No property tax increase planned in Hampton’s $19.75 million proposed budget for 2026
Hampton’s property tax rate would remain unchanged under the township’s proposed 2026 budget. The total tax rate would stay at 2.9241 mills. The owner of a property at Hampton’s median value of $175,000 would continue to pay about $512 annually. The tax rate consists of three parts — 1.979 mills...
Neighbors: Dogs in Tarentum mauling were a concern before the attack
Tyneisha Johnson heard piercing cries coming from somewhere near her Tarentum apartment. Johnson, 37, thought the sounds Tuesday morning might be coming from a television, but that wasn’t the case. The noise, including frantic screams and barking, was from a nearby apartment, where police said a man was severely attacked...
2026 Etna budget holds line on property taxes, but garbage cost increasing
No property tax increase is included with Etna’s proposed 2026 budget, but residents will be paying more for garbage collection. The borough’s tax rate would remain at 9.5 mills. The owner of a property at Etna’s median value of $58,450 would continue to pay about $555 per year. “Council worked...
Sharpsburg’s 1st elected Black mayor talks about her deep roots and future plans
A fourth-generation Sharpsburg resident has made political history. Kayla Portis, 40, is the first elected Black mayor to serve the borough nestled along the Allegheny River in Allegheny County. “I feel like it’s long overdue,” she said. “Representation matters.” Portis’s ancestors, former slaves, fled rural South Carolina after the Civil...
Westmoreland happenings: Festival of Trees, poultry bingo, food drive, more
Fundraisers • St. James Lutheran Church, Youngstown, will have a Festival of Trees 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the church, 4329 Route 982. More than 50 decorated trees will be auctioned. There will be food, drinks, a bake sale, free children’s crafts and photos with Santa...
National sports management company takes over All American+ Field House in Monroeville
A Florida company will take over management of the All American+ Field House in Monroeville, the region’s largest indoor volleyball facility. The Sports Facilities Companies has been selected to manage day-to-day operations at the field house. “Our focus will be on consistency and service — listening to the community, supporting...
Woman being evicted from Garfield residence accused of setting it on fire
Pittsburgh police have accused a woman being evicted from a residence in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood with setting it on fire Wednesday. According to a criminal complaint filed by police, a state constable arrived Wednesday morning in the 5300 block of Mossfield Street to serve Keila Fiqueroa, 48, with an eviction...
Shaler Area School Board approves plan to move grades, starting process to close elementary school
The Shaler Area School Board voted Wednesday, Nov. 19, to begin a process that will lead to the closing of the district’s elementary school. The board voted 8-0 to submit a reconfiguration plan to the state Department of Education to create four elementary schools to house kindergarten through fifth grade,...
Monessen American Legion burns more than 1,000 flags in retirement ceremonyVideo
Old Glory went up in flames hundreds of times over Wednesday during a flag retirement ceremony in Monessen. It’s an annual tradition for members of the American Legion post there, an autumn rite during which the group honors flags that are worn or in poor condition before tossing them in...
Trump administration to take stake in battery maker Eos Energy
Industrial battery maker Eos Energy Enterprises announced Tuesday the federal government will buy 570,000 cut-rate shares in the company, which is relocating its headquarters to Pittsburgh. The Department of Energy has the right to buy the shares at a penny apiece within the next five years, according to financial disclosures...
Highlands comes to tentative ‘early bird’ contract with its teachers
The Highlands School Board is moving to ensure labor peace with the district’s teachers union for the rest of the decade. The board has unanimously approved a tentative “early bird” contract with the Highlands Education Association, the district’s teachers union. “We are thrilled that this early bird has an agreement,”...
Community leaders anticipate economic boost from Independence-WVU Health merger
The proposed acquisition of Independence Health System by the West Virginia University Health System (WVU Medicine) could be a major benefit for the community, local leaders said Wednesday. Officials announced that Independence’s five hospitals — including facilities in Greensburg, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Butler, and Clarion counties — will join the...
Authorities: $100K in illegal drugs seized from Youngwood vape shop
More than $100,000 worth of illegal drug products were seized Wednesday from a Youngwood vape shop when several police agencies served a search warrant there, according to authorities. A man working in the Youngwood Tobacco & Vape store was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to...
No tax increase projected for West Leechburg
Not much is expected to change in West Leechburg’s 2026 budget. With expected expenditures and revenue balanced at $560,260, there aren’t any tax changes expected, said borough Secretary Kayla Visnovsky. That leaves the borough’s millage rate at 29 mills. A homeowner with the median assessed property value of $20,000 would...
New engine on the horizon for Springdale VFD
Springdale Volunteer Fire Department will soon have a new fire engine for the first time in more than two decades. The department has ordered a Ferarra Cinder, which Fire Chief Dan Copeland described as a “rescue-style pumper.” Copeland became chief of the department in July after spending more than a...
Police charge Aliquippa couple with kidnapping woman who jumped from car in Pittsburgh
A Beaver County woman escaped a kidnapping earlier this week by jumping out of a car stopped at a red light in Pittsburgh, police said. The couple accused of abducting her has been arrested and jailed. Tyrone Turner, 41, and his girlfriend, Ariel Harper, 34, both of Aliquippa, drove a...
Multiple communities mourn the death of 14-year-old Imani Christian Academy student
Multiple Pittsburgh communities are mourning the sudden loss of a ninth grade student at Imani Christian Academy. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Jaiquawn Jay, 14, of Penn Hills died Tuesday night. According to the examiner’s report, Jaiquawn collapsed during basketball practice. He was transported to UPMC Children’s Hospital...
Shaler Hampton EMS gets grant to help replace problematic ambulance
A state grant will help Shaler Hampton EMS replace a problematic ambulance that had broken down six times in less than two weeks, its chief said. The Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded a $213,041 grant to the ambulance authority that serves Shaler, Hampton and Etna. The grant comes from the Gaming...
Pa. Supreme Court will not review former Somerset DA’s sexual assault conviction
Former Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas has been denied a judicial review for his 2023 conviction in the sexual assault of a Windber woman. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court this week declined to review Thomas’ case after the state Superior Court affirmed his conviction. “We’re pleased that the defendant’s latest...
Shaler parks study recommends $17 million community center in Kiwanis Park
A study of Shaler’s parks has recommended construction of a smaller community center in Kiwanis Park that would cost about $17 million. The plan, prepared by OHM Advisors, is expected to guide future parks and recreation investment and operations in the township for the next decade. In addition to studying...
Taco Bell planned at former Sheetz site in Plum
A new Taco Bell location seems to be on the way in Plum. Developers submitted an application to the borough’s planning commission to build a franchise location of the popular chain at the site of the former Sheetz on Golden Mile Highway. The one-acre site has sat vacant since 2024,...
Strip District housing, grocery store project wins planning approval
A proposal to bring hundreds of housing units and a grocery store to Pittsburgh’s Strip District earned approval Tuesday from the city’s Planning Commission. Six commissioners voted in favor of New York City-based Midwood Investment and Development replacing a produce warehouse at the corner of 21st and Railroad streets with...
Monroeville area: Holiday events, East End Kids breakfast, Thanksgiving dinners and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Free Christmas concert open to all Judi Figel and David Crisci will perform a Christmas concert Nov. 29 in Monroeville. It will be at 6:30 p.m. in First Baptist Church of Monroeville, 3970 Monroeville Blvd. There is no cost to attend, and...
Lawyer for Cheswick man stabbed 37 times in jail says settlement reached with Allegheny County
A man stabbed 37 times last year while incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail has settled a civil rights lawsuit against the county and two corrections officers who he said let his attackers into his cell, the man’s attorney told TribLive Wednesday. Shawn Daniels, 43, of Cheswick sued the county...
Chartiers Valley recognized by American Heart Association
Chartiers Valley Primary School was recognized for its awareness and fundraising campaign for the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge. Primary School students, families and staff raised $26,068 for the challenge last school year, according to the district. On Nov. 10, representatives from the American Heart Association visited the Primary...
