Western PA Local News category, Page 2205
Casey wants consequences for Congress members as pressure mounts to oust Trump
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey called Monday for the impeachment of Donald Trump and consequences for members of Congress “who led the effort to overthrow a democratic election.” “If they refuse to resign their office, then Congress should begin to explore censure or expulsion,” Casey, D-Scranton, said in a statement provided...
Carnegie Museum researchers find 1st dinosaur atop nest with unhatched babies
A multinational team including three Carnegie Museum of Natural History researchers announced a first for the world of paleontology: a dinosaur preserved sitting atop a nest of its own eggs that include fossilized babies inside. The fossil consists of an incomplete skeleton of a large, adult oviraptorid crouched in a...
Shaler man who vandalized Pittsburgh police car seeks probation
The Shaler man who pleaded guilty to initiating the destruction of a Pittsburgh police car in May during riots over the death of George Floyd is asking for probation when he is sentenced later this month. The attorney for Brian Bartels said in a sentencing memorandum filed Monday that his...
Donations sought to leverage grant for 9/11 National Memorial Trail
A $100,000 foundation grant could help planners move forward with development of the 9/11 National Memorial Trail. First, they’ll have to collect half that amount in other matching donations. The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance wants to raise $50,000 by June 30, to leverage the challenge grant offered by...
Coronavirus case found at South Fayette intermediate, school to remain open
A person in the South Fayette School District intermediate school who was at the campus on Friday tested positive for coronavirus. The school will remain open. The person, who was not identified, has been following isolation protocols outlined by the Allegheny County Health Department and close contacts have been notified,...
Judge expects decision on Tuesday in Ziccarelli-Brewster race
The federal judge considering the challenge to Pennsylvania’s 45th District Senate seat said a ruling on the matter will come Tuesday. U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan said over the weekend that his order on the challenge by Nicole Ziccarelli against the state and Allegheny County for counting undated mail-in...
Pittsburgh legal experts weigh in on Trump’s Twitter ban
With President Trump banned from Twitter and Facebook, he’s lost a favored platform. But the ban also brings into focus questions about how social media giants should be policed and regulated. In the statement that accompanied Twitter’s ban of Trump on Friday, the company said the bloody assault on the...
Pittsburgh rapper Frzy featured on Eat’n Park Smiley cookie
As a little boy, Harvey Daniels’ parents, Brenda and Harvey Daniels, would take him to Eat’n Park in Squirrel Hill. He ordered his favorite — the Mile High Meatloaf — but it was the end of the meal he couldn’t leave without having. “Since I was a kid, I always...
Hyde Park man challenges murder charges in wife’s fatal beating
The lawyer for a Hyde Park man accused of the fatal beating of his estranged wife told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday there is insufficient evidence to support murder charges. Jeffrey Fondrk, 58, was charged with criminal homicide days after his wife, Patricia, was beaten to death in July...
Woodland Hills considering hybrid plans for students, sends surveys to families
Woodland Hills School District is considering several approaches to bringing students back into the classroom, Superintendent James Harris said Monday. The district, which serves about 5,000 students, sent surveys to families Monday afternoon to gauge how comfortable parents would be with in-person learning. The survey includes questions about the number...
Greensburg man pleads guilty to girlfriend’s drug overdose death
A Greensburg man pleaded guilty Monday to providing the drugs that killed his longtime girlfriend at her Hempfield home in 2019. Stephanie Rae Johnson, 34, died March 19, 2019, after consuming fentanyl-laced heroin police said she got from her boyfriend, Christopher Patrick Showalter. Showalter pleaded guilty to a felony count...
After weeklong closure for ignoring covid restrictions, Tin Lizzy bar set to reopen
After a weeklong shutdown for defying Gov. Tom Wolf’s temporary restrictions on indoor dining during a surge in covid cases, the Tin Lizzy Tap Room and Restaurant in Youngstown will reopen 7 a.m. Tuesday. “A trooper from liquor control was in here (Monday) and gave us the OK to reopen,”...
Gov. Wolf offers support for FNB project at Civic Arena site
Gov. Tom Wolf is supporting a $1 billion project to redevelop the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District. On Monday, he encouraged the groups behind the project to seek more state funding. The Pittsburgh Penguins are leading the redevelopment of the 28-acre site that will be anchored...
Highmark appoints new Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Highmark Health has named Robert James its new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. James has been with Highmark since 2015 when he was hired as supplier diversity director. In his new position, he will inform and implement Highmark Health’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy said Larry Kleinman, Highmark Health Chief...
Excela Health seeing fewer covid hospitalizations, though number remains high
Hospitalizations of covid patients at Excela Health appear to have leveled off, but the overall total number still remains high, according to Dr. Carol Fox, its chief medical officer. For most of the past few weeks, the number of covid patients hospitalized in Westmoreland County has hovered between 160 and...
Redstone Highlands’ Greensburg staffers, residents get covid vaccines; about half of Pa. nursing homes have been treatedVideo
Karen Stock’s 40-year tenure at Redstone Highlands’ Greensburg campus got her an edge Monday — she was the first to get an initial immunization against the coronavirus. The activity supervisor said she decided to get vaccinated to protect her husband and those who are cared for there. “Our residents are...
Freshman North Hills lawmaker Mercuri vows to continue fight to privatize state liquor stores
Freshman state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, has been assigned to serve on four House standing committees for the 2021-22 legislative session. One of those assignments — a seat on the Liquor Control Committee — will allow the new lawmaker to continue his predecessor’s efforts to end the state’s liquor store...
State police accuse East Huntingdon woman of abusing 5-year-old girl
An East Huntingdon woman is accused of seriously injuring a 5-year-old girl last month, according to state police. Shelbi Lee Richter, 28, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault on a victim less than six-years-old, child endangerment and simple assault filed by state police in connection with the alleged Dec....
Cupid’s Chase charity race in Latrobe adds virtual option
The annual Cupid’s Chase charity race that benefits people with special needs is set for Feb. 13, beginning at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. This year’s event also will have a virtual option, as organizers hope to draw more participants during the covid-19 pandemic. Last year’s foot race attracted about 75 participants....
Washington Township store sells winning $195,000 Cash 5 ticket
A winning Cash 5 ticket was sold at a Washington Township store, officials with the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Monday. The winner, who purchased the ticket at Thomas’ General Store along Saltsburg Road, will take home $195,000. The ticket was one of two that won the $390,000 jackpot. The other winning...
Efforts underway to make Aspinwall library/community center accessible ‘for all’
With its tree-lined streets and walkable neighborhood, Aspinwall could benefit from a community center that offers game nights, book-borrowing, gardening and a café. That’s according to residents Amy and Christian Lima who are spearheading a nonprofit effort to open the Aspinwall Library — the name of which belies the variety...
Leechburg property taxes to go up by less than 1% this year
Homeowners in Leechburg will pay a slight increase in their property tax this year. Leechburg Council passed a $1.2 million budget for 2021 that includes a property tax hike of less than 1%. The new tax rate is 22.5 mills, which is a slight increase from last year’s rate of...
Westmoreland County adds 400 more covid cases in past 2 days
Another 404 cases of coronavirus were added to Westmoreland County’s total over the past two days, according to a Monday report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Officials said 231 cases were added Sunday and another 173 added Monday. Of the new cases, 315 cases were confirmed through 817 PCR...
Allegheny County’s covid count up nearly 900 in 2 days
Allegheny County saw another 887 cases of covid-19 over the past two days, according to a report Monday from the county’s Department of Health. The county reported 519 were added Sunday and another 368 on Monday, pushing the total to 61,075 cases to date. Of those new cases, 765 were...
Port Authority driver pleads guilty to crash that killed Pitt student
A Port Authority bus driver who struck a Pitt student last year in Oakland pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter. Shavonne James, 34, will serve three years probation. She also pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly endangering another person. According to Deputy District Attorney Stephie Ramaley, James was driving...
