Local category, Page 2025
Cassandra Gross case: Mother laments unsolved homicide of missing daughter
Prosecutors plan a full review of the homicide case as a third year passes without an arrest in the disappearance of Cassandra Gross. District Attorney John Peck said the original prosecutor involved with the case has left his office, and Peck plans to examine the evidence state police have gathered...
Oakmont incumbents not running for reelection this year
Oakmont’s political landscape will change significantly after this year’s election, as four council incumbents and the mayor have declined to seek reelection. Seats up for grabs in November are occupied by council president Patricia Friday, vice president Leah Powers, councilmen John Arnold and David Brankley, and Mayor Christopher Whaley. Council...
Police: Man shot in shin in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood, residence hit, too
A man was hospitalized after being shot in the shin Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood, police said. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said police responded to a ShotSpotter alert and 911 calls for shots fired around 7:15 p.m. along the 1900 block of Manhattan Street. Officers located the victim along...
Export looks to re-evaluate annual summer playground program
Export officials are looking to re-evaluate and possibly revamp their annual summer playground program after participation declined the past few years. “Last year we had only about three kids for three volunteers by the end of the year,” Councilwoman Melanie Litz said. “Participation has been waning the past two or...
Man who fell to death at West Mifflin plant identified, OSHA investigating
Authorities have identified the man who fell to death at a plant in West Mifflin on Tuesday. Melvin Long, 65, of Clairton fell 41 feet from a catwalk at LafargeHolcim’s Duquesne Aggregates plant in the 4800 block of Buttermilk Hollow Road. The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m., county police...
Student loans canceled for students who attended schools operated by Education Corp. of America
Students who attended schools operated by the defunct Education Corporation of America will have their private student loans canceled. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced an agreement on Tuesday that will result in the cancellation of about $2.6 million in private Pennsylvania student loans for 1,300 students who attended schools...
Police seek suspect in Stowe shooting; victim upgraded to fair condition
A 29-year-old Stowe man is wanted by police in connection with an early-morning shooting April 4 outside a township nightclub. Stowe Township police responded to a call for shots fired at 3:15 a.m. Sunday outside of the True Diamonds nightclub on Island Avenue. The 31-year-old victim was shot multiple times...
Planning commission recommends Lawrenceville zoning program to slow gentrification
No one spoke out against a proposal to make permanent a temporary zoning law that requires developers of any project with 20 or more units in Lawrenceville to set aside 10% of their units for people who earn lower incomes. Instead, Pittsburgh Planning Commission members Tuesday heard from residents in...
Homeless man to serve prison term for attack on girlfriend in Greensburg
A former Washington County man who most recently lived in a tent near Lynch Field in Greensburg will serve up to five years in prison for attacking his girlfriend. Chad T. Abbott, 26, who authorities said was homeless when charged in 2019, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of strangulation, terroristic...
Bill moves forward to rename section of Route 981 in honor of late Rep. Reese of Mt. Pleasant Township
The state House transportation committee approved a bill to name a 3½-mile section of Route 981 from the intersection of Route 819 to Route 2021 south of Norvelt after the late state Rep. Mike Reese of Mt. Pleasant Township. Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Connellsville, the prime sponsor of the bill, said...
Toll 66 on-ramp in Hempfield reopened following afternoon crash
The Route 136 on-ramp to the Route 66 Turnpike Extension in Hempfield has reopened following a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon, county emergency officials said. The crash was reported around 4:45 p.m., for a report of a two-vehicle crash with possible entrapment. One person involved in the crash was flown...
Class-action lawsuit contending Highmark failed to pay overtime to nurses reviewing insurance coverage
A nurse who worked for Highmark Inc. reviewing insurance coverage authorization requests filed a federal lawsuit against the company on Tuesday, alleging that it failed to pay required overtime. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, seeks class-action status and includes claims for violations of the federal Fair...
Heinz plans to up packet production as restaurants experience ketchup shortage
This pandemic-related shortage is hitting close to home. Restaurants and fast-food chains are experiencing shortages of ketchup as calls for takeout and delivery have increased and local brand Heinz, which has the “highest market share” of the condiment, has been hit the hardest, according to the Wall Street Journal. Data...
Westmoreland County, Walmart to host vaccination clinic at Seton Hill University
Westmoreland County officials announced Tuesday the county will open a coronavirus vaccine clinic this week at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. The clinic, with vaccines provided by Walmart, is set to vaccinate up to 1,400 residents over three days, starting Friday, according to Public Safety Director Roland Mertz. “We’re trying...
Bolivar man accused of restraining woman, violating PFA
A 26-year-old Bolivar man is accused of holding a Fairfield woman against her will for 13 hours Sunday and Monday, state police said. Zackery A. Collier was arrested by state troopers and charged with harassment, terroristic threats, simple assault, unlawful restraint and illegal possession of Ecstacy pills. He is being...
Pittsburgh council passes revised ban on evictions
A revised law temporarily banning evictions in Pittsburgh was approved Tuesday by city council. The law is also supported by Mayor Bill Peduto. “I hope that we do see some level of enforcement,” Councilwoman Deb Gross said. Gross has worked with community activists and city officials to fine-tune the law,...
Wilkinsburg author Deesha Philyaw wins PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
Wilkinsburg author Deesha Philyaw’s debut short story collection, “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” continues to rack up awards. On Tuesday, her book was announced as the winner of the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, which honors the best published works of fiction by American permanent residents in a calendar...
New Kensington-Arnold’s new superintendent eager to get started
After a second interview, Chris Sefcheck said he wanted the job of superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District so much he didn’t care if it meant a longer commute. He’ll start making that drive on July 1, after the school board hired him on Tuesday. “I really already feel...
Man imprisoned for stealing from Upper St. Clair church gets concurrent federal sentence
Since he stole more than $1 million from the Upper St. Clair church where he worked as a business administrator, David Reiter says has lost more than 70 pounds, reconnected with family he’d not spoken to in more than a decade and strengthened his relationship with God. During his sentencing...
Pittsburgh supports Philadelphia in lawsuit against state Firearm Preemption Laws
Pittsburgh city officials this week threw support behind a lawsuit filed last year in Philadelphia challenging Pennsylvania’s Firearm Preemption Laws, alleging they keep the city from combating gun violence and “have forged a state-created danger.” The brief, filed Monday in support of the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state...
Aspinwall seeking more than $215,000 in grants for townwide upgrades
Aspinwall council is seeking three grants totaling more than $215,000 for townwide upgrades. They include money for trail improvements at Fireman’s Memorial Park, sewer separation along Western Avenue and work at the Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department garage. Work at the park in upper Aspinwall will include replacing the current asphalt...
Is there a crisis of ‘forced mass displacement’ of Black Pittsburghers? Residents, council divided on answer
Why did 7,000 Black Pittsburgh residents leave the city between 2014 and 2018? The answer depends on who’s talking. Community activist Randall Taylor, a former Pittsburgh Public Schools board member and city council candidate, calls it a “crisis of forced mass displacement” of Black residents. City councilmen Ricky Burgess and...
Pastor saves Peyton Manning the pooch from black bear attack in Mt. Pleasant Township
It was a frightening night for a Mt. Pleasant Township pastor who fended off a black bear that had the family dog clutched in its teeth. The Rev. Tim Stradling said Tuesday that Peyton Manning, a 9-year-old Maltese/silky terrier mix, is recovering at a Monroeville animal hospital. The dog has...
Man used scissors, glue stick to alter lottery tickets into winners, police say
A man was jailed Tuesday because state police say he used scissors and a glue stick to alter lottery tickets into winners and cash them in at a Hempfield convenience store, according to court papers. Craig Marshall Stout, 45, who has addresses in Mt. Pleasant Borough and Jeannette, is charged...
Ohio trucker charged in I-70 crash that killed West Penn Power lineman
An Ohio truck driver was driving 62 mph Oct. 21 when he slammed into stopped traffic along Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon, killing a popular West Penn Power worker from New Stanton and seriously injuring two people, state police reported in court documents. Charles C. Walker, 58, of Columbus, Ohio,...
