Local category, Page 2114
Covid vaccine misinformation target of Pitt study
University of Pittsburgh researchers are investigating online misinformation relating to the covid-19 vaccines, thanks to a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The goal is to create “beneficial and educational messaging about vaccines,” the university said. “We wanted to see what are some of the reasons why we’re seeing...
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church reopens its Harvest Fair for February
After a two-month hiatus, the Harvest Fair at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is back up and running. The fleatique fundraiser remains by appointment only. The popular shopping event was shut down in late-November for covid-19-related concerns when numbers began to creep up prior to the holidays. “We finally have the...
Jeannette man charged with making nearly 400 harassing calls to ex-girlfriend
A Jeannette man recently paroled after serving time for assaulting his former girlfriend now is charged with making nearly 400 harassing phone calls to the woman, Greensburg police said. Kevin M. Reese, 30, was charged with harassment and harassment by communication. The calls began Monday and ended early Wednesday after...
Derry district judge to retire in August
Derry Township’s longtime district judge will not seek reelection, marking the end of his three decades on the bench, according to an announcement. Mark J. Bilik, 65, of New Alexandria plans to retire in August, said Chris Haidze, magisterial district court administrator. He was appointed to the post in August...
Why Sewickley Heights had a shockingly high case rate of covid-19
On paper, Sewickley Heights has had one of the highest case rates of covid-19 in Allegheny County. In early January, the borough of roughly 800 residents had about 307 positive cases — a case rate of 3,700 per 10,000 residents, or 37%. Nationally, the rate was 7.5% on Jan. 25....
Rebecca Calisti Tyburski announces run for Penn Township district judge seat
Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Calisti Tyburski announced she plans to run for the soon-to-be vacated district justice seat in Penn Township. Tyburski, 44, lives in the township and has served as a county prosecutor since 2002, specializing in sexual and child abuse cases. “I want to continue with...
Police: Man shot inside East Hills home, suspect arrested
A man was arrested by Pittsburgh police this morning at the scene of a shooting inside a home in the city’s East Hills section. Officers from the Zone 5 station responded to a 911 call at about 4:20 a.m. from a many who said he had been shot inside his...
2 charged in McKees Rocks double homicide
A fight between two groups of people sparked the shooting early Friday in McKees Rocks that left two people dead and three others injured, according to police. The shooting happened just after 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Club Erotica on Island Avenue, said Allegheny County Police Lt. Venerando...
69-year-old man dies in Kittanning apartment building fire
A 69-year-old man died in a fire early Friday in Kittanning. The Armstrong County Coroner’s Office identified the man who died as John W. Bodurka. Coroner Brian Myers said Bodurka was found in his bedroom after firefighters put out the fire at an apartment building in the 400 block of...
The Stroller, Jan. 29, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Annual Martin...
Freeport native Alex Isenberg making all the right moves
Freeport native Alex Isenberg had been dancing his way through life, landing professional gigs with celebrities such as Madonna and Liza Minnelli and performing around the world. Then the pandemic brought much of the entertainment industry to a halt. “No live shows, no filming, no in-person auditions, nothing,” said Isenberg,...
Fastest bird alive and owls caught by wildlife specialists at Pittsburgh International Airport
Catching the fastest bird alive, the peregrine falcon, is another day at office for bird control experts at the Pittsburgh International Airport and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A peregrine falcon would not leave the airport grounds earlier this month despite biologists’ efforts to shoo away the threatened raptor. Experts...
Murrysville upgrades its information system for code enforcement
Murrysville’s new code enforcement officer is taking the lead in helping the municipality upgrade the system it uses to track information about properties. Code enforcement officer Josh Steele said the system, bought in the 1990s, has reached the end of its usefulness. “It works really well for what it does,...
Oakmont Carnegie Library closed until Monday due to staffer’s positive covid test
Oakmont Carnegie Library is closed until Monday due to a staffer testing positive for the coronavirus. Officials said via social media that the library at 700 Allegheny River Blvd. will be cleaned and staff will self-quarantine. Virtual programming and email services are available. Oakmont Library is closed until 2/1 due...
Verona officials hire consultant to help with borough manager search
Verona officials have hired a consultant to help them with their full-time borough manager search. Borough officials seek a replacement for Jerry Kenna, who resigned as borough manager effective the end of January. Council voted 5-1 on Tuesday to contract with Susan G. Hockenberry Coaching and Consulting through April 30...
Verona Council appoints new member to replace its former president
Verona Council selected a borough recreation leader as its newest member. Trish Hredzak-Showalter was unanimously appointed to the elected board Tuesday. She fills the vacancy created by former council president Pat McCarthy, who resigned due to health reasons a few weeks ago. McCarthy, 71, a former drug agent in the...
Allegheny County Police: Mt Oliver shooting victim in critical condition
One person is in critical condition after a shooting in Mt. Oliver, according to Allegheny County Police. Officers responded to the 300 block of Brownsville Road around 8:45 p.m. Thursday for reports of a shooting. Police said they found a man with gunshot wounds to the torso. The man, who...
Pennsylvania offers hunting, fishing, boating licenses via new website
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the state Game Commission have teamed up to offer one website for residents to buy hunting and fishing licenses. HuntFishPA replaces the previous Pennsylvania Automatic Licensing System (PALS) platform known as The Outdoor Shop. It’s accessible on all mobile devices. Previously, licenses for...
ATI reports $1.12B loss in last 3 months of 2020; advances layoff, cost-cutting plans
Allegheny Technologies Inc. took a $1.12 billion hit in the last three months of 2020 and is moving forward with previously announced layoffs and cost-cutting measures by the end of this year, company officials said Thursday. Despite the steep losses, the global metals company’s fourth-quarter results weren’t as bad as...
Former Gilpin man extradited from Texas to face child sex charges
A former Gilpin man accused of sex crimes against a young girl has been extradited from Texas to face the charges. Michael Henry Brucker, 31, of Montgomery, Texas was brought back from Texas early this month, according to Gilpin police. Gilpin police Chief Chris Fabec said police began an investigation...
Southmoreland School District investigating teacher in connection with racist post
Southmoreland School District officials confirmed Thursday they are investigating a racist Facebook message purportedly made through a middle school teacher’s account. Superintendent Vincent Mascia confirmed that the district and its solicitor, David Petonic, are investigating the post allegedly made Wednesday by teacher Richard Love. The message appeared as a comment...
ScareHouse to welcome visitors on Valentine’s weekend
People can swap sweet for scary at the ScareHouse haunted attraction during Valentine’s Day weekend. ScareHouse in Frazer’s Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills is hosting a “twisted tale of holiday horror,” dubbed “Creepy Christmas,” for the holiday weekend. The Creepy Christmas event will run from Feb. 12-14. Since ScareHouse couldn’t host...
Crack’d Egg restaurant owner tells judge she will never require masks
Kimberly Waigand told a judge Thursday that she would “never” require masks in her Brentwood restaurant. Waigand, who owns the Crack’d Egg on Brownsville Road, reiterated that answer twice to Common Pleas Judge John McVay during a hearing over the county’s shutdown of her restaurant for failing to follow covid-19...
City cancels 2021 Pittsburgh Marathon; smaller regional races still on
The City of Pittsburgh has announced it will not grant a permit for the 2021 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, effectively canceling this year’s event. Officials decided that May, when the marathon has traditionally been held, was too early to host such an event in a year with an ongoing...
Kline to resign as Clerk of Courts on Feb. 19, begin new job as jail wardenVideo
When Bryan Kline became the Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts more than a decade ago, he was the first Republican elected to a courthouse row office job in more than a half-century. After serving 11 years, Kline will step down Feb. 19 to become warden at the Westmoreland County Prison....
