Local category, Page 2367
Pittsburgh builder and sustainability pioneer Jack Mascaro dies after long illness
Michael Mascaro will never forget the ways his father instilled his indefatigable work ethic into his sons. “He would get up in the morning and go to work and he would always leave us little dad notes. ‘Hey boys, love ya, have a great day, be good to your mom,’...
Attorney seeks more time to argue for release of Arnold man accused in 2016 killing
The lawyer for an Arnold man accused of killing a 16-year-old girl in the city in 2016 said she needs more time to prepare for a hearing to argue for the pretrial release of her client who claims he has been in jail too long. Cashaan Williams, 21, appeared Wednesday...
The Stroller, July 23, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Is your non-profit organization going to have a fundraiser? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com or The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Women’s golf outing scheduled Aug. 11 A women’s golf outing...
Storm causes flooding in Derry basementsVideo
Jerris Weller stood in the storm water and sewer water that had flooded the finished basement of his Derry Borough home Thursday night, a sump pump pushing the water outside almost as fast as a shower drain and floor drain was filling it up again. “This is a repeated problem...
McKeesport homicide suspect arrested by U.S. marshals in Chicago
U.S. marshals have arrested a woman accused of killing a 29-year-old Pittsburgh woman last month in McKeesport. Gabrielle Parker, 33, of McKeesport, was arrested Wednesday in Chicago, according to U.S. Marshal Michael Baughman. Parker is charged with homicide following an early morning shooting June 18 in the 500 block of...
South Fayette pushes back start, end of school year because of coronavirus concerns
South Fayette School District officials have changed the proposed start and end of the upcoming school year because of covid-19 concerns. The school board voted 6-1 Tuesday night to adjust the 2020-21 school calendar to move the first day of school from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2 and the last...
West Jefferson Hills School District reopening plans include most students returning to buildings
West Jefferson Hills School District officials are planning for most students to return to schools next month. That is based on survey results revealed Wednesday night during a virtual forum with Superintendent Michael Ghilani. More than 74% of 3,000-plus survey respondents said they want their children in in-person classes for...
Murrysville approves ordinance regulating 5G cell towers
Murrysville Council has approved an ordinance regulating small-wireless facilities, the infrastructure necessary to bring 5G service to the area. 5G is the fifth generation of cellular service, which companies began rolling out in 2019. The Federal Communications Commission in 2018 set out a timeline requiring towns to make space available...
Report: White House warns Pittsburgh, other cities to get ‘aggressive’ against coronavirus
The White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator said Pittsburgh and 10 other U.S. cities must take “aggressive” steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the Center for Public Integrity reported. Dr. Deborah Birx called out Pittsburgh — along with Baltimore, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New...
Carnegie Science Center hires STEM education, museum experiences directors
Carnegie Science Center has hired two new senior staff members to lead efforts in STEM education and museum experiences. Lisa Herrmann takes over as the new senior director of STEM education and Marcus Harshaw is the new senior director of museum experiences. Herrmann most recently worked as education manager at...
Allegheny County launching team to monitor businesses for coronavirus safety guidelines
The Allegheny County Health Department is deploying a new Covid Field Response Team on Thursday to monitor businesses and ensure they are following public health orders, officials announced during a Wednesday news briefing. Team members — 10 people who are contracting with the county — will visit businesses such as...
Gov. Wolf speaks out in support of health secretary after Bloomsburg dunk tank incident
Gov. Tom Wolf came to the defense of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Wednesday afternoon after her gender identity was again mocked in a public incident. “The covid-19 pandemic has brought hate and transphobia into the spotlight through relentless comments and slurs directed at Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine,...
Franklin Regional plans 2-phase graduation ceremony for Friday
Franklin Regional seniors will get an opportunity to walk onto the Panther Stadium field as part of a two-phase graduation ceremony set for Friday evening in Murrysville. The first ceremony, scheduled to start at 5 p.m., will be for students whose last name begins with A through K. A second...
Officals: Pending closure of Penn Township district judge’s office is unwarranted
A proposal to close district justice offices in Penn Township and Mt. Pleasant remains unchanged as part of a revamped consolidation plan expected to be released in the coming weeks, officials said. Westmoreland County Court Administrator Amy DeMatt said officials reviewed about two dozen comments filed in the last month,...
Lower Valley communities launch T-shirt fundraiser to stand against racism
On the heels of a unity rally earlier this summer, Lower Valley communities are banding together to stand against racism with a T-shirt fundraiser. Hosted by Aspinwall Neighborhood Watch (ANW) and Fox Chapel Area Residents for Social Justice, the sale of T-shirts and stickers will benefit the fight for equality....
Fox Chapel Area officials weighing options for freshmen orientations
As July comes to a close, Fox Chapel Area officials are weighing options for a series of orientation sessions to welcome incoming freshmen. Tours of the high school, along with parent and student orientations, are planned for mid-August but students should prepare to be welcomed remotely depending on covid-19 statistics...
AG Shapiro charges 2 drilling companies with eco-crimes in Washington County
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday charged two drilling companies with environmental crimes for their alleged pollution of a stream in Washington County. The charges stem from a grand jury report released last month that alleged unconventional drilling companies allowed pollutants to fill the water and air around drilling...
Temporary glass recycling bin to be placed at Quaker Valley
A Traveling Glass Bin will make a stop at Quaker Valley High School in August. The Pennsylvania Resources Council will provide a bin for recycling glass bottles, jars and jugs from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 8-13 in the high school’s lower lot, 625 Beaver St., Leetsdale. Participation is...
2 more Port Authority employees test positive for coronavirus, bringing total to 29
Port Authority of Allegheny County on Wednesday reported that two more employees have tested positive for covid-19. That brings the total number of employee cases to 29, said spokesman Adam Brandolph. Seventeen of those employees have been cleared to return to work. Twelve are recovering at home. The two latest...
Pa. State Police Liquor Control continues covid-19 compliance checks
Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement officers conducted compliance checks at 1,876 licensed liquor establishments Monday and Tuesday to see if the businesses were abiding by covid-19 guidelines, officials said Wednesday. Statewide, LCE officers issued one notice of violation and 48 warnings. The unannounced compliance checks are focusing on areas...
$12.25M in state loans paying for wastewater, stormwater projects in Westmoreland County
About $12.25 million will be coming to Westmoreland County for wastewater and stormwater projects, the state announced Wednesday. The Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority and the City of Arnold got loans for wastewater projects, while Penn Township received a loan for a stormwater project. The money was part of $66 million...
Ross Township woman selected as La Roche’s first diversity director
La Roche University has appointed a Ross Township woman to serve as its first executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Sara White will serve on the university president’s executive council and be responsible for overseeing the development of a strategic diversity and inclusion plan for La Roche. She also...
La Roche University appoints executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion
La Roche University has appointed its first executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Sarah White, the university’s coordinator of accessibility services since July 2014, will fill the new role. “The time is now for the La Roche community as a whole to broaden its communal...
Westmoreland water officials hope goats are solution to invasive weedsVideo
Goats could be a key factor in ridding Beaver Run Reservoir property of an invasive weed that is hindering tree growth around the drinking water source. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials, with the help of a Saint Vincent College student and professor, are studying how goats react to the...
Ex-treasurer of West Allegheny hockey boosters accused of stealing $40,000 from club
An Oakdale woman accused of writing herself more than $40,000 worth of checks from the hockey booster club of which she was treasurer has been trying to pay back the money to no avail, according to her defense attorney. Jennifer Layden, 42, was charged in late June with one count...
