Local category, Page 2301
3 Plum School District administrators get new 5-year contracts early
Plum School District officials approved new five-year deals with three top administrators who each had at least one year left on their contracts. The board voted 6-1 at a special meeting Tuesday to keep Superintendent Brendan Hyland, Deputy Superintendent Rick Walsh and Chief Financial Officer John Zahorchak through June 2025....
Sewickley woman sentenced to more than 5 years in federal prison for wire fraud, false income tax returns
A Sewickley woman who pleaded guilty to embezzling about $8.7 million from her employer has been sentenced in federal court to five years and four months in prison for wire fraud and filing false income tax returns. Authorities said Sue O’Neill, 55, stole millions starting in 2009 from Marco Contractors...
Butler woman charged in Arnold homicide last summer denied bail
A Butler woman charged with second-degree murder in connection with an Armstrong County man’s killing last year in Arnold was denied bail Thursday by a Westmoreland County judge. Bailey Ann Hines, 25, has been in jail since her arrest following the June 28, 2019, fatal shooting of Gregory Ray Wynkoop,...
Police: 2 Allegheny County plumbing inspectors fudged their reports
Two Allegheny County plumbing inspectors have been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of tampering with public records. Michael O’Toole, 57, of Pittsburgh and Timothy Chelosky, 53, of McKeesport were taken into custody and taken to the Allegheny County Jail on Thursday, Allegheny County Police reported. The arrests are...
‘Hike for Hope’ to raise awareness for suicide prevention, erase stigma to take place at Deer Lakes Park
A West Deer mother who lost her daughter to suicide is continuing to raise awareness for suicide prevention and fight the stigma that suicide shouldn’t be talked about. Molly Rupprecht and her friends are organizing a “Hike for Hope” suicide awareness event at Deer Lakes Park on Saturday, Sept. 12....
Lernerville Speedway expects 1,000 people for Back-to-School race event
Lernerville Speedway is gearing up to host about 1,000 people at its annual Back-to-School Bus and Kids Bike Races night on Saturday. The facility, which can seat 12,000, has enough space for social distancing with 1,000 people in attendance, said Lernerville owner John Tomson. “We are absolutely, totally covid compliant,”...
Meet Robert Acquaviva, Burrell’s new school resource officer
Robert Acquaviva donned the requisite face mask, held up a “first day of school 2020” sign and took a selfie in front of a Burrell Bucs logo. Then the Lower Burrell patrolman began his tenure as the district’s new school resource officer. “To everyone in the schools, I’m Officer Rob...
New VP of gaming operations hired for Hempfield casinoVideo
A 27-year gaming veteran is joining the ranks of those working to open a new casino at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield. Brent Colston was named vice president of gaming operations at Live! Casino Pittsburgh, which is set to open before Thanksgiving. In his position, Colston will manage and direct table...
Appeals court upholds conviction of former state trooper from Plum
A former Pennsylvania State Police trooper’s appeal of his conviction for assaulting and threatening his wife was denied Thursday. A three-judge panel of the state’s Superior Court upheld the guilty verdicts issued by an Allegheny County judge against Scott Richard Mang, 34, on charges of simple assault and making terroristic...
With Pittsburgh’s 2021 budget facing $100 million shortfall, city seeks input from residents
Pittsburgh residents have several ways to provide input about the city’s 2021 budget, which will be introduced later this year because of uncertainties surrounding the covid-19 pandemic. “It is obviously going to be challenging budget year for the city, with estimates of a $100 million shortfall, so we are greatly...
Former Excela Health Latrobe medical education coordinator accused in thefts
The former coordinator of Excela Latrobe Hospital’s student programs was accused this week of stealing more than $75,000 from the medical residency program and the Andrew Bagby Memorial Scholarship Fund. Suzanne N. Strickler, 37, of New Stanton was charged with 31 counts of theft, 11 counts of forgery and one...
FNB Corp. works with Pittsburgh Penguins as plans for new headquarters continue
In a post-covid-19 future, executives with FNB Corp. meet with clients at its 24-story headquarters Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District and walk across the street to PPG Arena, entering through the FNB Gate to seats in the FNB Club section in time for the puck drop at a Penguins game. Now...
South Side man indicted for suspected role in May 30 Pittsburgh protest mayhem
A South Side Slopes man surrendered to federal authorities Thursday on charges that he threw bricks and more at Pittsburgh police officers during a spring protest in Downtown Pittsburgh, officials said. Jordan Coyne, 25, was indicted Aug. 26 on one count of obstructing law enforcement, according to U.S. Attorney Scott...
TSA catches 3 guns in 8 days at Pittsburgh International
Security officials caught three travelers trying to get guns through the checkpoint at Pittsburgh International Airport in the past eight days, officials said. The guns mark a continuing trend Transportation Security Administration officials noted last month: fewer travelers passing through airport security but more guns being caught by agents. On...
Glenshaw Century Club makes stuffed bears for Shaler Area kindergarten students
Everyone needs a friend on their very first day of school – even if it’s a colorful piece of stuffed felt. Glenshaw Century Club members spent nearly three months making sure every kindergarten student at Shaler Area School District had a friend to hold on to when they began school...
Tako restaurant coming to Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End
Taco lovers can soon get their fix at a new East End location. A second Tako restaurant is opening in Bakery Square in Pittsburgh. It joins the Downtown venue owned by the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group. “We are really excited to have a Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group restaurant,” said Gregg...
Monroeville churches stuck in middle of legal battle between municipality and school district
Houses of worship in Monroeville have apparently fallen victim to a legal battle between the municipality and Gateway School District regarding rain. In a lawsuit filed over a year ago, Gateway School District argues it should not have to pay a new fee to maintain Monroeville’s stormwater sewer system, which...
Eric Trump rallies his father’s base in Washington County appearanceVideo
Eric Trump played the hits Thursday in Washington County, giving a 20-minute speech to an enthusiastic audience that touched on many of the campaign topics favored by his father — President Donald Trump. The rally, attended by about 300 people, was the second of three Trump campaign appearances happening in...
Pine considering assessing need for improvements at community center
Pine officials are considering hiring a firm to conduct an in-depth review of the community center’s past to see if changes may be needed for the future. The township has received proposals from two companies to conduct an assessment of the facility, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Jan...
Public opinion could guide whether Pittsburgh’s Columbus statue will remain
The fate of a 62-year-old statue of Christopher Columbus that towers over Schenley Drive near Phipps Conservatory in Oakland will be decided Sept. 23 by the Pittsburgh Art Commission. Before the commission meets, it is working to gauge public sentiment about the statue, one of Pittsburgh-based Italian artist Frank Vittor’s...
Bushy Run Lions Club to host chicken barbecue dinner
After being canceled this spring due to coronavirus, the Bushy Run Lions Club is hosting its annual chicken barbecue dinner. The event is scheduled for Sept. 27 at the Bushy Run Lions Community building in Claridge. Dinners will be served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., or until sell-out. Boy...
‘Fat’ hummingbird migration in full force, keep those feeders up
Their bags are packed for a 1,000-plus-mile flight to Mexico and Central America. The essential luggage for a ruby-throated hummingbird? Up to an extra gram of fat. Yes, fat on the smallest breeding bird in the eastern United States is discernible, desirable for migration and definitely measured at the banding...
Return to school smooth but with different feel in Penn Hills School District
Penn Hills School District officials said the first couple of days of school were relatively smooth, considering the completely different atmosphere because of the covid-19 pandemic. “It went really well. We’re excited to see kids back, and I think they were excited, too,” Kristen Brown, principal of Penn Hills Elementary...
Carnegie Mellon delays spring semester to avoid flu season during pandemic
Carnegie Mellon University officials Thursday said they will delay the start of the 2021 spring semester, originally scheduled to begin Jan. 11, to Feb. 1. The new start date is an attempt to reduce the time the campus will be open during flu season, given indications that flu season will...
Westmoreland County adds 11 new covid-19 cases
Westmoreland County had 11 new covid-19 cases Thursday, according to the state Department of Health. The county’s cases count is now 1,925. All of the newly reported cases are confirmed. There have now been 1,858 confirmed cases and 67 probable cases in Westmoreland County. No new coronavirus-related deaths were reported,...
