Western PA Local News category, Page 289
Deputy director hired for Westmoreland election bureau
For the first time in five years, Westmoreland County has a deputy director of the election bureau. The county commissioners on Thursday announced the hiring of Hannah Lindley, 31, of Bentleyville, Washington County, to serve as second in command of the office that oversees elections in Westmoreland County. Lindley served...
Rabbi enlisted to assess faith of Westmoreland jail inmate
A Pittsburgh rabbi was brought in to assess claims that a county jail inmate’s religious convictions qualify him to receive kosher meals while incarcerated, the Westmoreland County commissioners said. The lawyer for Kort Noel Eckman, who is awaiting trial in the attempted murder of his mother, said jail officials have...
Fayette County funeral home catches fire
A fire broke out at funeral home Thursday afternoon in Fayette County. Firefighters from New Haven Hose Company, located in Connellsville, were dispatched at 2 p.m. to the 400 block of Pittsburgh Street for calls that Paul G. Fink Funeral Home Inc. was on fire. No one was trapped in...
Roberto Clemente Bridge to close for inspection
The Roberto Clemente Bridge in Pittsburgh will be closed for inspection from 6 a.m. Monday through 3 p.m. on Aug. 8. It will close gain the following week. The closures are required for crews to safely conduct routine inspection activities. Traffic will be detoured using Fort Duquesne Boulevard, the Andy...
Pittsburgh controller pushes City Council to make private meetings more transparent
Pittsburgh’s fiscal watchdog on Thursday recommended that City Council make more transparent — but not eliminate — controversial private meetings its members occasionally hold to discuss public business. The suggestion came in a performance audit released by Controller Rachael Heisler, which also recommended that council develop better policies to track...
Catch a shuttle to Festa Italiana in New Kensington
Those planning to attend Mount St. Peter Church’s annual Festa Italiana on Friday and Saturday are reminded to catch a shuttle from Valley High School. There is little or no parking near the church. The free shuttles will run from the Valley High School parking lot throughout the festival —...
New Kensington man charged in connection to sex assaults against woman, girl
New Kensington police filed charges against a 30-year-old man accused of inappropriately touching and assaulting a woman and a girl over a two-year period. Joshua Daniel Large, of New Kensington, faces charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, criminal attempt at indecent assault, corruption of minors and harassment. On Dec....
Derry Township man charged in 2007 slaying accused of having drugs at prison
A Derry Township man awaiting trial in a 2007 homicide was arraigned Thursday on new police accusations that he had drugs at the Westmoreland County Prison. Charles Earl Ream, 55, was charged by county detectives this week with possession of contraband and conspiracy. Authorities said in court papers that June...
Plum native named Arlington National Cemetery superintendent
John G. Knapp has a long history of serving his country. His next act of service will be as superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, a final resting place for many of America’s fallen heroes and prominent figures, symbolizing the nation’s history and honoring those who served. “Arlington National Cemetery serves...
Is a grocery store on tap for downtown New Kensington?
The new owner of Central City Plaza in downtown New Kensington hopes to fill vacant space there by the end of this year and to get a grocery store operational next year. “We’re pretty confident we can better manage the property, and we saw a lot of potential in the...
O’Hara resident joins charity swim in Monongahela River
Lizabeth “Libby” Ernharth of O’Hara is a lifelong swimmer about to experience a swimming first — she’s going to swim in the Monongahela River. Ernharth, 53, is set to participate in a non-competitive five-mile Mon River Mission charity swim on Aug. 2. Ernharth has plenty of memories spending time on...
Morning Roundup: Police say Butler man was DUI when he hit another man in driveway
Here are some of the latest news items happening this morning, Thursday, July 31: Police say Butler man was DUI when he hit another man in driveway Pennsylvania State Police charged a man they allege was driving under the influence when he fatally struck a pedestrian. The wreck occurred around...
Police say man killed himself after shooting woman in McKeesport
Allegheny County Police say they believe a man shot a woman before taking his own life early Thursday morning in McKeesport. County 911 was notified of a shooting in the 2300 block of Grandview Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. First responders found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds...
The Stroller, July 31, 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. Pancreatic cancer research fund...
Penn Hills man cultivates passion for life, travel through production company
James “Jazz” Byers calls himself a professional wanderer. It’s hard to find a more accurate title to fit the man who has biked across the United States and in the South Pole, went backcountry skiing in Antarctica and spent time in Chile, Germany, Taiwan, the Netherlands and other countries. Byers’...
Franklin Regional grad works on to address cardiovascular illness, healthcare literacy in Tanzania
While working on his undergraduate degree at Duke University, Faraan Rahim had the chance to travel to Ghana in west Africa for a summer project, and the 2019 Franklin Regional graduate fell in love with the challenges and rewards of global health care. Today, Rahim is on the opposite side...
Steel City Axe Throwers win medals at international contest
A North Huntingdon-based group of axe throwers from the region were skilled enough to capture several top finishes in an international axe-throwing competition held last month in Toronto. The Steel City Axe Throwers, based out of Chill Axe at the Banco Industrial Park in North Huntingdon, had five winners in...
Rising Pittsburgh-founded band November Blue headlining benefit for MS in West DeerVideo
A band of Pittsburgh-area natives that Rolling Stone recently named one of 10 new artists to watch is coming home in August to headline a long-running annual music festival benefiting multiple sclerosis research. November Blue will be one of four groups performing at Music for MS on Aug. 9 at...
Westmoreland happenings: Butterfly release, Fun Fest, Hawaiian luau, more
Festival • The August Fun Fest will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Cedar Creek Park, 453 Evergreen Drive, Rostraver. Magic Moments will perform doo-wop music and oldies at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the amphitheater, and local bands will perform at noon, 2,...
Trafford resident leads charge in replacing steps in Veterans Memorial Park
When Trafford native Donna Morocco walked to elementary school as a child, she always took the small set of stone steps leading up to Edgewood Avenue. Morocco, who grew up on parallel Duquesne Avenue, walked the concrete ramp through Trafford Veterans Memorial Park to get to school each day —...
Newly formed Gateway Skeet Club earns trophy at 1st state competition
The Gateway Skeet Club came home from state competition with a second-place team trophy — not too shabby considering it was the team’s first trip to the tournament after forming this year. “I think we were all surprised,” said team member Christian Sterner, 16, who will be a junior this...
Monroeville area: Job fair, church events, National Night Out, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bkikel@triblive.com. Job fair United Career Fairs will host an Aug. 19 job fair focused on sales and management positions. It will be from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Courtyard Marriott, 3962 William Penn Highway in Monroeville. Each company will introduce...
Monroeville Mischief Makers offer a fun spin on crafting
They are Monroeville’s mischief makers, but not in the traditional sense. A group of 12 working and retired individuals — the oldest member, Marie Bair, is 94 — the Mischief Makers enjoy socializing and celebrating creativity. Their latest creations — a round robin exercise involving fabric — will be showcased...
Monroeville Mischief Makers offer a fun spin on crafting
They are Monroeville’s mischief makers, but not in the traditional sense. A group of 12 working and retired individuals — the oldest member, Marie Bair, is 94 — the Mischief Makers enjoy socializing and celebrating creativity. Their latest creations — a round robin exercise involving fabric — will be showcased...
Oakmont man faces vandalism charge after broken sprinkler floods police station’s cells
An Oakmont man is facing multiple charges, including a felony charge of institutional vandalism, after causing more than $5,000 in damage to the Penn Hills Police Department. According to a criminal complaint, after being detained about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26, Daniel Brockhoff, 63, allegedly broke the overhead sprinkler in...
