Western PA Local News category, Page 2215
Former jail warden hired to consult in pending legal issues
Former Westmoreland County Prison Warden John Walton could earn nearly $51,000 this year to testify in pending lawsuits and other court hearings under a contract approved by the county’s salary board. Walton resigned in October after serving 18 years as the jail’s top administrator. Commissioners Doug Chew and Gina Cerilli...
Covid numbers tallied for Murrysville-Export-Delmont area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 933 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those, 50 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP codes that...
Delmont neighborhood’s decorating fundraiser nets more than $15K for library, Project Bundle UpVideo
After the first night of their holiday decorating fundraiser — one that jammed up traffic along Route 66 for hours last month — the residents of Delmont’s Monticello neighborhood started texting one another to see how the night went. “The sheer total of cars let us know (the total) was...
Unity ponders bond issue for infrastructure, recreation upgrades
Unity’s supervisors are considering what could be the township’s first-ever bond issue to help finance infrastructure and recreational upgrades. Supervisor Michael O’Barto stressed that township officials, at this point, are just looking into the feasibility of issuing one or more series of tax-exempt bonds. At their reorganization meeting on Monday,...
Pennsylvania’s December revenue more than anticipated
Pennsylvania collected more revenue in December — and in 2020, as a whole — than the state had originally anticipated, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell reported Monday. The state collected $3.7 billion in the General Fund in December, which was $465.8 million, or 14.5%, more than what was expected. Overall, $18.5...
Wife, attorney await word on inmate’s condition after fall at Allegheny County Jail
A week ago, Antoinette Yates got word that her husband, who is awaiting sentencing at the Allegheny County Jail, fell off the second tier on pod 2C. Witnesses who were conducting video visits with their loved ones on the pod saw Robert Yates fall on Dec. 28. Since then, Antoinette...
State police: Pittsburgh man suspected of DUI tried to hide marijuana blunt in his crotch
A Pittsburgh man accused of illegally having two loaded guns – one of them stolen – in a car he was driving Sunday in East Deer stuffed a marijuana blunt down his pants when he was pulled over by state troopers, police said. Police said they pulled over a car...
Uncounted ballots discovered among Westmoreland County voting equipment
Westmoreland County elections officials disclosed Monday that 21 uncounted provisional ballots submitted at a North Huntingdon voting precinct on Election Day were discovered last week among computer equipment used at the polls in November. Elections bureau staffers found the unopened ballots during a routine inspection of voting machines stored at...
Penguins add PPG logo to helmets
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Monday that PPG will display its logo on all players’ helmets for the 2021 season. It makes PPG the first sponsor to have its logo appear on Penguins game equipment. As part of PPG’s naming rights sponsorship with the Penguins, all players’ helmets will bear the...
State lottery open for rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon
Whiskey lovers, now is your chance to get your hands on the biggest name in bourbon — but you’ll need plenty of luck to grab a bottle. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board opened the annual lottery for Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery’s bourbons and rye whiskey. The most coveted release...
Pittsburgh officials look to improve snow removal plans
The next time it snows, Pittsburgh’s public works employees will be more prepared to keep the city’s streets clear, officials announced Monday. The White Christmas, or at least its aftermath, left some city residents seeing red after they failed to spot a plow or salt truck for two days in...
Allegheny County adds new vaccine distribution location for priority populations
The Allegheny County Health Department on Monday announced a new distribution location for covid-19 vaccines, and the county is expected to release the first version of its distribution plan on Wednesday. The new Point of Distribution (POD) will be for health care organizations and facilities in the Phase 1A category,...
Neighbors, friends show signs of support for the late Rep. Mike Reese
Mike Reese was thrilled that his small Mt. Pleasant Township community supported his goal of serving in the Legislature. During his initial run for office in 2008, the village of Brinkerton was full of his campaign signs. “The first time he went through, he thought that was so cool that...
Pittsburgh named a ‘reforestation hub’ by startup that aims to use, plant urban trees
Pittsburgh will be going greener this year. The Steel City is one of four cities across the country selected to receive an assessment about how it can be reforested. A national startup, Cambium Carbon, is leading the effort. The company launched last year and has lines of products made from...
Assault complaints withdrawn against Unity man
Simple assault and related charges filed last year against a Unity man have been withdrawn prior to a scheduled preliminary hearing. Aaron M. Klingensmith, 37, was arrested by state police after an alleged incident at his home June 30 on Bethel Church Road. Klingensmith had denied the allegations. According to...
News briefs: Tree recycling, book clubs, Catholic school open house and more
Residents can recycle their Christmas trees at Hartwood Acres through Jan. 14. Dropoff is is the mansion parking lot. The Allegheny County Parks Department started its program Dec. 26 and offers collection from 8 a.m. until dusk. All lights, decorations, tinsel and stands must be removed. Trees will be mulched...
Westmoreland commissioners extend courthouse restrictions
Most services at the Westmoreland County Courthouse will continue to operate by appointment as coronavirus cases continue to surge. County commissioners announced Monday that modified operations, originally set to expire earlier today, will remain in place indefinitely. “The cases aren’t slowing down,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli. She returned to the...
Monroeville water, sewer rates to increase Jan. 10
Monroeville’s water and sewer rates are increasing in 2021. The 7% increase to customers’ sewer bills and the 5% increase to water bills will take effect Jan. 10, according to a news release posted Dec. 28 on the Monroeville Municipal Authority’s website. The current sewer rate is $12.75 per 1,000...
Sleep interruptions warranted $35K in back pay for ambulance workers, feds say
A private ambulance service based in Jefferson Hills that has stations in Clairton and Elizabeth has paid more than $35,000 in back wages to 12 employees after violating federal labor laws, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday. Investigators with the department’s Wages and Hour Division found that 12 employees...
Section of Valencia Road in Richland closing to all traffic for 2 weeks
A 1.2 mile stretch of Valencia Road in Richland will be closed to all traffic for two weeks starting on Tuesday. The road will be closed around-the-clock in both directions between Chessrown and Dambach avenues for the repair work, according to the transportation agency. The project involves slide repairs between...
Westmoreland County reaches 20K covid-19 case mark
Westmoreland County reached a grim milestone on Monday, with the announcement it has now surpassed 20,000 cases of the coronavirus. With 359 more covid-19 cases over the past two days, health officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Westmoreland County has now amassed a total of 20,165 cases in...
Feds involved in Pittsburgh explosion investigation, firework suspected in Hill District blast
Federal authorities are involved in the investigation into separate explosions Sunday night in two Pittsburgh neighborhoods, authorities said. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will assist in investigating an explosion caused by an improvised bomb in Lawrenceville and a...
Troopers accuse Unity man of screwing doors shut to keep woman from fleeing after fight
A Unity man is accused of screwing doors shut at his home to keep a woman he allegedly assaulted on New Year’s Day from leaving, state police reported. Irvin Scott Achhammer, 27, is accused of pushing a woman into a banister and hitting her with a cigarette lighter during an...
Allegheny County reports 850 more covid cases, 5 deaths in 2 days
Allegheny County health officials reported another 852 cases of coronavirus Monday. Of those new cases, 607 were confirmed through 2,361 PCR tests (from Dec. 28 through Sunday), with 245 cases listed as probable. Even in the wake of news that the latest new cases are a 43% increase from last...
Delmont man accused of sexually assaulting 2 teen girls
A Delmont man is free on bond after police accused him of sexually assaulting two teenage girls and asking them to not report the incidents because of their ages, according to court papers. William Jonathan Seibert, 20, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors...
