Local category, Page 2724
Pittsburgh’s Omni William Penn Hotel shines bright after yearly cleaning of chandeliersVideo
The lobby inside the Omni William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh shined a little brighter Thursday. The annual cleaning of the three $250,000 chandeliers took place. It’s a ritual to get them extra sparkly for the city’s annual Light Up Night. The event, held this year on Nov. 22, kicks...
Ozzy Osbourne to team up with Marilyn Manson in return to Key Bank Pavilion
When Ozzy Osbourne makes his 2020 return to Key Bank Pavilion, he’ll be joined by special guest Marilyn Manson. Ozzy’s camp made the announcement Thursday. Manson is best known for his 1990s releases “Antichrist Superstar” and “Mechanical Animals.” He’s been nominated for four Grammy Awards. “Marilyn is killer live,” said...
Pittsburgh man pays off $40K in student loans by winning trivia game
When 27-year-old Beechview resident Dustin Gabler was a child, he watched a lot of game shows and frequently played Trivial Pursuit with his mother. Little did he know that those childhood experiences would pay off in the form of a run of wins in an online trivia game called Givling....
Magic word is ‘persevere,’ Super Soaker inventor tells Pittsburgh studentsVideo
There’s something satisfying about shooting a high-powered stream of water. Aside from firefighters, that feeling wasn’t readily available until Lonnie Johnson invented the Super Soaker toy water gun in the 1980s. Johnson, now 70, of Atlanta, invented the Cadillac of water guns accidentally, he said Thursday. He was at home...
Hempfield’s World of Values packs 10,000 meals for the hungryVideo
Each year at its two annual trade shows, Nationwide Marketing Group officials challenge their network of independent retailers to pack as many meals as possible for delivery to hungry children around the country and world. This year, in partnership with No Child Hungry and as part of the National Week...
Greensburg to debut new business initiatives at conference
The Greensburg Community Development Corporation has invited business owners and developers to a conference to learn about the city’s new approach to planning. GCDC Executive Director Ashley Kertes said the city has long been known difficult place to do business. “People haven’t wanted to come here because of the reputation...
Pittsburgh URA approves purchase of former Hill District grocery complex
The Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority board of directors Thursday approved the $1.6 million purchase of a former grocery store complex in the Hill District. Board members unanimously voted to buy Dollar Bank loans on the 2.6-acre property along Centre Avenue. The URA plans to negotiate with the city, Allegheny County...
Commonwealth Court upholds Penn Township fracking rules
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court upheld a ruling that will allow gas well fracking to continue in Penn Township. Environmental Group Protect PT challenged the township’s zoning ordinance in court. Westmoreland County Judge Harry Smail Jr. last year ruled the ordinance complied with state law. Protect PT appealed that ruling to Commonwealth...
New Kensington native Anthony Breznican recounts panic after California school shooting
New Kensington native and Santa Clarita writer Anthony Breznican had just dropped off his children at elementary school Thursday morning when he swung around and went back. There’d been a shooting. Not at his children’s school, but a high school nearby. When police officers who live in the neighborhood began...
Police: 2 teens shot in Carrick
Police are investigating a shooting that injured two teenage boys Thursday afternoon in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, officials said. Officers responded to a report of shots fired near Westmont and Copperfield avenues shortly before 3:30 p.m., Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said. They arrived to find two teens suffering from...
Tax settlement sets reduced $6.5M value for Unity Lowe’s store
Greater Latrobe School Board this week agreed to settle a tax assessment appeal by Lowe’s Home Centers, which operates a store at the Wildcat Commons plaza in Unity. The settlement reflects a new fair market value of $6.5 million for the Lowe’s property, compared to a previous value of $7.2...
No tax increase planned in Buffalo Township
Buffalo Township residents would not pay more in township real estate taxes next year under a preliminary budget approved Wednesday. Supervisors approved a preliminary $2.5 million budget that would keep the tax rate at 5.5 mills. Spending would increase by about $196,000, according to the budget. A homeowner with the...
Free meditation offered inside giant inflatable bubble at Schenley Plaza
Uptight Pittsburghers can find relief on Friday and Saturday in “The Dot,” a giant inflatable bubble at Schenley Park featuring free mindful meditation programs designed to make people feel happier and less stressed out. Headspace, a company that features a mindful meditation app and online programming, is partnering with the...
Assault, theft among charges filed by Monroeville police
Monroeville police filed the following charges Nov. 4-11 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Danita L. Campbell, 36, of Pitcairn with two counts each of simple assault and harassment. Charges were filed by Pitcairn police Nov. 11 in connection with an incident along the 200 block of McGinnis...
Pennsylvania looks to help food banks trim food waste in state
Area food banks are hailing a new state grant program that aims to reduce food waste through the purchase of refrigerators, freezers, refrigerant vehicles and other equipment. “It really comes along at a good time,” said Dennis McManus, head of government relations for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in...
Pa. climate-related costs estimated at $261 million, according to auditor general
Climate change and the severe weather events becoming increasingly common because of it are posing a threat not only to the quality of life of taxpayers but also their wallets, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said in a new report. Pennsylvania racked up an estimated $261 million statewide in climate-related...
Greensburg Salem approves 5-year teachers contract
Greensburg Salem’s teachers have reached a contract agreement with the district after months of negotiations. The deal would give teachers an average raise of 2.8% per year over the course of the five-year agreement. Teachers have been working without a contract since July as the Greensburg Salem Education Association negotiated...
Irwin cancer survivor drives patients to treatments, recovery through American Cancer SocietyVideo
Cheryl Kilroy admits she has followed the same road many Western Pennsylvanians regrettably are forced to take after a cancer diagnosis. A 16-year cancer survivor, the Irwin resident knows firsthand that one of the biggest roadblocks to treatment can be transportation. For the past 15 years, after her own treatment,...
Greater Latrobe adds curriculum, software support position
Greater Latrobe School District is looking to fill a newly created position in the central administration office. The school board this week approved creation of the role of curriculum and software services assistant, the latest move in a realignment of staff and shifting of workloads in the central office. In...
Train car derails, lands in creek in Fayette County
A train car derailed Thursday in Upper Tyrone, flipping off the track and landing in a small tributary of Jacobs Creek, according to Fayette County 911. No injuries were reported. An estimated few hundred gallons of a flammable industrial solvent, known as HF1000, leaked into the stream, according to Jim...
Witness: Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner grappled with Detroit cop
DETROIT — A security guard testified Thursday that Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner grappled with a Detroit police officer during an incident eight months ago at a hotel and warned him, “You don’t know who you’re messing with.” Wagner is accused of interfering with Detroit police officers March 6 as...
Ligonier Valley police seek attempted homicide suspect
Ligonier Valley police are looking for an Allegheny County man charged with attempted homicide for allegedly shooting at a woman in Ligonier Township on Monday. An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael J. Harris, 29, of Munhall, who police said directed the shots at the woman as she was...
Police: Unity man sexually assaulted teen girl, bought her heroin
A Unity Township man was jailed Thursday on state police allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl and bought her drugs. Michael Alan Rager, 33, is charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, child endangerment, corruption of minors and indecent assault. The girl told police she was...
Plum promotes epilepsy awareness
Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel was so inspired by a 5-year-old girl’s experience that he proclaimed this week that every November in the borough will be dedicated to raising awareness of epilepsy. Haley also inspired a state legislator to name a law after her. Haley’s Law would require Pennsylvania schools to...
Plum School District officials dedicate new high school vestibule, show other security upgradesVideo
Plum School District officials believe their new security vestibule will become the safety standard at other schools. “Sometimes they say the leading edge is the bleeding edge, but not in this case,” Superintendent Brendan Hyland said. “We’re leading, and I think you’re going to be very proud of the amount...
