Local category, Page 2380
North Huntingdon boy battles cancer, community rallies behind him
When Casey Watson took her then-13-year-old son to Forbes Hospital’s emergency room in October, she never imagined some of her worst fears would be coming true. On Oct. 28, Tristan Watson, a Norwin student, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a cancer that occurs in and around bones. Doctors found a...
Plum officials promote police detective to assistant chief, patrolman to detective
Plum officials promoted from within when selecting a new assistant police chief and juvenile detective. Mark Focareta and Joe Little were unanimously appointed to their respective new positions by a 6-0 vote Monday night. Council Vice President Dave Vento was absent. Both were sworn in by Mayor Harry Schlegel. Focareta,...
Westmoreland County rescue divers train for dangerous searchesVideo
Divers from the Greensburg Fire Department and Murrysville Medic One were honing their rescue skills Sunday in the murky waters of a Ligonier Township lake, training for that time when they will be asked to find a body or recover criminal evidence tossed to the bottom of a reservoir. “This...
Man in stable condition after Hill District shooting
A man was admitted in stable condition to a local hospital following a shooting Monday night in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. City police said they found a crime scene but no victim when they responded to a ShotSpotter alert of multiple shots fired at about 8:10 p.m. in the 2100 block...
Reward offered for information that solves 40-year-old New Kensington murder case
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that could solve a 40-year-old New Kensington murder case. State police announced Monday that new information has been discovered in the Tiffany Miller case, prompting the offering of the reward. Miller, 5, was reported missing from her Peach Court residence by her...
1 dead, 2 hurt after flight from police in Avalon
One of three people hurt Monday afternoon when the vehicle they were riding in crashed after fleeing a traffic stop in Avalon has died. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the deceased as Tyrone Jackson, 19, of Bellevue. Of the other two taken to hospitals, one was in critical condition...
Railroad, Walnut among streets included in $80K Latrobe paving project
Railroad Street and portions of Walnut and Washington streets are among areas slated to get attention in Latrobe’s annual paving program. Council on Monday awarded the project to Derry Construction, which submitted a low bid of $80,865. City Manager Michael Gray said the work is to be completed this year...
Burrell works on new covid-19 school plan, hikes school taxes 3%
Burrell School District is holding meetings with staff and families this month to address concerns about covid-19, which played a large role in the district’s recent school tax hike of nearly 3% for 2020-21. Late last month, the school board approved a $32.1 million budget that includes a 3 mill...
Monroeville police seek missing boy last seen Sunday
Monroeville police are seeking public assistance to locate a 14-year-old boy. Police said Sean Douglas Stitt was last seen around 6 p.m. Sunday playing basketball at Overlook Park in the Mellon Plan. Anyone with information as to Stitt’s whereabouts is asked to call Monroeville police at 412-856-1111....
Freeport International Baseball Invitational set to start next week
Next week’s Freeport International Baseball Invitational is still a go, and roughly two dozen teams are ready to take part in games at four area fields. Because of the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, the week of activities, in some respects, will have a different feel from past tournaments, said FIBI vice...
Reopening of Depreciation Lands Museum in Hampton delayed
The Depreciation Lands Museum in Hampton Township has canceled plans to reopen after the state-mandated shutdown because of renewed concerns about the need to slow the spread of coronavirus. The board of directors nixed the July 12 reopening and plan to discuss when the Colonial-era living history museum will resume...
Leechburg Area to resume in-person classes in August, offer online instruction to those who want it
Leechburg Area School District plans to reopen Aug. 26, and will offer online-only classes for students who aren’t comfortable going back to an in-person school setting. Because the school buildings are in Armstrong County, the district will be following that county’s guidelines. The district is made up of students from...
Westmoreland County officials confirm 3rd courthouse worker tests positive for covid-19
Westmoreland County officials on Monday confirmed that a third courthouse worker has tested positive for coronavirus. The latest staffer to test positive was reported to county officials on Saturday. Two other cases involving courthouse staff were disclosed last week. “The cases are unrelated, and we do not have any concern...
Protesters in Pittsburgh march against reuse of East Liberty police stationVideo
More than 100 protesters marched in East Liberty on Monday to oppose the reuse of Pittsburgh’s police station there, according to WPXI-TV. Pittsburgh police officers are set to move into Zone 5 station at North Euclid Avenue and Broad Street after years of renovations there. But protesters, using the hashtag...
Pennsylvania health department puts additional coronavirus restrictions on hold
Plans to restrict dining and gatherings in some Southwestern Pennsylvania counties where covid-19 cases have increased have been put on hold following discussions with local leaders last week, Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Monday. “We had a robust discussion, but none of that influenced our decision,”...
Judge denies bond for Mt. Pleasant man accused of attempted murder
A Westmoreland County judge on Monday ruled the only way to protect the community from a Mt. Pleasant man accused of attempting to murder his girlfriend was for him to remain in jail. Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears rejected a request to release Charles Etling on nominal bond, saying...
Irwin to hold ‘picnic food’ festival
How does a community hold a celebration of picnic food — hot dogs, hamburgers, kielbasa, tacos and nachos — when the state’s covid-19 requirements prohibit large gatherings of people? Since people can meet virtually, but not eat virtually, the All American Picnic Food Fest in Irwin will feature food from...
Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, students join effort to overturn ICE rule to deport international students
The battle to overturn a new federal rule to deport international college students forced to take all classes online grew Monday as 18 state attorneys general, including the one in Pennsylvania, 26 cities, including Pittsburgh, and a coalition of student government groups from 18 universities filed legal briefs in federal...
4 men sentenced for roles in gambling ring prosecutors say spanned Western Pa.
Three members of a Western Pennsylvania numbers-running and sports-betting network pleaded guilty Monday in Westmoreland County to their roles in what state prosecutors contend was a major gambling ring with ties to organized crime that generated millions of dollars. Deputy Attorney General Mark Serge said the men were “low-level” operators...
Pet Adoption League founder arrested after struggle at Yukon shelter
South Huntingdon resident Barbara Flanigan has been arrested again after yet another confrontation with the animal rescue organization she founded, days before the organization was set to move out of her life. Flanigan, 71, allegedly trespassed in the headquarters of Pet Adoption League and threw a punch at league Director...
Family pleads to lesser charges in illegal video poker operation in White Oak, North Huntingdon
The patriarch of a White Oak family and his three children were sentenced Monday for charges they oversaw more than 100 illegal video poker machines in North Huntingdon and the surrounding area. Robert Biros, 85, pleaded no contest to a felony charge of operating a corrupt organization while his two...
Police: Ohio man caught with loaded handgun at Pittsburgh airport won’t be charged
An Ohio man won’t face criminal charges after federal authorities found a loaded handgun in a bag at Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday, Allegheny County Police said. Transportation Security Administration officers found the .32-caliber handgun loaded with seven bullets, TSA said in a news release. The bag belonged to an...
Sewickley Harvest fest canceled due to pandemic
The 2020 Sewickley Harvest Festival has been canceled. According to an email from the borough, the event, scheduled for Sept. 12, will not be held due to the covid-19 outbreak. The annual festival is an autumn tradition that’s presented by the Rotary Club of Quaker Valley and Kiwanis of Sewickley....
Penn-Trafford 7U team captures tournament title
The Penn-Trafford 7U All-Star Team came out on top during a tournament held June 26-28 in Penn Township. The team was crowned champions following a 10-run-rule victory over Canon-McMillan, 15-5. The team is led by head coach Mike Cardamone and coaches Mike Simpson and Jason Stewart....
Covid concerns spread through Vandergrift
A Vandergrift borough employee who became ill and was directed by his doctor to get tested for covid-19 was awaiting test results Monday. “We do not know anything, whether he’s tested positive or negative at this point,” Borough Secretary Stephen J. DelleDonne said early Monday afternoon. DelleDonne did not identify...
