Local category, Page 2997
Meetings set for economic study of Laurel Highlands water improvements
Efforts to improve water quality in local streams create an estimated annual economic benefit of $278 million in the Loyalhanna Creek watershed. That’s according to the preliminary draft of a regional study, “Valuing Clean Water,” that looks to calculate such a figure for 21 sub-watersheds within the Loyalhanna-Conemaugh and Youghiogheny...
Assault, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – May 6, 2019
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtDinisha Smith, 38, of Pittsburgh on charges of retail theft, tampering with physical evidence...
Castle Shannon police, FBI searching for suspected bank robber
Federal and local authorities on Monday asked for help in identifying a man suspected of robbing a Castle Shannon bank last week. The robbery happened at about 1:30 p.m. April 29 at the Dollar Bank on Castle Shannon Boulevard, according to Castle Shannon police Chief Kenneth Truver. Investigators said the...
Deadline approaching to sign up for Ross Twp. youth summer rec program
Slots are still open for kids interested in attending Ross Township’s youth summer recreation program. May 15 is the deadline to register for weeks two through eight of the program, which will run from June 17 to July 18. Morning sessions, which will be held from 8 a.m. to noon...
New Kensington man gets up to 20 years in prison for raping child
A New Kensington man will serve up to 20 years in prison for raping a child. Edward McNeal, 63, pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he had sex with a 9-year-old girl and continued the sexual assaults for another seven years. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Rita Hathaway ordered McNeal...
Westmoreland Bar Association survey ranks Michael Stewart II top judicial candidate
A Westmoreland County Bar Association survey of lawyers ranked Greensburg attorney Michael Stewart II at the top of the group of six candidates seeking two judicial openings on the Common Pleas Court. Stewart was “highly recommended” by 50% of the 180 county lawyers who participated in the survey circulated over...
Pittsburgh police’s comfort dog is a ‘gift’ out of tragedyVideo
The journey of a 10-week-old golden retriever puppy to the Pittsburgh police began in the aftermath of the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue, and so his name, Zane, is only fitting. “Zane” is Hebrew for “gift” and “prayed for.” “After the events of Tree of Life, we brought...
Judge says Jeannette man not competent to stand trial in fatal fire case
A man charged with murder in connection with a deadly fire last year that killed an 87-year-old Jeannette woman is not competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Monday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said a psychological evaluation conducted last month determined Brian Eric Rendon did not...
Local SWAT team to help northern Westmoreland County communities
Upper Burrell is the fifth community to join in a SWAT-like team covering northern Westmoreland County to respond to high-risk events such as active shooters, barricaded gunmen and serving drug warrants. This new multi-municipality Community Emergency Response Team (CRT) is a team bound by a mutual-aid agreement among New Kensington,...
Gilpin volunteer firefighter honored for saving man’s life in LeechburgVideo
Gilpin firefighter Charlie Stull was having lunch at a Leechburg restaurant in August when he noticed a man who was having trouble breathing. In seconds, the man was choking. So Stull, 21, who also is a Gilpin supervisor, took action to save the man’s life. “I performed the Heimlich maneuver....
7 have cross-filed for 5 Riverview seats
Riverview School District has three incumbents and four newcomers battling for five seats on the board. Those seeking to retain their posts include board President Maureen McClure and members Alex DiClaudio and Tara Jean Schaaf. Newcomers are Melanie Pallone, Jennifer Chaparro, Brian Hawk and Jane Miller. All the candidates have...
Psychic accused of attempting to bilk Irwin woman out of $3,300
An area psychic who was turned down to perform a $3,800 “spiritual cleansing” service by a Westmoreland County woman last month was accused by Irwin police of attempting to use her customer’s identity to purchase $3,300 in furniture. Alexis Candy Mitchell, 25, of Monroeville, who does business as Psychic Novena...
Vandalized Brackenridge memorial set to be restored by Memorial Day
With the help of donations large and small, the vandalized honor roll memorial in Brackenridge Memorial Park is expected to be restored to glory in time for Memorial Day. The 54-year-old memorial, featuring the names of veterans of both World Wars and the Korean War, was damaged by a still-unknown...
Employees of Greensburg’s Rialto restaurant mourned after fatal crash in Hempfield
Community members are mourning the loss of two employees of Rialto, a popular Greensburg bar and restaurant, after a fatal crash in Hempfield on Sunday night. Kirstin R. Kerrigan, 22, of Arona and Marc F. Delissio, 33, of Penn Township died after their car went off the road, struck multiple...
Pittsburgh man accused of killing man in Arnold ordered to stand trial
A Pittsburgh man was ordered Monday to stand trial in connection with the April 5 shooting death of a man in Arnold. Shawden L. “Black” Ross, 32, of Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, is accused of fatally shooting Lamont Simmons, 27, after an early-morning argument in which Ross blamed Simmons for setting...
3 West Newton brothers accused of theft by Rostraver sanitation company
Three Westmoreland County brothers who worked for the same Rostraver sanitation company are accused of theft for using company-issued credit cards to make dozens of fuel purchases for their private vehicles. Zachary T. Williams, 29; Justin D. Williams, 19; and Brandon J. Williams, 21, all of West Newton, have been...
O’Hara native elected president of Penn State College Democrats
For Penn State University junior Kelsey Denny, politics is her priority, particularly with the May 21 primary election inching closer. The O’Hara resident was elected president of the College Democrats on April 1. This club has equipped me in ways I could have never imagined. I attribute all of my...
North Hills Middle School teacher among 12 in state vying for Teacher of the Year honor
A teacher in the North Hills School District is among the dozen finalists for the 2020 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, Gov. Tom Wolf announced. Joseph Welch, who teaches 8th grade social studies at North Hills Middle School, and 11 other teachers across Pennsylvania were nominated to receive the statewide...
Women ministers to gather in Pittsburgh for centennial celebration
The International Association of Women Ministers is holding its Centennial Assembly in Pittsburgh July 22-24. The theme is “Women’s Prophetic Leadership in a Changing Church.” The ecumenical body was formed in 1919 in St. Louis and has since grown to include ordained women clergy from 22 countries and six continents....
Gas prices expected to peak in June, analyst says
Gasoline prices could peak in the next week or so in much of the United States before dropping in June to match last summer’s prices, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “It appears that large increases in gas prices have begun to fade to distant memory, lending...
Pittsburgh receives $400k grant to ‘demystify’ self-driving cars
Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is looking to “demystify” automated vehicles and now has a substantial grant to work toward that goal. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is committing $410,539 to the city department to increase public engagement and outreach on the testing and deployment of...
Tarentum’s closed Cycle Diner continues search for new management
The Cycle Diner in Tarentum is closed but perhaps only for a short time. “We have several people interested in leasing it. One is a guy from Europe who we will be meeting with,” said George Gatto, who has owned the diner since 1990. “So we hope to know something...
Rabid raccoon found in Castle Shannon
Another raccoon has tested positive for rabies in Allegheny County, officials confirmed Monday. The raccoon was found dead in a yard on May Street in Castle Shannon. It tested positive for the virus after it was brought to a county facility. It was the 10th animal to test positive for...
CCAC expands weekend, evening classes to reach more students
The Community College of Allegheny County is hoping to reach more students by expanding its evening, weekend and online class offerings. CCAC said in a news release the changes are designed to be more flexible for students who may be working or busy with families. Students also can receive online...
Her ‘one and only marathon’ ends with a proposal at the finish line
Stephanie Solt wasn’t sure she would be able to complete the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon on Sunday. At mile 20, her right knee started to throb with pain. At a point in the 26.2 mile race, doubt often finds a way to creep into a runner’s mind. Solt, 25,...
