Western PA Local News category, Page 2220
Police: Suspect in McKeesport police shooting hid out in West VirginiaVideo
The man suspected of shooting and wounding a McKeesport police officer earlier this month likely spent the majority of his nine days on the run in West Virginia, authorities said Wednesday, a day after his arrest in the neighboring state. Koby Francis, 22, will face an extradition hearing after the...
Mt. Pleasant boy, 15, charged as adult in armed robbery
A 15-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township boy is charged as an adult in an armed robbery this month outside his home, according to court papers. Kyle Ray Franklin was arrested Tuesday and is being held on $50,000 bail. He is the second juvenile suspect to be nabbed in the Dec. 19...
Foster cat in Richland tests positive for rabies, family seeking treatment
A cat being fostered by a family in Richland Township has tested positive for the rabies virus, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. The cat, which was living with a family along Beechnut Drive, was brought into the lab for testing after it began scratching and biting, county health...
Amid fewer new cases, Westmoreland County reports 15 more covid deaths
On Wednesday, Westmoreland County saw its latest report of new covid-19 cases cut by more than half from Tuesday. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported the county added 215 new cases. On Tuesday, the county added 466. The lower number of new cases brings the county back to its recent...
Pittsburgh officials to New Year’s revelers: Stay home this year
Although a crowd of people isn’t expected — or allowed — to gather in Downtown Pittsburgh for New Year’s Eve celebrations, public safety officials issued their annual reminder Wednesday advising revelers to put safety first. “I know that we all want — and absolutely deserve — to celebrate New Year’s...
Monessen officials ordered to complete Sunshine Act training
Monessen’s mayor and council members have been court-ordered to complete Sunshine Act training after a Westmoreland County judge found that they violated state public meeting laws earlier this year. City solicitor Tim Witt said officials are set to complete the training through the state Office of Open Records today. Judge...
Pittsburgh musicians raise their voices off stage to save local venuesVideo
Musicians communicate through song. They feed off the energy of live performances. Many haven’t performed live for months because of the pandemic. That hasn’t kept them from making new music for when they return to Pittsburgh-area venues. There is one tune that’s about to be heard that will help the...
As Allegheny County’s covid cases slow, deaths hit record mark
Another 525 cases of covid-19 were reported Wednesday by the Allegheny County Health Department. While certainly still high, the new cases are nearly 50% less than Tuesday’s four-digit report. The new count puts the county back on its recent trend of fewer cases. The seven-day average of new cases drops...
Newly formed Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy sponsors winter lantern festival
A visit to McCahill Park in Fox Chapel on Jan. 1 will be nothing short of magical as the site transforms into a glistening field of lights at sundown. The effort is to promote the newly created Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy, founded to emphasize the community’s passion for its expansive...
Defense attorney says his incarcerated client not getting mental health treatment
An attorney’s attempt Tuesday to get his client released from Westmoreland County Prison highlighted issues with the inaccessibility of mental health treatment for incarcerated defendants. Attorney Brian Aston asked that Susan Barkley, 42, of Unity be released on home electronic monitoring to get mental health treatment while she awaits trial...
Hempfield photographer found innovative way to stay in business during pandemicVideo
Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series highlighting five people whose lives were reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. Back before the covid pandemic slammed the economy and limited what people could do outside their homes, Dennis Pushkar expected that his Impressions Photography would build on what had been...
Stories of the Year: After George Floyd’s death, a movement for racial justice
Eight minutes changed the course of 2020. It was Memorial Day. May 25. George Floyd was being arrested by Minneapolis police outside of a grocery store after authorities received a 911 call that someone paid with a counterfeit bill. The caller told authorities the man was acting erratically. Floyd, who...
Crews quickly extinguish garage fire in Hempfield
Crews quickly extinguished a garage fire that broke out at a Hempfield home early Wednesday morning. Firefighters responded to the incident on Blue Sky Lane shortly before 5 a.m., according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The fire was knocked down around 5:30 a.m. It was not immediately clear if the...
The Stroller, Dec. 30, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s fundraiser or community event in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Christmas tree recycling locations announced Several locations in the area will offer Christmas tree recycling. They include: • Allegheny Township: maintenance building, 1169 School...
‘A force for good’: How Black voices say they will carry momentum from 2020
One man was Black, the other was white. One gasped for air as the other man, a uniformed police officer, kneeled down on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The deadly Memorial Day weekend encounter between George Floyd, a Black man, and white Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin became the...
New Kensington-Arnold teachers want your help to buy students ChromebooksVideo
Remote learning can be hard on students, especially those who don’t have access to computers at home. Teachers in the New Kensington-Arnold School District have watched their students struggle with that firsthand. In response, they have started a GoFundMe asking people to donate money to buy laptops — Google Chromebooks...
Nemacolin resort closes for holidays, plans to reopen next week when covid restrictions lift
If you hoped to usher out 2020 at the posh Nemacolin resort in Fayette County, you are out of luck. Nemacolin closed Dec. 22 in an effort to do its part to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The luxury retreat does not plan to reopen until Monday. The...
Police arrest 3 people for alleged involvement in Green Tree shooting
Allegheny County Police have arrested three people in connection with a Monday night shooting in Green Tree. Scottie Harris, 21, Jamere Blackwell, 20, and Sequawon Harris, 22, have all been charged with criminal attempt homicide and related charges for allegedly attempting to rob a man around 8:15 p.m. along the...
Penn Hills JROTC students to continue program at Plum High School
Plum Air Force JROTC students from Penn Hills will be able to continue their journey this school year after a new agreement was approved by officials from both districts. Penn Hills’ Navy Junior ROTC program was eliminated in 2019 due to a lack of cadets and money. Both districts had...
Pittsburgh residents encouraged to put garbage, recycling out for collection Wednesday
Pittsburgh officials are encouraging residents whose garbage and recycling has not yet been collected to leave their materials at the curb for collection Wednesday. Mayor Bill Peduto vented his frustration on the collection service delay Tuesday. “I am beyond disappointed that homes still have not had their garbage and recycling...
Verona officials pass 2021 budget with no tax increase, discuss manager position
Verona property owners will not be paying more in real estate taxes as a result of the borough’s 2021 budget. Council unanimously approved next year’s spending plan and tax ordinance Tuesday night. “I feel confident in this budget,” Borough Manager Jerry Kenna said. “Everything that was requested by the department...
Penn-Trafford-Jeannette area covid cases rise slightly
The Penn-Trafford-Jeannette area saw a 5% jump in confirmed covid cases over the past week, with the addition of 68 cases, based on data from the state Department of Health. The health department counted 1,310 confirmed covid cases in the three communities as of Dec. 29, up from 1,242 as...
Latrobe looks to update police fleet with new SUV
Latrobe council is considering an update of the city’s police fleet with a new SUV modified to meet the needs of law enforcement. Purchase and financing of a 2021 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor are on the agenda for council’s Jan. 4 reorganization and voting meeting. According to City Manager Michael...
Man accused of shooting McKeesport police officer arrested in West Virginia
The man accused of shooting a McKeesport police officer was nabbed Tuesday evening by U.S. Marshals, bringing a nine-day manhunt to an end at a West Virginia apartment complex. Koby Lee Francis, 22, of McKeesport was found at a Clarksburg apartment and arrested shortly after 6 p.m. in connection to...
Latrobe police hand out gift cards, not tickets, for ChristmasVideo
Some motorists in Latrobe who were pulled over for minor violations last week got a warning — and a gift card, instead of a ticket. In the spirit of Christmas, the city police department used community donations to buy 50 Shop ‘n Save supermarket gift cards and handed them out...
