about the covid-19 vaccine, but that initial skepticism has turned to advocacy over the past few months. Jones, pastor since 2003 of the nondenominational, multicultural church with many Black congregants, teamed with two other...
Pennsylvania sees new trend in covid hospitalizations: 3 days of decline
To start the month, the state had increases in covid hospitalizations in 13 of the first 14 days of April. But a trend in the last few days shows numbers going the other way, with hospitalizations in Pennsylvania dropping by about 6% since Wednesday. Pennsylvania The state had 2,656 covid-19...
O’Hara council to consider potential changes to home rule charter
O’Hara council is expected in May to discuss potential changes to the township’s home rule charter. A referendum could be placed on the November General Election ballot that would impact how vacant council seats are filled. Another referendum under consideration would repeal gender references in the charter. A council workshop...
1 killed, 2 injured in Strip District collision
A 48-year-old woman was killed and two men were injured in a Strip District crash on Saturday. Police said Pamela McAllister of Pittsburgh died in the crash occurred on Liberty Avenue at 16th Street just before 8:15 a.m., police said. According to police, a sport utility vehicle on Liberty Avenue...
California (Pa.) University dance ensemble more than takes the stage to help Tarentum’s HOPE CenterVideo
The dance is about more than choreographed steps on a stage. It’s a performance created to encourage people to take action. The Dance Ensemble from California University of Pennsylvania in Washington County creates dances that focus on the art of movement and advocacy for topics such as autism awareness, suicide...
Bethel Park Spring Makeover Challenge underway
Bethel Park is coordinating the Bethel Park Spring Makeover Challenge through June 20. According to a news release, the program is a joint effort of the Buy Bethel Initiative and the Bethel Park Kindness Project. “We felt that this would be an enjoyable spring event that would also support our...
Police: Man dies after being shot outside bar in Hill District
A 51-year-old man was fatally shot Friday night outside a bar in the Hill District. Pittsburgh police and medics responded to 911 calls about a shooting and a ShotSpotter alert for a single shot fired in the 2100 block of Wylie Avenue around 10:40 p.m., police reported. Officers located an...
The Stroller, April 24, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. TryLife Center to sponsor Walking for Babies fundraiser The annual Walking for Babies event that benefits the TryLife Center in Lower Burrell will be...
Kiski Area hires firm to conduct search for new superintendent
Editor’s note: The original version of this story attributed board member Ron Coleman to a different person. A Kiski Area School Board member who opposed hiring a search agency to help the district find a new superintendent said he thinks the district’s top administrative job should go to an internal...
Westmoreland courthouse to host vaccine clinic on Tuesday
The Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg will host a covid-19 vaccine clinic on Tuesday. County officials announced that county employees, their families and the general public are eligible to participate in the clinic, which will be conducted in the commissioners’ public meeting room off the main lobby of the courthouse....
Local health systems look to CDC guidance on resuming J&J covid vaccinations
U.S. health advisers on Friday urged resuming covid-19 vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot, saying its benefits outweigh a rare risk of blood clots — in line with Europe’s rollout. Federal health officials uncovered 15 vaccine recipients who developed a highly unusual kind of blood clot, out of nearly...
Pittsburgh nonprofit needs new van to transport homeless veterans
Veterans Place, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, needs to raise $35,000 to add to a matching grant to buy a new bus to transport homeless veterans to its Washington Boulevard site in East Liberty for food, counseling, job training and other services. The nonprofit just launched a crowd-funding campaign to raise money...
Sprankle’s Community Market event raised $17,700 for Salvation Army
A 16-hour fundraiser hosted by Sprankle’s Neighborhood Markets last week raised $17,700 for Salvation Army Food Pantries of Leechburg, Kittanning and Saxonburg. “It was unbelievable,” said Ryan Sprankle, owner of the Kittanning store and one of the event’s organizers and hosts. During the Campout for Community fundraiser last Friday, 10%...
Biden spokeswoman: Pandemic ‘exposed what a problem we have on our hands’ in U.S. nursing homes
The pandemic shined a spotlight on problems that plagued low-performing nursing homes scattered across Western Pennsylvania and the rest of the nation long before covid-19 struck the United States, White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged Friday. As vaccinations ramp up and covid-19 hospitalizations go down, the Biden administration intends...
North Huntingdon police locate missing 11-year-old boy
North Huntingdon police located a missing 11-year-old shortly before 10 p.m. Friday night, after a roughly four-hour search of the Penns Woods area east of White Oak Park. Police said neighbors assisted with the search, and thanked the community for its help in a Nixle alert message sent shortly after...
During drug bust, suspect rams into task force car in Lower Burrell, police say
A Pittsburgh man is facing drug delivery and aggravated assault charges after almost backing his car into a police officer during a drug bust Tuesday in Lower Burrell. Corey Steven Prunty, 31, of Pittsburgh, is charged with aggravated assault, criminal use of a communication facility (a cell phone), and a...
