Local category, Page 2135
Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb names new deputy
Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb has tapped a former congressional staffer who most recently worked with a federal budget watchdog group to be his deputy. Rachael Heisler replaces Douglas Anderson in the post. In August, Anderson was appointed Pittsburgh’s treasurer and finance director. “Rachael’s experience and expertise, particularly in the areas...
More than $45 million worth of illegal drugs seized by Pa. troopers in 2020
More than $45 million worth of illicit drugs was taken off the streets by state troopers in 2020, according to police. That was about $2 million more than the total in 2019, when troopers confiscated more than $43 million in prohibited drugs statewide. In 2020, troopers seized more than 300...
Norwin police blotter, Jan. 14
Charges filed with North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware. All persons charged 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. • Vincent Bracco, 40, of Glassport with possession of drug paraphernalia....
Shop with a Cop program succeeds despite pandemicVideo
The pandemic that struck the region canceled many activities, but not the holiday tradition of the Westmoreland County Shop with a Cop program. “We were able to help 804 children this year,” said Trooper Steve Limani, who coordinates the program which is in its 13th year. “There was a spike...
Environmental groups call on Gov. Tom Wolf to stop Plum oil and gas disposal well
Environmental groups have called on Gov. Tom Wolf to revoke a state-issued permit that allows an oil and gas company to dispose of fracking fluids at a site in Plum. “We again want to ask the governor of Pennsylvania to uphold our constitutional rights to clean air and pure water...
Amerisafe brings ‘hugging station’ to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville
Amerisafe workers brought their “hugging station” to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville recently. The station — where the company and center staff set up dual plastic sheeting over a doorway — comes equipped with “sleeves” to allow residents to interact with family, giving many the chance to hug a loved one...
Murrysville-area happenings, Jan. 23 and beyond
Jan. 23 food drive at high school Franklin Regional junior Garrett Deller decided late last year to take his volunteer service with the Westmoreland County Food Bank to the next level, joining with fellow National Honor Society students to host a biweekly food drive at the Westmoreland Farms clubhouse. Deller...
Peduto makes it official, seeks 3rd term as Pittsburgh’s mayorVideo
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto made it official Thursday: He will seek a third term as mayor. Peduto made the announcement in a video streamed on Facebook. During the video, which debuted at 1 p.m., 14 supporters from several of the city’s neighborhoods gave testimonials about the work that Peduto has...
Murrysville area police blotter, Jan. 14
Charges filed with Export District Judge Charles Conway’s District Court. All persons charged 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. • Collins Yochembeng, 31, of Penn Hills, with driving under...
Westmoreland County adds 14 covid deaths
Westmoreland County on Thursday added 14 additional covid deaths and 203 cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The newly-reported deaths bring the county’s death toll to 516. The county passed 500 reported deaths on Wednesday. There have been 93 deaths attributed to the virus this month in the county....
Allegheny County reports 499 additional covid cases, 3 deaths
Allegheny County on Thursday reported three new coronavirus deaths, bringing the total number of deaths related to the virus for the county to 1,181. This comes after the county on Wednesday reported 74 deaths, but attributed the large number to a data backlog at the state level. The health department...
Occupants escape house fire in Yukon
A basement fire was quickly extinguished Thursday at a Yukon home, according to Yukon Fire Second Assistant Chief John Stants. When firefighters arrived in the South Huntingdon village, they saw “smoke coming out of pretty much every window in the house,” Stants said. Firefighters breached a basement door just feet...
Ski Lodge pop-up bar opens in Market Square
A collaborative effort is bringing the comforts of a ski lodge to Downtown Pittsburgh. Ski Lodge, an outdoor cocktail pop-up, opens in Market Square this weekend. The idea came though collaboration between Creatives Drink, Market Street Grocery and Mindful Hospitality. Groups will be seated in Market Square at personal fire...
Experts say finding new ways to keep glass out of landfills can help fix shattered recycling system
The high cost of separating glass from the plastic, paper and cardboard collected at the curb for recycling has helped fuel a near nationwide collapse of the glass-recycling industry, experts say. Many municipal trash haulers across the country, including companies doing business in western Pennsylvania, are excluding glass from new...
Shaler commissioners approve property tax relief for eligible fire volunteers
Shaler commissioners have extended the township’s tax relief program for fire volunteers. Property tax relief is now available for firefighters who don’t meet the criteria for the township’s typical earned income tax (EIT) assistance. Eligible fire volunteers can receive up to a $300 credit on their township property taxes through...
State police cite 8 restaurants for covid violations in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
Pennsylvania State Police cited eight restaurants in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for allegedly violating covid-19 restrictions last month, and the Allegheny County Health Department has shut down several establishments in the first two weeks of the year. The number of violations issued by state police was down across the two...
5 things to know about your covid stimulus check
The $600 stimulus checks approved by Congress and President Trump last month were meant to provide much-needed economic relief to Americans battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Most already have received their money, but technical glitches and administrative challenges left millions wondering when theirs would arrive. Here’s what you need to...
In brief: Plum council fills several positions on boards, commissions
Council made various appointments to boards and commissions at this month’s voting meeting. Tom Tevis and Joseph Dykta Jr. were named to the Civil Service Commission for six-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2026. Laura Mason and Mark Kenny were appointed to the library board for three-year terms expiring Dec. 31,...
New online elective classes proposed at Penn Hills High School
Penn Hills High School plans to offer new online courses next school year. Courses include cybersecurity, criminology, forensic science, medical terminology and world religions/exploring diversity. The cyber electives will be provided through Edynamics and Edgenuity. Principal Eric Kostic said the district added the options due to student interest. They are...
Derry Area set to resume classroom instruction next week, cites online concerns
Derry Area School District will end a month of full remote instruction Tuesday, when in-person lessons once more will be offered to elementary students five days per week. A switch to online learning in the district started Dec. 7. Students at the middle and high schools may opt for a...
Carnegie Mellon to offer covid-19 tests to students, faculty at new testing lab
Weekly covid-19 tests will be a reality this spring for students, faculty and staff at Carnegie Mellon University, as the Pittsburgh research school prepares to open a new testing lab. The school offered tests to returning students as well as those who were traveling this fall and did some random...
Pennsylvania firearms background checks shatter record in 4th quarter 2020
Word that Pennsylvania State Police saw a record surge in firearm license background checks in 2020 didn’t surprise Mark Boerio, owner of Latrobe’s Army Navy & Indoor Pistol Range. Business soared last year — and has continued into 2021, he said. “It’s the same everywhere,” Boerio said. “First you had...
Police: Gas station robbed in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are looking for two unknown men who robbed a Sunoco convenience store in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, according to the city Department of Public Safety. The robbery happened early Wednesday morning. The men, at least one of whom was armed, robbed the convenience store at the corner of Liberty...
Burrell schools fight Arconic assessment appeal that would result in $500K hit
Burrell School District and Upper Burrell plan to fight a real estate assessment appeal filed in a Westmoreland County court by Arconic Inc. that could reduce tax revenue to the school district by almost $500,000 annually. “We plan to fight this vigorously,” said Anthony Giglio, an attorney with Andrews &...
Man killed in Wilkinsburg shooting
A man was shot and killed inside a Wilkinsburg home, according to Allegheny County Police. First responders were called to the 1900 block of Wright Street shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday for a report of shots fired. They arrived to find the victim inside a home. He was pronounced dead...
