Local category, Page 2198
Hampton woman’s debut dark-fantasy novel takes readers on journey to magical world
Mayté Losada has always had a dark side yearning to break free from the confines of life in the modern world. Enthralled as a child by the vivid “other” worlds depicted in Greek mythology, the Harry Potter novels and later, Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, the Hampton Township woman...
Hazard pay approved for Westmoreland election workers
Employees at the Westmoreland County Elections Bureau and others who helped with the election this month are set to get about a month’s worth of hazard pay. The county commissioners on Tuesday approved the move that will be effective for 65 employees from Oct. 28 to Monday. Bureau director JoAnn...
Police log: Monroeville police charges filed Nov. 17, 19
Monroeville police filed the following charges Nov. 17 and 19 with District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst. Charges were filed by Monroeville police: • Judith Cremone, 54, of Turtle Creek with retail theft. The charge was filed Nov. 17 in connection with an incident along the 4200 block of William Penn...
Westmoreland plans $345M budget for 2021 without increasing taxes
Westmoreland County commissioners still have to go through each line item in the proposed 2021 budget, but it doesn’t appear they will seek more revenue from property owners. “There is no tax increase,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said. The board on Tuesday approved a $345 million preliminary spending plan. Finance director...
Food Podcast: The Black and Gold Book of Gratitude to fight hunger
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Citrone 33 Foundation have announced a fundraising collaborative supporting the food bank’s mission to eliminate hunger. A family foundation, Citrone 33 is a strategic collective that focuses on philanthropy through thoughtful investing and social movements. Through the Embrace Pittsburgh initiative, supported by the...
Turkey-trot fundraisers challenged by pandemic
Turkey-trot fundraisers across the region are being slowed down this year by the covid-19 pandemic, which is reducing participation and forcing many of the events to go virtual. The 29th annual Greensburg Turkey Trot has 235 runners and walkers signed up for this year’s virtual event, down from more than...
Monroeville’s Divine Mercy Academy closes for 2 weeks after 3 test positive for covid-19
A Catholic school in Monroeville will move to remote learning for two weeks after learning three people there have tested positive for covid-19. Divine Mercy Academy, located on Azalea Drive, announced the changes in a Monday news release. The move became effective Nov. 24. Students will return to in-person learning...
Discovery of human bones at demolition site in West Newton ‘not suspicious’
A discovery of suspected human bones in a house being demolished in West Newton early Tuesday drew a myriad of investigators, though it was soon determined there was no crime involved. “There’s nothing suspicious and no foul play is suspected,” Westmoreland County Chief Deputy Coroner Kirk E. Nolan said of...
Ziccarelli asks Pa. Supreme Court to reconsider decision to count undated Allegheny County ballots
The Republican challenger in the 45th Senatorial District that includes parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties has asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider its Monday order allowing undated mail-in ballots to be counted. Nicole Ziccarelli, of Lower Burrell, filed an emergency application for reargument Tuesday morning. She is running...
Shaler Assistant Superintendent named leader of state education group
Shaler Area Assistant Supertintendent Bryan O’Black has added a new title. He was named president-elect of the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD), a professional organization committed to the improvement of instruction. “It truly is a honor to be elected,” O’Black said. “Our mission and purpose has never...
Westmoreland County sets records for 3 covid-19 statistics
Westmoreland County set highs for three covid-19 statistics Tuesday. Seven-day total cases (1,465) and seven-day total deaths (36) are both records. The seven-day average of new daily cases (209) is also a record. Westmoreland County coronavirus by dayInfogram There were 240 new covid-19 cases and five new deaths reported Tuesday...
Penn Township man charged with assaulting girlfriend during argument
A Penn Township man accused of knocking his girlfriend to the floor and repeatedly hitting her during an argument was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 bond. Bryan W. O’Malley, 38, was arrested early Saturday by township police on charges of harassment and simple assault after the...
Pennsylvania certifies election; Biden wins by 80K votes
President-elect Joe Biden has been certified the winner of Pennsylvania’s Nov. 3 election. Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and Gov. Tom Wolf signed and certified the election results Tuesday morning, a day after all 67 counties certified their respective results. The certification ends a three-week process and awards the state’s...
Allegheny County reports 1st child death from covid-19, new record 7-day case total
Allegheny County set records Tuesday for seven-day total of new covid-19 cases and seven-day average of new cases. From Nov. 18 to Tuesday, 3,810 cases of coronavirus were reported, beating the previous record (3,671) by 139 cases. Over that same span, the average daily cases reported was 544. Allegheny County...
Assault, drug charges among those recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted: Held for court • Rufus Gray, 30, of Pittsburgh on charges of aggravated assault, making terroristic threats,...
DUI, ID theft cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted: Waived preliminary hearings • Bonny Miller, 24, of Bethel Park on charges of driving under the...
Few dozen on hand for grand opening of Live! Casino at Westmoreland MallVideo
About 30 people lined up at Westmoreland Mall early Tuesday morning, excited to be some of the first to experience the grand opening of Live! Casino Pittsburgh. “I just wanted to be here to check it out and see what’s going on,” said Richard Feleppa, 61, of New Stanton, who...
DUI cases among those recently handled in Judge Zucco’s Plum court
Plum District Court Judge Linda Zucco handled these cases recently in her courtroom. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Plum police: Waived preliminary hearings • Carmen Namie, 33, of Rostraver on charges of driving under the influence and...
Lawmaker proposes renaming I-279 interchange in honor of man killed while fixing flat
A state lawmaker has introduced a measure to rename an interchange along the Parkway North in honor of a man who was struck and killed in 2017 by a distracted driver as he was changing a tire. “Three years ago, Scott Hirsh did everything he was supposed to when tending...
Jefferson Hills hopes to hold the line on real estate taxes, sewage and garbage rates
Jefferson Hills officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with next year’s budget. Council approved its preliminary spending plan in November with a goal of formal adoption at its Dec. 14 meeting. The millage rate is projected to remain at 5.66 mills. Sewage and garbage collection rates...
Head to Greensburg for Small Business Saturday, play bingo, win prizes
Downtown Greensburg businesses are offering shoppers a chance to get more bang for their bucks on Saturday. As part of Small Business Saturday, 21 participating merchants will offer shoppers Small Business Saturday Bingo cards to fill out for a chance to win prizes. To play, shoppers take their cards along...
Trespassing, DUIs, drug charges among those recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Joseph M. Hart, 37, of Monroeville on charges of receiving stolen property, unauthorized...
DUI, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police. Waived preliminary hearings • Mario Fiori, 23, of Verona on charges of driving under the influence, obstruction of highways...
Man arrested without incident after SWAT called to domestic dispute in Crafton Heights
A man was arrested without incident early Tuesday after police say he forcibly took a woman inside their home during a domestic dispute. Pittsburgh police officers and SWAT operators responded to the 2700 block of Middletown Road in Crafton Heights around 3:30 a.m. Upon arrival, officials said they learned the...
3 juveniles in custody following carjacking in Fineview
Three juveniles were taken into custody early Tuesday after police say they were connected to an armed carjacking in Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood. Pittsburgh police said a vehicle was stolen in the 1700 block of Belleau Drive around 5 p.m. Monday. Just before 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, officers spotted the vehicle on...
