Western PA Local News category, Page 2111
Gateway students to have option to return to school 5 days a week
The Gateway school board approved a plan that gets all students back in school five days a week by April 7. District officials said 60% of parents who filled out a recent survey said they would be willing to send their children back to the school under the plan. The...
Westmoreland water authority offers site for mass vaccine, but no takers
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is offering its warehouse in New Stanton as a site for covid-19 vaccinations. The site is close to a Pennsylvania Turnpike exit and has plenty of parking. The only problem is that the large providers — UPMC, Allegheny Health Network, Giant Eagle and others...
Diocese denies appeal to reverse St. Philip Catholic School merger
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has denied a group’s appeal to reverse the merging of St. Philip Catholic School in Crafton. The Committee to Save St. Philip School appealed Bishop David Zubik’s decision to merge two schools into one in February. Since then, the group has tried and failed to meet...
Vaccine eligibility to expand in Allegheny County, but on certain conditionsVideo
The Allegheny County Health Department will expand eligibility for its vaccine distribution — starting Friday — to include people 50 and older who have certain health conditions. Up to this point, the department has only been vaccinating people 65 and older, citing vaccine supply constraints. Dr. Debra Bogen, the county’s...
Dunkin’ names drink after Pittsburgh woman
A walk to get a cup of coffee really perked up Sophia Cosentino’s mood. The morning drink the 21-year-old from Friendship orders daily was chosen as one of 10 winners in the Dunkin’ Menu Contest. Fans across the country were invited to create a TikTok video and tag Dunkin’ for...
Murrysville council may open the door for its 1st tax hike since 2007
Murrysville officials could be on the path to raise taxes for the first time since 2007. Council this week gave the OK to advertise an ordinance that would empower it to raise the local share of the earned income tax by up to 0.5%. Currently, a 1% earned income tax...
Photographer captures images of river otter in Monongahela RiverVideo
Lisa Kaufman had her camera set to capture some migrating Northern shoveler ducks on the Monongahela River recently, in Pittsburgh’s Duck Hollow neighborhood, when a movement near the bank caught her eye. She pointed her camera and for 19 seconds got to see a rarity: a river otter. “This guy...
Excela Health to open North Huntingdon vaccine clinic; to give 2K shots daily by appointment
Excela Health is upping its capacity to provide coronavirus vaccine by opening a clinic at an empty building in North Huntingdon. The clinic will begin operations Thursday at the former Galaxy Fitness building near Excela Square at Norwin, Chief Medical Officer Carol Fox said. Staff members will be able to...
Hempfield man arrested on rape, sexual assault charges
State police Wednesday arrested a Hempfield man on charges of rape and sexual assault stemming from an incident last summer. Robert T. Kubinsky, 21, was arraigned on charges of rape of an unconscious victim and sexual assault after a woman reported she had been assaulted July 5 at Kubinsky’s residence...
Covid cases hit Allegheny County court records division, causing procedural changes
At least six employees from the Allegheny County Department of Court Records criminal division office are out this week after testing positive for covid-19, and 16 more are being quarantined, according to several sources in the courthouse. No one in county administration, which oversees the office, or court administration, which...
Shady Side Academy hires new director of enrollment
The new director of enrollment at Shady Side Academy is poised to seize and build on current momentum at the private school. Bayh Sullivan will start in the position on July 1, taking the place of Katie Mihm who is retiring after 22 years leading admissions at the school. “Shady...
In a first for UPMC, this drive-thru clinic treated 500 vaccine seekers eager to roll up their sleeves
Five hundred people got their first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the launch of a drive-thru clinic Wednesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. The hospital system is partnering with the Pittsburgh Penguins to continue a covid-19 community vaccination event series. On Monday, the two teamed up...
Police arrest Latrobe man for assault, threatening woman with box cutter
A Latrobe man was arrested early Wednesday by city police on charges of assaulting and choking his girlfriend and then threatening her with a box-cutter knife as she ran from his home, according to court papers. Brian A. Ray, 34, was arraigned on charges of harassment, false imprisonment, terroristic threats,...
Delmont resident to bring ‘mini’ food pantry to borough parklet
Delmont resident Ed Washburn isn’t sure if there is a need in the borough for a free food pantry, but if there is, he wants to ensure it will be available. Washburn secured borough council’s permission to place a miniature food pantry in the Rose Wigfield Parklet on Greensburg Street....
New covid cases for Allegheny, Westmoreland, Pa. remain above 7-day average
Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, as well as Pennsylvania, all reported new coronavirus cases higher than their seven-day averages on Wednesday. Allegheny added 285 cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 38 higher than its seven-day average of 247. Westmoreland’s 73 additional cases are above its average of 65, while...
Kiski Area Superintendent Tim Scott to retire
Kiski Area School District Superintendent Tim Scott announced he is retiring from the district’s top post. Scott, 58, did not give a timetable for his departure from the district of about 3,500 students. “There is such a distinct sense of purpose in trying to grow children into caring adults and...
Etna, Shaler, Millvale honored as Banner Communities
Etna, Millvale and Shaler were honored as Banner Communities last week, reinforcing diligent work by the three local governments. Hampton Shaler Water Authority was also recognized. A total of 71 communities and five municipal authorities were lauded by the Allegheny League of Municipalities and Allegheny County, recognized for careful spending,...
A year later, Plum students return to school 5 days a week
For the first time in a year, Plum students have had a somewhat normal week. “The kids are excited,” said Matt Walling, a parent of two Plum students. He was waiting to pick up his fourth grader at Holiday Park Elementary on a warm Tuesday in March, exactly one year...
Penn Township woman arrested in connection with stabbing at Trafford tavern
A Penn Township woman is behind bars after, police say, she stabbed a man at a Trafford tavern early Wednesday. Brenda Renee Stitt, 45, was found by officers hiding in an upstairs room at Anthony’s Hotel & Tavern. She is charged with aggravated assault, hindering apprehension, conspiracy and related offenses....
Penn Hills hires Public Financial Management to appraise its sewer system
Penn Hills council hired a financial firm March 15 to appraise its sewer system despite concerns voiced by the mayor that the municipality is “on a frightening path.” Council voted 3-2 in favor of hiring Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management (PFM) to look into how much the municipality’s sewer system is...
Latrobe athletic director to retire, will continue role as wrestling coachVideo
Mark Mears’ days as an administrator at Latrobe are nearing an end, but not his involvement with the district’s wrestling program. The school board this week accepted Mears’ retirement as the district’s athletic director, a post he has held for about 11 years. The resignation will take effect Aug. 6....
Westmoreland DA candidate excused from jury duty after failing to show
Nicole Ziccarelli was excused from jury duty after not showing up Monday morning at the Westmoreland County courthouse, according to Nancy Murtland, jury board clerk. Ziccarelli, a lawyer from New Kensington, is a Republican candidate for county district attorney. She was one of 160 prospective jurors summoned to appear the...
IUP announces plans for in-person commencement
Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wednesday joined a growing chorus of universities announcing plans for in-person commencement this spring Officials said plans call for as many as six ceremonies May 7 and 8 for May and August 2021 graduates. Plans include a ceremony for graduates receiving master’s and doctoral degrees on...
Pitt, Carnegie Mellon launch joint center to combat extremist hate
Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh are joining forces in a new research center designed to study and seek ways to halt the proliferation of extremist hate. The announcement comes amid rising fears about ethnic violence against Asian Americans. On Tuesday night in Atlanta, a gunman killed eight people,...
New solar-powered LEDs to light the way along popular South Park walking trail
In a few weeks, strolling down a popular pedestrian trail in South Park will no longer just be a daytime affair. Work has begun on a project to illuminate a roughly 2-mile portion of the trail running along Corrigan Drive between Library and Brownsville roads with 122 energy-efficient solar-powered lights....
