Pa. high court blocks lawsuit against gunmaker by parents of slain Westmoreland County teen
In 2018, Westmoreland County’s Mark and Leah Gustafson sued the gunmaker whose product killed their teenage son two years earlier. But the state Supreme Court last week blocked their efforts, finding that federal law makes gunmakers immune from liability in most cases. In a 45-page opinion issued last week, the...
Former UPMC doc pleads not guilty to trying to kill his wife in Hawaii
A former Pittsburgh doctor Monday pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to kill his wife last month in Hawaii. Police arrested Gerhardt Konig, 46, a former UPMC anesthesiologist who lived in Mt. Lebanon, after authorities say he bludgeoned his wife Arielle’s head with a rock and tried to...
As deadline looms, Real ID process still frustrating for some
For some, acquiring a Pennsylvania Real ID has been relatively painless, but for others — especially women — the process has been anything but. Starting May 7, Pennsylvanians 18 and older will be required to have a Real ID to board domestic flights, set foot in military bases and enter...
Conservator appointed to dissolve Latrobe attorney’s practice as criminal case continues
A Westmoreland County judge has appointed an overseer to close the practice of a Latrobe lawyer accused of bilking a client. Common Pleas President Judge Christopher Feliciani assigned North Huntingdon attorney John Eric Bumbaugh to review case files and communicate with current and former clients of John Allen Roth, who...
Craft studio in Ross provides a creative getaway
Shelley Bosanac has been a scrapbooker for 20 years. The Ross native wanted to open up a store that focused on paper crafting and scrapbooking. Her store, Crafts -n- Scraps Studio, has fostered community since its opening in August 2021. “There are not as many stores like that anymore so...
Allegheny County debuts disease-testing lab even as Trump seeks $20M in cuts
Government health officials warned Monday that $20 million for equipment to conduct disease testing at a new Allegheny County laboratory could be in jeopardy because of drastic spending cuts by the Trump administration. The federal government is trying to block $11 billion in public health grants that flow through the...
Voting machine testing gets underway in Westmoreland
Westmoreland election officials want assurances that each vote cast during the Republican and Democratic primaries next month are accurately recorded. To that end, Election Bureau staff on Monday started what is expected to be a weeklong process to test each of the county’s 900 touch screen voting machines and 350...
April snow showers: Cold front hitting Western Pa.
Snow is returning Monday to Western Pennsylvania. And local meteorologists say it’s still completely normal at this time of year. Sometimes it snows in April. Jeff Verszyla, meteorologist at WTAE-TV, said Pittsburgh receives on average about 1 inch of snow in April. “So seeing a few flakes in the area...
At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
Preview screening set on ‘Free for All’ documentary Northland Public Library is giving the public the opportunity to view the documentary “Free for All: The Public Library” before it premieres April 29 on PBS. The screening will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 11 in the library’s upper...
Water main break causes lane restrictions on part of McKnight Road in Ross
PennDOT is alerting motorists to a water main break impacting traffic Monday afternoon on northbound McKnight Road in Ross. Because of the break, McKnight Road is reduced to a single-lane of traffic between Ross Park Mall Drive and the Browns Lane/Johnanna Drive intersection. The restriction is expected to be in...
Pittsburgh aerospace company considers pausing orders as tariff threats rise
A Pittsburgh-based aerospace company that makes parts used on passenger jets may stop taking orders because of tariffs, according to a report from Reuters. A spokesman for Howmet Aerospace declined comment to TribLive, but they did not refute the story based upon a letter viewed by Reuters. Howmet was invoking...
Police: Man stabbed woman, assaulted another in Arnold
A McKeesport man faces 16 criminal charges after being accused of stabbing one woman and assaulting another over the weekend in Arnold. Arnold police charged Maurice Tymeer Johnson, 26, with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, reckless endangerment, simple assault and flight to avoid apprehension, among other charges. Early Saturday morning,...
Swissvale man embodies loyalty, love of the Pirates by attending 68th straight home opener
When John Wray III was 6 years old, his father took him to his first Pittsburgh Pirates baseball home opener at Forbes Field in Oakland. The date was April 18, 1958. The younger Wray, now 73, hasn’t missed a home opener since. He attended his 68th home opener Friday at...
Scratch-off lottery ticket worth $1 million sold in McCandless
The Pennsylvania Lottery announced Monday that a $1 million-winning 200X the Cash scratch-off ticket was sold in McCandless. The Sunoco Mini Market, 9100 Perry Highway, will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket. The $20 game offers top prizes of $1 million. Scratch-off prizes expire one year from...
Seton Hill, Westmoreland Land Trust to host outdoor family event
Seton Hill students from the university’s honors program seminar will host an outdoor family event with the Westmoreland Land Trust from 1 to 3 p.m. April 13. Attendees can participate in a nature-themed scavenger hunt, lawn games and a children’s craft activity while learning about the importance of protecting the...
Greengate Mall remembered as community gathering spot
Chad Altman couldn’t help himself. One day in 2003, he saw a chance to preserve a piece of his youth — and went for it. With a flashlight attached to his forehead, he walked through the tunnel entrance of the empty Greengate Mall. And he started collecting. “I grabbed things...
Indiana Township-based wedding officiant logs more than 500 nuptials
Michelle Trumble of Indiana Township is a marrying machine. “I’m a hopeless romantic,” Trumble said of her wedding officiant occupation of 16 years. When Trumble faced difficulties booking a suitable wedding officiant for her second wedding, she recognized the need for a professional and versatile wedding officiant in the Pittsburgh...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of April 7, 2025
Annual Oakmont plant sale The Oakmont Garden Club is hosting its annual Spring Plant Sale. The group will be set up in the Hoffstot’s parking lot on Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10. The sale will include flats of flowers and vegetables and...
Leet Township volunteer dedicated to feeding, helping the community of Fair Oaks
Steph Turner grew up across the street from the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department in Leet Township. A friend recruited her to volunteer during the fire station’s open house in 2002, and Turner has been helping ever since. “That’s when my love for the fire department really started,” said Turner,...
Buffalo Township mega-development on hold as builder, municipal authority hammer out water, sewage deal
A planned 627-unit subdivision in Buffalo Township is on hold until the developer and the local water and sewage authority agree on how quickly to hook up homes. For the third time in as many months, the township’s planning commission Wednesday withheld approval for Charter Homes & Neighborhoods to break...
Morning Roundup: Partial collapse leads to emergency demolition in Troy Hill
Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Monday, April 7: Emergency demolition set in Troy Hill A condemned, partially collapsed building in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood has been scheduled for an emergency demolition Monday. TribLive news partner WTAE reports that the American Legion building, located...
Penn Township resident seeks volunteers to create county database of veteran graves
Penn Township resident Bill Bray plans to spend the bulk of his free time this year walking through cemeteries. An Army veteran who served from 1984 to 1993, Bray is looking for volunteers to help him survey all 291 of Westmoreland County’s cemeteries to document every military grave. The county...
Couple hopes new candy and ice cream shop becomes a ‘centerpiece’ of Downtown New Kensington
While other businesses had approached Mike Malcanas and Michelle Thom over the years to lease the space at 1001 Fifth Ave. in downtown New Kensington, the Olde Towne Overhaul crew held off for visions of an ice cream or candy store there one day. Now, consider them lucky ducks. Mark...
The Stroller, April 7, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. 5K race and vendor...
Mayors with merged police forces find freedom, frustration in altered roles
Zack Gent’s final council meetings as mayor of Freeport were tense. The energetic young Republican took office in September 2022 with the aims of supporting local businesses, promoting recreational assets and improving government transparency. He would hold the post during crucial years for the quiet river town as it hired...
