Local category, Page 2783
Florists plan to ‘Petal It Forward’ to spread positivityVideo
Generally speaking, the floral industry is invested in making people happy. On Oct. 23, a handful of flower shops in western Pennsylvania will open with the goal of making as many people happy as possible, helping the Society of American Florists to promote “Petal It Forward.” “We’ll give out two...
Plum vehicle crash leaves 1 injured
One person was injured in a two-vehicle crash in Plum Tuesday evening. Police at the scene said the crash involved a car and a tractor-trailer. The truck driver was not injured but one person in the car was. Westmoreland County dispatchers said calls for the crash along Greensburg Road near...
Another big turnout for Fire Prevention Day at Westmoreland Mall
More than 100 pieces of fire apparatus were available to the public during Tuesday’s 24th annual Fire Prevention Day. Hosted at Westmoreland Mall, families were able to see engine pumpers, ladder trucks, utility vehicles, command posts, rescue vehicles and 911 displays. Firefighters gave lessons about fire safety and live demonstrations....
Uniontown police eye charges against student in high school shooting threat
Uniontown City Police report charges are pending against a student at Uniontown Area High School, stemming from a shooting threat posted on social media. Police said they were notified Tuesday about the threatened shooting at the high school, which was reported by multiple students and parents. The juvenile student was...
Sen. Iovino wants to restore arrest rights to sworn school police
A new law that stripped school police officers of the authority to make arrests and issue detention and citation orders may be on its way out the door. The law, intended to enhance school security, passed earlier this year and accidentally stripped school police officers of powers they have had...
Allegheny County 2020 budget proposal includes no tax increase
Allegheny County residents would not see a property tax increase in the nearly $1 billion budget for 2020 proposed by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald at a meeting of Allegheny County Council on Tuesday. The $959.8 million operating budget is a $27.4 million, or 2.9%, increase over the 2019 operating budget...
Police: Woman tries to carjack off-duty sheriff’s deputy
Police arrested a 19-year-old woman accused of trying to carjack an off-duty sheriff’s deputy Tuesday afternoon in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood before leading police on a car chase into Penn Hills. No one was injured, Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri said. Ajanay Watson faces several charges including robbery of...
Appeal denied for Latrobe man convicted for 2016 murder
A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday rejected the appeal of a Latrobe man serving a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of a friend during a botched robbery. Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio in a 39-page opinion found there was sufficient evidence to support the third-degree murder conviction against...
North Huntingdon man acquitted of strangulation charge
A North Huntingdon man was found not guilty Tuesday of charges he tried to strangle his 13-year-old daughter during a confrontation last year at his former home in Latrobe. After two hours of deliberations, a Westmoreland County jury found Samuel Farrier, 46, guilty of one lesser, misdemeanor count of simple...
Armstrong County man charged with DUI with a baby in his car
An Armstrong County man is accused of being under the influence of heroin while driving with an 18-month-old boy in his car, continuing to drive after crashing into a guardrail. Kiski Township Patrolman Dean Dressell said he saw Robby Patrick Ohler, 21, of Rural Valley, driving a Dodge Caliber at...
Lower Burrell police Chief Tim Weitzel to step down but remain on force
Lower Burrell police Chief Tim Weitzel will step down as the city’s top officer and return to his former position of lieutenant next year in a move that he said would insulate him from being ousted over politics. “I have to watch my back in 2020,” Weitzel said at a...
1 injured in crash on Route 28 near Harmar exit
One person was hurt in a crash that snarled northbound traffic along Route 28 near the Harmar exit during Tuesday’s afternoon rush hour, officials said. Police and medics responded to the crash, which was reported at 5:12 p.m., an Allegheny County 911 shift commander said. One person was taken to...
Jeannette murder victim had more than 100 wounds, pathologist says
Khalil Parker sustained more than 100 different injuries that caused him to bleed to death, a Westmoreland County jury was told Tuesday. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht testified in the fourth day of the first-degree murder trial of Crystal Belle, 39, that Parker, found dead June 11, 2016, in Belle’s...
Allegheny County DA collects, destroys 700 guns from police evidence rooms
About 700 guns that had been gathering dust in evidence rooms across Allegheny County were rounded up and ground to pieces this week. The District Attorney’s Office collected the firearms Monday from local police departments that no longer need them. It’s an annual turn-in event, and the total number collected...
PCN host brings ‘PA Books’ tour to Allegheny County
A fixture of Pennsylvania nonprofit television will bring his “PA Books” tour to Allegheny County in October before retiring in March 2020. Brian Lockman, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Cable Network, will share favorite books and stories from his time as host of the television network’s weekly “PA Books” program...
Highlands graduate continuing ‘Holiday 365’ toy drive
A 2019 Highlands High School graduate is continuing a toy drive she started while a student in the district. Marissa Callender is organizing her “Holiday 365” toy drive for a third consecutive year. Callender, 18, is a freshman at Allegheny College in Meadville, where she is studying biochemistry. She plans...
Daily Download: Remembering Tree of Life, Jaylen Samuels’ knee surgery and free-tree giveawayVideo
Remembering the Tree of Life shooting victims, how to get free trees and Steelers running back Jaylen Samuels’ knee surgery highlight today’s Daily Download headlines. Each day, TribLIVE reporters and editors will break down the biggest news of the day, with video highlights of the people and places making headlines....
Murrysville woman accused of making false abuse report to 911
A Murrysville woman who called 911 last month alleging her boyfriend was assaulting her was cited for making false reports. Tracey L. Meszaros, 53, was charged this week with two counts of making false reports and a single count of criminal mischief after the 3:45 a.m. Sept. 25 incident in...
Lower Burrell long-time detective retiring; two new full-time officers hired
Lower Burrell has hired two new police officers to increase the size of the force to 17 full-time officers, according to Chief Tim Weitzel. Daniel Rote of Lower Burrell started in September, while Steven Guelich of Manor started this month. The starting salary for both patrolmen is $58,039. The city...
Beaver County man accused of robbing Cranberry PNC bank
A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted a Beaver County man for allegedly robbing a Cranberry bank in August, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced. The one-count indictment, returned last week and unsealed Monday , accused Michael Ryan Neppach, 40, of Patterson Township of robbing the bank. The government...
Opening of ScareHouse’s Scream District in Pittsburgh further delayed
The opening of the new ScareHouse attraction on Penn Avenue in the Strip District — “Scream District” — has again been delayed, the company said Tuesday. Scream District was originally scheduled to launch Sept. 27. Then officials said it would open Thursday. Now, the anticipated opening is Oct. 18. Company...
Reduced police shifts approved to cut costs at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Westmoreland County Park Police will roughly cut in half the hours they spend at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in a move that is expected to increase efficiency and save money. The police have officers assigned to the Unity airport for two 8-hour shifts per day, providing an extra layer of...
Dick’s Sporting Goods destroyed $5 million worth of guns, CEO Edward Stack saysVideo
Dick’s Sporting Goods destroyed $5 million worth of assault rifles instead of returning them to their manufacturers, the Findlay-based company’s CEO told CBS in an interview. CEO Edward Stack spoke to CBS national correspondent Lee Cowan in an interview that aired on “CBS Sunday Morning.” “If we really think these...
Greensburg to vote on fees for vacant property registry
Owners of vacant properties in Greensburg could be on the hook for up to $1,000 this year, with fees rising every year their buildings remain empty. According to an ordinance passed by council in August, owners will need to pay an annual fee to register their vacant properties with the...
Westmoreland high schoolers discuss mental health issues at ‘Slam the Stigma’ eventVideo
Test scores, social media and other pressures seem to be weighing on the minds of Westmoreland County high schoolers. Students at a few districts are doing something about it and they hope others will follow in their footsteps by creating clubs that address mental health and wellness inside school walls....
