Local category, Page 2679
Pittsburgh man caught trying to solicit sex from a minor pleads guilty in federal court
A Pittsburgh man caught trying to solicit sex from someone he thought was a minor pleaded guilty in federal court. Joseph Hamilton, 38, could be sentenced to life in prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, authorities announced Monday. He pleaded guilty...
Franklin Regional telethon has raised more than $139,000 over the years
When local viewers watch this year’s Franklin Regional Holiday Telethon, they will see four compelling reasons to consider donating to this year’s beneficiary, the UPMC Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund. “We have documentary segments on four (Franklin Regional) families who have been helped through the Free Care Fund,” said high...
Monessen man pleads guilty to helping run one of Western Pennsylvania’s largest cocaine rings
A Monessen man pleaded guilty to helping run a cross-country cocaine ring that was among the largest in Western Pennsylvania history, federal prosecutors said. Deaubre Lightfoot, 29, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams (about a pound) or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Scott...
Saint Vincent College will take comment on dining hall expansion
Saint Vincent College officials on Thursday will discuss the planned development of a Student Life and Hospitality Hub, including the dining hall where the Pittsburgh Steelers eat during training camp on the Unity campus. The meeting, which will include a public comment period, begins at 9 a.m. in Room 2B,...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to federal drug charge involving GBK gang
A Pittsburgh man associated with the GBK street gang pleaded guilty in Pittsburgh federal court to selling or distributing drugs in the Greenway Projects in the Pittsburgh’s West End. On Monday, Allen Green, 40, of Pittsburgh withdrew a not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to...
Mayor Bill Peduto, Pittsburgh Public Schools superintendent agree to work on school funding sourcesVideo
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto met with Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet on Monday, saying he wanted to “clear the air” and offer to help find alternative funding sources for the financially ailing district. It was their first meeting since Peduto criticized the district over a proposed property tax increase...
Free Wi-Fi coming to all Allegheny County Port Authority buses, light rail
Allegheny County Port Authority customers will be able to surf wherever they ride by early 2020. Port Authority will finish installing free, unlimited Wi-Fi on its fleet of more than 400 buses and on light rail cars in the coming months, the authority announced Monday. The signal will be strong...
Syria Shriners land $17K from Hypnosis Society of Pa., folding after 76 years
One nonprofit’s demise is another’s gain. After 76 years, the Hypnosis Society of Pennsylvania is dissolving and has donated its savings, about $17,000, to the Syria Shriners, headquartered in Harmar. “We consider that a large contribution, and we are very grateful for it,” said David Gardy of Mt. Washington, Syria...
Youngwood woman who assaulted her mother to be released from jail
A Youngwood woman charged two years ago with a assault of her elderly mother during a dispute over the volume of a Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game broadcast was expected to be released from jail late Monday. Dolores Amorino, 42, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, simple assault...
West Leechburg approves 5.5% tax increase
West Leechburg Council has adopted a $505,500 budget for 2020 that includes a 5.5% increase in property taxes. Under the plan, the borough’s tax rate will go up 1.5 mills to 29 mills. At that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $15,218 — West Leechburg’s average assessed home...
Tarentum’s Cycle Diner to serve food again in January
The Cycle Diner in Tarentum soon will be up and running again. It will be renamed Clark’s Cycle Diner and open sometime in early January, according to John Clark, owner of Clark’s Diner in Lower Burrell, who will lease the space and manage the Tarentum restaurant. “I want to keep...
Westmoreland County Prison to review visitation logs in wake of smuggling bust at Allegheny County Jail
Westmoreland County Prison officials said Monday they will review facility entrance logs to determine if a local attorney charged last week with smuggling drugs to inmates at the Allegheny County jail had similarly visited the lockup in Hempfield. Following the release last week of a grand jury presentment, lawyer Paul...
Woman injured in Springdale Township crash
A woman was injured early Monday afternoon when the Chevrolet Impala she was driving slammed into a utility pole in Springdale Township. An Allegheny Valley police officer said the woman might have suffered a medical problem before crashing around 1 p.m. on Freeport Road just south of the New Kensington...
Connellsville man arrested for Vanderbilt bank robbery
A Connellsville man is charged with robbing a Vanderbilt bank on Friday, state police said. Donald Ray Homer Jr., 56, is facing two counts of robbery, two counts of terroristic threats and one count each of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, according to a criminal complaint against...
3 experts say cyanide test was faulty as Robert Ferrante seeks new trial
The attorney for the University of Pittsburgh researcher convicted in 2014 of poisoning his wife with cyanide has bolstered his request for a new trial with conclusions from three experts that a cyanide test done in the case was faulty. Former Pitt researcher Robert Ferrante, 71, is serving a life...
Valley Salvation Army locations struggling to meet fundraising goals
Salvation Army locations are struggling to meet their Red Kettle Campaign fundraising goals as the donation drive comes to a close. Lt. Alex Senak said that the Allegheny Valley Worship and Service Center’s campaign has only raised $52,643, well short of its goal of $125,000 by Christmas Eve. That leaves...
Proposed bill would honor 3 men who dedicated lives to community, country
Three Western Pennsylvania men who dedicated their lives to ensuring the safety of their communities and country could soon be memorialized for their sacrifices. Former Greene County Sheriff Brian Tennant and Pfc. Joseph Frank Duda and Cpl. Denny Ray Easter, both of Fayette County, could live on through street names...
Ligonier man accused of assault, threatening women with shotgun
A 51-year-old Ligonier Township man was arrested Saturday, charged with assaulting two women and threatening them with a shotgun. Wayne J. Deem surrendered to Ligonier Valley Police about 12:45 p.m. Saturday at his home near Wilpen after police were called for a report of an assault involving a weapon. Officer...
‘Interactive’ Fred Rogers portrait to go on display at his alma mater
An interactive mixed-media portrait of Fred Rogers will go on display at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary starting in January. The “Fred Rogers: Just The Way You Are” portrait by Nashville artist Wayne Brezinka has been making the rounds of Pittsburgh area venues, including the Saint Vincent College Fred Rogers Center and...
Sandy Hook mom Scarlett Lewis cancels Burrell speech
Scarlett Lewis, the Sandy Hook mom who founded a social emotional learning program, has canceled a speech scheduled for Monday night at Burrell High School because she is ill, according to Burrell Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Lewis’ presentation will be rescheduled, according to Wagner. Burrell said they opened up Lewis’ speech...
Hempfield family packs ‘chemo comfort’ tote bags for adult cancer patientsVideo
A Hempfield family’s loss has turned into gain for hundreds of cancer patients in Westmoreland County. On Sunday, Dave Carr and his sons, Eli and Grant, gathered with family and friends at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to assemble special tote bags for adult cancer patients. The Chemo Comfort...
Pittsburgh resident going to court in hopes of ousting Councilman Ricky Burgess
A resident of Pittsburgh’s East End is attempting to oust Councilman Ricky Burgess, contending in a court challenge that he is in violation of the city’s Home Rule Charter because he also works as a professor at the Community College of Allegheny County. Carmen Brown, 41, of Lincoln-Lemington cites a...
$100K New Year’s raffle ticket sold in Penn Hills
A winning raffle ticket with a $100,000 prize was sold at Penn Hills Convenience in Penn Hills, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Monday. The ticket was drawn as the fifth $100,000 Weekly Drawing prize. The weekly drawing is part of the New Year’s Millionaire Raffle, which began in November. The game...
Post-Gazette employees to end byline strike after 1 month
Unionized journalists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday will end a month-long byline strike protesting what the union has described as a hostile work environment. Members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents about 140 employees at the Post-Gazette, began withholding names from all stories, columns, photos and graphics...
2 men claiming they were sold bad weed accused of breaking down Harrison door
Two men claiming they were sold bad drugs kicked in the rear door of a Harrison apartment Friday and threatened a man inside, according to police. The men demanded their money back and left after the man inside the apartment called 911, according to criminal complaints filed in the case....
