Western PA Local News category, Page 2666
Mt. Pleasant Township woman accused of causing injury to 2-year-old boy
A Mt. Pleasant Township woman is accused by state police of causing a deep cut on a 2-year-old boy’s cheek, according to court papers. Ashley Marie Myers, 31, is charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment. Troopers were notified in a ChildLine report that the boy was taken to UPMC...
Pitt suspends Delta Zeta sorority over hazing allegations
The University of Pittsburgh has suspended the Delta Zeta sorority after reports of hazing new members came to light, according to a university spokesman. The sorority was placed on interim suspension effective Feb. 11, meaning it must “cease all organizational operations until further notice,” spokesman Kevin Zwick said. He said...
Soaring costs may spell the end for West Leechburg’s police force
The future of West Leechburg’s police department is in jeopardy because of soaring costs, officials said. Councilman Tim Grantz, chairman of the police committee, said the borough has been exploring alternative options for police coverage for about a year. Right now, the borough is looking into contracting coverage from other...
Jurors didn’t hear key evidence in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
Evidence that could have corroborated the sole eyewitness account placing suspect Cheron Shelton near the scene of the Wilkinsburg mass shooting was kept out of testimony because prosecutors weren’t presented with it until after the trial started, court documents show. The evidence showed that investigators searched a database for a...
Scottdale street closed after bricks fall from former Mennonite Publishing Co. building
Falling bricks from the former Mennonite Publishing Co. building forced Scottdale officials this week to close a section of Walnut Avenue. Yellow police tape, wooden barriers and traffic cones were set up to keep passersby off the block after bricks started flying around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, some bouncing into the...
Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnel work to impact weekday traffic until summer
An 18-week maintenance project at the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Tuscarora Tunnel in Franklin County is expected to impact motorists beginning Sunday night, according to turnpike officials. The weekly tunnel closure will occur at 9 p.m. Sundays, weather permitting, and continue until noon on Fridays, said turnpike spokeswoman Roseanne Placey. The weekly...
Route 30 reopened following 3-vehicle crash in North Huntingdon
All four lanes of Route 30 at Skellytown Road in North Huntingdon were closed Friday morning because of a vehicle crash, according to a township dispatcher. Crews responded shortly before 7 a.m. for the crash that involved three vehicles. One person was trapped following the incident, but was extricated around...
Game Commission member, sportsmen rep clash over Saturday start to deer seasonVideo
Three months after deer hunters took to the woods on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the first time in decades, many are still taking aim at a plan to make the change permanent. The Pennsylvania Game Commission on April 7 is expected to vote on finalizing the proposal. The public...
The Stroller, Feb. 21, 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. Jewelry bash...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Feb. 21-23
The weekend is here, and we’ve got some ideas about how to enjoy it in Pittsburgh. Uncork it The Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District will host its 22nd annual “History Uncorked: ‘80s Night” on Friday, the party for young professionals. The evening will feature live music...
Parents, students lament closing of St. Maria Goretti Catholic School in Bloomfield
Some children at St. Maria Goretti’s had a hard time learning their elementary school would be closing for good this summer, several parents and community members lamented Thursday night. “They were upset. Some were in tears,” said Sister Norma Rodriguez, a Brooklyn, N.Y. native and 10-year volunteer at the nearly...
Collier Community Center hosting Mardi Gras party Feb. 25
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Collier Community Center will be hosting a Mardi Gras party. This is a free event and a great way to observe Fat Tuesday prior to Lent. Guests are asked to bring a dish, dessert or snack to share. The Collier...
RSVP gift shop celebrates new ownership, plans Greensburg locationVideo
RSVP, the gift shop that’s been on Route 30 in Hempfield since 2010, celebrated new beginnings this week as its new owners eye a second location in downtown Greensburg. The store held a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon to mark the change in ownership and the store’s recent membership in the...
Pittsburgh firefighter accused of sex offenses with a minor in Virginia
A Pittsburgh firefighter has been arrested in Virginia and charged with multiple sexual offenses involving a minor. Brian Kosanovich was taken into custody Tuesday by FBI agents at a restaurant in Midlothian, Va., after making arrangements for sex with who he thought was a 10-year-old girl and her mother. Kosanovich...
Braddock gang leader, 2 others plead guilty to leading massive drug trafficking ring
A Pittsburgh area gang leader and his two associates have pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking related charges this week. Howard McFadden, 30, of Turtle Creek, Donald Singleton, 48, of Penn Hills and Chadlin Leavy, 31, of Pittsburgh admitted to multiple counts related to their involvement in conspiracies...
Hockey fundraiser in Greensburg to raise money for family of man lost to heart attack
James Pacek loved playing hockey, so it’s only appropriate his friends will strap on skates to honor his memory. They’ve organized a “Pucks for Pacek” charity hockey game to be held Saturday at Kirk S. Nevin arena in Greensburg, and the event is shaping up to be bigger than any...
‘Impractical Jokers’ star to visit Pittsburgh movie theaters
One quarter of TV’s “Impractical Jokers” will make an improvisational appearance in the Pittsburgh area on Friday. Sal Vulcano from TruTV’s hit show will be at three Pittsburgh-area mall movie theaters Friday night to help pitch the group’s feature film debut in “Impractical Jokers: The Movie.” Vulcano is expected to...
Several local fire departments get clean reports after state audits
A state audit conducted recently of relief associations associated with several local volunteer fire departments showed no irregularities. The state auditor’s report found no issues with the reports of volunteer fire departments in Leechburg, Upper Burrell, Ford Cliff, Marguerite, and Pleasant Unity. State aid for the relief associations comes from...
Judge rejects request from convicted Fayette Co. drug kingpin wanting years shaved off sentence
A Fayette County drug kingpin will not receive a shortened prison sentence for ordering the 1993 killing of a man whose heart and liver were later transplanted into a dying Gov. Robert Casey. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger this week rejected a request from Ronald Whethers to count...
4 more grads make it through Westmoreland drug court
Westmoreland County’s drug court on Thursday graduated four more participants, bringing the number of former addicts who obtained sobriety under judicial supervision to 39 during the six years of the program. Thursday marked the eighth graduation ceremony since the court was unveiled in 2014. “This is a very intensive program...
Excela Health challenged by ‘disrupters’ in health care market, CEO saysVideo
Excela Health not only faces competition from larger Pittsburgh-based health systems but also national tech companies “invading” the local market in an effort to change how people receive health care, the Westmoreland County-based system’s top official said. “The biggest disruption in our health care space is technology,” Excela Health CEO...
Westmoreland deputy sheriff honored for helping save man in courtroom incidentVideo
Westmoreland County Deputy Sheriff Sean McKown knew he had to act fast and rushed over to the courtroom gallery to help an ill spectator. McKown, 52, of Lower Burrell, was honored in a surprise ceremony Thursday by Sheriff James Albert for his quick action that officials said may have saved...
Pittsburgh’s Brother’s Brother Foundation sending 450,000 surgical masks to China
Brother’s Brother Foundation will ship a massive global relief package to China on Thursday to help combat the coronavirus. The shipment of 450,000 surgical face masks and 1,350 coverall protective suits will be distributed to hospitals treating patients with the virus across Wuhan, Huang Gang, Beijing and Chengdu provinces. Sarah...
Food security for Pennsylvanians could be in peril with food stamp changes, groups fear
Although food insecurity in Pennsylvania is at a 10-year low, there is a rising level of concern that changes coming to the food stamp program could reverse that number. An estimated 11% of households in Pennsylvania were considered “food insecure” in 2018, compared to nearly 15% in 2008, according to...
Man accused of assaulting, threatening Mt. Pleasant man
A man accused of assaulting a 41-year-old man in his Mt. Pleasant home Monday was jailed Wednesday after he was accused of calling and threatening to harm him. Roger C. Strautmann, 30, of Greensburg. was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of intimidating a witness and single counts of simple assault,...
