Western PA Local News category, Page 2137
New Kensington family plans to build home for contracting business in Arnold
After nearly 40 years in business, a New Kensington family is ready to move its contracting business out of the basement of its founder’s home and into its first offices with a new facility in Arnold. In addition to a headquarters for the business, Shawn Whalen, the second generation owner...
Pittsburgh-area health experts praise Johnson & Johnson covid vaccine
The likely addition of a third covid vaccine option next month will be a “blessing,” health professionals in the Pittsburgh region said. “It means vaccine will be available to people faster,” said Graham Snyder, medical director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology at UPMC. “It means that for whatever reason,...
Tarentum man charged with pointing loaded gun at woman during argument
Tarentum police ordered a man and woman out of a house in the 300 block of West Seventh Avenue at gunpoint after responding to a domestic disturbance early Friday morning. Police said they were told shortly before 12:30 a.m. that Walter Clayton Jordan II, 41, had pulled a gun and...
Passenger suspected in slaying of pregnant Lawrenceville driver
The same man Katara Bray told a friend she hoped wasn’t the father of her child now stands accused of killing her early this month, according to police and court paperwork. Jason Brown, 24, is charged with homicide in connection with the Feb. 8 shooting death of Bray in Pittsburgh’s...
Westmoreland County Prison inmate accused of making threats against female guard
An inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison awaiting a hearing on assault and strangulation charges was arrested Friday on charges of threatening to sexually assault a female guard at the prison, according to court documents. Nicholas J. Grindle, 33, of Jeannette, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, harassment and...
West Newton man charged with arson, insurance fraud after reporting car theft
A West Newton man who reported his car was stolen earlier this month in Mt. Pleasant now is charged with arson, insurance fraud and making false reports, according to court records. Donald E. Cassidy, 54, reported about 8 a.m. Feb. 15 that his vehicle was stolen from Rumbaugh Avenue in...
Derry Township woman, former police officer, running for district judge
A Derry Township woman who served as a police officer and deputy coroner in neighboring Indiana County hopes to succeed retiring District Judge Mark Bilik for the Derry area. Republican Janelle L. Hood, 51, is seeking both party nominations in her bid for the District Court 10-3-08 seat. “I would...
Greensburg man found not guilty of rape; no verdict on sexual assault charge
A Westmoreland County jury acquitted a Greensburg man accused of raping an unconscious woman but couldn’t reach a verdict on another charge of sexual assault. The jury deliberated more than three hours and returned a mixed verdict against Emmanuel Lebbie, 25, who prosecutors said assaulted a woman as she slept...
John DeFazio, former Allegheny County Council president and pro wrestler, diesVideo
Former professional wrestler Johnny DeFazio, who parlayed his athletic prowess into a seat on the Allegheny County Council, died Friday morning. He was 80 and lived in Shaler. A cause of death was not yet known. DeFazio first made a name for himself as “Jumping Johnny DeFazio” on the popular...
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady to step down from post
Scott Brady, U.S. attorney for Pennsylvania’s Western District, will resign from his post on Sunday, his office announced Friday. Brady’s announcement comes several weeks after the Biden administration asked for all Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys to resign, a traditional move with a new president. “Leading this office has been the greatest...
Hempfield man facing illegal gun charges now charged with sexual assault
Sexual assault charges were filed Friday against a Hempfield man arrested last week after state police said they confiscated 36 guns from his home. Dale Edward Kuhn, 73, is accused by troopers of inappropriately touching two girls and exposing himself to them, according to court papers. He is charged in...
South Buffalo VFD seeks nominations for family to benefit from truck and tractor pull
The South Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department is seeking nominations for a family in need to be the beneficiary of their annual benefit truck and tractor pull. There are no specific qualifications to be nominated. The VFD asks that people do not nominate themselves, said Erin Pflueger, a member of...
Sen. Robinson’s bill to boost veterans donations when renewing driver license passed unanimously by Pa. Senate
A measure introduced by a South Hills lawmaker to increase the amount of money that can be donated to help military veterans when a resident renews their vehicle documents was approved unanimously by the Pennsylvania Senate. Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, was the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 96, which increases...
Westmoreland County covid hospitalizations hold steady over past week
Over the past eight days, the number of covid hospitalizations in Westmoreland County appear to have stabilized, according to data from the state Department of Health. Current covid-19 hospitalizations in the county were 115 on Friday. Since Feb. 19, the number of hospitalizations has not surpassed its current level, dropping...
Allegheny County sees most reported covid cases in a month — 1 from March 2020
Allegheny County reported the most additonal covid cases in over a month Friday, with at least one positive test coming from last March, according to the county Health Department. There were 412 additional covid-19 cases reported, the most since Jan. 23 (464 cases). Cases were mostly confirmed via PCR tests,...
TSA catches 2 guns in a day at Pittsburgh International, 7 so far this year
Twelve hours after security officers stopped a Texas woman with a loaded handgun at Pittsburgh International Airport, officers caught another handgun Thursday on a Monroeville woman who said she forgot the gun was in her purse. “This traveler’s forgetfulness was a careless mistake that will hit her wallet because, like...
Some Pa. school district leaders frustrated with return of standardized tests during pandemic
Gennaro Piraino Jr. said his distaste for state standardized tests has only grown in the past year, despite their absence. “Given the pandemic, what we know our students need to know and be able to do has become even more evident,” said Piraino, superintendent of Franklin Regional School District. “And...
New Kensington-Arnold reports covid cases at 2 elementary schools, closes 1
New Kensington-Arnold School District has announced positive covid-19 cases at two elementary schools, forcing one to close. According to a notice from acting Superintendent Jon Banko, the district was notified of three cases at Roy A. Hunt Elementary and one at H.D. Berkey Elementary. Both schools are in Arnold. Berkey...
Westmoreland transit to offer free rides for covid vaccines
Westmoreland County Transit will provide free rides on its buses and paratransit vehicles to local covid-19 vaccine clinics. Anyone with a scheduled appointment to receive the vaccine is eligible for the service Mondays through Saturdays in the service area, including Westmoreland County and Downtown Pittsburgh. “We wanted to eliminate a...
1 hurt after pickup rear ends school bus in Hempfield
A pickup truck driver was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital Friday morning after apparently rear-ending a school bus in Hempfield. Township Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic said firefighters from Grapeville, North Hempfield and Jeannette worked together for about 25 minutes to free the driver. Nine students aboard the Hempfield...
Bridgeville, Collier area fish fries for the week of Feb. 26, 2021
Bridgeville VFD Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department will host a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 19, March 5, 19 and April 2. The food will only be available for take out at the fire department’s location at 370 Commercial St. There are a la carte options and...
How to buy a wedding dress during a pandemicVideo
In the showroom at MB Bride & Special Occasion, Tracey Hess holds two essential devices for bridal-wear shopping these days: An iPhone is in her right hand and an iPad in her left. She positions the electronics with precision, so the people she’s connecting with virtually can see the dress...
Pittsburgh police seek help finding missing Carrick teen
Pittsburgh police are seeking help to find a teen last seen more than a week ago. Niya Peterson, 16, of Carrick was seen at about 3:30 p.m. Feb. 18 wearing a black coat and Ugg boots. Police said Peterson, who is 5 foot 1 inch tall and has long yellow...
The Stroller, Feb. 26, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s meetings, Easter events and fundraisers in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Leechburg Rotary Club accepting scholarship applications The Rotary Club of Leechburg will award community service scholarships to students living within the Leechburg and...
No injuries reported when truck overturns on I-70 near Madison exit
Eastbound traffic on Interstate 70 was reduced to one lane early Friday after firefighters responded to an overturned truck near the Madison exit in Hempfield. No injuries were reported and those inside the truck needed no assistance to get out, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. Firefighters responded...
