Local category, Page 2847
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...
Pennsylvania Turnpike drug suspects claim illegal search
Two Philadelphia men arrested last year on the Pennsylvania Turnpike after police found 27 pounds of marijuana in their car trunk contend the vehicle search was illegal and the criminal charges against them should be dismissed. Lawyers for Joseph Ricardo Wright, 33, and and Dwayne Dwight Augustus, 36, contend police...
Latrobe man, fiancee sue Nemacolin, seek return of $30K wedding reception deposit
A Latrobe man and his fiancee said a Fayette County resort wasn’t as advertised and are seeking the return of their deposit after canceling their wedding reception set for next month. In a three-count lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas, Greg Cammarata and Christina Varrasso say Nemacolin...
East Liberty fire station to close for repairs, firefighters and vehicles moved to other stations
Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire is shifting manpower and resources to other parts of the city while its East Liberty fire station undergoes repairs. Authorities said the station at 161 N. Euclid Ave. will be temporarily closed starting Thursday so crews can address a structural issue in its hose tower. No...
Johnson & Johnson opioid ruling spreads optimism around Western Pa.-based lawsuits
Westmoreland County is one of about 2,000 municipalities across the country with pending lawsuits against various drug manufacturers accused of promoting the opioid addiction epidemic that has devastated communities in recent years. This week’s court ruling in Oklahoma, in which the state was awarded a $572 million judgment from drugmaker...
Cheswick church rallies behind pastor who needs heart transplantVideo
Clinton Blazevich was told he could live with his heart condition for maybe three to five years before needing a heart transplant. That was nearly 20 years ago. Blazevich, 42, suffers from myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, and cardiomyopathy, a condition that makes it harder for the heart to...
Survivors celebrated on International Overdose Awareness Day in PittsburghVideo
People struggling with opioid addiction sometimes need more than a second chance, treatment advocates say. “If we give people one more chance. Every day,” said Dana Gold, chief operating officer of Jewish Family and Community Services. “Sometimes multiple times a day, then they have the opportunity to make their dreams...
Murrysville council considers electronic billboard at former ‘banner corner’
The “banner corner” in Murrysville may be getting at least one of its signs back. Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said an anonymous donor has offered to fund the purchase of an electronic billboard at the intersection of Old William Penn Highway and Tarr Hollow Road. A small green space at...
