Local category, Page 2811
DUI, theft cases among those recently handled by Judge Zucco in Plum – Aug. 21, 2019
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Waived preliminary hearings • Jason Pickford, 32, of Pittsburgh on charges of improper pass, reckless driving, exceeding maximum speed limits, duties at stop signs, driving with a suspended license, fleeing or attempting...
Assault, drug cases among recent Monroeville police investigations – Aug. 21, 2019
Monroeville police filed the following charges Aug. 12-13 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Donald Albitz, 34, of Penn Hills with intimidation of witnesses or victims, terroristic threats, harassment and simple assault. Charges were filed Aug. 12 in connection with an incident along the 4300 block of Old...
Drug, firearms cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville – Aug. 21, 2019
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Christopher Cooper, 28, of Monroeville on charges of possession of firearm prohibited, firearms...
Wider Penn Township bridge opens in time for Penn-Trafford school traffic
A replacement bridge on Penn Township’s Watt Road opened to traffic Wednesday, just in time for the start of classes Thursday at Penn-Trafford School District. The bridge across Bushy Run was replaced and upgraded as part of PennDOT’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project. The previous span was closed in June and...
Allegheny County Council reviews ordinance to form countywide police review board
Members of Allegheny County Council held a hearing Wednesday to review an ordinance that would establish an independent, countywide police review board. Michelle Kenney, the mother of Antwon Rose II — a 17-year-old shot and killed by former East Pittsburgh Police officer Michael Rosfeld in June 2018 — was among...
New Castle-area doctor pleads guilty to dealing fentanyl in Western Pa., Ohio
A Lawrence County doctor pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing and doling out fentanyl and other opioid painkillers while practicing at clinics in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio, federal prosecutors said . Dr. Thomas A. Ranieri, 66, took a plea deal in exchange for dropping 10 of the 24 counts filed against...
East Hills DUI Task Force to conduct roving patrols this weekend – Aug. 21, 2019
East Hills DUI Task Force will conduct roving patrols and other educational enforcement activities this weekend. The task force consists of Plum, Monroeville, White Oak, North Versailles Township, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Edgewood police departments. Project director is Plum police Lt. Lanny Conley. The enforcement/educational details will occur within the...
Plum police accuse Penn Hills man of S&T Bank robbery last December
A Penn Hills man already accused of robbing a bank in Unity, Westmoreland County, in January is now accused of threatening to stab a bank clerk during the robbery of the S&T branch along Golden Mile Highway in Plum last December. According to a police affidavit filed Wednesday, Demetriyaiss Lamar...
New Kensington man freed after murder sentence to serve 2 years for heroin
A New Kensington man, paroled earlier this year after serving more than two decades in prison for murder, pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug charges that stemmed from his arrest in May. Charles Edward Jones, 40, pleaded guilty to one felony count of drug possession with an intent to deliver and...
FBI looking for child exploitation victims of former Cranberry man
Authorities are asking for the public’s help identifying potential victims of Robert D. Caesar, a former Butler County resident awaiting trial for allegedly abusing underage children. Caesar, 56, most recently of Oxford, in Chester County, was charged by federal indictment in November with production, receipt and possession of child pornography...
McKeesport man convicted in Westmoreland heroin ring wants new trial
An Allegheny County man serving up to 23 years in prison for his role in a drug distribution ring that operated in central Westmoreland County through 2012 contends he was a victim of a botched defense. The new lawyer for Dominick Haynes, 32, of McKeesport, during a hearing Wednesday, contended...
Southbound Route 19 to westbound Parkway West ramp to close this weekend
The ramp from southbound Route 19 to westbound I-376 (Parkway West) will close to traffic from 7 p.m. Friday through 4 p.m. Monday, according to PennDOT. Crews will work to lower the ramp to improve clearance. All ramp traffic will be detoured. Meanwhile, the Wabash Street on and off-ramps at...
Rare night heron seen munching on cicadas in Duquesne
Maybe it’s the Monongahela River, or the healthier environment, or perhaps the plethora of cicadas that account for a rare immature yellow-crowned night heron spending nearly three weeks frequenting the grounds of an industrial building in Duquesne. “What a curious bird,” said Bob Mulvihill, ornithologist with the National Aviary. It’s...
Native fungi show promise to stop spread of spotted lanternfly
Penn State and Cornell university researchers found that a common soil-borne fungi can contain the spread of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest threatening the grape, tree fruit, hardwood and nursery industries. Although the spotted lanternfly is in the eastern part of the state, it’s on the move with its...
Pa. priest accused of stealing nearly $100K from parish
A Pennsylvania Roman Catholic priest is accused of stealing nearly $100,000 from his parish and spending it on a beach house and men he met on dating apps. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office says 56-year-old Monsignor Joseph McLoone was arrested Wednesday for theft from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in...
Salem Township sibling rivalry tested at Westmoreland Fair swine competitionVideo
The friendly sister relationship ended at the pig arena. The crowd hushed Wednesday as sisters Alli and Aspen Jobe and several other finalists brought their animals into the ring for the final leg of the swine showmanship competition at the Westmoreland Fair. The Salem Township pair made eye contact with...
Murrysville teen brings home 8 ribbons from Westmoreland Fair
Ian Sunny of Murrysville is on a roll this week at the Westmoreland Fair. And chances are, if he had baked a tray of rolls, he’d have won a ribbon for that, too. Sunny, 16, a junior at Franklin Regional Senior High School, brought home eight ribbons from the fair...
Judge hears arguments in Franklin Regional’s Sloan ‘elementary campus’ appeal case
Judge Harry Smail has a lot to consider in an appeal of Murrysville council’s approval of an “elementary school campus” project for the Franklin Regional School District. Smail heard oral arguments Wednesday in Common Pleas Court from attorneys representing three parties to the appeal — the municipality, school district and...
McCandless council considering conflict-of-interest rules for appointed positions
McCandless council is considering guidelines for people interested in serving on town boards, commissions and committees to make sure applicants do not profit from the appointments. “I’ve received some complaints from people who are worried that certain people were applying for committees for personal gain,” council President Kim Zachary said...
Judge’s order continues restrictions on Rostraver landfill
A consent order signed by a Fayette County judge Wednesday prohibits the discharge of harmful effluent into the Monongahela River by a landfill and a treatment facility. The action by Common Pleas Judge Steve Leskinen continues a 90-day order he issued in May at the request of Fayette County District...
Body of 24-year-old homeless man found in Bull Creek in Tarentum
Emergency crews removed a man’s body that was found floating in Bull Creek on Wednesday afternoon in Tarentum. Allegheny County police said the victim is a 24-year-old homeless man reported missing by a friend Aug. 19. His name has not yet been released. According to police at the scene, the...
Longtime Blawnox police chief George Bucha retires at 81
Blawnox police Chief George Bucha signed off for the final time with his 2501 code on July 31. But the lifelong borough resident guaranteed he’ll still be a familiar sight in the community. “I consider everyone in town family,” said Bucha, 81. “That’s what’s nice about a small town. You...
Demolition of Pittsburgh’s ‘sagging’ garage beginsVideo
Contractors have started demolishing one of Pittsburgh’s oldest parking garages to make way for a new one. The Pittsburgh Parking Authority closed the Downtown Ninth and Penn garage on May 31 to prepare for the demolition work. The 62-year old building was known as the “sagging” garage because its long...
Overbrook residents win long-running battle with PWSAVideo
Residents of Homehurst Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Overbrook neighborhood have prevailed in a legal battle against the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority over a faulty sewer line along the street. PWSA on Monday began excavating the line for repairs. “We’re very happy that this is finally being repaired,” said Natalie Leon,...
Aspinwall paving work set to begin
Aspinwall paving is finally set to begin, officials said Tuesday. A bid was awarded Aug. 14 that will target four borough roads, including Field Avenue, which has been a priority for council. Members approved $100,000 for the annual road improvement program with a paving list that includes 6th Street, Center...
