Western PA Local News category, Page 2035
No one injured as fire rips through mobile home in Hempfield
A woman was left homeless Friday afternoon when flames spread through her mobile home in Hempfield. No one was reported injured in the fire, which occurred at the Sliver Dolphin Mobile Home Park. The woman who lives there wasn’t home when a maintenance man reported the fire just after 1...
‘Where is she?’: Defense wants police interview in Liberty man’s homicide case tossedVideo
For nearly an hour, Allegheny County homicide detectives pleaded with Douglas Berry to tell them where the body was. It had been 25 days since 67-year-old Elizabeth “Betsy” Wiesenfeld had gone missing, and weeks of investigation had pointed the detectives directly at Berry, a handyman who had worked for her....
Giant Eagle switches to walk-in covid-19 vaccinations
Appointments will no longer be needed to receive a covid-19 vaccination at a Giant Eagle in-store pharmacy. The Pittsburgh-based supermarket chain announced Friday that walk-ins will be welcomed, starting Monday. The covid vaccinations are open to people 18 and older. Eligible patients should bring a valid form of identification and...
UPMC covid vaccine clinic at Valley High School to be open to community
An upcoming covid vaccination clinic at Valley High School in New Kensington will be open to the community, acting Superintendent Jon Banko said Friday. UPMC will conduct the clinic from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the school’s gymnasium. In addition to residents, it will also be available to district...
Erie bait shop owner reels in record-breaking yellow perch
An Erie angler caught the heaviest yellow perch on record in the state, according to an announcement Friday by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Kirk Rudzinski, 63, of Erie, landed the record-breaking perch on April 9 in Lake Erie, Harborcreek Township, Erie County, near the Brevillier Village high-rise. The...
South Hills pain doctor charged with writing illegal narcotic prescriptions, insurance fraud
A South Hills doctor spent years prescribing narcotics to patients at his pain clinic who did not need them, sometimes giving patients injections against their wishes to line his own pockets, according to a 242-count indictment returned this week. John Keun-Sang Lee, 78, is charged with violating federal narcotics laws...
Slow reporting from labs can hinder coronavirus response, create doubt
More than a year into the covid-19 pandemic, some virus cases identified during the first outbreak across Western Pennsylvania only recently were reported in Westmoreland County. The cases were part of a data dump on Wednesday from one lab that included cases from March 2020 to March 2021, causing the...
Harrison supports nonprofit’s effort for kayak launch parking lot grant
An effort to get state money to build a parking lot for a kayak launch on the Allegheny River in Harrison will go forward. Township commissioners voted unanimously at a special meeting Wednesday to support the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront, which will work with the township to apply under...
2 seeking open position to represent Fox Chapel Area School Board in Region 2
Editor’s note: The Herald is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Fox Chapel Area residents in Region 2 will see two nominees vying for one open position, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list. Region 2 covers Fox Chapel Borough Districts 2, 4, and...
Phipps summer flower show delves into ‘The Hidden Life of Trolls’
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens delved deep into the forest, folklore and fairy tales for its new “Summer Flower Show: The Hidden Life of Trolls,” running through September. Guests are welcomed to the immersive, interactive exhibit by animatronic troll mascots named Fen and Ivy, who give tips on how to...
Laughlintown man earns local chapter of Trout Unlimited’s highest award
When Monty Murty returned to Westmoreland County after retiring from careers in the Army and as a business consultant in Washington, D.C., he rekindled his love of trout fishing and became more active in the local Trout Unlimited chapter. “In particular, I love fly-fishing,” said Murty, now 76. “I began...
Death row inmate decides to keep attorney; appeal coming soon in Greensburg torture killing
A death row inmate convicted of the 2010 torture and murder of a mentally disabled woman in Greensburg will stick with his court-appointed appeal attorney after previously attempting to fire him. Ricky Smyrnes, 35, formerly of North Huntingdon, told Westmoreland County Judge Scott Mears he intends to keep Thomas Farrell...
5 nominees seeking 4 spots on the Republican ballot for Fox Chapel council; 2 Dems running unopposed in primary
Editor’s note: The Herald is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. The race for Fox Chapel council is drawing a lot of attention this year, with seven nominees vying for four open positions. According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, there are two Democrats...
To-go alcoholic drinks may become permanent in Pa.
As takeout became more common during the pandemic, to-go options for alcoholic beverages and mixed drinks have been temporary menu options. But it’s possible alcohol could be a permanent takeout option in Pennsylvania. Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation allowing for restaurants and hotels with a valid liquor license to serve...
With eye on more fans in stands, the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates urge people to get covid vaccine
Representatives of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins joined U.S. Sen. Bob Casey on Friday to reiterate their commitment to help educate and facilitate vaccination of people who remain hesitant to get the covid-19 vaccine. The teams were among the first organizations in the region to open venues to host...
Allegheny County’s average of new covid cases hits low not seen since November
Allegheny County’s seven-day covid-19 case average dropped to 210 on Friday, a low that hasn’t been seen since November. The Allegheny County Health Department reported 191 additional coronavirus cases. The last time the county’s current seven-day case average was this low was 207 on Nov. 8. The overall number of...
Scottdale woman ordered to pay $133K in restitution for unauthorized use of business credit cards
A Scottdale woman was ordered Friday to make mandatory $200 monthly restitution payments as part of a plea agreement connected to the fraudulent use of credit cards belonging to a Washington County-based company. Laurie Renee Christ, 54, was sentenced to seven years of probation and six months under house arrest...
2 seeking Republican nomination for O’Hara council Ward 3
Editor’s note: The Herald is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, there are two Republican nominees seeking a place on the fall ballot for O’Hara council in Ward 3. Here are their responses provided to Tribune-Review questions....
Westmoreland County Prison inmate accused of trying to escape from Excela hospital
A Westmoreland County Prison inmate awaiting multiple hearings for illegal possession of a firearm, theft and drug-related charges is accused of trying to escape from custody. County Detective James Williams charged Brandon Zepeda, 27, of Greensburg with escape after he allegedly attempted to run out of the emergency room at...
First English Lutheran Church of Sharpsburg closes its doors after 134 yearsVideo
Easter Sunday was bittersweet for the Rev. Tricia Schneck, the interim pastor at First English Lutheran Church in Sharpsburg. Schneck presided over the final service at the borough institution, which first opened its doors in 1887. “It is very sad because this is a close congregation, and they have always...
Washington Co. man charged in Capitol riot indicted on new assault, theft charges
A Bentleyville man charged with entering the U.S. Capitol in connection with the January insurrection now faces additional charges that he assaulted an officer and stole documents during the attack. The new charges against Dale Shalvey were returned by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., on April 30. Shalvey,...
Tiki boat tours back on Pittsburgh riversVideo
They are recognizable by their thatched roofs and bamboo poles gliding along the river. The Hawaiian-style huts belong to Cruisin’ Tikis Pittsburgh, a company that offers sightseeing tours on the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela rivers. They will be on the water this weekend for a fourth season. “Pittsburgh is perfect...
7 vie for ballot spots for 3 seats on Monroeville council
Editor’s note: The Times Express is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Monroeville residents will have seven people to choose from in the upcoming primary election for three available seats on council. Deputy Mayor Greg Erosenko is the only incumbent. Council members Ron Harvey, Linda Gaydos and Tom...
Plum school board has 12 cross-filed candidates seeking ballot nods
Editor’s note: The Advance Leader is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Plum residents have a plethora of candidates seeking both the Democratic and Republican nod for four school board seats this year. A dozen hopefuls, including two incumbents, have cross-filed for the May 18 primary election, according...
Murrysville administrator: Jake brakes are ‘a necessary evil’
Jake brakes on large commercial hauling trucks may not be music to the ears, but according to Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim Morrison, they’re “a necessary evil.” Morrison was responding to recent complaints about rigs using their jake brakes on Route 22. “When you have trucks coming down Route 22 doing...
