Western PA Local News category, Page 25
Pittsburgh’s convention center aiming to stay busy during NFL Draft
The quickly approaching NFL Draft has been a point of conversation among leadership at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. Tim Muldoon, general manager at the convention center, said all of the exhibit hall spaces have been sold for the week of the draft, which takes place...
O’Connor says Pittsburgh faces budget shortfall of up to $40M, leaving city finances in crisis
Pittsburgh could be facing a severe budget shortfall of up to $40 million this year, according to projections revealed Thursday by Mayor Corey O’Connor, leaving his young administration scrambling to figure out how to cover costs. O’Connor blamed inaccurate predictions and “a lot of false assumptions” by the previous administration...
Commerce community supports special-needs school in Hartwood Towne Centre in Indiana Township
A group of independently owned businesses in Hartwood Towne Centre, along with a professional drummer from Sharpsburg, are enriching the lives of special-needs students in Indiana Township. River Academy of Excellence, one of the only private schools serving special-needs students in Allegheny County, opened in 2023 in the plaza with...
Jeannette art gallery hosts 6th annual ‘Women in Art’ exhibit
When artist Jen Haefeli looks at a piece of arts and crafts material, or really a scrap of just about anything, she sees a world of possibility. It might end up as part of a mixed-media collage. Then again, it might end up as part of a piece of clothing,...
Shaler Area preparing to borrow $7.5M to pay for capital projects including roof at middle school
The Shaler Area School Board will vote next week to award about $4.6 million in contracts for work at the district’s middle school as it begins a process to borrow $7.5 million and restructure the district’s debt to pay for it and other capital projects. The board is expected to...
New Kensington man charged in 2023 murder
An inmate at the Westmoreland County jail has been charged in connection to a 2023 murder in New Kensington. Raijon Deqae Wilson, 30, of New Kensington is charged with homicide in the shooting death of Troy Vickers Jr. On Oct. 19, 2023, Vickers was found shot in the head on...
$3.3M state investment aims to boost Downtown Pittsburgh revival
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is getting more than $3 million from the state to help revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger joined local government officials and business leaders inside Origin Story Coffee on Thursday to announce how the investment plans to renew...
Homestead police sued for K-9 bite, malicious prosecution in arrest outside bar
A McKeesport man is suing Homestead police after he said he was attacked by their police dog outside Eon Bar & Grill last year and then targeted with a trumped-up arrest. Bryant Maurice Boyd Jr. filed the lawsuit in federal court on Feb. 28. In addition to the police department,...
Report estimates 82M Americans skimp on food, gas, utilities to afford health care
You have nothing without your health, the saying goes, and some Americans are taking that to heart by slashing basic spending to afford medical care. A report released Thursday estimated a third of U.S. adults recently pulled back on necessities like food, gas and utilities to keep up with health...
Verona Council appoints new full-time borough manager
Verona added a new member to its administrative team Tuesday night. Jacob Russell, 26, was unanimously appointed full-time borough manager, a position he will fill on Monday. According to council president Trish Hredzak, the borough received 12 applications for the position. She said the pool was narrowed to four candidates...
Women entrepreneurs find unity, success in New Kensington
Part of Leah Delaney’s inspiration as a small-business owner is showing her young daughters what feminine success looks like. “I feel that women are so strong in so many ways,” Delaney said. “Tap into that feminine energy and radiate who we are.” Delaney’s studio, AngelWing Yoga and Wellness, opened five...
McKeesport woman had alcohol, marijuana in her system before fatal crash, Allegheny County Police say
Police say a McKeesport woman was driving more than twice the speed limit when she went through a stop sign and slammed into another vehicle, killing its passenger. Brittney N. McPherson, 33, had alcohol and marijuana in her system at the time of the Feb. 14 crash that killed Donna...
Beaver County man gets 3-6 years for near-fatal beating at Aliquippa VFW
A Beaver County man was sentenced to state prison Wednesday in connection with a brutal beating last year at a Veterans of Foreign Wars lodge in Aliquippa. Ronald Brown, 45, of Ambridge pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated assault, according to court records. He was ordered to serve three to six...
Police ID vehicle in suspected fatal hit-and-run in Brighton Heights
A man was killed in an apparent hit-and-run Wednesday night in Brighton Heights, according to Pittsburgh police. Lawrence Soeder, 58, of West View, was found lying in the street at the intersection of Davis and Massachusetts avenues around 10:45 p.m. Police said he had significant head trauma and they believe...
Penn Hills woman charged after 3-year-old son with multiple fractures dies at hospital, police say
A Penn Hills woman is charged with assaulting her 3-year-old son, who later died at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Doctors there said the boy had 11 fractures, some of which were healing, according to court papers. Lagomau Malu, 26, was arraigned Thursday on charges of aggravated assault, child endangerment and reckless...
East Huntingdon, developer reach deal to end lawsuit challenging solar farm ordinance
The challenge of an ordinance enacted last year by East Huntingdon regarding solar farm development has been settled. Court records made public Wednesday revealed lawyers for the township and GreenKey Development Inc. reached a deal this month that kept the township’s ordinance in place but also allowed the company to...
Highlands students shaping school experience through Superintendent Cabinet
Highlands senior Jamarkus Prager is more invested in his academic career because he feels like his voice matters. The 18-year-old is a member of the Superintendent Student Cabinet, a program by district Superintendent Monique Mawhinney across all grade levels. “We basically talk about problems or issues and how we would...
The Stroller, March 12, 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. Lower Burrell to celebrate...
Colorectal cancer rates skyrocketing in younger people
Intuition is what prompted Colleen McGarrity to get a colonoscopy at age 41. The preventative screening probably saved her life. The Ford City resident experienced spotty symptoms but had no family history of colon cancer. A nurse at ACMH Hospital, she considered herself generally healthy. “My diagnosis came out of...
Arnold, Vandergrift, East Vandergrift to leave Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council
Three municipalities are leaving the Alle-Kiski Intergovernmental Council, citing membership costs and internal administrative changes. Arnold Council voted Tuesday to leave, citing lack of recent progress as a deciding factor. Councilman Aaron Moore said the council is well-intentioned, but the only deliverable it has produced was a 2025 blight plan....
Runner in 1st Boston qualifier marathon at North Park returns for race’s 50th anniversary
Ken Balkey fondly recalls the local North Park race that qualified him to run the iconic Boston Marathon in 1977. The First Annual Boston Marathon Qualifier Marathon, later known as The Spring Thaw, celebrated its 50th anniversary on Feb. 28, where Balkey served as honorary starter. Even at age 75,...
Fish fry major fundraiser for Indiana Township fire department
A Lenten fish fry fundraiser going on for about a decade has been a boon for the Rural Ridge Volunteer Fire Company in Indiana Township. A new generator, flooring and financing general operations have all come from community support, said company president and fish fry coordinator Ted Bajack. About $15,000...
Tapestry depicting Pennsylvania’s history as one of original 13 colonies coming to life in Shaler
Stich by meticulous stitch, an embroidered panel representing Pennsylvania’s history as one of the original 13 colonies is coming to colorful life in Shaler for this year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. More than 200 people have put in over 2,800 hours of effort since...
Longtime firefighter, former Sharpsburg chief Lou Costanzo recognized for 50 years of service
Lou Costanzo has helped keep Sharpsburg residents — and others across the Lower Valley — safe for more than half a century. The lifelong borough resident joined the fire department at 18, following “all the older guys who I saw doing it and loving it.” Costanzo never left. He worked...
YMCA, St. Clair Health team up for Healthy Kids Day in Bethel Park
For this year’s YMCA Healthy Kids Day in Bethel Park, everyone is invited. For the first time, the Y’s Spencer Family branch on Church Road is teaming up with St. Clair Health to expand the scope of the free event, scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18. “It...
