Local category, Page 2655
New Westmoreland County leaders take over commissioners’, sheriff’s offices
Westmoreland County’s new government will be unveiled Monday when Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew take over the majority on the board of commissioners and Democrat James Albert assumes control of the sheriff’s office. Monday marks the first official day on the job for the newly elected officials, and, as...
Lamp Theatre planning expansion for 2020Video
A pavilion to be built over part of the courtyard at The Lamp Theatre in downtown Irwin will provide shelter from the weather and a raised stage in the courtyard will put musicians a step above the crowds for outdoor concerts, all part of an effort to improve patrons’ experience....
Plum businessman hooks investor on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’
He got a deal. Plum’s Joe Altieri appeared on the ABC show “Shark Tank” on Sunday night, seeking an investment for his Murrysville window screen company, FlexScreen. After making his pitch and fielding questions from the show’s five “shark” investors, Altieri, 43, considered offers from Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner and...
New Kensington parishes celebrate Epiphany with live animals inside churchVideo
Parishioners and community members weren’t the only ones celebrating the Epiphany on Sunday at St. Joseph Parish in New Kensington. A donkey, miniature horse, two lambs and two goats were, too. Filomena Palumbo, 6, of New Kensington had some fun playing with the miniature horse. “I think it’s lovely. I...
Police investigate fight, shooting at Downtown Pittsburgh nightclub
Pittsburgh police are investigating a large fight at a Downtown Pittsburgh nightclub early Sunday morning during which a man fired a gun, a public safety spokesman said. No one was struck by gunfire, spokesman Chris Togneri said. Officers were called to the nightclub in the 100 block of 7th Street...
Mass-casualty plans become reality as Western Pa. hospitals treat turnpike crash victims
Doctors and nurses buzzed around Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital early Sunday as they waited to receive 11 patients who were involved in a tour bus crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike that left five dead and about 55 injured. More than twice as many crash victims — 31 in all...
A look at other deadly bus crashes in the U.S., Pennsylvania
Five people were killed in a violent bus crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike early Sunday, adding to a long history of deadly bus crashes across Pennsylvania and the United States. Deadliest U.S. bus crashes Sept. 17, 1963: Fifty-three farm workers were on a flatbed truck being used as a makeshift...
For Orthodox Christians, Tuesday is Christmas Day
While traditional Christmas celebrations have come and gone for most in the Alle-Kiski Valley, Orthodox Christians are preparing for their Christmas Day celebration Tuesday. The celebrations come 13 days after the traditional Christmas celebrations of Dec. 25. It will include Mass and a special dinner tonight on Christmas Eve and...
Hempfield woman loses $1,000 in theft
A 52-year-old Greensburg woman had just over $1,000 stolen from her bank account as a result of the theft of her debit card and checks last month in Hempfield, the state police said. Someone had stolen her debit card and used it at several locations last month, racking up the...
Company operating bus involved in fatal Pa. Turnpike crash has had only minor violations in past 2 years
The bus company that operates the bus involved in a multi-vehicle fatal crash early Sunday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township had a satisfactory safety review, no recent crashes and only minor violations in the past two years, records show. State police spokesman Stephen Limani identified the bus...
Agreement restores WTAE to DirecTV customers
DirecTV subscribers in the Pittsburgh area will once again be able to view ABC affiliate WTAE-TV. In a joint statement Sunday, Hearst Television, parent company of WTAE, and AT&T, which owns DirecTV, announced they had entered into a new, multi-year retransmission agreement to provide Hearst-owned local broadcast stations to customers...
Pittsburgh police arrest warrant suspect wanted in connection with two assaults
Pittsburgh police on Saturday arrested a man wanted in connection with an alleged assault of a woman that began in November. Deric James Ivy, 27, no known address, turned himself into police on Saturday afternoon, police said. Ivy was wanted on an outstanding warrant in connection with the Nov. 22...
Rostraver paramedic killed in crash that closed Interstate 70 near Smithton
A paramedic responding to a crash early Sunday on Interstate 70 near the Smithton exit was struck by a vehicle and killed, the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office confirmed. The paramedic from Rostraver-West Newton Emergency Medical Services was identified on the ambulance service’s Facebook page Sunday afternoon as Matt C. Smelser,...
5 dead, about 55 injured in Pa. Turnpike crash in Mt. Pleasant Twp.; IDs releasedVideo
Five people have died and about 55 others have been injured in an early-morning crash Sunday involving a tour bus on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township, authorities said. The 52-passenger bus was traveling on a downhill curve, struck an embankment and flipped onto its side, authorities said. The...
Pittsburgh’s lone graffiti cop knows the beat like no other
There may be no one in Pittsburgh who knows more about graffiti than city police Detective Alphonso Sloan. Sloan, the lone detective on the city’s Graffiti Task Force, is himself an artist. He has a deep appreciation for what he sees in the talent displayed by many of those who...
Why you can still smoke at some Pennsylvania bars
The smell gives it away before you even spot the ashtrays on the bar. In the early afternoon on a Thursday, the Squirrel Hill Café isn’t packed, but the smell of smoke still hangs in the air from the half-dozen smokers lined up at the bar. Jan Cavrak, a manager...
Latrobe man joined brothers in serving country
Victor P. Pierdominici of Latrobe wanted to join his two older brothers, Richard and Louis, who were fighting in World War II, but he did not want to join the Army. He said, “I’d rather be in the Navy,” according to his daughter, Vicki Weimer of Latrobe. Surprisingly, he got...
The Stroller, Jan. 5, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
HED HERE Highlands Family Center is partnering with the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank to provide free diapers to local families. Free diapers will be distributed from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., Tarentum. Bring your child or...
Neighbors rally around Allegheny Township couple after house fire
An online fundraising effort to help an Allegheny Township couple whose home was destroyed by fire Friday was approaching a $10,000 goal. By Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign to benefit Jason and Marissa Femc had raised $9,500 from more than 180 donors. The Femcs, who are newlyweds, lost all their...
Fight breaks out at Iran anti-war protest in Pittsburgh
An anti-war protest in Pittsburgh was peaceful on Saturday until a fight broke out. More than 100 people were taking part in the protest at Schenely Plaza in Oakland, the Trib’s news partner, WPXI-TV, reported. The protest started around 12:30 p.m. and was over by 2 p.m., a Pittsburgh police...
Soup for toddlers sold online recalled due to undeclared allergens, USDA says
A Massachusetts business is recalling about 200 pounds of lentil and beef soup for toddlers shipped to Pennsylvania and four other states and Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced. Kettle Cuisine Midco is recalling the ready-to-eat product because of misbranding and undeclared allergens, the department’s Food Safety and...
Westmoreland residents take first steps on fitness resolutions at 5k run in DerryVideo
Some Westmoreland County residents spent the first weekend of 2020 taking the first steps toward their fitness resolutions. About 150 people participated in the Resolution Run on Saturday morning at Keystone State Park in Derry. “It’s a good way to gauge our level of fitness, or non-fitness, and see how...
Mt. Pleasant Township vacant house fire ruled arson
A fire that damaged a vacant Mt. Pleasant Township home Friday night was intentionally set, according to state police. The fire at 513 Pine St. was reported shortly before 8:30 p.m. A state police fire marshal who investigated the fire found it had started at multiple points in the basement...
Police: Summit Academy student suffers injuries in 6-on-1 assault
Six students at a Butler County rehabilitation school were arrested after allegedly assaulting another student, according to state police. State police said the incident happened around 2:45 p.m. Thursday at Summit Academy on Herman Road in Summit Township. Summit Academy is a private residential school for at-risk youths between the...
WPXI restored to Verizon Fios customers; WTAE still off for DirecTV subscribers
An agreement has restored one Pittsburgh television station to customers of Verizon’s Fios service while a dispute continues to keep another off for DirecTV subscribers. Verizon announced to its customers Saturday night that it was able to reach an agreement with Cox Media Group that allows it to restore is...
