Local category, Page 2710
Members of international malware ring who targeted Western Pa. prosecuted
Three members of an international malware cybercrime syndicate have been sentenced in what U.S. authorities are calling a “borderless response” that has involved police agencies in America and Europe. Krasimir Nikolov, 47, of Varna, Bulgaria, was sentenced Monday in Pittsburgh by U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to time served...
Buffalo Township hires new cop, inks 5-year deal with chief
The police force in Buffalo Township is expanding, and the chief has a new long-term contract. Township supervisors on Wednesday unanimously approved the hiring of a new full-time officer, Jeffrey Swiklinski, who is retiring as Freeport’s police chief, according to Buffalo police Chief Tim Derringer. Swiklinski assumes his new position...
3 cars damaged in crashes on icy stretch of Route 910 in HarmarVideo
Two vehicles were heavily damaged Friday morning in a head-on crash on an icy stretch of Route 910 in Harmar, but the two drivers involved managed to walk away unhurt, Harmar police said. Also damaged in the crash was an unoccupied third vehicle that had been disabled on the side...
Monroeville couple’s holiday display draws toy donations to Children’s Hospital
There is a purpose for the thousands of Christmas lights hung and strung by an 82-year-old Monroeville man and his wife, beyond spreading holiday cheer. “The main reason is so people bring toys,” said Pete Colangelo. For about 10 years, the retired civil engineer has waited for Halloween to pass...
Murrysville celebrates with ‘Santa at Sardis’
It was a little bit of a soggy celebration, but Murrysville officials’ decision to move its annual holiday event to Sardis Park was a success. The line was long and steady leading to Santa’s cabin on Dec. 7, as children and parents visited craft tables, nonprofits and dashed around Sardis...
Steelers safety Kameron Kelly charged after alleged South Side bar tussle with police
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Kameron Kelly fought with police after he was thrown out of a South Side bar early Friday morning when he became irate at the jukebox selection, according to charges filed against him. Kelly, 23, is charged with two counts of making terroristic threats and one count of...
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner to stand trial again on Detroit charge
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner will go to trial again in Detroit next year on a charge of obstruction during a March 2019 incident at a hotel with her husband, according to the Wayne County prosecutor’s office. A Detroit jury last month found Wagner not guilty of disturbing the peace...
Jeannette charity looks for miracle to keep St. Vincent de Paul thrift store running
Volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul store in Jeannette are hoping for a Christmas miracle. The thrift store is being forced to close after the three-story Clay Avenue building where it is housed is being sold. Volunteers said the prospective owner, who they didn’t identify, has other plans for...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 20-22
The first day of winter is Saturday. Welcome the season this weekend with a few more holiday events. Angelic Johnny Angel & The Halos take the stage on Saturday at the Rivers Casino Event Center on the North Shore. The Pittsburgh-based group performs music of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s....
Chartiers Valley students shop with Collier, Bridgeville and Scott copsVideo
Bridgeville police Chief Chad King filled a shopping cart full of plastic cups and Brillo pads with the help of his new friend, Brady. The two talked about their shared love of World War II history and Bethel Bakery as they made their way through the Scott Township Walmart on...
DUI, assault investigations among recent Monroeville police activity
Monroeville police filed the following charges Dec. 11-17 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Stephen Bricker, 36, of Plum with accident involving damage to attended vehicle/property, driving with a suspended license, following too closely and failure to perform duties at stop signs. Charges were filed Dec. 17 in...
Yough student earns national title at Florida dog-diving championshipVideo
It was 25 degrees in Mt. Pleasant Township on Thursday, but that didn’t stop a German short-haired pointer from going muzzle and paw first into a pool to retrieve one of his favorite toys. Caesar was at Rustic Lodge Diving Dogs, and thankfully inside the organization’s heated training center on...
Parents of premature baby killed in Warren County crash
A GoFundMe campaign has raised almost $14,000 to help the four children of a couple killed in a car crash in Warren County. Stephen Charles Rothrauff, 39, and his fiancee, Jessica Lee Camp, 32, of Mead Township, had four children, including a premature baby born just five days before they...
Mon Wharf remains closed as cold prevents flood cleanup
Pittsburgh commuters who use the Mon Wharf will have to find another place to park Friday. The wharf will remain closed Friday, the Pittsburgh parking authority announced. The wharf flooded after heavy rain that fell over the Monongahela and Cheat river basins earlier this week. “Although the river has receded...
West Deer adopts 2020 budget without tax increase
West Deer Supervisors on Wednesday adopted a $6.5 million budget for 2020 that keeps the property tax rate at 2.99 mills. At that rate, the owner of a median-priced home of $115,650 would owe $345.79 in taxes, the same as this year. The biggest line item in the budget calls...
The Stroller, Dec. 20, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Free Christmas dinners planned Free holiday dinners will be served in Lower Burrell, Harrison and Tarentum to the needy or those who might otherwise be eating alone. • Abundant Joy Fellowship, 101 Allegheny St., Tarentum, 1 to 3 p.m. Christmas Day. Reservations are suggested, but not required. Children will receive...
No tax increase in Brentwood for the fifth straight year
While Brentwood leaders are planning ribbon-cuttings for a new municipal building and renovated borough pool in 2020, residents won’t be feeling the pinch at the bank. Council members on Dec. 9 approved the borough’s 2020 budget that keeps real estate taxes at 10 mills for the fifth straight year. The...
North Huntingdon budget: No tax hike for 2020
North Huntingdon property owners will not pay more in real estate taxes to operate township government in 2020. With little fanfare or discussion, the North Huntingdon commissioners on Wednesday passed a $14.7 million general fund budget that keeps taxes at 11.3 mills. The revenue generated by 9.3 mills will be...
North Huntingdon businessman Tony Corsa named to Norwin School BoardVideo
A North Huntingdon businessman was elected Thursday to the Norwin School Board from among a field of 18 candidates. Tony Corsa, 42, won the support of seven of the eight board members during the second vote to fill the vacancy created by the Dec. 2 resignation of Barbara Viola. Corsa...
Oakmont’s 2020 budget approved with no tax hike
Oakmont property owners won’t have to worry about their real estate tax rate going up next year. Council unanimously approved next year’s spending plan and maintained the 3.73-mill rate. Borough Manager Scot Fodi expressed hope for Oakmont’s future when presenting the budget. “As we enter a new decade, this budget...
Plum School District’s Make-A-Wish telethon hopes to top $1 million
A Plum School District fundraising effort has a chance to hit the $1 million mark on Monday. Students and staff have raised funds for Make-A-Wish since 1999 with each year’s efforts culminating with a telethon at the high school. This year, activities took place October through December and included car...
Penn Hills police, firefighters free deer stuck in railingVideo
Firefighters and police freed a deer stuck in a railing outside a Penn Hills home last month. Resident David Sullivan pulled into the driveway of his Golden Gate Drive home about 2:30 p.m. Dec. 19 when he saw two deer on his property, according to his brother-in-law, James Pastirak. “One...
Latrobe man gets house arrest after pleading guilty to animal cruelty involving 17 animals
A Latrobe man will serve three months of house arrest and two years on probation after he pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge of animal cruelty. According to court records, Andrew T. Pevarnik, 44, was charged in September after humane officers found 17 dead animals in a Derry Township...
West Mifflin man guilty of storing 404 pounds of marijuana in Squirrel Hill ‘stash house’
A West Mifflin man accused of using an apartment in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood to store hundreds of pounds of illegal marijuana pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, prosecutors said Thursday. Wayne Barker, 61, had operated what officials called a large-scale “stash house” as part of a drug trafficking ring...
Beaver County man gets nearly 5 years behind bars for robbing 4 banks, CoGo’s
A former Beaver County man will spend nearly five years behind bars for robbing four banks and a convenience store of more than $27,000, federal prosecutors said Thursday. Patrick Acierno, 34, who has ties to Freedom, Beaver County, was convicted of the spate of robberies in Allegheny and Beaver counties...
