Local category, Page 2435
Longtime Westmoreland Judge Gilfert Mihalich dies at age 93
Gilfert Mihalich served as a Westmoreland County judge for more than three decades, but one case earned him a national cable audience through a 1992 appearance with CNN host Larry King. During that interview, Mihalich discussed the controversial 60-year prison sentence he imposed against a father convicted of repeatedly raping...
Protests not changing health department plans as Allegheny County moves to green
Allegheny County county officials want to remind residents the coronavirus is still around as the region prepares to moves into the green phase of the state’s reopening plan. “The virus has not gone away,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said during a press briefing Wednesday. “We have not developed a vaccine...
State covid-19 counts at nursing homes disputed by centers in Allegheny, Westmoreland
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported a large spike in coronavirus deaths at Kane Community Living’s Glen Hazel location, but Allegheny County officials say that never happened. The state’s updated report says there have been 78 resident cases, 43 resident deaths and 25 staff cases. Allegheny County, which operates the...
Protest in Vandergrift canceled after organizers say they received threats
A protest in Vandergrift to support the Black Lives Matter movement has been canceled after organizers said they received numerous threats. Cicily Bailey, 19, said she came up with the idea to organize a march in honor of George Floyd. She started a group chat with a few close friends,...
Rivers Casino, The Meadows to reopen next week
Rivers Casino is set to reopen next week. The North Shore gambling site will open its doors to patrons again at 9 a.m. June 9, according to a release. Restaurant and gaming floor capacity will be limited to 50% occupancy to comply with state guidelines and promote social distancing. Occupancy...
Westmoreland officials look to improve election process as last mail-in ballots are counted
As the counting of absentee primary ballots continued Wednesday, Westmoreland County officials said a plan to improve the speed of reporting election results is a top priority before the November general election. More than 40,000 mail-in ballots were received this spring for an election with no contested races during a...
Leechburg Area students to receive iPads, Chromebooks this fall
Starting this fall, the Leechburg Area School District will provide iPads and Chromebooks to all its students as part of its One-to-One initiative. The district serves 750 students from Leechburg, West Leechburg, and Gilpin. Students in grades K-2 will get iPads. Students in grades 3-12 will be given Chromebooks. Students...
Police: Arnold man’s home searched after 2 heroin buys within days
A 33-year-old Arnold man is in the Westmoreland County Prison after allegedly selling heroin to undercover agents twice over two weeks. Arnold police charged Steffon Ballard, 33, on Tuesday. He was being held on $100,000 bail. According to court documents, agents from the state Attorney General’s Office and Arnold police...
South Fayette Park and Ride to close permanently July 4
The Park and Ride in South Fayette Township, located at the former Star City property on Hickory Grade Road, will close permanently on July 4. According to a post on the South Fayette website, the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s 31-Bridgeville and G31-Bridgeville Flyer no longer will serve the lot...
Seeking change, hundreds gather for George Floyd vigil at East Liberty churchVideo
More than 500 people gathered peacefully in honor of George Floyd Wednesday afternoon at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. The crowd quickly wrapped around the sidewalk that circles the massive stone church, fanning out across the streets with posters and signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The Rev. Randy Bush,...
Arnold man sentenced to 13½ years in connection to fentanyl overdose
A federal judge sentenced an Arnold man to more than 13 years in prison for distributing fentanyl that caused a man’s death, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak ordered Jarrel Williams, 32, to serve 13 years and six months in federal prison followed by...
Derry Area holds drive-through graduation
Derry Area High School held graduation services for the Class of 2020 on Monday. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was held as an outdoor drive-through ceremony at the high school complex and can be viewed here. The senior awards ceremony can be seen here. Here is the list...
New Kensington awards paving contract for 4 roads
Four roads in New Kensington will be resurfaced this year. City council awarded the contract to Shields Asphalt Paving, the lowest bidder with a price of $103,321. Roads to be milled and resurfaced are: • Carl Avenue, from Tarentum Bridge Road to Craigdell Road • Freeport Road, from 7th Street...
Peduto orders investigation into police actions at East Liberty protest
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Wednesday ordered an investigation into police tactics used to disperse protesters from the streets of East Liberty on Monday night. “Without question,” Peduto said, “there is a difference of opinion about what happened that day and the appropriateness of the actions of the Pittsburgh Bureau...
Splash time: Youngwood pool opens with special restrictionsVideo
Seven-year-old Catalina Jennings was the first to make a splash at Youngwood Park N Pool minutes after it opened Wednesday. Her mother was not far away, applying sunscreen in a shaded 12- by 12-foot section of grass where the family set up for the day. They were among a dozen...
Fox Chapel Area School District invites community to participate in commencement celebration
Fox Chapel Area graduates will be lauded Sunday with a Community-wide Hat Toss to culminate the Class of 2020 commencement. A high school graduation ceremony will be livestreamed on the Swift Fox Media YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/c/SwiftFoxMedia, beginning at 7 p.m. Afterward, special guest Bill Hillgrove, the play-by-play announcer for...
Police: Arnold man jumps from 2nd floor window to escape armed ex-girlfriend
An Arnold man jumped from the second-floor window of his house Monday night after city police said his ex-girlfriend busted in and opened fire, shooting at the man and his brother as she chased them up the stairs. A criminal complaint filed against Dowona Ranae Johnson, 42, of Arnold, said...
1 man killed in Hempfield crash on Arona RoadVideo
A New Stanton man was killed Wednesday afternoon when his vehicle hit a concrete pole and rolled over an embankment in Hempfield, state police at Greensburg said. Charles J. Jupena, 71, was driving his northbound Honda Accord in the area of 1538 Arona Road at 2:12 p.m. when his car...
Police accuse Hempfield man of assaulting, threatening woman ‘to release the demons’
A Hempfield man accused of holding a woman against her will and threatening her with a handgun, shotgun and knife on Tuesday surrendered to state troopers. Marlin D. Perkins, 45, was arraigned on two counts each of simple assault, making terroristic threats and reckless endangerment. He is in the county...
Jeannette honors Class of 2020
Jeannette High School held its graduation ceremony on Monday. Here are the members of its Class of 2020: Xavion M. Adams Erika Rose Ament Katie Atkinson* Jada Monet Baker* Anthony Barnett Jada Rae Bass** Brianna Gayle Boettner Rachel Marie Brennan* Demarius Jahari Carter Grace Christie Diane Chitester* Jordan Christner Arionna...
Pittsburgh police: 22 arrested in East Liberty protest aftermath
Editor’s note: The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on June 18 withdrew all charges against all people named in this article. Violence Monday night in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood led to 22 arrests for failure to disperse and disorderly conduct, according to police. Pittsburgh police and city officials have said...
2 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths reported in Westmoreland County – Jun. 3, 2020
Two new covid-19 cases were reported Wednesday in Westmoreland County, but no new deaths. The countywide case total is now 453, with 38 deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. County Coroner Kenneth Bacha reported 32 coronavirus deaths, less than the state’s number but Bacha’s office has not updated...
Pittsburgh Zoo to reopen Friday with new guidelines
The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium will open Friday with new guidelines in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Visitors can buy timed tickets online. For members of the zoo, there is no additional charge for the tickets. Non-member rates are $17.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors and $15.95 for...
24 new coronavirus cases reported in Allegheny County, no new deaths
Allegheny County officials reported 24 additional covid-19 cases and no new deaths Wednesday. That leaves the total number of deaths countywide at 152, while the total number of confirmed and probable cases rose to 1,952. The reported death count is still lagging behind state data, which has recorded 165 deaths...
New Kensington-Arnold considers replacing preschool with ‘developmental kindergarten’
New Kensington-Arnold School District is considering replacing its preschool program with a developmental kindergarten. Developmental kindergarten would be for children who are not yet ready or prepared for regular kindergarten, Superintendent John Pallone said. Pallone discussed the proposal, also referred to as “transitional kindergarten,” with the school board during a...
