Western PA Local News category, Page 2371
Jeannette, former employee reach agreement in overpaid retirement deal
Jeannette council approved a $12,000 settlement agreement with its former community development director Thursday after she was overpaid for accrued leave upon her retirement last year. Solicitor Tim Witt said the city found out in the spring that Diana Reitz was given more money than she was entitled to through...
Cops responding to Shotspotter alert find gas line ruptured by gunfire; homes evacuated
Pittsburgh police officers responding to a Shotspotter alert overnight in the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood didn’t catch any suspects. But they may have prevented a tragedy. Officers from the Zone 1 station who responded to the automated gunfire detection alert in the 3000 block of Shadeland Avenue shortly after midnight found...
Unity seeks grants for handicapped-accessible play equipment, paving village streets
Unity’s latest wish list of projects includes handicapped-accessible playground equipment outside the township office complex and paving streets in three villages. The supervisors on Thursday agreed to submit those four prioritized projects for potential funding through 2021 Community Development Block Grant dollars made available by the federal Department of Housing...
Pittsburgh SWAT standoff ends with man’s surrender in alleged stabbing in Elliott
A SWAT standoff in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood ended with a man taken into custody Thursday night and his adult son refusing treatment in a reported knife assault. City police responded at about 9:10 p.m. to a 911 call for a dispute in the 900 block of Wilhem Street. Police said...
Tarentum using covid-19 grant money to pay for system to broadcast borough meetings
While hoping to return to in-person meetings in October, Tarentum will spend nearly $40,000 in grant money on audio and visual equipment that will allow it to continue broadcasting council meetings. Livestreaming council meetings because of the covid-19 pandemic has created a new way for residents to participate in local...
BYOB art studio in West Deer provides entertainment, camaraderieVideo
Michelle Guerrieri comes from a family of small-business owners. So, naturally, she decided to start her own. Last October, Guerrieri opened The Creation Station in West Deer’s Russellton neighborhood. The studio holds instructor-led, DIY workshops that teach people how to make decorative wooden signs for their homes. And if you’re...
The Stroller, Sept. 11, 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. Please include a daytime telephone number. Paws and Claws Festival set for Vandergrift’s Kennedy Park The fifth annual Paws and Claws Festival for pets and their families will...
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...
