Local category, Page 2697
Penn Township tattoo parlor will host Toys for Tots fundraiser
When Justin Schultz opened his first tattoo shop in downtown Jeannette in 2012, a Toys for Tots representative stopped by right around this time of year to drop off a donation box. “I thought, ‘It’s such a little box,’ so we had the idea to do an annual fundraiser and...
Duolingo touts $1.5B valuation; language company to hire 100 more people, mostly in Pittsburgh
Duolingo has earned the title of Pittsburgh’s first tech “unicorn” — investing lingo for those rare startups that achieve a valuation topping $1 billion. Now valued at $1.5 billion, the 7-year-old digital language learning company plans to increase its workforce by about 50% — which could bring nearly 100 new...
Father of convicted cop killer has trial on intimidation charge delayed until February
The witness intimidation trial of the father of the Harrison man convicted of the murder of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw has been delayed until February to allow the defense to investigate claims of new evidence. Just before a jury was to be selected to hear his case on...
Teen reported missing returns safely home in Pittsburgh’s North Side
A teen who went missing briefly in Pittsburgh’s North Side has been found safe, officials said Thursday. On Wednesday night, police asked the public for help searching for a 17-year-old girl from the Manchester section of the North Side who was reported missing. She returned safely to her home before...
Monroeville man indicted on drug, gun charges
A Monroeville man known as “Big Boy” was indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly distributing fentanyl and heroin and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Davon Carter Williams, 31, was indicted on four counts stemming from December 2016 and February 2017 incidents where Williams possessed heroin with...
Several fire departments in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties receive grants
Several Westmoreland County volunteer fire departments will soon be able to add training sessions and purchase new equipment thanks to a grant from the Chevron energy corporation. These volunteer fire departments will receive grants up to $5,000: Sewickley Township stations 1, 2, 3 and 4; Smithton; Sutersville; Turkeytown; and Yukon;...
Covestro buys 260-acre Robinson property as Bayer spinoff strengthens commitment to Pittsburgh
Covestro, a Bayer spinoff, has inked a deal to buy the nearly 260-acre property it’s been operating out of in Robinson, officials said Wednesday. The Germany-based plastics manufacturer, formerly known as Bayer MaterialScience, employs about 750 people in Robinson. Covestro officials said the purchase of the property signifies its commitment...
Unity planning commission OKs mobile home park expansion
More mobile homes could soon arrive along Marguerite Lake Road in Unity. The township planning commission approved 51 additional lots at Hillside Estates mobile home park. UMH Properties of Morgantown, W. Va., plans to add the lots in three phases on a 21-acre section of the development just north of...
Jury finds Youngwood man not guilty of serious assault charges
A Youngwood man was found not guilty Wednesday of all serious felony charges filed against him after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in two separate attacks two years ago. Charles R. Agger Jr., who served as his own lawyer during the two-day trial, claimed he acted in self-defense....
Drug, DUI cases among recent Monroeville police activity
Monroeville police filed the following charges Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Kyrah Carey, 21, of Wilkinsburg with retail theft. Charges were filed Nov. 29 in connection with an incident along the 4000 block of Monroeville Boulevard. • Christian Wells, 23, of Pittsburgh...
Sulphur Run storm water improvements expected to ease Derry Township floodingVideo
Crews this week are restoring a Derry Township intersection after installing larger, updated storm sewers meant to help alleviate flooding along Sulphur Run, near the border of Latrobe. Under a contract with the township, Northrock Construction of St. Marys replaced a large section of aging pipe that carries Sulphur Run...
Theft, firearms cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Mark Cessna, 44, of Homer City on charges of possession of controlled substances,...
Proposed Tarentum budget holds line on taxes despite $1M cut in spending
Tarentum Council is considering a $9.6 million preliminary budget for next year that maintains the current tax rate despite a nearly $1 million reduction in spending. Council reviewed the preliminary budget Tuesday and plans to vote on it Thursday. The final budget is scheduled to be adopted on Thursday, Dec....
Delmont paving program comes in $76,000 under budget
Surprises during the construction process are rarely positive. But a welcome surprise in Delmont helped borough officials save more than $75,000 on their annual roads program. “We anticipated a lot of base repair on (West Pittsburgh Street), but the concrete was actually in excellent condition,” borough engineer Kevin Brett told...
Norwin taking applications to fill seat on board
Norwin residents who want to serve on the school board have until 3 p.m. Dec. 13 to notify the district. The board is seeking a replacement for Barbara Viola, who resigned. Her replacement will serve the remainder of her term, which was to expire in December 2021. Prospective candidates should...
Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski putting personal memorabilia up for auction
When Bill Mazeroski smashed a walk-off home run over Forbes Field’s left field wall, he not only secured the 1960 World Series crown for the Pirates but claimed a top spot in Pittsburgh sports history. His hit and jubilant celebration as he rounded the bases still stand as one of...
Postal worker charged with stealing $60 in gift cards from mail
A Plum woman who was a postal worker is accused of stealing gift cards from the mail. Dorothy Petrick, 56, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh this week on a charge of theft of mail by a postal employee, prosecutors said. Prosecutors say that last December, Petrick...
4th person charged in shooting death of pit bull mix in North Huntingdon
A fourth person was arrested Wednesday because officials say he fatally shot the dog discovered muzzled and tied to a railroad post this summer in North Huntingdon. John W. Harrold, 50, of North Huntingdon was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware on animal cruelty and conspiracy charges filed by CSX...
Greensburg to vote on budget and work to recover from garage fire
Greensburg is set to pass a “plain, vanilla budget” with no tax increase, according to councilman and Finance Director Randy Finfrock, though the city continues to grapple with the fallout from a fire that destroyed its public works garage and some vehicles. City council will vote Monday on the $12.8...
Board certifies local election results in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County’s board of elections on Wednesday issued a final certification of results from last month’s municipal balloting. The board made official the results from township supervisor, borough and city councils, mayors and other municipal races, according to Elections Bureau Director Beth Lechman. Elections officials last week certified the results...
Pittsburgh zoo’s Penguins on Parade starts Saturday
Residents can literally chill out with some penguins during the Pittsburgh Zoo’s Penguins on Parade, which starts Saturday and is held every weekend while the temperature stays under 45 degrees. Timing is important as the Penguins Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. sharp every Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting, outside of...
Pittsburgh man confesses to 2015 homicide that had bothered him for a while
A North Side man confessed to a 2015 killing in Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights neighborhood because he’s been bothered by it for a while, police wrote in a criminal complaint. Randy Johnson, 25, provided a handwritten confession last week to the Nov. 16, 2015, killing of Deron McCray, 23, at a...
Penn Hills fire chief proposes fire tax to fund all-volunteer department
A Penn Hills volunteer firefighter said a tax is the only way to keep the municipality’s fire services aflame. Ever-increasing operating expenses, old protective equipment, dwindling manpower and fundraising challenges are all reasons Bill Jeffcoat, fire chief of Station 227, thinks a so-called “fire tax” is the strictly volunteer services’...
Veterans’ stories featured at Tarentum Pearl Harbor program
Excerpts from the Pearl Harbor edition of “Duty, Courage, Honor: Southwestern Pennsylvania Goes to War” will be shown at the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Museum in Tarentum on Saturday. Saturday — Dec. 7 — is the 78th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 that propelled the United...
McKees Rocks man sentenced to 2 years, 9 months for selling heroin, fentanyl
A McKees Rocks man was sentenced this week to 2 years and nine months in federal prison for dealing drugs more than two years ago. Jamorr Mathis, 41, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, prosecutors said. On Nov. 16, 2017, FBI agents and other law...
