Western PA Local News category, Page 2243
Belle Vernon to continue with remote learning into January
Students in the Belle Vernon Area School District will continue with remote learning after the holidays as covid-19 cases continue to rise across the region. Remote instruction will continue until Jan. 19, said Superintendent Michele Dowell, who cited a 47% positivity rate in the school district community as a major...
Irwin man accused of bilking Lowe’s in $3,200 paint return scam
A 58-year-old Irwin man was arrested by state police Thursday in connection with a month-long paint return scheme that bilked an area hardware store out of more than $3,200. Terry S. Good was charged by troopers with seven counts of receiving stolen property and one count of theft by deception...
13 companies awarded funds to expand broadband across Pennsylvania
More than 2,600 households and businesses in rural parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties soon will have access to high-speed internet after the Federal Communication Commission auctioned about $9.2 billion to companies across the country with the goal of closing the digital divide in rural America. The first phase of...
Port Authority leadership urges prioritizing transit workers for covid-19 vaccine
Port Authority of Allegheny County leaders have asked Pennsylvania’s governor and Secretary of Health to prioritize transit workers when the covid-19 vaccine becomes available, according to a letter sent earlier this week. The letter, addressed to Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, comes days after the Port Authority...
Amazon plans facility in old Sears Outlet in Lawrenceville
A former warehouse that until July had been a Sears Outlet in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood is poised to become the latest local “last mile” facility for Amazon deliveries. The site, at 27 51st St., was initially being developed by Spear Street Capital to lure a tech-based tenant, according to Lauren...
Harrison City firefighters raising funds for food bank, police toy drive
Harrison City firefighters are accustomed to holding fundraisers year-round, and this season they are helping the county food bank and a local toy drive. “We’ve had a lot of support. We wanted to give back to the community. It’s nice that everyone is supporting each other,” said Brandon Quinn, a...
AHN appoints vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion
Allegheny Health Network on Thursday announced the appointment of a vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. Veronica Villalobos will fill the position, working closely with AHN’s recently hired Chief Clinical Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew. Together, they’ll strive to build an inclusive workforce and address health disparities...
Allegheny County commits another $2M to programs for needy
With covid-19 on the rise again and more help needed for those impacted by the pandemic, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has announced the county is committing an additional $2 million to programs through the United Way. The United Way’s Students and Families Food Relief Fund will receive $1 million...
Retired Air Force B-52 navigator honored for decades of service to veterans
It all started by glancing up for Richard Narushoff. Narushoff, 75, of Monroeville remembers being 3 years old when he saw his first airplane flying through the sky. “I figured I’d fly someday,” he said. “I guess it’s always been in my mind.” Those memories came back recently after he...
Norwin-area court cases, week of Dec. 7
Charges filed at the office of North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware: • Kaine Nathanie Milligan, 24, of Braddock, by North Huntingdon police with possession of marijuana. • Allen M. Delgrosss, 46, of Jeannette, by North Huntingdon police with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. • Jonathan Galka,...
Nearly $550K in donations by Nemacolin resort stun Fayette County first responders
Brian VanSickle may not have believed in Santa Claus before, but he’s a true believer now. “I met Santa Claus Friday and her name is Maggie Hardy Knox,” said VanSickle, chief of the rural Farmington Volunteer Fire Department in Fayette County for more than 20 years. The chief admits he’s...
Irwin, North Huntingdon holiday light displays raise money for nonprofitsVideo
Extensive and creative holiday light displays at homes in North Huntingdon and Irwin are spreading holiday joy while providing an opportunity to donate to a good cause. Daniel and Lisa Disso filled their front lawn, bushes and facade of their house at 1416 Tenth St. in Irwin with sparking lights,...
Man admits to killing woman in abandoned house in Homewood
A homeless man pleaded guilty but mentally ill on Thursday to strangling a woman in an abandoned Homewood house in March. James Wilson, 35, pleaded to both third-degree murder and third-degree murder of an unborn child in the death of Brittany Alker, 30, whose body was found in a closet...
Penguins say project at former Civic Arena site remains on track
The latest snag in the delayed project to redevelop the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District shouldn’t impact plans to start construction on the site next year, Pittsburgh Penguins Vice President and General Counsel Kevin Acklin said Thursday. “This is a technicality related to the interruptions all...
Donora resident charged in fatal shooting of alleged home invader
A Donora man is accused of fatally shooting a man who police said forced entry into the defendant’s home early Thursday morning. Bryan Harris, 23, is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Brandon Harrison, 34, of Masontown. State police also have charged Harris with tampering with evidence and...
New Stanton man accused of beating dog
A New Stanton man is accused of beating a dog so badly in October that it remains in medical care, according to court papers. Chris Impink, 19, was charged this week with aggravated cruelty to animals and related offenses. Humane officers from All But Furgotten were given audio recordings on...
Fox Chapel Area students offer array of fundraisers in telethon to benefit Sharpsburg Community Library
Fox Chapel Area residents can tune in to watch the district’s 31st annual telethon, beginning at 11 a.m. on Dec. 23. Students will stream the fundraiser on the Swift Fox Media YouTube Channel, the link for which will be available on the district’s website and its Facebook page. For the...
Westmoreland County sees record jump in covid cases with 505
Westmoreland County on Thursday added 505 new cases of coronavirus to break its daily record by 68 cases. Of the new cases, 483 are confirmed out of 1,005 new tests. The county has now had 12,369 cases of covid-19 with 9,918 of those confirmed and 1,307 recorded as probable, according...
Murrysville area happenings, Dec. 10 and beyond
Delmont library plans 2021 events After finishing 2020 with a new building, Delmont Public Library officials are gearing up for the first events of the new year — two outdoor walks exploring local nature spots. A “First Day Walk” will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., Jan 1 at...
Pennsylvania among the booziest states during holidays, surveys sayVideo
Pennsylvanians and booze at the holidays go together like Santa Claus and his red suit, according to a couple of recent surveys. The Keystone State is one of the drunkest places in the U.S. during the holiday season, with the average Pennsylvanian quaffing four alcoholic beverages a day, according to...
Revised plans for building at former Wholey’s warehouse approved by Pittsburgh Planning CommissionVideo
Plans for a new tower on Penn Avenue at the former Wholey’s cold storage warehouse between Pittsburgh’s Strip District and Downtown areas were given approval this week by the Pittsburgh Planning Commission. New York-based JMC Holdings is developing the site at 1501 Penn Ave., which it bought in 2018 for...
Allegheny County reports 1,166 new covid cases, 2nd-highest daily tally
Allegheny County on Thursday reported its second-highest number of cases recorded in a single day with 1,166. This raises the total cases since March to 36,707. The county’s seven-day case average climbed to a record 881, and the seven-day case total recorded a new high of 6,164. Of the new...
Stocking stuffer rivalry between Riverview, Springdale school districts benefits the homeless
A rivalry is brewing between Riverview and Springdale students, but this time it’s a race to get on Santa’s nice list. The school districts are dueling to help the region’s homeless community by collecting small, stuffed stockings to deliver to shelters this holiday season. “There is no greater gift than...
Busy Frankstown Road intersection in Penn Hills to get facelift using more than $300K grant
A busy intersection along Frankstown Road in Penn Hills will get a facelift soon thanks to a recently issued state grant. Penn Hills received a $328,803 grant from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) program to modernize traffic and pedestrian lights at the intersection of Frankstown Road, Spring Grove Road...
Pedestrian killed in crash involving Washington County detective
A Washington County detective was “involved in an accident with a pedestrian” Wednesday night, authorities said. Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone did not identify the detective involved but noted that he was on duty at the time. The incident happened shortly before 8 p.m. along National Pike, or Route...
