Western PA Local News category, Page 2810
Braddock police chief suspended with pay after arrest
The police chief in Braddock has been suspended with pay while an investigation into accusations of domestic violence are investigated, the borough’s mayor said Sunday. Guy Collins, 59, was arrested Saturday and is charged with simple assault. “We are investigating this to the fullest potential because we take domestic violence...
Hempfield building destroyed in fire
A Hempfield building was destroyed in a fire early Sunday. The blaze was reported at 4:33 a.m. at a structure on secluded Smith Road near Historic Hanna’s Town. A Westmoreland 911 dispatcher said no injuries were reported. Hempfield fire officials did not respond to a request for information. The property...
Allegheny County DA Zappala faces challenge from independent Middleman, a longtime public defender
Allegheny County Public Defender Lisa Middleman is the second candidate to try to topple District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr.’s 20-year tenure. Turahn Jenkins challenged Zappala, 62, in the Democratic primary in May. Jenkins, who left his post as the chief deputy director of the county public defender’s office to...
John Oyler: Rocky Mountain High
I have just returned from a delightful trip to Colorado to visit my daughter Sara and her family. The official rationale for the trip was to see my grandson Ian perform in his high school play, “Clue.” However, the beautiful weather there encouraged Sara to take me into the mountains...
The fate of Colfax Elementary building in Springdale will be decided by Tuesday’s election
For most of the six candidates vying for five seats, the fate of Colfax Elementary School is still very much an issue. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5. The current school board voted 6-3 in October to demolish the Colfax school after moving its students to the...
In state Superior Court race, four candidates vie for two open seats
Four candidates are running for two open seats on Pennsylvania’s Superior Court, one of the state’s two intermediate appellate courts. The Superior Court hears all appeals from the Court of Common Pleas and is made up of 15 judges. Appeals are generally heard by a three-judge panel. Only one candidate,...
Leslie Odom Jr. encourages young artists to take risks, love their craft at Pittsburgh CAPA
Think of love as a verb, Grammy and Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. told the room of aspiring young artists Saturday in Pittsburgh. “If you love something hard enough, eventually, it will love you back,” Odom said, encouraging the high schoolers to find their passion and nurture it intensely. Success...
Veterans monument at Burrell’s Stewart School gets $8,000 facelift
After a portion of the veteran’s monument in front of Stewart Elementary School along Leechburg Road toppled earlier this year, state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, and others kicked in $8,000 to fix the deteriorating memorial for residents who served in World War II. Repairs started last week on the stone...
Republicans, Democrats run separate races for county commissioner, but both parties want to win controlVideo
Westmoreland County’s next board of commissioners will have a similar look, as three of the four candidates running want as little change as possible. Tuesday’s election features two incumbents and the chief of staff of retiring Commissioner Charles Anderson along with a challenger who is vying for his first elected...
Railcar enthusiasts to collect toys, cash for Toys for Tots on railroad line
The annual caravan of festive railcars collecting items for Toys for Tots will make the 40-mile trek from East Huntingdon to Hempfield on Nov. 16. Members of the North American Railcar Operators Association will brave the weather to collect new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations for children in need. The...
Freeport Area School Board will have new faces soon; the question is: How many?
There will be at least two, and possibly three, new faces on the Freeport Area School Board after Tuesday’s election. Three political newcomers, Greg Selinger, Ron Kobelenske and Adam Toncini, all of Buffalo Township, join three incumbents to make up the six candidate field. Toncini is the only one who...
New playground for Greater Parkview Church daycare is immediate hit with kids
The Stafford house was the place to be for children growing up in one Greensburg neighborhood. With six siblings and a pool, the West Pittsburgh Street home was always a busy place. “All of the kids hung out here,” said Dorothy Gerhardt. “It was fun growing up here.” Now, that...
Police: $33K worth of heroin, fentanyl seized from McKeesport home
More than $33,000 worth of heroin and fentanyl was seized from a McKeesport home Friday and two people were arrested, according to the Allegheny County Police. Camille Ann Pruitt, 27, of McKeesport, and Tyjior Leslie Brown, 18, of Pittsburgh, are facing drug and conspiracy charges. Authorities served a search warrant...
Former Officer Michael Rosfeld likely won’t pay any part of Antwon Rose settlement, experts tell Trib
Former East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld likely won’t pay a penny of a $2 million settlement reached in a federal civil lawsuit filed by Antwon Rose II’s family against Rosfeld and East Pittsburgh, experts familiar with civil cases said. Instead, East Pittsburgh’s insurance company will probably cover the cost...
Republican Michael Korns aims to unseat Democrat Joseph Ferguson in Allegheny Township
A Republican challenger is looking to unseat a longtime elected official for an open Allegheny Township Board of Supervisors seat in the Nov. 5 election. Republican Michael Korns will face Democrat Joseph Ferguson, whose term expires in December. Terms on the three-member board are six years. Ferguson, 66, has been...
Pittsburgh voters will be asked for tax increase to fund city parks
Pittsburgh voters Tuesday will be asked to approve a half-mill property tax increase that would exclusively fund improvements to city parks. Proponents say the measure is necessary to fill a $400 million funding gap in deferred park maintenance and improvements and an annual $13 million shortfall in maintenance funds. Critics...
Vo-tech in New Kensington looks to attract students with open houseVideo
Brandon Meanor was working as a carpenter before graduating from high school — and bought a house not long after. He was able to do that with the training and experience he gained as a student at Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center in New Kensington. He didn’t want to...
Thomas Jefferson High School finally gets its poolVideo
Twenty-one years ago, John Penn made a commitment to the TJ swimming community that he would be there to see them get a pool of their own. Not even a move to Florida could keep the TJ swimming and diving head coach away from being there this year when the...
The Stroller, Nov. 2-3, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Benefit for Vandergrift cancer patient set Sunday A fundraiser to benefit cancer patient Karen Dongiovanni will be from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Moonlight Inn, 1011 La Belle Vue Road, Vandergrift. There will a lunch buffet from 1 to 4 p.m., a cash bar, basket raffle, t-shirt sale...
Airport director: Arnold Palmer runway upgrades will support more frequent flights
Officials at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport hope work to widen and strengthen the runway will not only improve conditions for existing flights, but also open the door for increased frequency of flights and additional destinations for passengers. “The primary reason is safety,” Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo...
Latrobe Turkey Trot 5K turns 25, adds ‘virtual’ race division
Dedicated competitors, as well as those who enjoy the sociable holiday atmosphere, are expected to show up Thanksgiving morning for Latrobe’s 25th anniversary Turkey Trot foot race. Craig Shevchik, director of Latrobe-GLSD Parks & Recreation, which organizes the race, is hoping to mark the silver anniversary by attracting more than...
Driver fired after taking Shaler Area bus over flooded roadVideo
A driver has been fired after driving a Shaler Area school bus over a flooded road Thursday in Shaler Township. School district transportation provider ABC Transit told WPXI-TV the driver was terminated after video footage captured the incident Thursday afternoon on Seavey Road, in the aftermath of heavy rainstorms. Three...
Bridge work will detour PA Turnpike traffic between Monroeville, Harmar
The westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be closed early Sunday between the Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley exits to allow crews to work on the Saltsburg Road bridge. Weather permitting, the closure will begin at 11:59 p.m. Saturday and is expected to last until 5 a.m. Sunday, turnpike officials...
Frozen berries sold at Aldi recalled for possible Hepatitis A contamination
Wawona Frozen Foods has recalled frozen berries sold at Aldi and Raley’s Family of Fine Stores because the products might be contaminated with Hepatitis A. The company announced the voluntary recall this week for frozen berries imported from Chile. Recalled items include: 12-ounce bags of Season’s Choice raspberries with 2021...
Pivik Elementary School in Plum rallies around classmate, 7, battling cancerVideo
A Plum child got to witness support from his elementary school in regard to his cancer recovery as teachers shaved their heads Friday during an assembly. Joey “JoeNado” Byrnes, 7, was diagnosed with leukemia in September after weeks of mysterious stomachaches, persistent coughing and a low-grade fever. He began chemotherapy...
