Local category, Page 2876
Westmoreland commissioners approve settlement with woman injured at jail
The Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday approved a $7,500 settlement payment related to a complaint about an injury at the county jail. The board unanimously approved the payment as part of a settlement agreement with Christine Shellhammer, who reported being injured Sept. 15 while visiting an inmate at the jail....
Verona residents seek to restart a borough crime watch
A shooting incident in Verona has some residents wanting to restart a crime watch program. Police Chief Ron McLemore said someone shot up an unoccupied vehicle around 2:25 a.m. June 21 along the 400 block of North Avenue. No one was injured, the incident remains under investigation and no suspect...
FBI, police looking for man who robbed Brackenridge credit union
Federal agents and local police are asking for help identifying a man they say robbed a Brackenridge bank Wednesday afternoon at gunpoint. The robbery occurred around 2 p.m. at the Allegheny Ludlum Brackenridge Credit Union at 1131 Brackenridge Ave. According to the FBI in Pittsburgh, the robber displayed a gun,...
Project to stabilize homes affected by mine subsidence to start in Derry Township
Work on a mine subsidence project involving 125 homes in Bradenville, Derry Township, could begin as early as next week. The state Department of Environmental Protection has awarded a contract to Howard Concrete Pumping Inc., of Cuddy in Allegheny County. Howard was the lower of two bidders at $5.2 million,...
Heinz History Center to commemorate 50th anniversary of Apollo 11
The Senator John Heinz History Center will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing by opening a new exhibit and screening a Smithsonian Channel documentary film. The July 20 events complement the center’s Google Arts & Culture online exhibition, “Pittsburgh Goes to the Moon.” On July 20,...
Torrential rain leads to widespread flooding across Western Pa.
Traffic on several roads remained affected in Allegheny County Friday morning after heavy rains pounded Western Pennsylvania Thursday, causing widespread flooding and hazards that shut down major thoroughfares throughout the region. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said those roads spanned from Frazer Township to Crescent Township: • A bridge on Kittanning...
Kennametal to close Hempfield plant
Kennametal Inc. said Thursday it will close its Carbidie manufacturing plant in Hempfield as part of its overall restructuring that includes shutting down two manufacturing plants in Germany and a distribution center, all within the next two years. Pittsburgh-based Kennametal, which has corporate offices in Unity, said operations at the...
Police: Mt. Pleasant woman lost $1,300 in gift card scam
A Westmoreland County woman was scammed out of $1,300 after she gave prepaid gift card numbers to an unknown person, state police in Greensburg said. Troopers said the suspect in April contacted the Mt. Pleasant woman by phone and identified themselves as a representative from Microsoft. The scammer said Microsoft...
Motorcycle rider injured in collision with deer on Route 30
A motorcycle rider was reported to be injured when the bike struck a deer at about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on Route 30 in Unity, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor said. The extent of the rider’s injuries wasn’t immediately known, the supervisor said. Firefighters from Marguerite, Pleasant Unity and Youngstown...
South Fayette officials approve budget with no tax hike
Leaders in the South Fayette Township School District — one of the fastest growing districts in the state — have once again held the line on taxes. For the third straight year, school board members in June approved an operating budget that does not include an increase to real estate...
FBI asks for help to ID man who robbed Downtown Pittsburgh bank
Authorities are asking for help to identify the man who robbed a bank in Pittsburgh’s Downtown last month. The FBI and Pittsburgh police released a surveillance photo of the man Thursday. He is believed to be in his late 40s or early 50s and about 6 feet tall. He was...
List of poor-performing nursing homes still not public a month after promised release
A month after federal regulators pledged to release its secret list of poor-performing nursing homes, officials echoed what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Chief Medical Officer Kate Goodrich said five weeks ago — that the report would be coming “soon.” Lawmakers said CMS has not provided them...
West Mifflin shooting sends man, 27, to hospital
A 27-year-old man was taken to an area hospital after a shooting Wednesday evening in West Mifflin, according to Allegheny County police. County police are investigating the incident reported at about 10:50 p.m. at the Mon-View Heights housing complex on Midway Drive, a county 911 dispatch supervisor said. Additional details...
Driver rescued in Schenley Park after truck overturns
Pittsburgh emergency responders rescued a truck driver Wednesday after his tri-axle truck overturned onto a hillside in Schenley Park. Police, firefighters and EMS were dispatched to Serpentine Drive near Bartlett Street around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a large truck on its side with the driver still inside,...
Latrobe church dinner will benefit police, firefighters
A dinner Sunday at a Latrobe church will show appreciation for and benefit the city’s police department and one of its companies of volunteer firefighters. The event is open to the public and set for 11:45 a.m., following the 10:30 a.m. worship service at Bethany United Methodist Church, 2415 Laveen...
I-70 crash blocks westbound lane in Rostraver
The left-hand westbound lane of Interstate 70 was blocked Wednesday night in Rostraver following a two-vehicle crash, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor said. The collision, between a passenger vehicle and a construction vehicle, occurred just before 10:30 p.m. beneath the Route 51 overpass, according to the supervisor. The supervisor...
Garbage collection in Verona scrutinized after less than 2 months of service
Several Verona residents believe the borough’s new garbage collector’s service stinks. Council inked a five-year contract — three years guaranteed with a two-year option — with County Hauling of Belle Vernon a few months ago. It took over for Waste Management, whose five-year contract expired June 1. Pete McKeating, County...
New program coordinator at Plum Community Center called ‘smart, talented, organized’
Plum Community Center programs are under new leadership. Resident Samantha Lamorte took over for former program coordinator Maria Schafer in February. Schafer, who served as program coordinator since September 2016, left the center at 499 Center-New Texas Road to pursue another job. Lamorte, 26, worked as a cook for nearly...
Detroit trial for Khari Mosley, husband of Allegheny County controller, to start Thursday
The trial on disorderly conduct charges for the husband of Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner will start Thursday morning in Detroit, according to Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller. Khari Mosley, 53, of Point Breeze, Pittsburgh is facing two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace stemming from...
Ohio woman sentenced to prison for federal drug crimes and money laundering
An Ohio woman was sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to four years and four months in prison for her convictions on conspiracy to distribute heroin and money laundering. Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Britny Beaver, 25, of East Liverpool. Federal authorities said Beaver...
Woman accused in fake coupon scheme that bilked Kmarts in 25 states of $100K
A West Virginia woman is accused of using a fake coupon scheme to bilk Kmart stores in 25 states out of more than $100,000 in six months, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. Tanya Thompson, who also goes by Tanya Whetzel, 37, of Martinsburg, W.Va., faces seven counts related to wire fraud,...
Nobody hurt in crash involving medical van in Hempfield
There were no serious injuries when a Mutual Aid medical transport van rear-ended a minivan in Hempfield, according to firefighters at the scene. The crash, which occurred at the corner of Route 66 Business and Franconia Road, happened shortly after 5 p.m. Both vans were traveling south. The mutual aid...
Inspection of Smithfield Street Bridge in Pittsburgh starts Thursday
Inspection of the busy Smithfield Bridge will slow traffic starting Thursday and continuing through Saturday. Single-lane, alternating traffic will occur on the bridge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday to allow for routine inspection work by Mackin Engineering Co. and the Sofis Rigging Co. There will...
Police: Penn Hills man was drunk in crash that killed Verona man
A Penn Hills man was drunk on June 29 when the SUV he was driving crossed the center line of Saltsburg Road and crashed into a car driven by a Verona man, who was killed, Allegheny County police said. Kevin Michael Morrow, 24, had a blood alcohol content of 0.18%,...
Landslide, $45,000 fine didn’t stop Upper Burrell gas well drilling
Wells were drilled despite a state-imposed $45,000 fine against Huntley & Huntley for a landslide on a private road for the Zeus unconventional natural gas well pad in Upper Burrell along Guyer Road. The slide near the fracking well pad added to regulatory and legal challenges at the site but...
