Western PA Local News category, Page 24
Free pre-K class coming to Lower Burrell via nonprofit program
Westmoreland Community Action is taking enrollment for a new pre-K program in Lower Burrell. The nonprofit’s program is free to families and funded through state Pre-K Counts and federal Head Start grants. Enrollment for the 2026-27 class is filling fast, but applications are still open, said Tammy Dietrich, program manager...
Plum School Board votes to replace sections of leaky high school roof
Repairs on Plum High School’s leaky roof will start in a little more than a week, after the district’s school board voted to approve the emergency $250,000 bill Tuesday. Plum Director of Facilities and Grounds Shelley Shaffer previously told TribLive repairs would begin May 1 and last about three weeks....
Environmental group to state: Make sure Rustic Ridge has sufficient subsidence insurance
An environmental organization has filed an appeal questioning whether a Donegal Township mine operator has followed a state directive to reinstate its mine subsidence bond to $3.14 million from a state-permitted reduction to about $293,000. The Mountain Watershed Association in Melcroft said in its filing with the state’s Environmental Hearing...
State conservation officials plan to distribute ‘pocket meadow kits’ to foster native plants
Homeowners are reminded in springtime how little most of them enjoy mowing. April showers might very well bring May flowers, but they also cause the grass to grow at an exorbitant rate. State conservation officials are aiming to help homeowners cut down on mowing, while also helping native flora and...
McKnight Road in Ross reopens after crash
McKnight Road in Ross has reopened following a multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus Thursday morning. The northbound lanes at the intersection of Nelson Road were closed just after 9 a.m. after a school bus, which was not carrying any students, crashed. A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson said the...
New Kensington man pleads guilty to sex assault of preteen girl
A New Kensington man has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a pre-teen girl. Police said Thomas L. Burruss, 50, plied his victim with candy to convince her to keep quiet about the sexual activity that started in 2022 and continued for about five months. Burruss pleaded guilty to...
The Stroller, April 23, 2026: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. NK, Arnold cleanup set...
Chatham student develops real-time antisemitism incident tracker
Delilah Hollander, a Chatham University student, has created a real-time anitsemitic incident tracker designed to surface threats and incidents as they happen. Hollander, of Pittsburgh, has launched trackantisemitism.org, a website that flags incidents, maps emerging hotspots and preserves digital evidence of antisemitic acts worldwide through public records and news sources....
Cutting-edge Astrobotic rocket engine could fuel more efficient moon missions
Pittsburgh-based aerospace company Astrobotic has made strides in developing an ultra-efficient rocket engine that could allow more cargo to reach the moon. In a test last month at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, Astrobotic’s 5,000-pound rotating detonation engine prototype fired for five minutes straight. Several other companies have...
NFL Draft: Pittsburgh sets a record with draft attendanceVideo
Are you ready for some football? The three-day super spectacle that is the 2026 NFL Draft is finally here. It kicked off Thursday in Downtown and the North Shore. 11:05 p.m. Attendance record NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came on the stage to announce that Pittsburgh set the single-day attendance...
Westmoreland happenings: Band concert, Kentucky Derby party, hoagie sale, more
Church news Level Green Presbyterian Church will have a spring potluck luncheon April 26 at the church, 105 Olive Drive, Trafford. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the luncheon will be afterward in the fellowship hall. Bring a salad, main dish, hot or cold side dish or dessert....
Norwin area: Church rummage sale, Heritage Trail ride, mulch sale, more
Church rummage sale The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, 1570 Clay Pike, North Huntingdon, will sponsor a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2. Food will be available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit the Blessed Bundles outreach ministry. Heritage...
Murrysville area: Summer craft sessions, church tag sale, Lyme disease support group, more
Craft mini-camps The Rewind-Reuse Center in Export will host a series of summer craft mini-camps for children who have completed grades 2-6. Sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is first-come, first-served. The deadline to register is June 8. Sessions include: • Yes, I...
Franklin Regional actors debate a man’s fate in ‘Twelve Angry Jurors’
Barring some seriously bad behavior, the legal system isn’t usually something with which the typical high school student is well acquainted. Don’t tell that to Franklin Regional students Isaac Eaton and Aerin Aranovich, also known as Juror No. 3 and Juror No. 8 in the high school Thespian Club’s upcoming...
NFL Draft Experience: What you need to know if you’re going
Gates to the NFL Draft Experience opened at noon Thursday, with various fan events, player appearances and local vendors set up throughout the day. Anyone attending the draft can register for free through the NFL OnePass app or NFL.com. The event will span the North Shore and Point State Park,...
Seton Hill launches $110 million fundraising campaign
Seton Hill University announced a multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign Wednesday night benefiting student scholarships, student support services, academic program development and updated facilities at the university. But it has already raised the majority — $96.3 million — of its goal funding. The campaign, “Framing the Future: The Campaign for Seton Hill...
State trooper talks about use of force, other policies at community event in Fox Chapel
Pennsylvania State Trooper Joseph Dunsmore said deescalation always is the goal when it comes to law enforcement encounters. Whether it’s at a traffic stop, sporting event, protest, any incident, the plan is to remain calm and professional. “At the end of the day, we shall endeavor and try our best...
New and improved Market Square unveiled just in time for NFL Draft is only the beginning
With a little over 24 hours left on the clock before the NFL Draft brings upward of 500,000 fans out in Pittsburgh, the $15 million revitalization of Downtown’s Market Square was officially completed and unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The public square draws 3 million visitors a year and houses 49 small...
Taste of the Draft fundraiser celebrates local foods while helping students
Downtown visitors could hear the Pittsburgh Steeline drumming for blocks as it kicked off the Taste of the Draft fundraiser Wednesday evening. Considered to be an unofficial start to the 2026 NFL Draft, the philanthropic and tasting event drew about 700 people to sample food from more than 20 local...
Pittsburgh transforms as NFL Draft festivities begin ahead of expected influx of fansVideo
Golden arches and steel beams — the backbone of Pittsburgh’s famous bridges — completed the backdrop of the 2026 NFL Draft stage, where hopeful prospects will soon accept the golden ticket to their future football career. Construction crews scrambled Wednesday to complete work on the NFL Draft theater viewing area...
Bridgeville woman accused of stealing $18K from Chartiers Valley choral boosters account
Allegheny County Police have charged Valerie Kubiak, of Bridgeville, with stealing more than $18,000 from a Chartiers Valley booster organization. In February, county detectives started an investigation into funds being stolen from the bank account of the Chartiers Valley Choral Parents Association, according to police. Detectives determined that Kubiak, 42,...
Lawrenceville gas station killing prompts lawsuit by father of victim
The father of a man shot to death by a Lawrenceville gas station clerk is suing Sunoco and the operator of the business. Hammad Mahdi, whose son, Davon Walter Smith-Mahdi, was killed on Aug. 2, 2025, filed the suit Tuesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court against Cheneh A Plus...
AI-driven sports technology from Carnegie Mellon students draws interest from Mark Cuban
More than 68 million Americans play a racquet sport, but improving their skills can be difficult. Costs for lessons are becoming increasingly expensive, and feedback for technique isn’t always individualized. But three Carnegie Mellon University students think they have an answer. They launched a company called ServeSense. Pitching their technology...
Authorities seize counterfeit NFL merchandise in Strip District
Law enforcement agents on Tuesday night seized an array of counterfeit NFL merchandise from at least one business in Pittsburgh’s Strip District two days before the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in the city. The operation, carried out by agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office and Pennsylvania State Police,...
Federal rescue package in works for Spirit Airlines
The Trump administration is nearing a rescue package for Spirit Airlines that could give the U.S. government the option to own as much as 90% of the carrier once it emerges from bankruptcy, according to people familiar with the matter. The agreement, which has not yet been finalized, would offer...
