Western PA Local News category, Page 2794
John Oyler: The Whiskey Rebellion trial
Thanks to my friend, Gary Davis, I recently had the opportunity to participate in a workshop dedicated to the federal trials at the end of the Whiskey Rebellion. Gary is an attorney obligated to earning continuing education credits in jurisprudence each year in order to maintain his license to practice...
Police: Man apologizes for string of 9 robberies around Pittsburgh
A man implicated in a string of nine robberies between Oct. 18 and Nov. 11 in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas told police he was on a downward spiral and was sorry for committing the crimes, according to criminal complaints filed against him. Sean Randy Beach, 48, told Pittsburgh police he...
Police: 2 dead in Homewood shooting
Two people were fatally shot Wednesday night in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, according to police. The woman who died was Kierra Eddisha Harris, 26, of McKees Rocks, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday. The medical examiner said Harris died of gunshot wounds to the neck and chest. Her death...
Westmoreland Historical Society unveils artifacts at new education centerVideo
Fashions, furniture and artifacts from the past are among items the public will get to explore Friday when the Westmoreland Historical Society holds an open house at its recently opened education center on the grounds of Historic Hanna’s Town. The center has been opening in phases at the Hempfield historical...
The Stroller, Nov. 14, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Burrell High School to perform, `Macbeth` The drama department at Burrell High School will present William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” at 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium, 1021 Puckety Church Road, Lower Burrell. Tickets are $10. For tickets, visit onthestage.com and search for Burrell High School, and...
Norwin area GOP dominates general election
The Norwin area Republican party exerted its dominance in the municipal and Norwin School Board races in Tuesday’s election as every candidate who only appeared on the Democratic ticket lost, according to unofficial results. “It all went along party lines. We are not voting for the candidates. We are voting...
Irwin police get new pact; 3%-4% raises
Irwin’s three full-time officers will get a 3% raise next year under a new contract that creates a chain of command by establishing the ranks of lieutenant, sergeant and corporal. The three-year contract that Irwin Council unanimously approved on Wednesday gives the full-time officers a 4% raise in both the...
Plum Town Center construction manager approved, borough plans moving forward
More pieces are falling into place for a proposed Plum municipal center. Council voted 5-0 Wednesday night to appoint Massaro Construction of O’Hara as the Plum Town Center’s construction manager at an estimated cost of $425,000. Councilmen John Anderson and Mike Pastor were absent. The project’s estimated cost is $12...
Allegheny County Council holding 2 budget hearings, no property tax hike next year
Allegheny County Council held the first of two public hearings on the proposed 2020 county budget Wednesday, reviewing sections of the budget including county administration, health and human services, public works, facilities management and the health department. The $1 billion budget was proposed by Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald in October....
Greensburg Salem approves borrowing up to $13 million for repairs
The Greensburg Salem School Board on Wednesday approved issuing up to $13 million in bonds to pay for school repairs, but opponents said a new school board might counteract the measure early next year. The vote passed 6-3. Board members Charlotte Kemerer, Ron Mellinger, Nicholas Rullo, Rachel Shaw, Lynna Thomas...
Pittsburgh ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant falls to high school physics teacher in Tournament of Champions
Fans hoping to root on a Western Pennsylvanian contestant in this week’s “Jeopardy!” mega-competition had their hopes dashed Wednesday night. Lindsey Shultz, a Connellsville native who works as a physician and health care analyst in Pittsburgh, was knocked out of the popular game show’s 10-day Tournament of Champions in the...
Comedian Joe Bartnick returns home to Pittsburgh for birthday celebration
Legendary funnyman Joe Bartnick returns home to Pittsburgh on Friday for an event five decades in the making. The best-selling author will take the stage at Club Cafe for a birthday bash. Doors open at 10 p.m. with the show starting at 10:30 at 56 S. 12th St. in the...
Washington County woman pleads guilty to violating federal gun, drug charges
A Washington County woman has pleaded guilty to violating federal drug and gun charges. Alyssa Ashley Adkins, 30, of Houston, entered the plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court at Pittsburgh to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 40 grams or more of fentanyl; a similar...
Jeannette shuts down hemp drying facility
A controversial hemp drying facility in Jeannette must stop operations immediately, according to an order from the city. Fire Chief Bill Frye delivered the cease and desist notice to the Thomas Avenue warehouse late Wednesday afternoon. Frye said Colorado-based Patriot Shield Security opened the facility in September without taking any...
Man in critical condition after being struck by car near Carnegie Mellon campus
A man was in critical condition after being struck by a car Wednesday afternoon while walking near Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Pittsburgh and university police responded to the crash near Fifth and Morewood avenues about 3:15 p. m., Pittsburgh public safety spokesman Maurice Matthews II said. Medics...
Waterline under Kiski River near Apollo to be replaced
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County has approved a $1.76 million project to install a new waterline under the Kiski River. Officials said about 1.5 miles of pipe will be installed, including an 800-foot section of 20-inch, fused PVC material. It will run below the river bed to service customers...
Excela Westmoreland Hospital spreads kindness with cardigans for newborns
A half dozen babies born at Excela Westmoreland Hospital this week were dressed in pint-size cardigans for the trip home with their families. It was part of the hospital’s celebration of Wednesday’s World Kindness Day, which encouraged all to don sweaters reminiscent of the iconic cardigans worn by beloved children’s...
Single-lane restrictions planned on Routes 28, 65
Drainage work on Route 28 and Route 65 in Allegheny County will restrict traffic to a single lane in some areas Thursday. Northbound motorists on Route 28 will encounter single-lane restrictions between the 40th Street Bridge and Etna interchange from 9 a.m. to noon. Single-lane restrictions will affect northbound motorists...
Pittsburgh International expanding cargo facilities with federal grant
The Allegheny County Airport Authority is using an $18.7 million federal grant to expand its air cargo business at Pittsburgh International Airport, an official said Wednesday. Bryan Dietz, the authority’s vice president of air service development, said the authority would use the federal BUILD grant to help construct a $30...
Night of comedy aims to help North Strabane couple who lost home in landslide
Doug and Suzanne Grimes are paying a mortgage on a house that’s no longer there. Their North Strabane home was ruined by a landslide in June 2018 and declared unsafe. It was demolished a few months later. The couple is now saddled with a second mortgage, storage costs and over...
Burrell School Board to reconsider artificial turf when it seeks contract bids next week
A new estimate knocks down the cost of artificial turf to a $550,000 option for a renovation project at Burrell High School’s Buccaneers Stadium. The original estimate for the field renovation with natural sod was about $400,000, while artificial turf was expected to cost $1.2 million to $1.3 million. However,...
Water line under Kiski River near Apollo to be replaced
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members on Wednesday approved a $1.76 million project to install a new water line under the Kiski River. Officials said about 1.5 miles of pipe will be installed, including an 800-foot section of 20-inch fused PVC material, that will run below the bed of...
Hearings on sex charges, extradition set for suspended Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez
A Westmoreland County judge will hear evidence next week to determine whether suspended Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez can be extradited to Florida to answer sexual assault charges. Later that same day, Vazquez is scheduled to appear before East Huntingdon Magisterial District Judge Charles Moore for a preliminary hearing...
Allegheny County DA joining investigation into Alternative Benefit Systems
Allegheny County businesses or residents may be caught up in a theft case involving the owner of a Berks County company that administered health care savings accounts, Allegheny County District Attorney’s office spokesman Mike Manko said Wednesday. Prosecutors in both counties are investigating Alternative Benefit Systems and its owner Amy...
State Rep. Markosek charged with DUI
A state representative elected in 2018 was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving in Cumberland County in September, according to court records. Brandon J. Markosek, 26, of Monroeville represents the 25th State House District. He faces a misdemeanor DUI charge, along with summary offense for speeding, a court docket shows....
