Western PA Local News category, Page 2199
$2.2 billion to be allocated to school districts, charter schools across Pennsylvania
Additional federal money is being allocated to school districts across the state to help with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday said he is dedicating $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to K-12 school districts and charter schools. The money can be used to support...
Police: Penn Hills man shot outside his homeVideo
A Penn Hills man was shot outside his home early Friday morning. Police said the shooting occurred shortly before 12:20 a.m. along the 400 block of Hamil Road near New Life Community Ministries Church. Police Chief Howard Burton said the victim initially refused medical treatment, but was eventually taken to...
Pittsburgh City-County Building closed for Inauguration Day out of ‘overabundance of caution’
Offices in the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh will be closed Wednesday out of an “overabundance of caution” as rumors persist regarding potential unrest on Inauguration Day. In a letter to city employees Thursday, Mayor Bill Peduto said those who normally work in the Grant Street building should work from...
Westmoreland County Democrats flock to the GOP in week of D.C. riot, bucking Pa. trend
Nowhere else in Pennsylvania saw more Democratic voters switch their party allegiances to Republican than in Westmoreland County during the first week of January. From Jan. 4 through Jan. 11, there were 189 registered Democrats who became members of the GOP, according to figures from the Pennsylvania Department of State....
Jeannette cryogenic plant to be fully operational by summer
Construction of Elliott Group’s $60 million cryogenic pump test stand is on schedule and is expected to be completed this spring, according to spokeswoman Christy Bash. The facility should be in full operation this summer, she said. Crews have been working through the winter at the former site of the...
Freeport Area School District grades 6-12 to return to class full time, Buffalo Elementary on alert
Freeport Area School District students grades 6-12 will return to the classroom full time, despite warnings that one of the district’s school buildings may be forced to temporarily close after a covid-19 exposure. Beginning next week, middle and high school students will return to the classroom four days a week,...
Penn Hills Anti-Litter Group offers certificate to those keeping businesses clean, tidy
An anti-litter group in Penn Hills is now handing out certificates to businesses that clean up after themselves and keep things looking neat. Faith Milazzo, founder of Penn Hills Anti-Litter Group, said the Clean Sweep Initiative is a “casual” way of affirming local business owners in the fight against litter....
Retired Indiana Area School District teacher accused of assaulting teen
A former Indiana Area School District teacher was arrested Thursday on charges he sexually assaulted a teenager on multiple occasions beginning in 2009. Indiana Borough Police Chief Justin Schawl said officers, working with the district attorney’s office, filed charges of corruption of minors, indecent assault on a person under 16...
Seeking 3rd term during pandemic, Peduto says ‘there’s still a lot of work to do’
As he launches his campaign to seek a third term in office, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto isn’t kissing babies, shaking hands or doing any of the usual things associated with a politician. Instead, on Thursday he shared a recorded interview with supporters on Facebook. On Friday, he began a series...
Netflix seeks background actors for upcoming show shoot in Pittsburgh
Netflix is looking for college-age students in Pittsburgh to be background actors for the upcoming filming of “The Chair.” The six-episode dramedy, written by executive producer and showrunner Amanda Peet, will star Golden Globe-winner Sandra Oh of “Killing Eve” and Emmy-winner Jay Duplass from “Transparent.” The Pittsburgh Film Office said...
Winter lantern festival resounding success for Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy
A glittering field of more than 500 lanterns sent a simple but solid message by the new Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy trying to raise awareness of the borough’s vast green space. “These are the community’s parks,” Councilwoman and Conservancy co-founder Mandy Steele said of the Jan. 8 event at McCahill...
Fox Chapel Area weighing increased in-person instruction for high school, Dorseyville Middle School
Fox Chapel Area School District officials said a decision to increase in-person class time for middle and high school students could come in early February. Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac said there’s been no alternate guidance from the state regarding older students, despite last week’s recommendation by health and education experts...
Hempfield hit-and-run victim gives police photo of alleged driver, leads to arrest
As Eugene Hunter was being wheeled to an ambulance on a gurney Thursday afternoon, he handed state police a cellphone he said contained a photo of the driver who ran him down in a Hempfield parking lot. Trooper Tristan Tappe reported in court documents that the photograph, taken moments before...
Westmoreland County reports fewest new coronavirus cases in about 2 weeks
Westmoreland County on Friday reported 153 additional cases of covid-19, the fewest in nearly two weeks. That dropped the seven-day case average to 217, the lowest since New Year’s Day. Of the new cases, 101 were confirmed from 457 PCR tests while 52 were listed as probable by the Pennsylvania...
Rotary club project to recognize Verona, Oakmont families with American flags
The Rotary Club of Oakmont-Verona plans to give residents of the twin boroughs an opportunity to commend or remember others with a bevy of American flags. “It’s a way to honor the people of the community and brings recognition to the community,” said Rotary past president Don Stoner. “It helps...
Allegheny County sees downward trend in coronavirus cases
Allegheny County on Friday reported 420 additional cases of covid-19, dropping its seven-day average to 574 cases. That is the lowest since the county averaged 558 cases in late November. Of the new cases, 321 were confirmed via 1,714 new PCR tests while 99 were listed as probable, the county...
Free mobile covid testing site coming to North Park Swimming Pool
A mobile testing site to provide free coronavirus screenings will be set up in the parking lot of the North Park Swimming Pool from 1 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 21. The screenings are being done by Curative, a California-based company that has set up testing sites at more than...
Reward offered for information in fatal hit-and-run on Pennsylvania Turnpike
A reward is being offered by Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County this month. A female pedestrian was killed Jan. 4 after being hit by a vehicle just before the Somerset exit, troopers...
Family of former Steelers lineman files wrongful death suit against McKeesport nursing home
The family of a former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman is suing a McKeesport nursing home, alleging negligence and wrongful death. Samuel R. Davis was 75 when he died on Sept. 10, 2019. His body was found at the bottom of a set of private stairs at New Life Personal Care...
Security upgrades coming to Westmoreland government buildings
Security at Westmoreland County government facilities will be tightened as part of a $2.4 million project approved Thursday. Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Dagostino Electronic Services of Homestead to install new systems that consolidate cameras and other security features at the courthouse complex in Greensburg, Westmoreland Manor, the county...
Monessen extends protections to LGBTQ community
Monessen city officials have extended protections to members of the LGBTQ community through a nondiscrimination ordinance. The action, which council passed unanimously this week, forbids discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Protections previously were based on race, gender and religion. “Monessen’s a...
1st gun of 2021 caught at Pittsburgh International Airport checkpointVideo
Another year, another traveler forgetting to remove a gun from a carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport. Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport stopped a Beaver County woman Thursday morning with a small, foldout .22-caliber handgun in her bag, according to Allegheny County Police and TSA officials. Security officials...
Allegheny Valley School District returning to hybrid learning next week
Allegheny Valley School Board voted unanimously this week to have students return to hybrid instruction starting Tuesday. Under the plan, students in grades K-12 will be divided into two groups — with one group attending in-person classes on Mondays and Thursdays and a second group attending in-person on Tuesdays and...
Springdale Township adopts budget with no new taxes
The Springdale Township Commissioners adopted a budget of nearly $1.5 million for this year that includes no increase in property taxes. The budget, which passed 5-0, keeps the tax rate at 6.5 mills. At that rate, the owner of a property assessed at $75,000, the township’s average property value, will...
Marshall supervisors reappoint chair, vice chair; fill committee and board seats
The chairman and vice-chairman of Marshall’s five-member board of supervisors were both re-elected to one-year terms during the township’s annual reorganization meeting. Thomas Madigan was elected unanimously. No other supervisors were nominated for the position. Also receiving a unanimous vote at the Jan. 4 meeting to serve again as vice...
