Western PA Local News category, Page 2542
Detectives: 2 teens opened fire on New Kensington undercover officers
Two men are accused of firing nearly a dozen shots at three New Kensington police officers who were following them in February. Westmoreland County Detectives said Ezra Michael Grant, 19, of Greensburg, and J’Lamar Jeremiah Washington, 18, of Duquesne, face three counts each of attempted homicide, assault of a law...
Memorial Day travel to set record lows as pandemic keeps people close to homeVideo
Many people who typically travel over Memorial Day weekend are trading three days away for more time at home as the coronavirus pandemic leaves countless businesses still closed and social distancing measures in place, travel officials said. Travel numbers are expected to drop by more than half across the country,...
Court denies appeal of Murrysville’s fracking ordinance
A local citizen group’s challenge of Murrysville’s unconventional drilling ordinance has been struck down in court. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Harry F. Smail denied an appeal by the Murrysville Watch Committee, which challenged an earlier decision by the Murrysville Zoning Hearing Board. Smail pointed to a November 2019...
Indictment: Cleveland man planned hoax call, officer ambush
CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man accused of planning to make a false distress call and kill any responding officers has been indicted on two counts of attempted kidnapping, according to federal prosecutors. Christian Stanley Ferguson, 20, made several posts on social media about how he wanted to make a false...
Allegheny County adds 2 coronavirus deaths, 21 new cases
Allegheny County officials reported 21 additional covid-19 cases and two new deaths on Friday. This brings the county’s total number of deaths to 146 and the total confirmed and probable cases to 1,739. The first case was reported in the county on March 14. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said...
Allegheny, Westmoreland labor unions ready to get back to work — safely
Labor leaders in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have similar desires: to get their members back to work in safe environments. Their message to public officials is where they diverge. The Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council this week publicly backed county commissioners and local state lawmakers who previously called on Gov....
Charleroi man dies after crashing into building
A Charleroi man died Thursday night after crashing his vehicle into a building, according to Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco. Charles H. Matava, 69, apparently lost control of his vehicle at 9 p.m. Thursday and hit a building in the 700 block of Washington Avenue in Charleroi, the coroner...
2 accused of drug possession in Greensburg
Two Allegheny County men are accused of drug possession after, Greensburg police say, one of them had five bricks of heroin at Autumn Brook Apartments last week. Denzell Lavelle Snead, 22, of Elizabeth Township, and Isaiah Johnson, 22, of Swissvale are charged with possession with intent to deliver, criminal use...
Penn Hills gym reopens despite Gov. Wolf’s orders
Gym co-owner Monty Webb of Plum said he’s had enough. He and his wife, Linda, own and operate Webb’s World of Fitness in Penn Hills. And he’s open for business. “I opened because it’s essential. Your heath is essential,” Webb said. “I got tired of the gyms getting thrown under...
Man shot multiple times in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville section
A man is in stable condition after he was shot multiple times early Friday in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville section, Pittsburgh police said. Police responded to a Shotspotter alert at about 1 a.m. in the 300 block of Moore Avenue. They said a 911 call also was made around that time for...
The Stroller, May 22, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com. Redemption Church to serve free dinners today Redemption Church of Lower Burrell will serve free drive-through dinners from 5...
Apollo man charged with raping teen girl
An Apollo man is accused of raping a teen girl with a mental disability. Kiski Township police charged Frank Dean Shaner, 20, with rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault and indecent assault. Shaner is being held at Armstrong County Jail in Kittanning. A preliminary arraignment is scheduled for June 3....
Pennsylvania’s jobless claims near 2 million
Almost 2 million Pennsylvanians have filed initial unemployment claims since Gov. Wolf ordered the shutdown of non-essential businesses in mid-March, according to the latest figures from the state. The state has seen 1.9 million workers file for first-time jobless claims as of May 20, even though the number of initial...
Mark Cuban says he’s trying to buy ‘The O’ in OaklandVideo
Mark Cuban is trying to resurrect a recently closed famous food spot in Pittsburgh. Cuban told the Tribune- Review that there was “nothing new” to report on a potential deal to buy The Original Hot Dog Shop in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section as of Thursday. “I inquired. We haven’t been able to...
Fire destroys garage, 3 vehicles at Allegheny Township home
An Allegheny Township couple will have to find another place to spend the night as a fire ripped through their garage and caused some damage to their home. A truck and two cars inside the red brick, three-car attached garage were destroyed in the fire at 160 Hummingbird Lane on...
Hempfield administrator to serve as Mars superintendent
An administrator at the Hempfield Area School District has been hired to become the superintendent at a Butler County district. Mark Gross, the assistant superintendent for secondary education at Hempfield, will begin his new position with the Mars Area School District on July 1, according to a notice on the...
Greensburg Salem changes graduation plans again
Greensburg Salem School District has once again changed its plans for graduation as it adjusts to the ever-uncertain coronavirus situation. The school will hold a Senior Salute Parade from the middle school to Offutt Field at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Commencement will be held at 6:45 p.m. July 9, but there...
Pittsburgh-area man sentenced to federal prison after assaulting Social Security guards
A Pittsburgh-area man accused of punching two security guards at a downtown Social Security Office in 2018 was sentenced Thursday to federal prison. Isaiah Paillett, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark Hornak to two years after pleading guilty to the charges in January. He originally pleaded not guilty...
Crews responding to downed wires, brush fire, in Allegheny Township
Crews are on scene of a brush fire in Allegheny Township caused by downed wires, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Fire officials responded to the area of Route 356 and White Cloud Road around 6:20 p.m. Roads remained open. The fire is not endangering any structures. Further information was...
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix cancels Race Week, will hold smaller events
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is an event race enthusiasts and classic car lovers look forward to each summer. However, after consulting with officials and stakeholders over covid-19 concerns, Grand Prix organizers are canceling the July 17-26 race week. “We have explored every avenue for staging our traditional races and...
How Pittsburgh’s Wigle Whiskey navigates business during a pandemic
On March 13, Wigle Whiskey debuted the expansion of its Strip District base, with an expanded bar, restaurant, tasting room and museum. Two days later, that space closed when the coronavirus pandemic led to a national economic shutdown. “The past 10 weeks have been a whirlwind,” said Meredith Meyer-Grelli, Wigle...
Authorities investigating ‘Zoom-bombing’ of Leechburg school board meeting
Schools, governing bodies and other organizations using teleconferencing software to hold online meetings during the coronavirus pandemic are facing a new form of cyber attack known as “Zoom-bombing.” Leechburg Area School Board became the latest victim Wednesday night when someone participating in the board’s virtual meeting via the online platform...
Housing Authority to provide internet and laptops to 872 Pittsburgh students
Pittsburgh Public Schools is partnering with the Housing Authority of Pittsburgh to provide laptops and internet access to low-income students living in public housing during the covid-19 pandemic. In a legislative meeting Wednesday, the district accepted a donation of $275,000 from the Housing Authority to support the purchase of laptops...
Eat’n Park to expand takeout locations in Pa., begin dine-in service in other states
By Tuesday, all of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group’s restaurants will be open. That includes the temporarily closed Eat’n Park, Hello Bistro and The Porch locations across Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. The company closed more than 20 restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. Some remained open as takeout only. Locations in...
380 layoffs announced across Allegheny Health Network, Highmark Health, another affiliate
Allegheny Health Network officials announced that AHN and two affiliates are laying off about 380 employees, mostly as the result of the covid-19 pandemic. About 250 of the job cuts mostly are from AHN’s corporate and administrative services, in addition to some clinical support staff, spokeswoman Lynn Seay said via...
