Western PA Local News category, Page 2225
Merry (covid) Christmas: Western Pa. families share how they plan to spend the holiday
Christmas this year, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, will be different for most, if not all, families. As the virus continues to spread, Gov. Tom Wolf curtailed some businesses and shut others through the holiday season. Health officials have urged people not to travel and to celebrate Christmas...
Greensburg infant’s brief life honored with random acts of kindness
In January, the brief life of a Greensburg infant led to an outpouring of love and support to his bereaved parents. This year on the date of his birth and death, Jan. 6, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is honoring his memory with Willie’s Random Acts of...
Jason Mraz to headline Rock, Reggae & Relief benefit concertVideo
There is hope that live music is coming back in 2021. Rock, Reggae & Relief, a festival benefiting hospitality workers and food insecurity, has announced a lineup of artists. It’s scheduled for Aug. 28. “We feel safe that, by then, most people will have taken the (covid) vaccine, and it’s...
Dog training, day care continue after Bruce Ringer, ‘dog whisperer of Tarentum,’ dies
Bruce D. Ringer’s love of dogs and his wife were manifest, and not surprisingly intertwined. The longtime, legendary dog trainer, Ringer, 63, of Tarentum, died of colon cancer on Dec. 20. He was a dog trainer for more than 35 years and opened the first doggie day care in Allegheny...
Derry group gives away 170 Christmas meals
A group of Derry residents on Thursday gave out more than 170 Christmas dinners to families in need at Taps N’ At restaurant. The giveaway was organized by Derry Area School Board member Sean M. Kemmerer and Taps N’ At owners Larry and Jessica Gray, who recently founded the Derry...
Greensburg plans to help businesses, individuals with covid relief money
Greensburg plans to use nearly $194,000 in federal CARES Act money to aid small businesses, provide rent assistance and help feed those in need. Municipalities received coronavirus relief funds through the existing Community Development Block Grant program. Greensburg submitted its application about three months ago, and recently learned it had...
Immaculate Heart of Mary, the venerable Polish Hill church, adorned in Christmas finest for public viewVideo
The Christmas scene inside the massive dome contains 400 feet of garland, 100 bright red poinsettias and over 100 illuminated trees of various sizes. Red bows, wreaths and candles adorn the pews. Music fills the church as volunteers finish decorating for Christmas Masses at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish...
Monessen woman sentenced to 2-4 years for stabbing
A Monessen woman was sentenced this week to two to four years in a state prison on an aggravated assault charge in connection with the stabbing of her neighbor. Prosecutors dismissed attempted homicide and related charges against Tiffany Grogan-Howard, 38, on Wednesday, according to a court order. The stabbing was...
Early to bed, early to make the bread rise for Leechburg baker
It’s a sweet job any way you slice it. Kelly Petrella, 36, of Vandergrift, heads the bakery team of five at Sprankle’s Market in Leechburg. The Alle-Kiski Valley native and Kiski Area High School alumnus is typically the first employee to arrive, beginning her shift at 5 a.m. “Customers comment...
Greensburg Salvation Army receives gold coin worth $1,700
Greensburg Salvation Army Capt. Ashley Luzader was sorting through the usual pile of change that had been dropped into bell ringers’ red kettles Tuesday when she found something strange — an unusually heavy coin wrapped in white paper. “I was pulling out all the dollars, and I was thinking ‘this...
For 31st straight year, Hempfield supervisors approve budget with no tax increase
Hempfield supervisors unanimously approved a $13.5 million budget that does not raise real estate taxes for the 31st consecutive year. The approval, which took place at Monday’s meeting, came after months of cutbacks and planning to make up for lost expenses because of the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue streams such as...
Westmoreland County covid cases continue downward trend
With 368 new cases of covid-19 announced Thursday, Westmoreland County continues to bend the average downward. The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s latest report shows the county is seeing 30% fewer new cases than a week ago. Over the past seven days, Westmoreland has registered 2,229 cases, as opposed to 3,176...
Mt. Lebanon couple donates $1 million to UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Research Institute
Terri Bone remembered calling the neonatal intensive care unit from her hospital room to check on her newborn daughter. “The nurse told me, ‘she stopped breathing last night, but she is OK,’ ” said Bone. “ ‘Premature babies do that sometimes.’ ” After 10 days in the NICU at what...
Allegheny, Westmoreland provide plenty of places to recycle your Christmas treeVideo
Once Christmas is over, that tree in the living room goes from a way of remembering the holiday to “All right, how are we going to get rid of this thing?” If you live in Allegheny or Westmoreland counties, you don’t have to look far to dispose of your tree...
Crash outside Squirrel Hill Tunnel along Parkway East cleared
All outbound lanes of the Parkway East are open after a crash shut down the highway Thursday morning. A vehicle crashed into a utility pole and flipped onto its roof, according to PennDOT. The impact caused the utility pole to fall across two of the three eastbound lanes. All traffic...
Checkpoint shields installed to boost covid-19 protection at Arnold Palmer airport
Acrylic shields are in place at the security checkpoint at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as an added measure to help prevent the spread of covid-19. Installed the week of Dec. 18, the shields are meant to provide enhanced protection for passengers boarding Spirit Airlines flights and Transportation Security Administration officers...
Allegheny County seeing nearly 20% fewer new covid cases than a week ago
Despite a steady day-to-day increase in new covid-19 cases this week, Allegheny County is still seeing 19% fewer new cases than at this time last week. On the day before Christmas, the Health Department reported 912 new cases — 630 confirmed through 1,958 PCR tests, conducted from Nov. 30 through...
Indiana County crash claims 14-year-old passenger
An Indiana County teen was fatally injured in a vehicle crash Wednesday after a motorist swerved into the path of the vehicle she was riding in, according to Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman. Brittany Eileen Keith, 14, of Cherryhill Township, was treated by a Citizens’ Ambulance Service crew and was...
Cue the bald eagles: Webcams are streaming live for breeding season
Anticipating visits and “nestorations” by bald eagle couples at the beginning of their breeding season, two webcams have gone live and are ready for the action. The Pittsburgh bald eagle webcam in Pittsburgh’s Hays section has been live all year with sporadic reports and a recent uptick of the birds’...
Teen charged as adult in Mt. Pleasant Township armed robbery
A North Huntingdon teen was arrested by state police Wednesday in connection with an armed robbery Saturday in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane, 17, is charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor, theft and related offenses. He is being charged as an adult. Troopers were...
Bettis and others say Steelers can still pull out of their funk, but it won’t be easy
Just a few weeks ago, Steelers fans were wondering if their undefeated team would lose a game this season. Now, the question is, will the Steelers win another game this season? After three straight losses following its 11-0 start, this team is looking like it has forgotten how to play...
VFW Christmas cheer sent to Pa. National Guard soldiers around the globe
A brief social media post relayed by state Veterans of Foreign Wars Department officials late Monday to Westmoreland County’s VFW District Commander Carl Trusiak couldn’t have been more welcome and gratifying. “A lot of the packages are coming in!!! The team and brigade love them! Thank you!” the anonymous National...
I-79 reopens after tractor-trailer crash shut down northbound lanes
The northbound lanes of Interstate 79 reopened to traffic shortly before 11 a.m. after a crash involving two tractor-trailers had closed the highway near the Soutpointe Exit. I-79 northbound was closed between Exit 48, Southpointe/Hendersonville and Exit 54 to Bridgeville, authorities had said. No information was available about whether there...
2 suspects sought in home invasion, fatal shooting in Mt. Oliver
Allegheny County Police are seeking the public’s help with their search for two suspects accused in a home invasion and fatal shooting in Mt. Oliver late Wednesday night. County homicide detectives were asked to assist with the investigation after a 911 call was received at 11:41 p.m. Dec. 23 for...
Christmas Eve sermons will be different this year
It’s a challenge pastors often face, but it never has been more conspicuous than after a year like 2020. What inspiring words can church leaders possibly say during Christmas Eve services after so much death and disappointment? Even though the long-awaited end of 2020 is coming, what about the beginning...
