Debate over marijuana intensifies as medical anxiety certifications soar
As the medical marijuana industry in Pennsylvania continues to grow, one entrepreneur says the state is missing out on a major revenue boost by not legalizing recreational use. Ari Raptis, founder and CEO of Talaria Transportation LLC and National Secure Transport, anticipates his businesses in Pennsylvania would grow fivefold if...
Website upgrade, visitor center proposed for Unity-based Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor
The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor is looking to roll out an improved website and is considering setting aside a visitor information center at its museum headquarters in Unity. Those are two ways the nonprofit organization hopes to better promote sites farther east along its six-county corridor while partnering with other...
Westmoreland happenings: Dog Days of summer, Ancestry Day, more
Fundraisers • St. John United Church of Christ, 1230 Brownstown Road, Larimer, will have a Dog Days of Summer hot dog sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at the church. Combo meals and drinks will be available. Proceeds will be donated to Chad Warhold and Laurie Kiss,...
Police: Man in critical condition after being shot in McKeesport
A man has been hospitalized in critical condition after being shot late Wednesday in McKeesport. Allegheny County Police said officers were notified of a shooting around 9:30 p.m. along the 700 block of Sixth Street. First responders found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to local hospital...
PitCare’s Meals on Wheels still going strong after 54 years
Dan Casey describes the food he prepares at PitCare’s Meals on Wheels program as “homestyle, with a restaurant quality.” And it’s no wonder, since Casey has worked in the food industry since graduating high school — he was a chef at the Wooden Nickel and Houlihan’s in Monroeville, and many...
Families work together on production of ‘Annie Kids’
For the third annual summer theater camp collaboration between Gateway Musical and Monroeville Recreation and Parks, campers put on a production of “Annie Kids” at the high school’s Robert A. Read Performing Arts Center. The collaboration has become something of a family affair. Gateway senior Ethan Settlemire acted as stage...
Buffalo Township supervisors OK controversial solar farms despite resident resistance
In the face of fierce community opposition, the Buffalo Township supervisors gave developers the green light Wednesday for two controversial solar farms. After a summerlong discussion and two delayed votes, supervisors opted 4-1 to allow Atlanta-based SolAmerica to install solar arrays on an 81-acre spot off Bear Creek Road and...
Opponents of controversial hiring accuse Leechburg Area School Board of political bias
Leechburg Area School Board members were presented with formal complaints and questions Wednesday night following a controversial hiring decision. Neill Brady, a Leechburg resident and school board candidate, voiced his dismay and requested answers after his son-in-law, Sean Hess, was passed over for a position with the district despite receiving...
Norwin High School Band struts its stuff at a preview of its halftime show
The Norwin High School Band held its annual preview show Wednesday evening at the high school stadium. In addition to the performance, food trucks were on site as part of a fundraiser for the band. High school bands across the region are preparing for the start of the 2025-26 school...
Westmoreland Transit: State budget stalemate not hurting yet
With state funding for mass transit held hostage in the seven-week budget battle between Senate Republicans, House Democrats and the governor’s office, Westmoreland County’s bus system does not face the financial cliff looming for other transportation systems, a county transit official said. “It has not impacted us. We have sufficient...
Rustic Ridge neighbors file additional lawsuits ahead of house explosion anniversary
Neighbors have filed three new lawsuits against several companies just ahead of the two-year anniversary of a house explosion in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood that killed six and caused damage throughout the housing plan. The suits, filed throughout early August, come after family members of those killed in the blast...
Greensburg’s City Hall’s former life as trolley station will be commemorated
Greensburg City Hall’s previous life as a trolley station will be commemorated in a sign along South Main Street. Planning director Alec Italiano said he applied for, and received, a $2,500 grant to buy the marker after learning about the opportunity through the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. “It just sort...
A dream destroyed: Paralyzed shooting victim tells court he has no future
Four years ago, Kwaku Botwe-Asamoah was in the prime of his life. He worked as a software developer, played basketball and enjoyed traveling. But that all changed on July 31, 2021, while he was out celebrating his 30th birthday on Pittsburgh’s South Side. As he headed home that night, Botwe-Asamoah...
Driver faces DUI, but not homicide charges in Natrona girl’s death; family attorney reacts
Police said a Harrison man drank 12 beers before getting behind the wheel of a Jeep that struck and killed an 11-year-old girl in Natrona last summer. Allegheny County Police on Wednesday charged Jeffrey Glowatski, 65, with three counts of DUI and two counts of careless driving in connection with...
Corndogs, donuts and boba tea: Moochi & You to open in Bellevue
Mochi is a Japanese-style dessert made of sweet rice flour. It is described as light and airy and will be available at the newest spot in Bellevue — Moochi & You, which is set to open on Friday. The shop, located in the heart of the neighborhood, will feature donuts...
Card skimmer found at New Kensington Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle says some of its customers who swiped a credit card at the New Kensington store in June might have fallen victim to a card skimmer. A legal notice, published by Giant Eagle this week, states a payment card skimmer was installed on a checkout lane’s PIN pad between...
Shaler’s Undercliff fire department suspends 5 members suspected of answering call impaired
Five volunteer firefighters in Shaler are accused of responding to a call under the influence of alcohol, officials with the township and Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company confirmed. The fire department suspended the five members on Aug. 8, Undercliff President John Klocko Sr. said. The department is accelerating its internal review...
Sheetz to bring more pop-up concert experiences to Pittsburgh
After the All-American Rejects performed a surprise pop-up concert Friday at Sheetz in Robinson, the chain said more collaborative concerts are on the way — including appearances by the Jonas Brothers. Sheetz said Wednesday it was named the official convenience partner for the JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown Tour, featuring...
Point Park University partners with hotel to house 90 freshmen off campus
Point Park University has signed a contract with Wyndham Grand hotel in Downtown that will place up to 90 freshmen in off-campus housing at the start of the upcoming semester. “The location of the Wyndham is really advantageous for us, as it’s only a 5- to 6-minute walk to campus,”...
Highlands Elementary students show kindness to HOPE Center in Tarentum
Highlands Elementary School has put kindness into the curriculum. It launched the Be the Kind Kid Club in 2023-24 to promote courtesy, teamwork and friendliness. It has grown 200%, from about 90 students to more than 270 who meet weekly. In an effort to keep the motto front and center,...
Grand opening celebration set for new Allegheny Township Shoe Sensation
A new shoe store in Allegheny Township will have a grand opening celebration next month. Shoe Sensation, located in the Hyde Park Plaza, 451 Hyde Park Road, will hold the celebration Sept. 12 to 14, according to the Indiana-based company. “We’re bringing so much more than just your favorite name...
Millvale approves rezoning long-vacant home for use as short-term rental duplex
A long-vacant Millvale house is a step closer to a new life as a short-term rental property. Council voted 5-1 at its meeting Aug. 12 to approve rezoning 127 Howard St. from residential to commercial. Councilman William Stout, who opposed the proposal as a member of the borough’s planning commission,...
HVAC project at Burrell High School comes in $1M over budget
Bids for a proposed heating and cooling project at Burrell High School came in about $1 million more than what school district officials were expecting. Superintendent Shannon Wagner told the school board this week that bids for general construction, HVAC and electrical improvements at the high school came in at...
Shaler names assistant manager, longtime employee Judith Kording as new township manager
A familiar face is taking over as Shaler manager, but she doesn’t plan to keep the job for very long. At their Aug. 12 meeting, Shaler commissioners promoted Assistant Manager Judith Kording to manager, effective that day. Her salary was set at $155,000, up from $126,000. Kording, 64, of McCandless...
O’Hara resident has opened her home to 9 international students, seeks families to do the same
Carol Huff feels like she has seen far-flung parts of the world without ever leaving her O’Hara home. An AFS-USA volunteer, Huff has hosted international students for the past 25 years, including those from Germany, Iceland, Italy, Kuwait and Pakistan. “I’ve learned so much as a person from my students,”...
