Western PA Local News category, Page 2300
Latrobe man charged with terroristic threats after Hempfield search, school delay
A Latrobe man is being held without bond after state police said he made threats Friday with a shotgun and holed up in his mother’s house, prompting the delay of a Hempfield elementary school. Dale Owen Smith Jr., 32, is charged with two counts of terroristic threats. Troopers said in...
A welcoming sign from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy wants people to know trails, playgrounds and lawns are for everyone. The conservancy invites people to enjoy the outdoors. The conservancy said Friday it will place “All Are Welcome” signs throughout Pittsburgh parks. It is part of a mission “to promote equity throughout the city’s shared...
County backs grant for Rostraver landfill project over local objections
Editor’s note: This story was updated to amend incorrection information. Westmoreland County officials are moving forward with a proposed expansion of a natural gas distribution plant at a Rostraver landfill over the objection of local officials and residents. “Our residents will live in fear, fear from too many contaminants, for...
The Stroller, Oct. 30, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller as soon as possible to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Contributions needed for homeless veterans’ project Local veterans’ charity Five Forces is collecting personal items for the Homeless Heroes Stocking Project....
Pittsburgh artist creates scene with replica of President Trump head
Yes, that indeed is a 7-foot gold replica of President Donald Trump’s head one might see, strapped to the bed of a U-Haul pickup truck driving around Pittsburgh. Arjen van Lith, a Dutch artist and writer living in Shadyside, designed and created the piece. It’s comprised of 3 millimeter coroplast,...
Pitt joins initiative to develop more diversity among faculty in STEM fields
The University of Pittsburgh is joining an initiative to develop a more diverse and inclusive STEM faculty. Pitt is one of 19 universities joining a three-year program to develop inclusive faculty recruitment, hiring and retention. The Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty program is facilitated by...
Oakmont Chamber Halloween event brings out costumed crowdVideo
Della Harbadin put her right hand in, took her right hand out, then put her right hand back in and shook it all about. The 10-year-old Oakmont resident dressed as Disney’s Mulan did the socially distanced hokey pokey as she and hundreds of other trick-or-treaters made for a great turnout...
Polling places: Where to vote in Richland and Pine
Election day is Nov. 3. The Allegheny County Elections Division said all 1,323 polling locations will be open that day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will still be allowed the vote, according to the county’s website. Poll workers will be provided masks, gloves,...
Voters in 11 Allegheny County precincts receive incorrect polling place information
Voters in 11 different precincts across Allegheny County will receive letters in the next few days updating their polling places after a mistake was made in the statewide database. The affected communities include Bethel Park, Braddock Hills, Brentwood, Green Tree, McCandless, Plum, West Mifflin and West View. County communications Director...
Leechburg Area to hold classes online for next 2 Wednesdays
Leechburg Area School District students will receive instruction remotely for the next two Wednesdays so custodians can thoroughly clean the district’s buildings on those days. The district has been holding classes in person all five days each week. The move, approved by the school board on Wednesday, was prompted by...
Girl Scout Troop from Dorseyville Middle School builds 3 little libraries for Aspinwall, O’Hara
Settling down with a good page-turner will be easier now for residents in Aspinwall and O’Hara thanks to the efforts of Girl Scout Troop 52231. Members constructed three little libraries which were installed at the Aspinwall playground and Fireman’s Park, and at Lauri Ann West Community Center on Powers Run...
New Kensington woman gets probation for pirating TV shows
A 62-year-old New Kensington woman has been sentenced to two years of probation following her conviction for copyright infringement, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said Thursday. Sherry Collingwood, 62, of Campbell Avenue, was charged in 2018 with bootlegging and selling digital copies of popular serial dramas like “Blue Bloods,” “Vikings,” “Dexter,”...
Moon Area High School, middle school closed until Nov. 5 due to covid-19 cases
Moon Area High School and middle school will be closed for about a week after someone from the high school tested positive for covid-19, Superintendent Barry J. Balaski announced Thursday. Balaski posted the message on the front page of the district’s website, moonarea.net. Students from both schools will continue learning...
Grand opening of new Penn Hills Goodwill rescheduled due to construction
The opening of a new Goodwill store and donation center in the Penn Hills Shopping Center has been rescheduled. Doors to the new shop next to Planet Fitness off Rodi Road were to be opened Friday. David Tobiczyk, vice president of marketing and development for Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, said...
Behind the scenes at the Allegheny County elections warehouseVideo
A combination of high-tech machinery and old-fashioned paper pushing will be used to process and tabulate election results on Election Day in Allegheny County. Workers from the county’s election division will be joined by scores of others from 17 other county departments to process votes this year at the warehouse...
Polling places: Where to vote in Hampton Township
Election day is Nov. 3. The Allegheny County Elections Division said all 1,323 polling locations will be open that day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will still be allowed to vote, according to the county’s website. Poll workers will be provided masks, gloves,...
Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvania prepared for Nov. 3 election
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday the state is ready for Election Day. “Pennsylvania is prepared. We are protected for this election and voters can cast their ballots with confidence. We are going to have a fair election where everyone can vote without interference,” Wolf said. State election officials said...
4 injured in multi-car crash on Parkway East near Squirrel Hill Tunnels
Four people suffered minor injuries in a multi-car accident involving 12 crashes on I-376 near the Squirrel Hill Tunnels on Thursday night. The westbound lanes of the Parkway East were shut down for a half-hour as state police began their investigation of the crash, according to Tpr. Melissa Bondarenka. The...
Murrysville-area happenings, Oct. 31-Nov. 12
Upcoming public meetings The following public meetings will take place in the Star’s coverage area in the coming weeks: • Franklin Regional school board, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 9. Meetings are streamed online at YouTube.com/user/FranklinRegionalSD. • Delmont council, 7 p.m., Nov. 10 at the borough building, 77 Greensburg St. • Franklin...
Westmoreland County hands out grants to Excela, nonprofitsVideo
Excela Health received a $5 million grant from Westmoreland County Thursday to help the hospital chain recover revenue lost during the coronavirus pandemic. County commissioners also awarded 77 nonprofit agencies grants totalling nearly $1.2 million to help pay for expenses related to the pandemic. Commissioners conceded the surprise grant to...
Westmoreland commissioner claims county pay raises result of political threat
Westmoreland Commissioner Gina Cerilli on Thursday accused her Republican colleagues of buckling under a threat from the county controller when they granted a series of raises to his staff of auditors. “They should be ashamed,” Cerilli said about a reorganization of the auditing department that included $130,000 in raises handed...
Former Pittsburgh firefighter faces federal prison in sex case
A former Pittsburgh firefighter pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to traveling to Virginia to have sex with what he believed was a 10-year-old girl and her mother. Brian Kosanovich, 58, will be sentenced on charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual...
Student, coach at North Hills High School test positive for covid-19
A second person in the North Hills School District has tested positive for covid-19 this week, district officials announced. A student at the high school developed symptoms over the weekend and was tested. The positive results were returned on Wednesday. District officials said the student has not been in school...
Man who assaulted New Kensington hockey referee gets probation, anger managementVideo
A Buffalo Township doctor who attacked a hockey referee during a recreational game in New Kensington earlier this month has accepted an agreement calling for two years’ probation and requiring that he attend anger management counseling sessions. New Kensington police charged the player, Dr. Jeremy Gregory Gilbert, 43, with assault...
Demo work on 8 blighted East Deer buildings could start in December
Eight blighted buildings in East Deer will soon be torn down. The township hired Lutterman Excavating of Salem Township for $93,100 to do the job. The houses to be razed are at 911 Bellview St., 329 Crawford Run Road, 607-609 Edna St., 915 Freeport Road, 445 Marion St., 531 Marion...
