Local category, Page 2613
Highlands student to stand trial in school bus crowbar attack in Fawn
A Highlands School District student crossed a line between self-defense and attempted homicide when he didn’t stop after disarming a younger aggressor of a crowbar, but instead used it to beat his assailant, a prosecutor argued at the student’s preliminary hearing Wednesday. Assistant District Attorney Hillary Weaver said that’s why...
Lawsuit: UPMC urine test sparked child abuse investigation
A woman alleged Wednesday that staff at UPMC took a urine sample while she gave birth and drug-tested it without her knowledge, leading to a false positive, according to the lawsuit filed against the hospital system. Cherell Harrington, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, was admitted to Magee-Womens Hospital in...
Small fire extinguished at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital
A small fire was extinguished Wednesday afternoon at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. Fire Chief Tom Bell said a 2-foot-by-2-foot section of insulation caught fire while a crew was using a heating device to install a rubber roof on part of the hospital. That sent smoke into an area...
Banners to honor veterans prove popular in Westmoreland
Delmont officials want to gauge residents’ interest in purchasing banners for local veterans to be displayed throughout town. If the response next door in Export is any indication, they’re likely to prove popular. “We’ve gotten about 70 orders and anticipate at least another 10 that are in the works,” said...
New Light Congregation to host ‘The Meaning of Forgiveness’ discussion in Pittsburgh
How do survivors of a mass shooting forgive the shooter? Does it help the healing process? These are among the questions to be addressed when New Light Congregation hosts “The Meaning of Forgiveness: An Evening with Author Jennifer Berry Hawes.” The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m....
Planned G7 meeting in Downtown Pittsburgh canceled because of coronavirus
A meeting of international leaders that had been scheduled for this month in Downtown Pittsburgh instead will take place by teleconference in light of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a State Department spokeswoman. “Out of an abundance of caution, the United States has decided to host the upcoming #G7 ministerial...
Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade canceled, bars warned about occupancy
A St. Patrick’s Day party will go on in Pittsburgh on Saturday without a parade, but the city is asking bar owners to voluntarily reduce the number of patrons allowed inside and said they would strictly enforce occupancy limits. The spreading coronavirus that causes covid-19 prompted city officials to cancel...
Westmoreland Airport Authority eyes marketing study as coronavirus looms, runway upgrade nears
The Westmoreland Airport Authority plans to conduct the first marketing study of its two airports, hiring a separate consultant for each. Authority officials cited the impact of coronavirus concerns on the air travel industry and planned runway widening at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as changing conditions that could affect...
Missing Hempfield woman found safe
A Hempfield woman reported missing on Wednesday morning was found safe later in the day, according to state police. Troopers issued the alert for Kathleen Savasta, 33. Her mother Barbara Savasta had last seen her nearly two months ago after Kathleen borrowed her pickup truck on Jan. 19, saying she...
Allegheny Health Network limits visitation at hospitals
Allegheny Health Network is making changes to its visitation policy at area hospitals in response to the rising cases of the novel coronavirus across the United States. The temporary restrictions were announced Wednesday and limit the number of visitors for a patient to one person at a time in the...
Donora woman charged with nearly 1,400 counts of animal cruelty
A Washington County woman has been charged with nearly 1,400 counts of animal cruelty in connection with the rescue of about 150 dogs, cats, kittens and chickens from properties in Monessen and Donora in late October. Christie Dee Harr, 41, of Donora was charged Tuesday with 1,376 animal cruelty charges...
Part of Route 910 in Harmar shut down after truck ruptures gas line
A section of Route 910 in Harmar was shut down early Wednesday morning after a vehicle struck a gas line, according to authorities. The incident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. near the intersection of Locust Hill and Rich roads, according to emergency dispatchers. The line ruptured when a PennDOT truck...
Oklahoma Borough girl with leukemia to be honored at West Leechburg fundraiser
Nora Caporali was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia before she’d even turned 2. Her parents noticed some broken blood vessels and took their toddler to the doctor. They didn’t suspect anything serious. She was an active, enthusiastic child, after all. But the Oklahoma Borough family was sent to UPMC Children’s...
The Stroller, March 11, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is your go-to place for local meeting notices, charitable events and volunteer opportunities. Information for The Stroller may be dropped off or mailed at least a week in advance to: The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084, email vndnews@tribweb.com or fax 724-226-4677. St. Patty’s...
1 person hurt in fire near marina along Ohio River
A man was taken to the hospital for treatment of serious burns after a fire broke out in a trailer near a marina Wednesday morning in the city’s Chateau neighborhood. The fire erupted in a trailer in the 900 block of Beaver Avenue near the Newport Marina along the Ohio...
State warns of scammers posing as court officials
Pennsylvania court officials this week warned of a recently reported telephone scam seeking payments for bail and expenses to help incarcerated family members. Officials said the rouse involves a call from what appears to be the state’s Commonwealth Court telephone number and a demand for payments through PayPal. Officials cautioned...
Harrison City woman serves as ‘Miss Smiling Irish Eyes’ as Pittsburgh cancels annual paradeVideo
A Penn-Trafford graduate was looking forward to walking in the annual Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, but officials canceled Saturday’s event as a precaution for the spreading coronavirus. “I am disappointed, but I know that the city and the (St. Patrick’s Day Parade) committee is...
Delmont may raise sewage rates to keep pace with consent ordersVideo
Delmont officials will advertise for a $6.50-per-month sewage rate hike to keep pace with changes required in the borough’s consent order agreement with state environmental regulators. Council voted unanimously to advertise for the rate hike, and likely will vote on it at next month’s meeting. The borough is a party...
Learn to make minestrone soup, goat cheese polenta at Scott Township Public Library
Scott Township Public Library • From 5:30 to 6:30p.m. March 16, stop by for Cooking Club, goat cheese polenta. Learn how to make this food and enjoy samples. Registration is requested. • From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. March 17, make minestrone soup in a Mason jar and take it home...
Artsmiths of Pittsburgh owner wants to see Carnegie become ‘destination for the arts’
No matter what you’re looking for — from beaded jewelry to Butterbeer candles to totes made from recycled grocery bags topped with a seat belt as a handle — The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh has it all. The art and cultural center, with its quality selection of handmade designs crafted by...
Western Pennsylvania nursing homes restrict access amid coronavirus fears
Visitor access to at least two nursing homes in the Pittsburgh region has been restricted as a precaution against the potential spread of the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday. Wexford Healthcare Center in McCandless and Baldwin Health Center also are taking the temperatures of visitors who enter the home. A fever...
Western Pennsylvania school districts prepare for coronavirus
Western Pennsylvania school districts are making plans to continue instruction in the event schools close temporarily because of the spreading covid-19 coronavirus. “We are not in a position at this point to say that there’s a need to send kids home,” said Jenny Webb, spokeswoman for South Butler County School...
Original ‘King Kong’ coming to Pittsburgh area theaters on Sunday
That big film star “King Kong” is coming to a big screen near you. The original movie version of the story of the giant monster premiered this week in 1933. To celebrate the occasion, Turner Classic Movies is presenting “King Kong” on Sunday in theaters around the country — including...
The college that almost wasn’t: WCCC marks 50 yearsVideo
Fierce opposition took aim at its approval and controversy dogged its first years, but the college that almost wasn’t marked its 50th anniversary on Tuesday. From its start as a night school in rented classrooms at Jeannette High School, Westmoreland County Community College has expanded to serve nearly 5,000 students...
Pennsylvania reports 9 new flu deaths
The number of flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania this season has reached 83, up by nine in the past week, according to data the state Department of Health released Tuesday. Most of the deaths, 56, were in those age 65 and older. Six of the new deaths were in that age...
