Local category, Page 2172
New Kensington’s proposed budget includes no tax increase
New Kensington Council has approved a preliminary budget for next year that includes no increase in property taxes. Council voted 4-1 Monday to approve the first reading of next year’s $8.16 million budget, up from $8.12 million this year. The property tax rate would remain unchanged at 32.03 mills. After...
Populations continue to decline in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties
As populations across Pennsylvania increased over the past 10 years, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have seen the opposite effect. New data from the American Community Survey shows that from 2010-19, Westmoreland County lost more than 16,000 people with the population of Allegheny County dropping by about 7,500. Those numbers aren’t...
Westmoreland County preps for vaccine distribution, which could begin Friday
Westmoreland County officials said Tuesday that plans have been formulated to vaccinate nursing home patients and staff and first responders once they are notified that doses are available to distribute locally. Distribution of about 97,500 vaccine doses in Pennsylvania started this week, and the first could arrive in the county...
Leetsdale company fined for environmental crimes
A Leetsdale copper processing company will spend three years on probation and pay $550,000 in fines for multiple violations of the Clean Water Act and other counts after pleading guilty on Tuesday in federal court. Hussey Copper, which waived indictment by a grand jury, instead pleaded to the information filed...
Allegheny County announces new initiatives to combat youth homelessness
The Department of Human Services is spearheading new initiatives to support young adults ages 18 through 24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, officials announced Thursday. DHS is implementing four new projects that aim to increase housing security for unaccompanied transitioned age youth, couples and young families throughout...
McCandless OKs list of firefighters eligible for income-tax credit
McCandless council has approved a list of residents belonging to its three volunteer fire departments who are eligible to receive a $500 credit next year on the earned income tax they pay to the town. Council also is considering extending the tax credit program it established in 2017 to emergency...
Brentwood sells its sanitary sewer system for $19.2 million to PA American Water
Brentwood Borough officials wrapped up a yearlong deal Dec. 7 when they sold its sanitary sewer system for $19.2 million to a separate utility company. Brentwood’s roughly 4,500 customers will now be served by Pennsylvania America Water. The sewer authority, which only owns the pipes that carry the sewage to...
Man accused by troopers of threatening girls in Unity with sledgehammer
A 37-year-old Allegheny County man is accused of breaking into a Unity woman’s home Monday and threatening two 12-year-old girls inside with a sledgehammer, state police said. Keith D. Wilk of Scott Township was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, making terroristic threats and resisting arrest. Troopers said the...
Westmoreland’s Torrance psychiatric hospital can’t recruit enough workers, jeopardizing funding
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A state-run psychiatric hospital with a long history of struggling to employ enough workers is now so short-staffed that...
Leetsdale holds line on taxes in 2021 spending plan
Leetsdale council held the line on property taxes and reduced another tax when it ratified the borough’s spending plan for 2021. The borough projects its revenue to come in at $2.6 million, a surplus of $126,000 when compared to its $2.4 million projection in expenditures. Council president Wesley James said...
East Deer Commissioners approve 35% water rate increase for 2021
East Deer residents and businesses will pay 35% more for water next year because Tarentum increased what it charges the township for bulk water. The new rates, approved by township commissioners, will take effect Jan. 1. The average East Deer homeowner will pay $13.50 for the first 1,500 gallons, an...
Masks, social distancing can’t stop the fun of Westmoreland Shop With A CopVideo
The smiles were evident Tuesday even behind the protective masks worn by young shoppers and their chaperones — police officers — at the Westmoreland County Shop With a Cop event at the Walmart in East Huntingdon. “This is by far my favorite day of the year,” said veteran Westmoreland sheriff’s...
St. Emma Monastery celebrates Christmas with outdoor light display in Hempfield
The sisters of St. Emma Monastery will not let the trials of 2020 take away their Christmas spirit. “Christ is stronger than covid,” said Mother Mary Anne Noll, prioress of the Benedictine women’s monastery in Hempfield. “Covid does not overcome Christmas, it only makes us more creative in the ways...
Excela recognized for efforts focusing on workplace wellness
For the ninth consecutive year, Excela Health has been recognized among the Healthiest Employers in Western Pennsylvania, and for the fifth year in a row named a Healthiest 100 Workplace in America, in an awards program presented by Healthiest Employer. The Healthiest Employer awards program, powered by Springbuk, was created...
Lawsuits contend Gov. Wolf has no authority to issue new restrictions
A Butler County attorney who previously won a federal lawsuit against the Wolf administration over the spring covid-19 shutdown orders filed two new suits over the governor’s most recent orders. The lawsuits — one filed by the Butler Area School District and the other by two indoor water parks —...
More than 30% of Westmoreland County covid cases, deaths have come in December
December continues to become the worst month of the pandemic statistically in Westmoreland County. With Tuesday’s new reported covid cases and deaths, there have been 5,541 cases and 105 deaths reported so far this month. The December figures make up 37% and 34% of totals, respectively. There were 542 new...
Landmark Unity farmhouse opens as home furnishings storeVideo
A landmark of Westmoreland County’s farming tradition is entering a new chapter as a home furnishings store. Just in time for Christmas shopping and, unfortunately, new pandemic-related restrictions on retailers, Frye Farm Place had a soft opening last week on Frye Farm Road in Unity. Operated by Unity residents Dave...
Pittsburgh International Airport to offer on-site covid-19 testing
Travelers passing through Pittsburgh International Airport can soon opt to pay for a covid-19 test before or after their flight, joining airports worldwide now offering the tests to passengers, according to airport officials. Testing will be voluntary for ticketed passengers and available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to...
‘The Pavilion at Star Lake’ concert venue in Burgettstown goes back in time
The name has been changed several times, but some people have always called it by its first name. And now they can again. Tribune-Review News Partner WPXI-TV reported that the concert space in Burgettstown is returning to its roots. The venue’s Facebook page said it is now being called “The...
Covid numbers tallied for Penn-Trafford area
The state Department of Health reports there have been 1,067 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Penn-Trafford area since the start of the pandemic in March. The department on Monday released data on confirmed cases of the virus in the six Penn-Trafford area ZIP codes, showing an increase of 549...
Allegheny County reports more than 1,000 new covid cases for 6th time this month
Allegheny County reported 1,059 new covid cases Tuesday, marking the sixth time 1,000 or more cases have been announced by the county 15 days into December. There were 10 new coronavirus-related deaths reported, as well. Total cases and total deaths in the county are now 41,933 and 675, respectively. There...
Pittsburgh Irish Festival instrumental in the virtual ‘An Irish Christmas Concert’
Go green on Wednesday. At 8 p.m. the Association of Irish and Celtic Festivals will host “An Irish Christmas Concert,” with support from the Embassy of Ireland and Irish festivals in the U.S., including the Pittsburgh Irish Festival. The virtual performance will be a livestream event of seven acts from...
Blawnox holds line on taxes; suspends road paving in 2021
Blawnox residents will pay the same real estate taxes to the borough in 2021 but revenue loss related to covid-19 will suspend road improvements in the new year. Council approved the borough’s $2.6 million budget on Dec. 10, keeping the property tax rate at 9.85 mills. The owner of a...
Ross budget keeps property tax rate the same for 6th consecutive year
In June, Ross Township commissioners reopened this year’s budget to trim $2.1 million in spending to deal with an expected loss in revenue from the statewide shutdown order to slow the spread of coronavirus. Next year’s spending plan is about the same as this year’s original budget but is balanced...
Winter storm could bring up to 9 inches of snow; PennDOT, Turnpike Commission enact restrictions
Ahead of the major snow storm expected to dump as much as 9 inches across the region today, PennDOT is advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission enacted restrictions that begin at 1 p.m. on several portions of the toll road, as well as other highways that...
