Mt. Pleasant Area School District ends contract with Lifetouch for alleged Epstein connection
The Mt. Pleasant Area School District has joined a growing number of school systems nationwide in terminating its contract with photography giant Lifetouch. Superintendent Timothy M. Gabauer notified families of the decision in a letter sent Wednesday. The move follows community concerns regarding the company’s corporate ownership and indirect links...
Morning Roundup: Monessen teacher found with gun in school; flood watch issued for multiple counties
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Feb. 20: Monessen teacher found with gun in elementary school A Monessen City School District employee was found in possession of a gun while on school grounds Thursday, the district said in a letter to parents and guardians....
New Kensington welcomes ‘bigger & gayer’ Evanly Bakes
New Kensington bakery Evanly Bakes has made a sweet expansion under the slogan “bigger & gayer than ever.” Baker Evan Morgan-Newpher and his business partner, Kate Heller, joined New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo on Saturday to cut a red ribbon announcing the new location’s grand opening. Evanly Bakes, now at...
The Stroller, Feb. 20, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Tickets on sale for...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Feb. 12-18, 2026
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, TribLive’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate, please...
St. Agnes Church resumes fish fries after yearlong pause to renovate social hall
St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon has its annual fish fries down to a science — at least that’s how volunteer Diane Pesarsick describes it. For four weeks leading up to Easter, more than 120 churchgoers get into a rhythm. Boxes of food — fish, french fries and ingredients for...
Shady Side Academy sails away with rousing performance of ‘Anything Goes’
Love, hijinks and mayhem on the high seas rounded out a nautical performance of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” at Shady Side Academy. Performances were held Feb. 13-15 at the Richard E. Rauh Theater in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts. Led by The Gargoyle Society, the student performing arts organization...
Art depicting life: Blawnox’s historic sculpture is symbol for small town
A wooden sculpture titled “The Steelworker and Family” has long been the symbol of Blawnox, but only recently has the artwork’s backstory come to light. Historian and author Tom Powers said the sculpture is enjoying renewed interest after he chose it to adorn the cover of the borough’s recent centennial...
Fox Chapel residents ask local leaders to consider resolution for noncooperation with ICE, Border Protection
Several Fox Chapel residents encouraged their elected leaders to pass a resolution establishing a policy regarding enforcement of noncriminal federal immigration laws. Specifically, they asked for something stating borough police will not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or those from U.S. Customs and Border Protection related to civil...
2004 Shaler Area graduate now walking its halls as new school resource officer
Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School. The start of the school year was marked with many new things this year. One of the multiple new changes was the...
Egg hunt for adults to benefit North Allegheny Women’s Association, North Hills Cares
The hunt is on. Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 North Allegheny Women’s Association Adult Egg Hunt, which is planned from 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 27 at the North Park Lodge along North Ridge Drive. Each ticket costs $40, plus a $4.52 service fee, and will benefit...
West Newton Bridge project: ‘Gateway to a new beginning’
West Newton residents Wednesday expressed their appreciation for the state’s plans to construct a temporary bridge over the Youghiogheny River that will keep the two sides of the river community connected while a major rehabilitation of the West Newton Bridge closes it for more than a year. “It’s better than...
Police use blue bullets to link security guard to fatal shooting at Penn Hills club
The detectives told the jury they had never seen blue bullets at a crime scene. But when they got bullet fragments back from two victims shot at Ballers Hookah Lounge & Cigar Bar in Penn Hills nearly two years ago, scientists from the Allegheny County crime lab reported they had...
Penn Hills School District officials say messages about ICE being at high school are false
Penn Hills School District officials addressed social media rumors and said no Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were at any of its schools on Thursday. The message is in response to a TikTok video of a woman claiming ICE was at the high school. Superintendent John Mozzocio said the video...
Mt. Oliver cop rear-ends SUV with child inside on Route 51
Danielle Staub regularly takes the same left turn off southbound Route 51 when leaving her friend’s house in Pittsburgh’s Overbrook neighborhood. Staub’s usually uneventful route turned traumatic early Monday when a marked Mt. Oliver police car smashed into her SUV from behind as her 8-year-old daughter sat in the back....
Smoky blaze leaves crews fighting Buffalo Township fire for more than 5 hours
Fire crews from numerous Alle-Kiski Valley towns battled a house fire for hours Thursday afternoon on Edgewood Drive in Buffalo Township. The blaze was initially reported at the single-story ranch home around 1:30 p.m. Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company Assistant Chief Tyler Hill said crews battled the “stubborn basement fire”...
Sewickley Heights police chief on administrative leave; investigation underway
Sewickley Heights police Chief James Harrison has been placed on administrative leave as the borough investigates alleged controversial communications. In a letter sent to residents earlier this month, borough officials said they received an anonymous letter containing purported copies of the communications and had been made aware that several residents...
Pittsburgh GOP urges tracking of how city spends $12M from UPMC, PNC
The City of Pittsburgh Republican Committee is calling for accountability and transparency from city officials who will be spending millions of dollars gifted by UPMC and the PNC Foundation. In a letter to City Controller Rachael Heisler, committee chair Todd McCollum urged called for a “clear, itemized ledger” showing how...
Pitt, CMU offer inside glimpse of Pittsburgh’s cutting-edge biotech hubs
Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh offered rare looks Thursday into two cutting-edge research facilities during a showcase for the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. Congress created the commission in 2022 to analyze the national security implications of novel biotechnologies, which manipulate cells and genetic material...
State audit to investigate Woodland Hills School District’s finances
Tensions surrounding the Woodland Hills School District’s finances are escalating after the state Department of Education announced plans to audit the district. The announcement came Wednesday evening in a Facebook post from state Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Swissvale, during a packed school board meeting to select a new board president. Last...
Father of Sean Dicer charged with trying to assault TV news crew
The father of a former Highlands School District teacher accused of sexually assaulting students now has legal problems of his own. Harold Dicer, 77, of Plum is charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct after, police say, he attempted to drive his SUV into a television news crew. Dicer...
Lower Burrell to donate additional 1.6 acres for Stewart School redevelopment
The Lower Burrell Planning Commission on Wednesday gave support — and some land — to Burrell School District’s redevelopment plan for the former Stewart Elementary School property. But not before questioning some of its details. The commission unanimously approved a 1.6-acre lot line revision for property owned by the city...
Glen Osborne welcomes a new council member
Glen Osborne officials welcomed resident Jen Coyne as their newest council member. Council voted 5-0 Feb. 17 to appoint Coyne to fill the seat vacated by Anne Fruehauf. Councilman Gary Schurman was absent. Fruehauf, former chair of council’s finance committee, moved to nearby Edgeworth and resigned last month. Coyne’s term...
Registration open for free senior lunch at Norwin
Norwin area senior citizens can enjoy a free lunch and student entertainment from noon to 2 p.m. March 8 in the Norwin High School cafeteria, 251 McMahon Drive, North Huntingdon. The annual Senior Citizens Luncheon is open to Norwin residents ages 55 and older. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. This...
Ligonier Country Market proposes borough as new host
The Ligonier Country Market has proposed shifting its regular event from a 9.6-acre Loyalhanna Watershed Association property to downtown Ligonier Borough. The Country Market — launched about 50 years ago — has been held on the watershed association’s property off of Route 30 in Ligonier Township for the past 25...
