Western PA Local News category, Page 2746
2 plead guilty in Pittsburgh court to being associated with cross-country drug conspiracy
Two people allegedly associated with a cross-country drug conspiracy pleaded guilty to charges this week in federal court in Pittsburgh. Eugene Reddick, 36, of Clairton, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Kaylin Lightfoot-Homa, 26, of Penn Hills, pleaded guilty to maintaining...
Man paralyzed in fight at Downtown McDonald’s sues restaurant
A man left paralyzed after a Nov. 4 assault outside the McDonald’s restaurant on Wood Street in Downtown Pittsburgh is suing the company and the franchise operator of the location for negligence. The suit was filed Wednesday in Allegheny County court by a Pittsburgh law firm on behalf of Mark...
Propane tanker overturns in South Huntingdon prompting evacuation of homes, business
Seven homes and a business in South Huntingdon were evacuated Thursday after a propane tanker overturned into a creek, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. A small leak from the tanker prompted the evacuation order. The situation was reported at 12:18 p.m. on Gressly Road, which connects Pittsburgh Pike to...
2 rescued after Hempfield communication tower toppled, officials say
Two men were rescued from a wooded area in Hempfield on Thursday after a telecommunications tower fell over while they were building it, said Jamie Shaw, township director of code and safety. It took about 90 minutes for firefighters and medics to get the pair through a mile of wooded...
‘Miracle’ liver donor needed for New Stanton man
Unless he can find a liver donor, New Stanton’s Alvin Jaworski has months to live. His wife, Kathleen Jaworski, is hoping for a miracle. A few strangers have come together to help her find it. A large sign alongside busy Route 819 in Hempfield reads “Be Al’s Miracle! O+ Liver...
Western Pennsylvania lawmaker wants hunting licenses revoked for animal cruelty
A state lawmaker from Western Pennsylvania wants to give the Pennsylvania Game Commission the power to revoke or deny a hunting license to someone convicted of cruelty to animals. The proposed legislation was prompted by the investigation of two teenagers from Jefferson County’s Brookville area who appeared to torture an...
Plans for new South Fayette municipal building, community center move forward
South Fayette commissioners hosted a public meeting Tuesday as the first step in drafting a strategic plan for the township. Commissioners listed facilities, economic development, public safety, infrastructure, finances, operations and parks and recreation as the issues to address. They also agreed to prioritize facilities and began discussing a new...
Pleasant Hills 2020 budget holds the line on taxes
Real estate taxes will remain the same for Pleasant Hills residents in 2020. Borough council members on Dec. 16 approved the borough’s annual budget that holds the line on real estate taxes at 6.75 mills. Of that, 6.3855 mills goes to the borough, .2734 mills goes toward the purchase of...
Highlands superintendent schedules more ‘Coffee Talks’ with parents
Highlands School District parents will get more opportunities to talk with the district’s superintendent and administrators in January. Superintendent Monique Mawhinney has scheduled a second round of “Coffee Talks” that will be held in the evening. The first series of meetings had been held in the mornings in late September...
Police: Mt. Lebanon man took $153K from former Shadyside employer
A Mt. Lebanon man is accused by Allegheny County detectives of taking $153,800 over seven years from a Shadyside financial planning and advising firm where he used to work, according to court papers. Norman Bress, 85, was arrested Wednesday on charges of theft, receiving stolen property and forgery. Investigators said...
Mother, 2 young children rescued from Parks house fire
A mother and her two young children were rescued from their burning home early Thursday morning in Armstrong County. The fire in the 1600 block of Dime Road in Parks was reported shortly before 5:30 a.m. Firefighters from seven departments battled temperatures in the low teens to put out the...
The Stroller, Dec. 19, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Third Time’s A Charm to entertain at Knead Community Cafe Music group Third Time’s A Charm, with Marcie Covey and Paul Leo, will perform Christmas selections from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Knead Community Café, 1011 Barnes St., New Kensington. Grab a bite to...
Sen. Casey derides ‘obscene lawsuit’ to gut Affordable Care Act; patient advocates lament limbo
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said Wednesday night he’s concerned about the future of the Affordable Care Act as a lawsuit backed by the Trump administration advances that threatens to nullify the sweeping federal health care law. “The GOP’s hopes to destroy the ACA live another day,” Casey, D-Scranton, said in...
McKeesport teen charged with killing Homestead man
A McKeesport teen has been charged as an adult for the murder of a Homestead man earlier this year. Tre ‘Quan Embry, 22, died of a gunshot wound to the head in an incident the morning of Feb. 2 along the 300 block of East 17th Avenue in Homestead. Allegheny...
Holiday train display rolls on through the end of DecemberVideo
Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department Station 224’s model train display is on its tracks through the end of December. This year marks its 10th anniversary at what’s informally known as “the Verona hilltop” at 1002 Center Ave. near the Penn Hills/Verona border. Jason O’Connor, second lieutenant, has been involved in...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison for federal drug and gun crimes
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced by a federal judge to serve nearly 11 years in prison after being convicted of narcotics and firearms violations. Jamiek Moore, 23, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. Moore was convicted in March after a two-day, non-jury trial. He was...
19 seek to fill vacancy on Norwin School Board
The Norwin School Board has to select among 19 residents who are seeking to fill one vacancy. Among the hopefuls are a teacher who lost her bid for the board in the May primary, a North Huntingdon commissioner’s wife, four other teachers, an administrator working in other school districts, plus...
Pittsburgh man caught trying to sell heroin to undercover FBI agents pleads guilty
A Pittsburgh man caught trying to sell heroin to a pair of undercover FBI agents pleaded guilty to drug charges, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Mark Ridley, 28, believed he was taking the illegal street drug to a customer in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood in April 2017 with his driver, Leonard...
Leechburg Council approves 22% tax hike
Property taxes in Leechburg in the coming year are jumping by 22%. Leechburg Council on Tuesday passed a $1.2 million budget for 2020 that includes a 4-mill real estate tax increase. That means the borough’s tax rate will increase from 18.3124 mills to 22.3214 mills. With the increase, a homeowner...
Westmoreland municipal authority expects $3 million price tag for Youngwood project
The $3 million cost to relocate and replace aging water and sewer lines in Youngwood is a bargain, Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said Wednesday. The project is part of a PennDOT plan to reconstruct a three-mile section of Route 119 in the borough and will allow the authority...
Deer Lakes High School hosts annual senior luncheonVideo
Senior citizens in the Deer Lakes School District were treated to a holiday luncheon Wednesday sponsored by the high school student council. The annual tradition has been ongoing for more than 25 years, according to school spokesman Jim Cromie. Between 80 and 100 seniors attended. They saw performances by the...
Greater Latrobe School Board promotes Robin Pynos as second assistant superintendent
Greater Latrobe School Board has promoted Robin Pynos to a new assistant superintendent position, as the latest step in realigning the district’s central administrative staff. The board this week approved a five-year term for Pynos as assistant superintendent for curriculum, technology and instruction as she resigned from her previous role...
Proposed budget keeps water, sewer rates unchanged for Municipal Authority of Westmoreland customers
Water and sewer rates for customers of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will remain the same for a second consecutive year. The authority’s preliminary 2020-21 budget, unveiled Wednesday, includes no rate changes and carries a $5 million cut in projected revenues, officials said. Board members are expected to approve...
Pittsburgh Council kills pension enhancement amendment
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday effectively killed a amendment that would have enhanced pension payouts for elected officials, including outgoing Councilwoman Darlene Harris. Members voted 6-2 without comment to table the amendment aimed at eliminating a so-called Social Security offset. Harris and Councilman Anthony Coghill voted no and Councilwoman Theresa...
Strip District merchants aren’t happy with suggestions to improve parking, traffic safety
Longtime Strip District merchants are panning a consultant’s draft report that suggests ways to improve parking and pedestrian safety in the historic wholesale district. Stantec, a Boston-based urban design firm, reported that the Strip has 10,300 parking spaces on streets and in lots, but only about 3,800 are available to...
