Local category, Page 2670
Westmoreland Dems seeking new leadership for party committee
Westmoreland County Democrats will have new leadership in this presidential election year after the party committee’s top two officials resigned in the last month. Party chairwoman Rachel Shaw notified committee members this week she will step down Jan. 27 for professional reasons. The committee’s vice chairman Paul Adams resigned in...
Oklahoma Borough man dies 2 days after being accused of indecent assault
Authorities withdrew charges against an Oklahoma Borough man accused of sexually assaulting a mentally disabled man because the suspect died two days after being arraigned, court records show. Brian K. Ferguson, 52, was charged Jan. 16 with indecent assault of a person with a mental disability and unlawful restraint in...
City of Pittsburgh pays tribute to Negro League baseball
A collection of photos, artifacts and memorabilia showcasing Pittsburgh’s rich Negro League baseball history will be displayed throughout February as part of Black History Month. The exhibit will be in the lobby of the City-County Building and will honor Pittsburgh’s many Negro League Hall of Famers by spotlighting individual players,...
Unity man pleads guilty to supplying lethal drugs in 2 overdose deaths
A Unity man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he provided the drugs used by two men who fatally overdosed more than two years ago in Derry and Hempfield. Police said Jesse Hudspath, 27, shared 50 bags of fentanyl-laced heroin with two friends who died in their homes. Malachai E. Mundorff,...
Western Pa. pro-life activists excited for Trump appearance at March for Life
Pro-life activists say they feel energized about Friday’s 47th annual March for Life as they await the first-ever appearance by a sitting U.S. president. President Trump announced this week that he plans to make a personal appearance at the annual event, which marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade —...
Victim, alleged target in Wilkinsburg mass shooting jailed on material witness warrant
A victim and alleged target in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting is in custody while a judge considers the likelihood of him showing up to court to testify. Lamont Powell, 28, is alleged to have been the target of the shooting that killed three of his siblings, a cousin, a...
Good Samaritan helps troopers ID suspected meth users in New Alexandria
A Good Samaritan who expressed concern over the safety of Route 22 motorists telephoned state troopers Wednesday to report two men parked outside a Sheetz store in New Alexandria who were allegedly using drugs. Troopers subsequently arrested Travis D. Teets, 35, and Adam J. Dewitt, 34, both of Preston, W.Va.,...
Local schools receive PASmart grants
Eight school districts in the area will receive money through the PASmart program, an initiative that equips underrepresented populations with technology for educational purposes, said Sen. Jim Brewster. The following districts will each receive $35,000 from the program: • Brentwood Borough School District • Clairton City School District • Gateway...
Brashear staffer on leave as authorities probe ‘inappropriate’ social media video
Authorities in Washington County are investigating the circumstances surrounding a video posted to a social media site earlier this month by a staffer of Pittsburgh’s Brashear High School. The staff member was placed on leave after the post was reported Jan. 13, according to Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh....
Police: Missouri man arrested at Pittsburgh airport with loaded gun didn’t have permit
A Missouri man was arrested at Pittsburgh International Airport after TSA officers found a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag at the security checkpoint, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Donnell Whitcancek, 59, of Garden City, was arrested and charged with a firearms violation because he didn’t have a valid...
McClellan Elementary paraprofessional becomes U.S. Citizen
Shevan Abdulla sits on the floor inside a first-grade classroom at McClellan Elementary School constructing a colorful tower alongside student Santino Civitello. “Higher,” Santino states, as Abdulla, a paraprofessional at the school, adds more blocks to the structure and begins quizzing the young boy on his spelling words. It’s business...
Should Pennsylvanians worry about deadly coronavirus?
Health officials say Pennsylvanians have little to fear so far from a deadly respiratory illness spreading across Southeast Asia. The coronavirus, which presents itself with symptoms similar to a common cold or the flu, has so far killed 18 people, mainly in China, and has sickened people in Taiwan, Japan,...
Full jury, 6 alternates set to hear 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
A full jury and six alternates have been seated to hear the capital case against two men accused in the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg. The final two alternates, one woman and one man, were chosen Thursday afternoon – the 13th day of jury selection. Cheron Shelton, 32, and Robert...
Fight over shrimp in Pittsburgh lands 2 women in jail
Two women were hurt while fighting over a bag of shrimp inside a Pittsburgh home, police said. They were charged with aggravated assault after the fracas. Nandine Bell, 46, of Pittsburgh, told police she was buying a bag of shrimp from Pamela Freshley, 55, of Swissvale at about 12:34 p.m....
Monroeville police charges for the week of Jan. 13-21
Monroeville police filed the following charges Jan. 13-21 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted: • Kay Norton, 58, of Penn Hills with robbery, criminal attempt, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and harassment. Charges were filed by Pitcairn police Jan....
Hempfield to roll out memorial benches, trees
Hempfield residents soon could have a new way to commemorate loved ones. The township’s parks and recreation department plans to sell memorial benches and trees that can be placed in parks and at facilities across the township. “It will be an opportunity for families to commemorate loved ones whether they...
Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai will not seek another term in officeVideo
Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai ended speculation about his political future Thursday by announcing that he will not seek another term in Harrisburg. With his wife and son at his side during a news conference at his district office in McCandless, Turzai said it “has been a privilege of a...
Wilkinsburg shooting suspect’s attorney says ‘guarantees’ made to witness, seeks dismissal
The attorney for one of two men accused in the 2016 mass shooting in Wilkinsburg has asked the judge to dismiss the case against his client, alleging 11 days before the trial is set to start that prosecutors failed to disclose exculpatory evidence. The push made Thursday to dismiss the...
DA: Police justified in killing Greensburg woman who had gun
The fatal shooting of a Greensburg woman in March by a city police officer has been officially classified a justified homicide. Nina C. Adams, 47, posed a threat to police and the public March 13 when she fired shots at a Harvey Avenue building, according to a report released Thursday...
Police seek ID of man caught painting ‘CAVIAR’ on South Side wall
Pittsburgh police are asking for help to identify a man caught spray painting graffiti Saturday on South 20th Street on the South Side. The tag reads “CAVIAR” and could be in other locations as well. Police released photos of the man, who was caught on video making tag at about...
Harmar fills vacancy on board of supervisors
Harmar Supervisors appointed Jim Devlin to fill a vacancy on the township board. Devlin, 73, will fill the unexpired term of Supervisors’ Chairman Bob Seibert. Seibert, who had two years left on his six-year term, decided to run for the seat vacated by Patricia Janoski, who retired from the board...
Hempfield looking to fundraising organization to help with park projectsVideo
A community long accustomed to hawking hoagies to raise money for its high school band is looking into creating a non-profit group to raise funds for local park projects. Friends of Hempfield Parks, as the proposed organization is initially dubbed, would be comprised of township residents who would raise money...
Registration opens for 2020 Pittsburgh Great Race
Online registration is now open for the 43rd annual Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race. This year’s Great Race will be run on Sept. 27. The fee is $20 for the first 500 registrants. Once 500 spots in the 5K and 10K are filled, the price will then...
Unity supervisors to consider recycling center plans at Tuesday meeting
Unity Township supervisors will consider plans for a recycling center near Pleasant Unity at a special meeting on Tuesday. Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling ended recycling at its headquarters along Route 30 in Unity, at Innovative Park, as it pursues a planned move of the operations to a larger facility along...
Registration open for girls youth lacrosse teams
Registration for the Franklin Regional Youth Lacrosse girls team is open at Frylax.com. Registration is planned for 12U and 14U teams. The group is particularly looking for new fifth and sixth-grade players and have opened registration for fourth-grade girls interested in “playing up” with the 12U team. Younger girls can...
