Local category, Page 2116
State Rep. Frankel builds support for hate speech bill in wake of Capitol riots
When an angry mob of anti-government extremists carrying symbols of hate stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, it may have been a wake-up call for some — but not for state Rep. Dan Frankel, a Democrat from Squirrel Hill. Frankel is Jewish and represents a district that includes the...
Penn Hills School Board OKs advertising proposed 2021-22 budget with near 8% tax hikeVideo
The Penn Hills School Board has approved advertising a preliminary budget for next school year that includes a property tax hike of nearly 8%. The proposed 2021-22 spending plan approved Jan. 27 was one of three the school board considered. It was the one recommended by the district administration. However,...
The Stroller, Jan. 28, 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. Children’s outdoor...
Norwin-area briefs, Jan. 28, 2021, and beyond
St. Agnes offers Lenten course St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon is offering a 7-week video Lenten Experience titled “The Search,” beginning Feb 14. In-person, small group or virtual sharing and discussion options are available. Those interested can visit the parish website at stagnes.info or call the parish office 724-863-2626...
Norwin-area criminal charges filed, Jan. 28, 2021
Charges filed with North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware. All individuals have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty or pleading guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Dallas W. Creech, 43, of Greensburg, by North Huntingdon police with...
Penn Hills School District planning to have students back in school 4 days a week
Penn Hills School District officials will move forward with plans to gradually bring back students for in-person instruction four days a week. The board unanimously voted Jan. 27 to authorize administrators to proceed with their plans of having first-graders, middle-schoolers, juniors and seniors back Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays starting...
Parks foundation raising money for sensory pathway at Murrysville Community Park
The Murrysville Recreation Department is seeking ways to keep the public engaged during the winter, through exercise promotional programs and other activities. It also is making sure those efforts are inclusive, working with its nonprofit foundation on a fundraiser to create a sensory pathway along one of its park trails....
Plum School Board agrees to keep potential tax hike to 4% or less
Plum Borough School District officials have pledged to keep any possible real estate tax hike to a minimum as they continue to work on next school year’s budget. The board voted unanimously Jan. 26 to keep the tax rate within the Act 1 index, which is a state formula related...
U.S. Marshals nab fugitive linked to overdose death in Washington County
U.S. Marshals on Wednesday arrested a man wanted on charges of selling drugs that resulted in an overdose death in Washington County, officials said. Sherman Springer, known as “Detroit Shawn,” 48, had been on the run as a fugitive for more than seven months, since he was charged in late...
Pittsburgh Public Schools delay returning to classrooms until April 6
Pittsburgh Public Schools has delayed the return to in-school instruction another two months, until April 6. The district targeted the return to classroom instruction at the end of February. One after the other, several board members spoke at their meeting Wednesday in support of continuing to teach classes online, though...
Pandemic concerns trigger postponement of Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Organizers are postponing this year’s Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade because of pandemic concerns regarding large gatherings. The decision to postpone the annual event, which would have been held on March 13, was made jointly with city officials. The parade committee is working with the city to identify a date...
Events in the Murrysville area, Feb. 4, 2021, and beyond
Here are news briefs and event listings for the Murrysville Star’s coverage area. Submit an event or a news brief by emailing pvarine@triblive.com. East Suburban Artists League hosts Michigan artist The East Suburban Artists League will welcome guest speaker and president of the Detroit chapter of the Colored Pencil Society...
Ligonier Valley police officer seeks GOP nod for House 59th District seat
Ligonier Valley police officer Shawn Knepper is seeking the Republican nomination to fill Pennsylvania’s 59th District House seat, which was left vacant by the unexpected death of Mike Reese. A special election is set for May 18 to select a successor to Reese, 42, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant. Reese...
Pittsburgh man accused of threats against New Kensington police to serve probation for trashing jail cell
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced Wednesday to serve a year on probation after he pleaded guilty to charges of escape and that he vandalized a holding cell following his arrest last summer in New Kensington. Daevar Lamont Stevens, 21, will remain behind bars, though, to answer a new set of...
Hearing on Crack’d Egg restaurant closure orders focuses on mask efficacy
Allegheny County’s chief epidemiologist testified Wednesday that restaurants operating at full capacity and without mask requirements during the covid-19 pandemic “absolutely” pose a risk to the community. LuAnn Brink, who also serves as deputy director of the county health department, was the first witness called in a hearing involving the...
Highlands closes high school in response to ‘significant’ covid outbreak
Highlands School District said Wednesday it is closing its high school for the rest of the week because of an outbreak of covid-19 cases. The announcement comes about a week after students were brought back to buildings under the district’s hybrid schedule Jan. 19, after moving all students to remote...
Pittsburgh police implementing ‘Homelessness Academy’ training for recruits
Armed with statistics showing 28% of the city’s police recruits acknowledge never having had a conversation with a homeless person, Pittsburgh police recruits are receiving new training to understand the experiences of people who are homeless. The new “Homelessness Academy” program at the police training academy is part of Mayor...
Former Allderdice coach, police academy cadet accused of selling cocaine from house
A former Pittsburgh Allderdice High School football coach who was going through a police academy is accused of selling cocaine out of his Squirrel Hill home, according to charges filed Wednesday by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Branndon Pezzelle, 36, allegedly had 1,252 grams – nearly 3 pounds – of...
Pittsburgh council supports no-knock warrant ban, but will wait to pass a proposed law
No one on Pittsburgh City Council is opposed to enacting legislation to ban no-knock warrants in the city. But council members Wednesday delayed passage of a proposed bill until it can iron out any legal issues with the law and meet with community members who are lobbying for it. Bans...
Pleasant Unity man charged with threatening Gov. Wolf pleads guilty to reduced charge
A 29-year-old Pleasant Unity man accused of threatening Gov. Tom Wolf over business closures because of the coronavirus pandemic pleaded guilty to a reduced summary charge of harassment in York County, according to court officials. Rocco Anthony Naples was facing a third-degree felony charge of threats and other improper influence...
Western Pa. schools receive grants to improve cafeterias
Eight local school districts are among those awarded more than $875,000 in grant money to help upgrade food service equipment in their cafeterias. In all, 59 elementary, middle and high schools will benefit from the funds, awarded to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted meal...
Allegheny County officials expecting improvements to vaccine rolloutVideo
Allegheny County officials said Wednesday they are making plans to take vaccine doses into senior high rises and similar communities, setting up a phone registration and looking for ways to streamline the registration process. The steps take time, officials said, and take a larger and more reliable supply of vaccine....
With a $2.2 million infusion, new Community College to open in Ford City in 2022
Butler County Community College’s announcement of $2.2 million from public and private sources for a new site in Ford City increases its sites to five Western Pennsylvania counties. The college’s new location in Ford City, known as “BC3 @ Armstrong,” will cost $4.5 million to construct. School officials say it...
Coronavirus cases following national trend across Shaler Journal communities
As coronavirus cases begin to rise more slowly in Allegheny County and across the country, communities in the Shaler Journal area are also seeing their numbers rise less sharply. As of Jan. 27, there have been 1,560 total cases of the novel coronavirus in Shaler since March, according to the...
Pittsburgh Police find boy missing since Saturday unharmed
A teenage boy who was reported missing over the weekend was found Wednesday evening, according to Pittsburgh Police. Ceonte Young, 16, had last been seen around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, police said. A Tweet from city police said authorities found Ceonte and that he is “safe.” The message also thanked the...
