Local category, Page 2728
Demolition of abandoned Tarentum houses underwayVideo
Three empty houses that have blighted Tarentum’s isolated Davidson Street for years were reduced to rubble Thursday. “I think it’s long overdue,” said Davidson Street resident Miriam Kengor. The three empty houses that sit in a row along Davidson Street were among the first of 23 to be torn down...
Barebones Productions steps up with ‘Dance Nation’ in Braddock theater
The Barebones Black Box Theatre in Braddock has built a reputation for bringing edgy, entertaining and thought-provoking plays to the stage. Its current production, “Dance Nation,” is no exception. “Dance Nation” is a comedy/drama by Clare Barron that played to off-Broadway audiences in New York last year. But while it...
Police: Incident with van outside Huston Middle School not an attempted abduction
An incident in which a man told a young girl to get into his van was not an attempted abduction, Lower Burrell police said Friday. The department said it was notified Friday of the incident that happened around 8:10 p.m. Thursday. An officer said the entire matter may have been...
Former Palace Theatre owner still loves Greensburg’s grand dameVideo
Judy Marinelli couldn’t help getting a little emotional at Thursday night’s show at The Palace Theatre in downtown Greensburg. Nostalgia was already in the air, as Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, the Drifters and the Platters performed favorites from the 1950s and ’60s. Marinelli’s thoughts invariably turned to her late husband, Carl....
Official: Pittsburgh pension funds on the rise
Pittsburgh’s employee pension funds are growing again after a loss of about $20 million in 2018, a pension official said. The invested portfolio increased by about 2.6% from September 2018 through this September for an increase of about $33.7 million, according to the Comprehensive Municipal Trust Fund board of directors....
East Liberty man acquitted of homicide and robbery charges in 2017 Pitcairn case
An Allegheny County jury Friday acquitted a 31-year-old East Liberty man of most of the charges he faced for his suspected role in a 2017 Pitcairn robbery-turned-homicide. “We are obviously pleased with the jury’s verdict,” said defense attorney Randall McKinney. McKinney represented Jamal Darnell Pamplin in the case that was...
Southbound Route 28 ramp to Veterans Bridge to close overnight
The ramp connecting southbound Route 28 to the I-579 Veterans Bridge will close to receive concrete deck repairs, according to PennDOT. The closure will take place from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday. All traffic will be detoured, said Steve Cowan, PennDOT spokesperson. Motorists traveling to the Boulevard of...
Highlands mother angry bus driver left autistic son alone outside school
Rachael O’Connor said that her 9-year-old son sat and cried when he was unable to find an open door to his elementary school Thursday morning after a bus driver dropped him off late and left him alone. O’Connor said her son, who has autism, pulled at the door he would...
Ambulance service closing worries rural Westmoreland County communitiesVideo
A rural ambulance company abruptly closed this week, catching many residents in northeastern Westmoreland County by surprise and leaving some on edge. Connellsville-based Fayette EMS operated the Laurel Valley Ambulance Service station in New Florence since 2007. It closed Monday, with the door now padlocked and posted with “No Trespassing”...
Kids can skate with Santa this month at Allegheny County ice rinks
Good boys and girls can skate with Santa on Sunday at the South Park Ice Rink during an annual holiday event hosted by the Allegheny County Parks Department. Santa Claus will skate at the outdoor rink and pose for pictures with kids from noon to 4 p.m. Parents and guardians...
Mt. Oliver man is 3rd arrest in connection with Carrick double-shooting
All three men accused of being involved in a Nov. 14 double shooting in Carrick after a robbery are in custody. Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Steven Hill, 25, of Mt. Oliver on Thursday. Hill faces two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy for his suspected role in...
Murrysville council, Olympus Energy continue working out possible fracking well conditions
A vote on Murrysville’s first fracking well will be postponed one more month, after council members and company officials were unable to agree on the list of conditions imposed on the drilling firm. Truck access to the Titan well pad site, transportation of water to the site, and the time...
Grant money to help Hempfield school studentsVideo
The Hempfield Area School District was awarded a $5,000 grant to help with two programs that assist underserved children. Presented by the DMJ Transportation, funds will go toward the district’s Food 2 Go 4 Kids program and West Hempfield Middle School’s caring closet. Food 2 Go 4 Kids, a backpack...
5 people charged with cashing $23K in counterfeit Propel School checks
Five people have been charged with stealing nearly $23,000 from a local company that operates charter schools by forging checks and cashing them, according to authorities. The charges are the result of an investigation launched by Pittsburgh police Nov. 18 when officers met with the controller of Propel Schools, which...
Police locate pickup truck involved in Southwest Greensburg hit-and-runVideo
A paper grocery bag containing smashed vehicle parts and an anonymous tip helped Southwest Greensburg police on Friday find a pickup truck they believe was involved in a hit-and-run that injured a man this week. A state trooper who specializes in crash reconstruction determined from the “puzzle pieces” that investigators...
Sunrise students treated to holiday cheer in decades-old Monroeville traditionVideo
A raucous, joy-filled cheer rang out as Santa Claus and his spouse walked into the building. The couple was ferried in to Biondi Motor Company in Monroeville by a convertible, 2002 Ford Thunderbird. “Mrs. Claus, I must say, your hair looks good even after catching all that wind,” said Chris...
Firefighters battling 2-alarm blaze at Robinson apartment building
Residents of an three-story apartment building in Robinson were evacuated early Friday morning after a fire broke out. Heavy smoke and flames were visible when firefighter responded to the the 1000 block of Westpointe Drive at around 5:45 a.m., according to emergency dispatchers. The fire went to two alarms at...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 6-8
It’s the weekend. And there’s plenty to do whether you like penguins, shopping for handmade items or meeting celebrities like Neve Campbell and Tony Danza. Parade time The Penguins on Parade at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Highland Park is Saturday and Sunday, as long as the temperature...
Plum’s 4th Christmas event draws record crowdsVideo
Danica D’Ambrosio’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw Santa arrive at Plum Creek Park. The excitement quickly turned to concern for the Center Elementary kindergartner when the Grinch snuck up on the jolly fellow and tried to steal his sleigh last week. But then cheers rang...
Vandergrift Councilman Sciullo retires after 32 years
Vern Sciullo does not care for all the attention he’s gotten recently. A member of the Vandergrift Council for 32 years, Sciullo officially retired this week when the newly elected members were officially sworn in Monday. “I’m not interested in this fanfare,” Sciullo said after his last meeting. At the...
Husband-wife duo accused of bilking Pa. out of $10M by faking 20 companies in tax credit scheme
A husband-and-wife team is accused of bilking Pennsylvania out of more than $10 million by obtaining tax incentives for 20 sham companies, then selling the state-issued tax credits for cash, a grand jury found. “Christopher” Wing-Tat Chiu, 47, and Ivy Li — former Bucks County residents who prosecutors say have...
New Gateway directors sworn in
The Gateway School District Board of Directors hierarchy will remain unchanged as three new faces join the nine-member board. School directors Paul Caliari, Susan Delaney and Scott Gallagher were sworn in by Monroeville Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey Herbst this week. They were joined by incumbents Mary Beth Cirucci, John Ritter...
The Stroller, Dec. 6, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Chamber ensemble to perform in Tarentum Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, will present a concert, “Russian Holiday,” at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 305 Allegheny St. The Academy Chamber Ensemble will perform works by Tchaikovsky and Hayden, as well as holiday favorites. For details, call 724-224-9220. HOPE Center seeks donations...
Mad Scientist Beer celebrates grand opening in north Greensburg
Greensburg has a new beer distributor. Mad Scientist Beer, located at 990 N. Main St., followed a recent soft opening with an official grand opening Thursday. It’s located in the Route 66 Plaza, next to the Shop ’n Save. Greensburg has other beer distributors, but none on the north side...
Greensburg serial rapist loses appeal of 100-year prison sentence
A Greensburg man in prison for raping a teen-aged boy lost a legal appeal claiming his potential century-long sentence was excessive. Kenneth Richie, 64, pleaded guilty in 2013 to nine counts, including rape, in connection with sexual assaults against a 15-year-old boy in April 2011. Greensburg police said Richie developed...
