Gainey blasts Trump administration for targeting East Liberty Social Security office
More than two dozen people joined Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in East Liberty on Tuesday to rally in support of the neighborhood’s Social Security office, which had been targeted for possible closure by President Donald Trump’s administration. The office — along with the Greensburg Social Security Administration buildings and the...
Direct flights to Punta Cana will begin this winter through American Airlines
A direct route to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from Pittsburgh International Airport is launching this winter through American Airlines — for the first time in over a decade. The service will be once per week on Saturday only, and it will start Dec. 6, American Airlines said. The Allegheny County...
Springdale Council sifts through 15 applications for borough manager position
Springdale Council is considering applications from 15 candidates to fill the borough manager’s post. After the window to submit applications closed Monday, interim Manager Jason Dailey said council’s personnel committee will rank the applicants before conducting interviews. Of the 15 applicants, Dailey said four have previous municipal experience. Though the...
‘Miscarriage of justice’: Mom pans prison terms for son’s murderers as too short
Monica Reifman’s teenage son was shot 17 times in broad daylight. Two other people were wounded. That, she told a judge on Tuesday, is certainly worth a longer sentence than the 15 to 30 years in prison the prosecution offered to the two men pleading guilty. “That they could be...
Grant Street in Pittsburgh reopened to 1 lane after being closed due to popping manhole covers
Pittsburgh police have reopened Grant Street to one lane after it was closed to traffic in Downtown Pittsburgh as two manhole covers along the thoroughfare popped loose, one with a thunderous boom, around noon Tuesday. The cause was traced to a fire affecting electrical wires under Grant Street, according to...
Hampton bringing teen edition of Broadway’s ‘Hadestown’ to high school stage
When it comes to announcing their spring musical, Hampton High School teachers keep the students guessing by floating different possibilities of what it will be, sophomore Lordyn Schomaeker said. Schomaeker, 15, was “very, very excited” when the word finally came down that this year’s production would be the teen edition...
Judge clears Region 2 candidate to run for Pine-Richland School Board after objections
Judge John McVay ordered objections to Pine-Richland School Board candidate Robert Stein’s election petitions be denied on March 31, leaving Stein clear to run in the May primaries. The objections, filed by Pine-Richland attorney Chris Cafardi, alleged that Stein, who is running in Region 2 of the district, did not...
Businesses to stay open as Market Square upgrade, traffic shifts begin
A yearlong renovation to Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh scheduled to begin Tuesday will cause a shift in traffic patterns. Construction will start in the north half of the square, including McMasters, Market and Graeme streets. One-way traffic heading toward Downtown on Forbes Avenue from Wood Street to Stanwix Street...
Westmoreland cultural groups, nonprofits will seek crucial helpers at volunteer fair
It can take as many as 150 volunteers to help run the midsummer Westmoreland County Arts and Heritage Festival, and Executive Director Diane Shrader is looking to sign up some of those unpaid workers at a Friday event in Greensburg. The festival is one of more than two dozen organizations...
Morning Roundup: Burglary at Bloomfield Dollar General; police seek scammer in Washington County
Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Tuesday, April 1, 2025: Burglary reported at Bloomfield Dollar General Pittsburgh police said Tuesday morning they are investigating a burglary at a Dollar General store in the city’s Bloomfield neighborhood. Someone threw a rock through a window to...
Blawnox, O’Hara fire companies aim to rebuild ranks with focus on recruitment
State officials say volunteer firefighters save Pennsylvania municipalities about $10 billion a year. And, while departments across the country struggle with membership and finances, they are worth the work of keeping alive, Blawnox fire President Mike
Yonas said. His department, with more than a century serving the small river town,...
The Stroller, April 1, 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. Paws Across Pittsburgh plans...
Man fatally shot outside vehicle in Homewood North
Two men have been charged with homicide in connection with a fatal shooting early Tuesday in Homewood North. Shawn Collins, 54, of Pittsburgh, and Lavelle Johnson, 33, of Braddock, are awaiting arraignment in connection with the death of Johnny Ray Wilson. His age was not listed in court papers. Wilson...
Allergies hitting you already? You’re not alone
Sneezing earlier than normal? Congested? Eyes watery? You’re not alone or imagining it. Allergy specialists in Western Pennsylvania say allergy seasons are getting longer and intensifying. Patients with allergy symptoms started visiting Allegheny Health Network allergist and immunologist Dr. Ali Ayyash in mid-February. “Typically, the spring pollen season starts towards...
Bon Air students celebrate March Madness with coding robots
Second and third grade students at Bon Air Elementary School in Lower Burrell are celebrating March Madness this week — but with a ping-pong basketball, a plexiglass court, paper displays of defenders and Dash robots. The “Dash-ketball” assignment was the brainchild of technology and engineering teacher Brooke Miller, getting students...
Bridge beams to be placed as work progresses on revamp of I-70/Route 51 interchange
Reconfiguration of the Interstate 70 interchange with Route 51 is scheduled to reach a new milestone in the days ahead as work advances on construction of the second of a pair of bridges that will carry Route 51 over the interstate. Dominec Caruso, assistant construction engineer for PennDOT District 12,...
Trooper Iwaniec Race targets drunken driving for 16th year, virtually and in Unity
Organizers of the annual Trooper Kenton Iwaniec Memorial Race at Saint Vincent College hope to raise $100,000 through this year’s April 12 event. That’s enough to purchase 200 breathalyzers — to help law enforcement agencies crack down on those who get behind the wheel while drunk in Pennsylvania. The family...
Decision on 2nd injection well in Plum to come in June, zoning board says
Plum’s zoning hearing board says it will have a final decision on the development of a second injection well along Old Leechburg Road by June. The board heard testimony from three people Monday night during the third in a series of hearings. Local environmental advocacy group Protect PT (Penn-Trafford) and...
New Castle man nearly strikes police with vehicle during high-speed chase Saturday
A New Castle man is facing multiple charges after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase Saturday through at least two counties and nearly striking a police officer. State police were notified Saturday morning of a stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed eastbound on Mitchell Road...
Bealls to open store in Hyde Park Plaza in May
First of all, it’s pronounced “bells.” Florida-based discount apparel and home goods retailer Bealls is coming May 5 to Allegheny Township, the company announced Monday, marking its first foray into the Alle-Kiski Valley. While the name might spark some confusion, the Bealls business model is familiar to most shoppers. Spokesperson...
Restriction on Rodi Road ramp to eastbound Interstate 376 to run through late November
Restrictions on the ramp from Rodi Road to eastbound Interstate 376 will begin Tuesday, April 1, weather permitting, according to PennDOT. A lane reduction will start at 7 a.m. and run through late November. The ramp will be reduced to an 11-foot width around the clock for the duration of...
Pa. measles cases prompt CVS to push vaccine statewide
Following the confirmation of at least five measles cases in Pennsylvania, CVS Health reminded patients of its services that offer the measles vaccine to unvaccinated commonwealth residents. Pennsylvania’s first measles case of the year was reported in Montgomery County outside of Philadelphia on March 2, and the second was reported...
Westmoreland commissioners quickly fill vacant HR director’s post
Westmoreland County commissioners on Monday named Amanda Bernard as the county’s new director of human resources, starting April 28. It’s a return engagement for Bernard. She served in the position for about two years before she left for another job in 2020 and was replaced by Alexis Bevan, who formally...
Feds in Pittsburgh charge 4 in multimillion-dollar lottery scam linked to Jamaica
Federal investigators in Pittsburgh have charged four people they say were involved in a $4.5 million international lottery scam run out of Jamaica that targeted the elderly. Yonel Burnett, 28, of Jamaica, is charged in a two-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit...
New Oakland Catholic principal was on faculty of Murrysville, McKeesport schools
The new principal of Oakland Catholic High School has more than three decades of experience as an educator and has proven leadership skills, said Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik. Karen Kolenik will start the job on July 1. “She is not only a strong academic leader, but also a faithful...
