Western PA Local News category, Page 2468
2 Chaplin films to be screened via Zoom with live music by Pittsburgh pianist Tom Roberts
It seems everyone could use a good laugh in the trying times of the pandemic — and thanks to Charlie Chaplin and a local musician, the laughs are on the way. The Rangos Giant Cinema and pianist Tom Roberts are putting on a night of live music and silent films...
Mt. Pleasant Lenox outlet to close after company cites pandemic-related struggles
The Lenox Factory Outlet store in Mt. Pleasant Township is shuttering, putting an end to a long history at the glass plant. Lenox, which sells tabletop and giftware items, announced Tuesday all outlet and warehouse stores will permanently close, citing difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A closing date was...
North Huntingdon man accused of coughing on police gets up to 2 years in jail on theft charges
A North Huntingdon man accused of trying to infect police with coronavirus by coughing on them will serve up to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to other offenses. Joseph R. Good Jr., 35, was arrested in April and, according to police, claimed he had coronavirus and...
Diocese of Greensburg Catholic schools receives largest recorded donation, offering $4.1 million in tuition assistanceVideo
Diocese of Greensburg Catholic schools could see an uptick of about 250 students in the coming year thanks to $4.1 million in tuition assistance now available. The funds were made possible after the diocese received the single largest donation by a family, amounting to $2.4 million, along with smaller donations...
Testing of Alle-Kiski Valley sewage shows no signs of covid-19
A Massachusetts company has tested sewage from the Alle-Kiski Valley and hundreds of other wastewater treatment plants across the country to try to identify and predict spreads of the coronavirus. The virus was not detected in a May 31 sample of wastewater from the Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority,...
Hot, dry weather hitting Western Pennsylvania for holiday weekend
At Harbison Nursery in Harrison, keeping plants alive is the main concern during these hot July days. Andrew Scarborough tends to the nursery’s plants. With the weather forecast calling for more scorchers, he said it’s important to care for plants correctly. High temperatures will peak in the low 90s from...
Westmoreland County logs double-digit covid-19 cases for 3rd time this week
For the third time in four days, Westmoreland County experienced a double-digit increase in the number of new covid-19 cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. On Wednesday, the department reported 29 new cases and no additional deaths for the county. Sunday had 13 new cases, Monday had 20...
Allegheny County, Pittsburgh offices to close Friday for July 4th
Federal, state, Allegheny County and city of Pittsburgh offices will be closed Friday for the Fourth of July holiday. Parking at meters in the city will be free through the weekend. The Pittsburgh Parking Authority will be closed and has suspended meter enforcement. Garbage collection in the city will continue...
Petition drive calls for dropping derogatory ‘squaw’ from Fox Chapel, O’Hara parks, roads
Three women — including a member of Fox Chapel council — are leading an effort to drop the word “squaw” from local parks, roads and waterways because it is considered an ethnic and sexual slur against women of Native American descent. It’s not the first time one of the women,...
Pittsburgh officials to enforce fireworks laws, restrict large gatherings during July 4th weekend
Pittsburgh’s public safety agencies are taking a different approach to monitoring gatherings to mark Independence Day because of the coronavirus pandemic. “We all know that these are uncertain and trying times,” Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said in a statement. “But if we can pull together as a city and...
110 new coronavirus cases reported in Allegheny County, 1 death
Allegheny County health officials reported 110 new cases of covid-19 Wednesday, along with four hospitalizations and one death. Wednesday’s update brings the county to 2,870 total cases of the virus, 397 hospitalizations and 187 deaths. There have been around 56,000 tests administered in the county since the start of the...
Alcohol ban protest organizer’s West Deer bar reports positive covid-19 test in employee
The sports bar owner who was organizing a protest against Allegheny County’s covid-19 restrictions closed his West Deer business Tuesday night after an employee tested positive for the virus, according to a post on the bar’s Facebook page. Xtra Innings Sports Bar and Grille on Saxonburg Boulevard is owned by...
Unity man charged with assaulting, choking woman
Editor’s note: Simple assault and related charges filed in July 2019 against Aaron M. Klingensmith of Unity have been withdrawn. According to court dockets, the district attorney’s office on Jan. 4, 2021, withdrew the charges before District Judge Michael Mahady. Klingensmith had denied the allegations. State police say a woman...
Dancing Gnome, Pittsburgh Brewing steal from the ’70s, give to the pour
Dancing Gnome Brewery and Pittsburgh Brewing Co. have teamed up to bring back Robin Hood Cream Ale, a popular local brew from the late 1970s. The idea to do this came when Ben Butler, founder and owner of Top Hat, a Pittsburgh-based creative agency, introduced the two clients — Andrew...
Greater Latrobe aims for in-person classes to resume this fallVideo
Greater Latrobe School District is planning for students in grades K-12 to return full-time to classrooms when the fall semester begins. In case unpredictable pandemic conditions thwart that goal, district officials developed a hybrid plan that would see students alternating between classroom attendance and online instruction at home. Students completed...
Plum School District recognized by Pittsburgh food bank for its breakfast, student nutrition efforts
The Plum School District has made great strides the past year or two in student nutrition. It launched a Summer Food Service Program at Holiday Park Elementary and served 70 children Mondays through Thursdays from July 15 through Aug. 1. District Food Services Director Jessica Griggle also brought in Second...
State police arrest 2 suspects wanted for Indiana County home invasion
State police arrested two men wanted for a home invasion in Indiana County last Tuesday. Spencer Maurice Hayes, 19, and Frank James Williams IV, both of Philadelphia, were charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy, making terroristic threats, theft and other related charges in connection with a June 22 home invasion robbery...
3 suspects sought in shooting in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill
Pittsburgh police said they are searching for three suspects in connection with a shooting in the city’s Troy Hill neighborhood on Monday. Officers from the Zone 1 station in the North Side responding to a call for a person shot along the 1400 block of Claim Street around 6 p.m....
Greater Latrobe OKs 2% tax hike, realigns administrators
Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District will see a 2% hike in real estate taxes for the coming school year as the district balances a $57 million budget in the face of revenues that have taken a hit during the covid-19 pandemic. The school board on Tuesday approved...
The Stroller, July 1, 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. Small Acts of Kindness Kimberly Alcibiade of Allegheny Township would...
Briefly speaking: July 1, 2020
Reunions The Mausville School reunion will be held Aug. 22 at the Pleasant Grove School House in Cook Township. It will begin at 1 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a covered dish. Chicken and beverages will be provided. Details: 724-593-2023 or 724-694-2046 Church news The Community Church of Hecla...
No tax increase, program cuts included in Plum School District’s 2020-21 budget
Plum property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes, and all student programs remain in place as part of the school district’s 2020-21 budget. School directors unanimously approved next school year’s spending plan Tuesday night. Projected revenues were listed at about $63.44 million and expenses at...
Man taken into custody following a SWAT standoff in Sharpsburg
A man was taken into custody following a SWAT situation in Sharpsburg on Tuesday night. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said the incident began around 7:45 p.m. at a home along the 200 block of Tenth Street. News partner WPXI said a person was apprehended shortly before 10 p.m. No...
Plum School District recognized by Pittsburgh food bank for its breakfast, student nutrition efforts
The Plum School District has made great strides the past year or two in student nutrition. It launched a Summer Food Service Program at Holiday Park Elementary and served 70 children Mondays through Thursdays from July 15 through Aug. 1. District Food Services Director Jessica Griggle also brought in Second...
No one hurt in fiery 2-car crash in Harmar
No one was injured in a fiery two-car crash Tuesday in Harmar near its boundary with Cheswick, according to township police Chief Jason Domaratz. One motorist tried to turn left onto Cheswick Avenue/Low Grade Road from Freeport Road around 6:35 p.m. and was struck by a oncoming vehicle. One person...
