Local category, Page 2149
Harrison City centenarian to get covid vaccine when available
Joseph Cocco of Harrison City plans to get the coronavirus vaccine when it is his time. While Westmoreland County is replete with senior citizens — the U.S. Census says 23% of the population is older than 65 — Cocco is among a select group. He will be 100 when he...
Female pedestrian killed in Somerset County Turnpike crash; vehicle fled
A female pedestrian was killed in a crash Monday evening on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County, state police said. She was hit and killed by a vehicle just before the Somerset exit at 6 p.m., troopers said. That vehicle fled the scene eastbound. State police did not identify the...
Body found under the Birmingham Bridge
Pittsburgh police are investigating the discovery of a body under the Birmingham Bridge. Public Safety spokesperson Cara Cruz said officers responded to a call for a deceased man on some rocks between Forbes and Second avenues shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday. Major Crimes and the Crime Scene Unit processed the...
Verona’s yellow brick road to be paved
Bricks that have lined First Street in Verona for decades will become a thing of the past as borough officials plan to have the deteriorating roadway paved this year. “It’s one of the major roadways of Verona that traverses across the hills and not up and down,” borough Engineer Matt...
Plum property owners seek to create agriculture security areas in the borough
More than a dozen Plum property owners want to establish agriculture security areas (ASAs) in the borough. Resident Dori Tompa, one of the applicants in support of the ASAs, came before council at its Jan. 4 work session to ask for the borough’s help. She is in the process of...
Police: Penn Hills man shot multiple times
A Penn Hills man was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot multiple times Monday night. Police Chief Howard Burton said the shooting took place at about 7:45 p.m. near the intersection of Woods Road and Marion Way. The victim is a 47-year-old resident. He was taken to UPMC Presbyterian...
New engine added to Hempfield’s fire service fleet
Another fire truck was added to Hempfield Fire Department’s fleet of vehicles. The engine, owned by the township, was assigned to the Hempfield #2 Fire Station. The vehicle is capable of pumping 2,000 gallons of water per minute and carries necessary tools to perform at a high level, township officials...
Pa. Republicans to delay Sen. Brewster’s oath of office for ‘time to digest’ Ziccarrelli’s election dispute
Pennsylvania’s top Republican in the Senate called Monday night for holding off on swearing in Democratic state Sen. Jim Brewster, spurring staunch criticism from Democrats who argue doing so defies state-certified election results and multiple court rulings. Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, a Centre County Republican, defended his decision...
Latrobe mayor says she won’t run for a third term
Latrobe Mayor Rosie Wolford doesn’t intend to seek a third term in the office. “It’s been 10 years on council and eight years as mayor for me,” Wolford said Monday, her 60th birthday, during the city council’s annual reorganization meeting. “I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it, but it’s time...
Covid case trend continues to drop in Norwin area
For the second consecutive week, the spread of new covid cases in four ZIP codes in the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin area has slowed, falling to 5.1% for the week ending Jan. 4, according to data from the state Department of Health. The state said there were 2,121 confirmed covid cases...
Former jail warden hired to consult in pending legal issues
Former Westmoreland County Prison Warden John Walton could earn nearly $51,000 this year to testify in pending lawsuits and other court hearings under a contract approved by the county’s salary board. Walton resigned in October after serving 18 years as the jail’s top administrator. Commissioners Doug Chew and Gina Cerilli...
Covid numbers tallied for Murrysville-Export-Delmont area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 933 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those, 50 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP codes that...
Delmont neighborhood’s decorating fundraiser nets more than $15K for library, Project Bundle UpVideo
After the first night of their holiday decorating fundraiser — one that jammed up traffic along Route 66 for hours last month — the residents of Delmont’s Monticello neighborhood started texting one another to see how the night went. “The sheer total of cars let us know (the total) was...
Unity ponders bond issue for infrastructure, recreation upgrades
Unity’s supervisors are considering what could be the township’s first-ever bond issue to help finance infrastructure and recreational upgrades. Supervisor Michael O’Barto stressed that township officials, at this point, are just looking into the feasibility of issuing one or more series of tax-exempt bonds. At their reorganization meeting on Monday,...
Pennsylvania’s December revenue more than anticipated
Pennsylvania collected more revenue in December — and in 2020, as a whole — than the state had originally anticipated, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell reported Monday. The state collected $3.7 billion in the General Fund in December, which was $465.8 million, or 14.5%, more than what was expected. Overall, $18.5...
Wife, attorney await word on inmate’s condition after fall at Allegheny County Jail
A week ago, Antoinette Yates got word that her husband, who is awaiting sentencing at the Allegheny County Jail, fell off the second tier on pod 2C. Witnesses who were conducting video visits with their loved ones on the pod saw Robert Yates fall on Dec. 28. Since then, Antoinette...
State police: Pittsburgh man suspected of DUI tried to hide marijuana blunt in his crotch
A Pittsburgh man accused of illegally having two loaded guns – one of them stolen – in a car he was driving Sunday in East Deer stuffed a marijuana blunt down his pants when he was pulled over by state troopers, police said. Police said they pulled over a car...
Uncounted ballots discovered among Westmoreland County voting equipment
Westmoreland County elections officials disclosed Monday that 21 uncounted provisional ballots submitted at a North Huntingdon voting precinct on Election Day were discovered last week among computer equipment used at the polls in November. Elections bureau staffers found the unopened ballots during a routine inspection of voting machines stored at...
Penguins add PPG logo to helmets
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Monday that PPG will display its logo on all players’ helmets for the 2021 season. It makes PPG the first sponsor to have its logo appear on Penguins game equipment. As part of PPG’s naming rights sponsorship with the Penguins, all players’ helmets will bear the...
State lottery open for rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon
Whiskey lovers, now is your chance to get your hands on the biggest name in bourbon — but you’ll need plenty of luck to grab a bottle. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board opened the annual lottery for Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery’s bourbons and rye whiskey. The most coveted release...
Pittsburgh officials look to improve snow removal plans
The next time it snows, Pittsburgh’s public works employees will be more prepared to keep the city’s streets clear, officials announced Monday. The White Christmas, or at least its aftermath, left some city residents seeing red after they failed to spot a plow or salt truck for two days in...
Allegheny County adds new vaccine distribution location for priority populations
The Allegheny County Health Department on Monday announced a new distribution location for covid-19 vaccines, and the county is expected to release the first version of its distribution plan on Wednesday. The new Point of Distribution (POD) will be for health care organizations and facilities in the Phase 1A category,...
Neighbors, friends show signs of support for the late Rep. Mike Reese
Mike Reese was thrilled that his small Mt. Pleasant Township community supported his goal of serving in the Legislature. During his initial run for office in 2008, the village of Brinkerton was full of his campaign signs. “The first time he went through, he thought that was so cool that...
Pittsburgh named a ‘reforestation hub’ by startup that aims to use, plant urban trees
Pittsburgh will be going greener this year. The Steel City is one of four cities across the country selected to receive an assessment about how it can be reforested. A national startup, Cambium Carbon, is leading the effort. The company launched last year and has lines of products made from...
Assault complaints withdrawn against Unity man
Simple assault and related charges filed last year against a Unity man have been withdrawn prior to a scheduled preliminary hearing. Aaron M. Klingensmith, 37, was arrested by state police after an alleged incident at his home June 30 on Bethel Church Road. Klingensmith had denied the allegations. According to...
