Westmoreland judge ponders Unity solar farm appeal
A heated dispute over a proposed solar farm in Unity might be headed back to the local zoning board. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Harry Smail Jr. on Thursday suggested the option of remanding the appeal filed by developer Ninemile Run Solar Master Tenant LLC to the township zoning hearing...
Construction begins at Oakmont wastewater treatment plant
An improvement project at Oakmont’s wastewater treatment plant on Ann Street is seeing steady progress. Since 2021, borough officials have been overseeing a project to improve and modernize the plant for the first time since 2008. The project is being managed by a consulting agency, Hatch Engineering. The total cost...
O’Hara couple set to open new ‘elevated’ dining experience in Aspinwall’s business district
Two restaurateurs from O’Hara are the husband-and-wife team behind a new, casually chic restaurant and bar opening soon in Aspinwall. Adam and Diana Kucenic are co-owners of Foxhole Tavern, located in the former Tavern in the Wall, known as Sam’s Tavern to locals, at 211 Commercial Ave. Sam’s Tavern operated...
9 injured after 5-vehicle crash in Wilkinsburg
A 37-year-old man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly causing a five-vehicle accident in Wilkinsburg that injured nine people Thursday night, authorities say. Pittsburgh police said several police cars and ambulances responded to the area near Penn Avenue and East Swissvale Avenue around 10 p.m. One vehicle could be...
Irwin marks beginning of holiday season with parade, entertainment
The annual Light Up Norwin event ushered in the holiday season Thursday with a parade and entertainment along Main Street in Irwin. Festivities began with the East End Kids, followed by Main Street Music students and the C.P. Music ensemble. WQED-TV personality Rick Sebak, known for his Pittsburgh-area documentaries, served...
Monessen couple charged in 2-year-old’s overdose
A couple is facing felony charges after a 2-year-old overdosed from cocaine and fentanyl in Monessen. According to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, Monessen police reported to a home on Oct. 4 after receiving reports of a child overdosing. Police said they interviewed Sable Ford, 36, and Travis Holmes,...
Mistrial declared in Pittsburgh shooting death of girl, 4, and her mom
After deliberating for less than five hours, a jury on Thursday said it was hopelessly deadlocked in deciding whether a Wilmerding man was responsible for the shooting deaths of a woman and her 4-year-old daughter. The judge on the case declared a mistrial, sending the jurors home while at the...
Layoffs possible as commissioners seek to reduce $30M deficit from 2026 budget
Westmoreland County commissioners said additional spending cuts and layoffs could be implemented to trim a nearly $30 million deficit from the proposed 2026 budget. Commissioners unveiled a preliminary spending plan Thursday that calls for more than $463 million in expenses, an $11 million increase over this year. About 30% of...
Retired Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik finds new calling in volunteer service
David Zubik may have retired as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, but he hasn’t stepped away from serving others. On Thursday morning, he slipped into a volunteer’s seat at a charity dental clinic in Pittsburgh, greeting each patient, guiding them through paperwork and pausing long enough to hear...
Latrobe man sentenced for child porn possession
A Latrobe man was sentenced Thursday to serve at least six years in prison for possession of child pornography. Joshua Allen Clawson, 46, pleaded guilty in August to 10 felony counts in connection to files police said were discovered on a computer he sold to a Hempfield pawn shop in...
Norwin area: Sage’s Army toy drive, Wreaths Across America fundraiser, staffing agency toy drive, more
Sage’s Army holds toy drive Sage’s Army and Dream Life Recovery are holding a holiday toy drive for children and teens, with a party planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at its Hempfield office, 6044 Route 30, Suite 400. Donations can be dropped off during normal business hours....
Pitt, Penn State get flat state funding but optimistic toward future
The state budget passed last week signals flat appropriations to the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State, but officials at those colleges are encouraged by an approved plan that establishes and outlines the state’s first performance-based funding formula. General support funding for Penn State holds at $242.1 million — the...
Targeted ultrasound gives Pittsburgh-area doctors new tool against prostate cancer
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have traditionally faced two choices: Do nothing and hope the tumor doesn’t grow between scans or start aggressive treatment. Those with certain types of medium-risk cancers have lacked tailored care, caught between a surveillance strategy geared toward slow-growing tumors and drastic measures known for their...
Springdale police move to add police dog to force
Springdale police are eyeing a new member for the department — a police dog. Borough council voted recently to create the Springdale Borough Police Department K-9 Association, a nonprofit which will be used to fund the program. Several departments, including the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, pay for police dog programs...
Murrysville area: Santa at Sardis, library programs, holiday events, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Santa at Sardis The Murrysville Recreation Department will host its annual Santa at Sardis event from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Sardis Park. The afternoon will include a bonfire, children’s activities, s’mores and photos with Santa. The park is located at the...
3-mill tax hike to fund Hempfield fire departments under consideration
Hempfield supervisors are once again considering two budget versions for next year — one that keeps the property tax rate steady at 3 mills for the 36th straight time and another that would double tax bills to create a stream of funds for the fire department. It’s the same proposal...
Lower Burrell leaders to come together to improve community risk reduction
Oftentimes, first responders are in reaction mode when they respond to incidents. They typically arrive at a scene and assess what needs to be done. But a couple of classes are bringing together Lower Burrell leaders and officials in an effort to think more proactively when it comes to reducing...
Fawn resident brings ‘Letters to Santa’ event back to Arnold
As Santa’s special helper, Joe Lebert anticipates old Saint Nick will receive more than 1,000 letters from children in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond this holiday season. Lebert plans to kick off that effort with an event Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Roy A. Hunt Elementary School gymnasium, 1701 Alcoa...
Allegheny Valley to replace faucets next month after tests show high lead levels
Allegheny Valley will replace more than a dozen faucets at Acmetonia Elementary School over December’s holiday break after several showed unacceptably high lead levels during testing earlier this year. The faucets are part of several classroom hand sinks in the building, all of which have been equipped with signage reading...
Pine-Richland students honor veterans
Veterans Day on Nov. 11 was a special day for students in the Pine-Richland School District. JROTC cadets at the high school hosted a breakfast with community veterans. Members of the high school orchestra, women’s ensemble and band provided the entertainment. Following breakfast, the cadets performed a flag-folding ceremony and...
Etna mourning death of councilman, seeks resident to fill Second Ward seat
Candidates are being sought to replace Etna Councilman Edward V. Burke, 65, who died on Monday, Nov. 10. “We are extremely saddened by this loss, as Ed was kind and a hardworking volunteer on everything Etna, who always had a kind word for everyone,” the borough said Nov. 19. A...
Morning Roundup: Delta flight with mechanical issues diverted to Pittsburgh airport
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Nov. 20: Delta flight with mechanical issues diverted to Pittsburgh airport A Delta flight headed from Montreal to Atlanta was diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday night because of unspecified mechanical issues. Allegheny County Airport Authority spokesperson...
Time capsule from 1990 opened at Highcliff Elementary School in Ross, 10 years after intended date
Students at North Hills’ Highcliff Elementary in Ross stumbled upon a time capsule in their school, a decade after it was planned to be opened. The capsule, created by students and staff in 1990, was found while the stage was being prepared for the Drama Club’s production of “Cinderella …...
Troopers justified in deadly force against armed man, Indiana DA says
Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi ruled that Pennsylvania State Police troopers were justified in using deadly force last month when they fatally shot a man who was firing a gun at them from a rooftop. “Not only is their use of force justified, but these state troopers are heroes...
Whitehall Police Department receives $250,000 gift from estate of Philip St. Moritz
Launching health and wellness initiatives, adding drone equipment, upgrading communication and reinstating a K-9 program are all on the table next year for the Whitehall Police Department. The aforementioned efforts are being made possible courtesy of a significant donation from the estate of a late entrepreneur who lived in the...
