Local category, Page 2802
Attorney for Pitt researcher who poisoned wife optimistic for new trial
The attorney for the former University of Pittsburgh researcher convicted in 2014 of poisoning his wife with cyanide remains optimistic about a hearing his client is seeking for a new trial, despite a recent ruling from a judge dismissing most of his arguments. Robert Ferrante has asked for a new...
Infant twins, triplets sought for Amazon film in Pittsburgh
A Pittsburgh casting company is seeking infant twins or triplets for an Amazon Studios movie filming in the area this fall. Mosser Casting is looking for identical, white, male twins and triplets who will be between 3 and 9 months old by the start of filming on Oct. 23. The...
Chartiers Valley athletic director accepts Notre Dame position
Chartiers Valley athletic director Angie Potthoff is headed back to Notre Dame to work as the director of operations for women’s basketball. Potthoff, a former WNBA player who has worked in various roles at the University of Notre Dame, including as assistant women’s basketball coach, has served as Chartiers Valley’s...
Maryland man gets 30 years for 1999 abduction, assault of Somerset Co. girl
A Maryland man will spend the next 30 years in prison for the 1999 abduction and sexual assault of a 10-year-old Somerset County girl. Timothy D. Nelson, 50, of Cumberland, Md., was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson in Johnstown. He could have received life in prison for...
Police: Ruffs Dale man accused in sex crimes used fire department’s credit card to fuel up
A Ruffs Dale man awaiting trial on charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl over several months last year was accused by state police this week of using an area fire department’s credit card to buy $2,627 in gas for his personal vehicle. Derek A. Ruth, 27, who was arrested...
Pittsburgh Army Corps teams in Puerto Rico, Florida ahead of Dorian’s mainland arrival
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh sent its emergency power team to Florida and Puerto Rico before Tropical Storm Dorian became a hurricane hurling 80 mph winds and heavy rains near the U.S. Virgin Islands on Wednesday afternoon. Dorian is expected to become a dangerous hurricane as it...
Duquesne man charged in connection with Homestead shooting
Allegheny County police have charged an 18-year-old man in connection to a report of a shooting Tuesday night in Homestead. Police are looking for tips about a second suspect seen with him. The motive for the shooting is not known, according to police. It is also not know if anything...
Pittsburgh Knights esports franchise adds Mexico-based investors
The Pittsburgh Knights announced this week that the Esports MX LATAM Fund, a Mexico-based group of investors, has invested and partnered with the esports franchise to jointly set up an affiliate esports team organization in Mexico. The affiliate will be based on the Knights’ organizational and operational model. “Mexico has...
South Fayette eyed as site of self-driving vehicle test track
The future of self-driving vehicles may start in South Fayette Township. Developers have announced plans to construct a track for an autonomous-vehicle testing site at the former Campbells Airport site between Cecil-Sturgeon and Mohawk roads. They made their pitch to township commissioners at a public hearing Aug. 21, as part...
Plum native Bjorn Fratangelo falls in U.S. Open first round
Bjorn Fratangelo, a native of Plum, engaged in a four-set battle with France’s Gilles Simon on Tuesday in the first round of the men’s singles draw at the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y., but the seven-year pro was not able to advance. Fratangelo, who picked up a wild-card entry to...
Wall road closure takes motorists through Monroeville, Pitcairn
The closure of an intersection in Wall Borough will detour traffic through parts of Pitcairn and Monroeville, Allegheny County Department of Public Works announced Wednesday. The intersection at Wall and Valley avenues will close starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 9. The work is expected to last until November, public works...
Harrison’s Kaley Bastine spreading police fundraising efforts to New Kensington
A Harrison girl is branching out in her efforts to support police — even crossing a river. Kaley Bastine, 7, will be selling cupcakes from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Bird Dog’s Sports Bar & Grill in Harrison to raise money for New Kensington police Officer...
Winning $650K Cash 5 ticket sold in O’Hara
A jackpot-winning Cash 5 ticket for Tuesday’s drawing was sold in O’Hara. The ticket matched all five balls drawn, 01-03-18-24-29 to win $650,000. It was sold at the Rite Aid on Freeport Road. The store will earn a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Cash 5 prizes expire one...
Cops: Suspected meth lab discovered in Indiana home
A 33-year-old Indiana woman has been charged after state police served a search warrant at her home and discovered a suspected “one-pot” meth lab inside, according to state police in Indiana. Police reported the meth lab was discovered at a residence along South 12th Street, where troopers and officers with...
Pittsburgh man charged in Wood Street T station knife attack
A Pittsburgh man has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with a knife attack at the Wood Street transit station Downtown late Tuesday night. Shortly before 11 p.m. a Port Authority of Allegheny County police officer was flagged down at the station for a report of a knife attack,...
Monroeville woman charged with stealing money from 2 Gateway organizations
The former president of two family-teacher organizations in the Gateway School District has been charged with stealing nearly $11,000 from fundraisers and debit card purchases made for her personal use. Jennifer Murawski, 38, of Monroeville was president of the FTO at Mosside Middle School from 2017 to 2019 and the...
UPMC doctors ready to meet ‘pent-up demand’ after inking 10-year contract with Highmark
UPMC facilities are preparing to meet the “pent-up demand” among Highmark-insured patients who now can choose to go to UPMC doctors and hospitals, particularly when it comes to specialty care, UPMC’s chief financial officer said Tuesday. “We’re seeing (patient) volume increases,” said Robert DeMichiei, CFO of UPMC, a nonprofit health...
Plum school board meetings to be videotaped, broadcast this school year
Plum School District families soon can observe school board workshops and voting meetings from the comfort of their own home or mobile device. The school board decided to start video recording its monthly meetings in-house. The technology department, led by Daniel Lauletta, prepared an iPAD, microphone and tripod setup. Board...
Oakmont launches emergency text alert initiative
Oakmont officials hope a new text service will increase communication with residents and business about borough emergencies. A post was made on the borough website, www.oakmontborough.com, announcing the program. “We have partnered with Jireh Mobile of Verona as our notification service provider,” borough Manager Scot Fodi said. “We are incorporating...
Fayette man charged with cruelty in shooting death of neighbors’ cat
A Fayette County man is charged with cruelty to animals, accused of shooting and killing a pet cat that strayed into his yard from a nearby home. State police from the Uniontown station said Harold Earl Hair Jr., 63, of Dunbar, admitted using a .22-caliber rifle to shoot a black...
Sister sharpshooters look to improve upon trophy take at Westmoreland FairVideo
Sisters Autumn and Summer Pavlik are used to aiming high. And they rarely miss. The Unity siblings combined for an impressive showing in youth shooting sports at last week’s Westmoreland Fair. Autumn, 15, placed first in her age group in the 4-H archery, air rifle and .22-caliber rifle shooting competitions....
Spitzer Toyota Monroeville donates to Plum School District
Travelers along Elicker Road in Plum will know they’re in Mustang Country courtesy of a Monroeville car dealership. Plum School District officials accepted a $21,500 donation from Spitzer Toyota Monroeville General Manager Robert Thomasson at Tuesday night’s meeting. The mustang is the district’s mascot. Superintendent Brendan Hyland said funds would...
County council votes down Allegheny police review board, supporters vow to keep pushingVideo
The Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse erupted into chants of “vote them out” and “we’ll be back” following a vote by Allegheny County Council on Tuesday against establishing a countywide police review board. Council voted 9-6 against the ordinance, which was co-sponsored by District 10 Councilman DeWitt Walton,...
Assault, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – Aug. 27, 2019
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Randy Ruggles, 43, of Pittsburgh on charges of theft of leased property....
Penn Hills official faces removal over background check policy
Penn Hills Council is expected to vote Thursday to remove a longstanding appointed official from the municipality’s planning commission for refusing to comply with a rule requiring him to undergo a criminal background check. The planning commissioner, Jerry Chiappinelli, said he didn’t submit to a background check because he did...
