Pa. educators push for additional dollars to equitably fund schools
New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck is grateful for the unprecedented funding that was granted to Pennsylvania’s public schools this academic year. But, as education experts continue to note inadequate funding among the majority of the state’s K-12 schools, Sefcheck knows there is still a long way to go in properly...
Westmoreland jail population nears limit; juvenile detention center expansion plan progresses
The inmate population at Westmoreland County Prison has swelled to its highest numbers this decade, prompting officials to watch for signs of overcrowding. Meanwhile, local leaders said they want to increase the number of teens housed next door at the county’s juvenile detention center in Hempfield. The jail on Monday...
Washington, Pa. man dies after shooting; no injuries reported at nearby school
A Washington, Pa., man died after he was shot in the city on Monday morning. Nasstylejah Wilkerson, 28, was pronounced dead in the emergency department of UPMC Washington Hospital following the shooting reported at about 11:45 a.m. near the intersection of West Walnut and North Franklin streets, according to Washington...
Police check report of inappropriate conduct by Indiana County school staffer
State police are investigating a report of inappropriate conduct involving an employee of a school district in southeastern Indiana County. No charges had been filed as of Monday and there was no threat to students or staff at United School District. The incident involved a district staff member and was...
Motorcyclists hurt in crash along Saxonburg Road in Harrison
Two people were hurt when a motorcycle the were riding crashed Monday in Harrison, authorities said. They were not identified, but were in stable condition as they were taken by ambulance to a hospital, said Harrison Hills fire Chief Jules Beer. Township police wouldn’t release information. Firefighters were chopping a...
Man shows up to Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition after North Side shooting, police say
Pittsburgh police said a man showed up to a hospital in critical condition after being shot in the neck Monday. Public Safety officials said officers responded to two ShotSpotter notifications totaling 12 rounds fired before 3:20 p.m. near the 100 block of Lafayette Avenue on the city’s North Side. A...
Ligoner Township man pleads guilty in father’s stabbing
A Ligonier Township man pleaded guilty to lesser charges for stabbing his father last year. Michael Glenn Glass, 27, has been in jail since his arrest in March 2024 after he was charged with felony attempted homicide, aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and possession of instruments of...
Homeless man accused of making harassing phone calls to Jeannette church
A homeless man is accused of making numerous harassing phone calls to Ascension Catholic Church in Jeannette, police said. William J. Gay, 55, is accused of threatening to kill a church secretary and set the church on fire, according to court documents. He has been making the calls since October,...
At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
PSO musicians to perform at library Northland Public Library is hosting musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1 to 2 p.m. May 17. The performance for all ages is part of the Musicians of the PSO Day of Music which strives to bring music into communities throughout the Pittsburgh...
South Fayette man pleads guilty to filming sex with 14-year-old girl
A South Fayette man has pleaded guilty in federal court to filming himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl, then sending her photos and a video of the encounter. Matthew Trax, 25, used “multiple iPhones” to record sex acts with the teen in November 2023, authorities said. Trax pleaded guilty...
Hazelwood, Harrison funeral director accused of pocketing $650K for pet cremations, burials that didn’t happen
Funeral director Patrick Vereb is facing multiple felony charges, accused of improperly disposing of thousands of dogs and cats after owners had paid for pet burials or cremations. Vereb, 70, of Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood owns and operates funeral homes in Hazelwood and Harrison and Eternity Pet Memorial, which provides funerals,...
Duquesne receives record number of applications for class of 2029
Duquesne University has received a record number of applications for the class of 2029. More than 13,000 first-year students applied to Duquesne’s undergraduate programs, the university announced Monday. From those applicants, Duquesne expects to enroll a class of approximately 1,500 first-year students and 200 transfer students, as the pool is...
Upper Burrell data center to use natural gas for more than 2 gigawatts of power generation
A data center planned at the former Alcoa Research Center in Upper Burrell plans to produce much of its own electricity via natural gas wells on the property, a company spokeswoman confirmed Monday. “Our goal is to not heavily pull from the grid, it’s to provide our own,” said Melissa...
Leechburg Area students take a stand against food insecurity
Leechburg Area seniors Nick Sherbondy and Ava Ferretti have certainly been keeping busy. After packing meals during a Rise Against Hunger event hosted by a group of Methodist churches in the Alle-Kiski Valley, the pair were inspired to keep the good deeds going. Sherbondy and Ferretti decided to host another...
Derry Township man arrested after shotgun blast inside home, standoff with police
A Derry Township man is behind bars after state police said he fired a shotgun through a wall at his home Sunday night, missing a woman on the other side by a few feet. Police said the woman reported debris and drywall fell onto her, according to court papers. She...
Northern Tier Regional Library renovating Richland site, celebrates success of Pine branch
Northern Tier Regional Library is one of 11 libraries to receive a Keystone Grant this year. The nearly $92,000 grant will help pay for some much-needed renovations at the library’s Richland location. A portion of the grant will be used to redo the bathrooms at the Richland library, as the...
West Deer set to welcome the public for a tour of new municipal building
Anyone who’s been to a West Deer meeting since December has seen the township’s new digs. But they’ll be able to see more than the public meeting room next month, when the township plans an open house and tours, during which residents can ask questions about the $10 million building....
Pittsburgh Symphony performance at Saint Vincent will honor late archabbot
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will honor a late Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica archabbot during a performance Wednesday in Unity. The show, “Music for the Spirit,” will pay tribute to Douglas R. Nowicki, OSB, the 11th and second longest-serving archabbot in Saint Vincent’s 178-year history. He oversaw the expansion and renovation...
Northern Westmoreland welding program grows, highlighting industry demand
Brandon Stankiewicz will be paying extra-close attention when he sees a semitruck on the road. After all, he and his peers in the welding program at Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center may have made the truck’s battery box. Students there partnered with a Shelocta-based trucking company to weld 15...
Pittsburgh Regional Transit to start public hearings
Pittsburgh Regional Transit on Tuesday will begin hosting public hearings about a proposal that would increase fares and drastically cut services. The first public hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 3 until 7 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s Pittsburgh Ballroom. People can sign...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of April 28, 2025
Annual Oakmont plant sale slated The Oakmont Garden Club is hosting its annual Spring Plant Sale. The group will be set up in the Hoffstot’s parking lot on Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10. The sale will include flats of flowers and vegetables...
Morning Roundup: Woman shot in Wilkinsburg; 2 dogs abandoned at Dollar General
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, April 28: Woman shot in Wilkinsburg A woman was shot in Wilkinsburg Sunday evening, according to Allegheny County police. Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, Allegheny County 911 was alerted to shots fired in the 1500 block of Park...
The Stroller, April 28, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Volunteer opportunities available at...
Popes rise to challenges of their times, Pittsburgh-area Catholic experts say
The next pope will have the weight of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on his shoulders. That’s how the Rev. Daniel Carr, 40, pastor of St. Regis Parish in Trafford, sees it. Carr, a priest for six years, has only served under Pope Francis. He has taken Francis’ message of...
Plan for Pittsburgh: GOP mayoral candidates Moreno, West detail visions ahead of primary
Editor’s note: On Sunday, TribLive profiled the policy positions of the two Democrats running in the May 20 primary election for Pittsburgh’s mayor. Here, we look at the two candidates in the Republican primary. Pittsburgh hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in about 100 years, but the candidates competing for the...
