Flowers are a common theme for artist featured at Monroeville library
As a child, Stacey Pydynkowski didn’t encounter much art in the traditional sense of visiting galleries or museums, but was instead fascinated by the visual imagery in everyday life — especially in nature. “The vibrant flowers in my neighbor’s garden bed in the trailer park I grew up in inspired...
Penn Hills Peace Coalition mobilizes toward reducing violence in the area
The Penn Hills Peace Coalition gathers residents of Penn Hills and the surrounding areas, as well as members of local nonprofit organizations, to create more safety and care in the township. The team mobilizes and supports efforts toward violence reduction, creating continuous dialogue — even around hard conversations. “We formed...
Monroeville mayor’s seat, 4 council seats open in upcoming election
Monroeville council will see some changes after this year’s elections, with second-term mayor Nick Gresock finishing his time with the municipality and multiple council seats in play. Four seats are open on council, however only one of those seats will have multiple candidates vying for it in the May 20...
Monroeville area: Gateway seeking sponsorships, cheer camp, car show, more
School district seeks sponsorships Gateway School District officials are seeking sponsors for numerous facilities throughout the district. Individuals or businesses interested in sponsorships can email Jeremy Tepper at jtepper@gatewayk12.org. Divine Mercy Academy cheer camp Registration is open for Divine Mercy Academy’s Saber Summer Cheer Camp, which will be held from...
3 candidates vying for 2 Democratic seats on Penn Hills Council
According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections’ unofficial candidate list, there are three Democrats running for two four-year Democratic seats in Penn Hills. The list includes Stephen Zelahy as the lone Republican candidate running for one of two four-year Republican seats. Here are the Penn Hills residents running in...
Penn Hills School Board has 9 candidates seeking party nods to run for 4 seats
Penn Hills residents are going to see a busy race for school board in the primary. With nine candidates running for four open seats, only two out of nine candidates are only seeking the Democratic nod. The rest of the candidates are cross-filed, according to the Allegheny County Office of...
Gateway students decorate, distribute bags for Earth Day project
Kassandra Poliziani started organizing school Earth Day projects before she began teaching at Gateway. “This is my sixth year doing the project at Gateway and I previously started it at Blairsville school district,” Poliziani said. The kindergarten teacher begins by picking up paper bags — which are donated by Giant...
Aliquippa man sentenced to 15 years for making, selling fake drugs on the darknet
An Aliquippa man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison in connection with a sweeping drug distribution scheme in which he manufactured counterfeit Oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax pills to sell. Jacob Blair, 27, pleaded guilty in December before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson to a charge...
Retired attorney, Social Security judge selected to fill vacant Ligonier Township supervisor seat
A retired attorney and former administrative law judge has joined Ligonier Township’s board of supervisors to fill a vacancy through the end of the year. The remaining four supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to appoint John Fraser, 69, to a seat vacated by the recent abrupt resignation of D. Scott Matson....
Eastbound Route 30 reopens near Cedar Street exit in Hempfield after 4-vehicle crash
Two people were taken to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville on Wednesday after a four-vehicle crash on Route 30 in Hempfield, according to Mutual Aid spokesperson Shawn Penzera. Their conditions were unclear. Traffic was affected for four hours. The eastbound side of the highway was shut down in the area...
Lawsuit: Greensburg Central Catholic student injured after exposure to toxic fumes, fall
An eighth grade student at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in Hempfield was injured after being exposed to toxic fumes in the school’s gymnasium, his father said in a lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County court. The lawsuit claims the student was among several children who became sick while attending...
Churchill drug trafficker’s plea for leniency fails to sway judge at sentencing
A Churchill man who federal officials said had hundreds of thousands of doses of fentanyl he planned to traffic in the Pittsburgh area will serve 21 years in prison. Leon C. Ford Sr., 58, was sentenced on Wednesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. A jury found Ford...
Ross approves reopening of Short Line Hollow trail
The Short Line Hollow trail in Ross has been reopened for limited public access. Ross commissioners voted on Monday to grant access to the Red Trail following its cleanup by community volunteers. “We’re all satisfied that it was cleaned up enough,” Commissioners President Dan DeMarco said. “They did a lot...
Man pleads guilty to lesser charge in 2022 Jeannette fatal stabbing
A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Jeannette neighbor nearly three years ago. Prosecutors said Antwone Dupree Thurston II, 25, stabbed and slashed 62-year-old William Osselburn 11 times during an altercation on Sept. 26, 2022, outside of...
Ross pursues adding sharpshooters to archers to control deer population
Ross officials want to add sharpshooters to archery hunters to improve its efforts at controlling the deer population in the township. Commissioners on Monday authorized Suburban Whitetail Management to begin the process of a deer cull program in Ross. “It’s more or less nuisance control,” said Luke Leonard of McCandless,...
Ligonier Country Market’s appeal of opening date rule heads to planning board, supervisors
The Ligonier Township planning commission on Thursday will consider an appeal by the Ligonier Country Market that could affect the seasonal venue’s opening date this year. The market is looking to modify a provision of a 2008 township conditional use permit that indicates it can’t open before Memorial Day, which...
Live like Batman and Robin at this ‘castle estate’ on market for nearly $4M in PineVideo
Batman and Robin would likely approve. An opulent castle-like residence at 724 Bristlecone Drive — with 10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and a nod to Hollywood with a replica of Batman’s office and his Batcave — is on the market for nearly $4 million in Pine. The estate includes a playful...
La Roche University international student sues feds over termination of status
A Saudi Arabian student at La Roche University in McCandless is suing the heads of U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement alleging they illegally terminated his status as an international student. Khalid Alduaij, 26, filed the complaint Monday in federal court in Pittsburgh. On Wednesday, a judge granted...
Police pursuit of vehicle stolen from Butler County ends with crash in ShalerVideo
A police pursuit of a vehicle stolen in Butler County continued down Route 8 and ended with a crash in Shaler on Wednesday, according to authorities. Shaler officers were alerted to the crash off Eighth Avenue, near Route 8, shortly before 1 p.m., Shaler police Chief Sean Frank said. Officers...
Doing the math: Spat over affordable housing data frames Gainey vs. O’Connor race
A day after clashing with his Democratic rival in a televised debate, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Wednesday doubled down on his claim that he’s “delivered” 1,600 units of affordable housing during his city hall tenure. Gainey has recited the statistic on the campaign trail time and again. He referenced...
Accused Hamas sympathizer from Moon charged with having pipe bombs, lying to U.S.
A former Pennsylvania Air National Guard member already accused of defacing Jewish religious property in Squirrel Hill has been indicted on new charges of possessing homemade pipe bombs and lying during a federal background check for top-secret clearance. The latest indictment, filed under seal Tuesday in federal court in Pittsburgh,...
ATI strikes labor deal with nearly 1,000 workers
ATI and its employees have reached a six-year labor agreement. The deal was announced Wednesday, about a week after ATI and the United Steelworkers union reached a tentative agreement on wages, working conditions and benefits for nearly 1,000 employees. Many produce specialty alloys at the company’s Harrison, Vandergrift and Latrobe...
Feds OK settlement between Shapiro, grid manager to control electricity prices
Federal regulators approved a deal between Gov. Josh Shapiro and PJM Interconnection to limit some electricity price hikes. PJM is a regional transmission organization, which works to secure generation capacity for utility companies within its 13-state network. It holds annual auctions in which the lowest bidder earns the right —...
Steelers to host NFL draft watch party
With the 21st pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers choose… Fans are invited to be on hand when the team announces that pick on Thursday at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for a free NFL draft watch party beginning at 7 p.m. Steelers’ Christian Kuntz and other guests will attend. Kuntz...
Private school, fire office approved by Arnold Zoning Hearing Board
The Arnold Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday gave the green light to a future private school and an administrative regional fire office. Matt DeHart of Harrison sought to return the 1704 Fourth Ave. building to its original use as a school for his Teach from DeHart Academy, a private school...
