Western PA Local News category, Page 2164
Trout group to study Westmoreland County’s Linn Run
A fishing organization plans an extensive two-year study of the wild trout in Linn Run and the impacts on their habitat, from the stream’s headwaters atop Laurel Summit, down through Linn Run State Park in Cook Township to where it empties into Loyalhanna Creek in Rector. The Forbes Trail Chapter...
Allegheny Township man charged with 5 sexual assaults seeks house arrest
An Allegheny Township man charged with sexually assaulting three juveniles and two adults wants a Westmoreland County judge to release him to house arrest while he awaits trial. Police contend Eric Alan Wright, 49, raped two children over a 20-year period dating to 2000, fondled another teenage girl, exposed himself...
Commonwealth Court hears argument on challenge to 2nd-degree murder penaltyVideo
An attorney for the Pennsylvania Parole Board argued Monday that Commonwealth Court is not the right place to hear a challenge to the state’s mandatory life-without-parole penalty for second-degree murder. Six people serving that sentence filed a petition against the state Board of Probation and Parole in July, arguing that...
Covid hospitalizations continue to decline in Pennsylvania
The number of Pennsylvanians hospitalized because of covid-19 continues to decline at a rapid pace. According to the latest data from OpenData PA, which tracks hospital numbers in the state, the number of patients hospitalized has dropped 12% in the past week and 46% in the past month. As of...
Westmoreland prosecutors claim anti-bullying advocate threatened police
A Derry man who calls himself the “Bully Monster” was placed on house arrest Monday after Westmoreland County prosecutors say he threatened a police officer. Justin Juan De La Cruz Martinez, 41, originally was charged with trespassing, criminal mischief and resisting arrest in November 2019 after he refused to comply...
Building in Pittsburgh’s South Side partially collapses in fireVideo
Part of an East Carson Street building on Pittsburgh’s South Side collapsed Monday afternoon as flames shot through the roof, and authorities say the building will likely have to be demolished. A portion of the four-story brick building collapsed around 4 p.m., about an hour after the fire was reported....
Covid figures tallied for the week of Feb. 8, 2021, for greater Murrysville area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,190 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those positive results, 19 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP...
Pittsburgh’s new LGBTQIA+ Commission a ‘strong and impressive’ group
After delays wrought by the pandemic, Pittsburgh’s LGBTQIA+ Commission will be staffed with people Tuesday, when city council is expected to make 17 appointments as recommended by Mayor Bill Peduto. The mayor created the commission in June. It replaces a mayoral advisory council with a permanent city commission to act...
Veteran sheriff’s department officer from Youngwood seeks Hempfield district judge post
A veteran Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department officer, currently assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force, will run for an open district judge’s seat in Hempfield. Irvin Shipley, 44, of Youngwood, said he will cross-file and run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries May 18 for the seat...
Murrysville recreation planning ‘Egg My Yard’ event for Easter
Vaccination rates may be ramping up across Pennsylvania, but when it comes to Easter, there’s no concrete way to know what the situation will be, especially for larger social events such as egg hunts. With that in mind, Murrysville Recreation Department officials are bringing the hunt to families with “Egg...
Peduto asks Gov. Wolf to vaccinate Pennsylvania teachers immediately
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto issued a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday, calling for the state’s Department of Health to immediately prioritize the vaccination of teachers. His letter follows weeks of sluggishness in the state’s covid-19 vaccine rollout, including confusion and frustration from many educators in the region. Many...
Free training program launches in Pittsburgh for people seeking tech jobs
A nationally-known technology training provider will launch operations in Pittsburgh and offer free training to its first local class in March. When the first class of 30 people completes the 12- to 15-week program, they’ll be prepared for an entry-level programming job that pays between $50,000 and $60,000 per year,...
Police say Ruffs Dale man assaulted own grandmother for prescription pills
A Ruffs Dale man was arrested on assault and robbery charges after police say he entered his 73-year-old grandmother’s home early Sunday and hit her with a cane after she refused to let him take her prescription pills. John S. Accipiter, 25, was arraigned on charges of harassment, resisting arrest,...
Crack’d Egg seeks stay to injunction while appeal is heard
The owner of Brentwood’s Crack’d Egg restaurant has filed a motion for a stay pending an appeal to Commonwealth Court. The motion filed Friday said that a decision by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John McVay last week is contrary to a federal court ruling in September that found Gov....
Lower Valley libraries combine literacy and laps for StoryWalks
Colorful pictures, entertaining text and fresh air will converge to engage Lower Valley families through a year-long series of StoryWalks. Hosted by Sharpsburg Community Library and Cooper-Siegel Community Library, the walks are scheduled to begin later this month and run through November. “Families will be able to walk and read...
Rescue 14 EMS in Adamsburg to close, merge with Greensburg-based Mutual Aid
Rescue 14 EMS in Adamsburg will close this year as part of the station’s merger with Greensburg-based Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. According to a joint release from both entities, Rescue 14, which covers the western side of Hempfield as well as Adamsburg and Arona boroughs, will cease operations no later...
Beaver Falls bakery Oram’s tabbed for best doughnuts in the state
Never heard of Oram’s Donut Shop, you say? If you love doughnuts, you might want to acquaint yourself with it. The Beaver Falls bakery, which somehow often finds itself excluded from “best of” lists, landed on Food and Wine’s “The Best Doughnuts in Every State” rankings that were released Friday....
Hempfield man accused of impersonating police, threatening staff at driver licensing center
A Hempfield man is behind bars after investigators said he claimed to be a policeman and threatened to shoot workers at a Jeannette driver licensing center, according to court papers. William D. Faltz IV, 31, is charged with terroristic threats, impersonating a public servant, simple assault and disorderly conduct. City...
Keystone Oaks students return to classes this week as teachers’ strike ends
Classes in Keystone Oaks School District will resume Wednesday following a teachers’ strike, the district announced. The date when students and teachers must return was revised after the state Department of Education reviewed the district’s calendar. The department determined that the Keystone Oaks Education Association strike can last up to...
Covid cases temporarily close 2 Hempfield elementary schools
Two Hempfield Area elementary schools are closed Monday because of positive covid-19 cases, district officials said. Fort Allen and West Hempfield elementary schools shuttered after cases were reported among staff and students, according to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. District leaders announced Fort Allen’s closure Friday after an additional student tested positive...
In brief: Art center winter show, ashes to go, summer jobs, church dinner and more in Hampton
The annual Winter Show at the North Hills Art Center runs through Feb. 26 and will include a “virtual” display of pieces for people who want to avoid in-person gatherings. The show titled “Where Love Dwells” benefits the nonprofit group Hello Neighbor, which helps refugee families with children settle in...
News briefs: Local students earn college dean’s list honors, libraries offer pickup services and more
Dean’s list students recognized Several Westminster College students from Plum were among the 462 students on the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester. Students include Allyson Drake in pschology and sociology, Noah Sofran in accounting, Abbegail Froehlich in early childhood and special educaiton and Katherine Mozelewski in neuroscience. Westminster...
News briefs: Fish fries on tap at neighboring Monroeville church
The Church of the Resurrection at 455 Center Road in Monroeville will host Lenten fish fries on Feb. 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19 and 26. It is drive-thru only with a single menu item, a fish dinner with a sandwich, fries and coleslaw. The cost is $10. Hours of...
News briefs: Youth Legion tryouts slated for Monroeville, Pitcairn baseball players
The Monroeville Baseball Association will hold tryouts for its Youth Legion team for any Monroeville or Pitcairn resident born between 2005 and 2008 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on March 6 and 13 at the Gateway High School gymnasium, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd. Questions can be forwarded to Coach Matt...
News briefs: Story walk, brush collection, book club and more on tap
The Cooper-Siegel Community Library will host a story walk Feb. 15 that celebrates Black History Month. It will be during daylight hours in the library’s Welcome Garden. Guests can take a self-guided walk that features Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson’s award-winning book “The Undefeated.” No registration is necessary but guests...
