Was O’Connor’s debate story true about ambulance breakdown?
As the ambulance climbed hilly Madeline Street last week in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, racing to a man in cardiac arrest, a dashboard coolant light blinked on. The driver for Medic 12 requested a backup ambulance out of an “abundance of caution,” according to Emily Bourne, a Pittsburgh public safety spokesperson....
Flowering dogwood tree distribution set in Jeannette
Free flowering dogwood tree saplings will be handed out April 30 in Jeannette. The West Penn Power Green Team has 250 saplings to give away in honor of Earth Day. The saplings, which will have white flowers, will be available from 9 a.m. until noon at the community garden at...
Penn Middle students bring cult classic film turned musical ‘Mean Girls Jr.’ to stage
Penn Middle School student Felice Hutchison has learned there is more to the movie-turned-musical “Mean Girls” than the title may imply. Hutchison is one of dozens of Penn Middle students who have rehearsed since November for their performance of “Mean Girls Jr.,” slated for April 25 to 27 in the...
Troopers find 13 pounds of cocaine hidden in SUV after traffic stop on Pa. Turnpike
State police reported finding on Wednesday 13 pounds of suspected cocaine hidden in an SUV while it was traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike through Westmoreland County. Troopers estimated the street value of the drugs at $150,000. A trooper who was monitoring westbound traffic in Mt. Pleasant Township around 1 p.m....
Pittsburgh man accused of burning girlfriend with hot iron
A Pittsburgh man who police say attacked his girlfriend with a hot iron, burning her over about 60% of her body, was arrested Thursday morning. Burton L. Byrd, 55, of Pittsburgh’s Perry South neighborhood, is charged with various crimes including aggravated assault, kidnapping, intimidation of witnesses or victims and unlawful...
Free Chamber concert in Tarentum to provide ‘backyard arts’
A Tarentum church will offer a free chamber music concert Sunday to “build community” and provide arts in “our own backyard,” organizers said. Central Presbyterian Church will partner with the Academy String Quartet and special guest Linda Fisher on bassoon. The concert is at 2 p.m. “The minute you say...
Demolition of former SCI Greensburg prison begins
Now that demolition at the former SCI Greensburg prison is getting underway, Hempfield officials are ready to look at the property’s future. Township supervisors could begin discussions this summer on how to reuse the 96-acre site off Route 119 between Greensburg and Youngwood. “We need to start that,” said Supervisor...
Police blame Hempfield Route 30 crash on wrong-way driver
A crash that injured two people Wednesday on Route 30 in Hempfield was the result of a wrong-way driver, said state police Trooper Steve Limani. Troopers are still investigating how the driver got onto the eastbound lanes of the divided highway going west, but think they may have entered at...
Ham radio broadcast to honor late Lower Burrell man, raise awareness for pancreatic cancer
Leeanna Ryba would often tease her husband, Rich, that he was off to Peter Pan’s “Never Never Land” when he’d go to Skyview Radio Society to partake in the amateur, or ham, radio activities. “He’d play with the boys. He enjoyed his time there,” Leeanna said of the society’s Upper...
Free garden containers aimed at providing access to fresh food in Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization wants residents to “bloom where they are planted.” Despite the borough being labeled as a food desert, officials believe healthy eating habits can form at home. Organizers will distribute free garden containers to the 40 people – first come, first served — in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale...
Pittsburgh’s Lou Astorino designed Vatican chapel used by Pope Francis
Pittsburgh’s connection to the Vatican was spotlighted for all the world to see this week. Pope Francis’ initial resting spot in death was the chapel of the Holy Spirit. It’s the work of Louis Astorino, the Pittsburgh architect who also designed PNC Park, PPG Paints Arena, UPMC Children’s Hospital of...
Hot enough for ya? Temperatures move above typical April in Western Pa.
Surprised by this week’s rise in temperatures? According to the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office in Moon, there is some validity to that reaction. Temperatures are forecast to reach into the low 80s on Thursday, with a 30% chance of going above 82 degrees, said meteorologist Liana Lupo. Late April...
Carnegie mayoral candidates want to tap into business potential
Editor’s Note: The Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Both candidates seeking the Democratic nod for Carnegie mayor say they’re running to bolster growth and development in the borough. Sam Bigham, 23, and Dave Klug, 59, are the Democratic nominees seeking their party’s candidacy in...
2nd rally planned to support Penn State New Kensington
Another rally supporting Penn State New Kensington is planned this week as a decision on the Upper Burrell campus’s fate is anticipated to be made in less than a month. The “Too Fast, Too Final” rally will be at Penn State New Kensington’s main parking lot in Upper Burrell, 3550...
New Kensington’s Ethical Hope to cultivate life, community with larger space
Meredith Hedeen believes her newer and bigger space can provide people in New Kensington with a little more hope. She is nearly quintupling the size of her store, Ethical Hope, by moving to 938 Fifth Ave. and having a grand opening Friday during Downtown New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth event....
The Stroller, April 24, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Free fishing event planned...
Plum School Board moves forward on proposed budget with 2.26% tax hike
Plum real estate owners will likely be paying 2.26% more in property taxes to the school district next school year. The Plum School Board on Tuesday approved its tentative 2025-26 budget, which would increase the tax rate from 23.3896 mills to 23.9159 mills. That increase is partially the result of...
Tariffs spark fireworks order cancellations as America’s 250th looms
Steve Kubrick believes he might have dodged a bullet for buying his fireworks for an Independence Day display in New Kensington last year before the U.S. tariffs on China came in. “I bought mine last year,” said Kubrick, owner of the AK Valley Park in New Kensington. “That might have...
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...
