Western PA Local News category, Page 300
Homemade fireworks caused Butler County house explosion, injuring 2, police say
Pennsylvania State Police say homemade fireworks and improvised explosive devices caused a house explosion that injured two people Wednesday afternoon in Butler County, one critically. The explosion was reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. in Muddy Creek Township. Police said a 48-year-old man, whom they described as a suspect in the...
Westmoreland happenings: Blessing of animals, collectibles market, class reunion, more
Church News • First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon, 501 Fayette Ave., will have a blessing of the animals service at 10 a.m. June 7 at the church. All pets are welcome. Donations of cash, pet food and pet supplies will be collected for Mon Valley Paws. Details: 724-929-7616. Fundraisers...
Energy company abandons plans to take water from Big Sewickley Creek for shale gas wells
An environmental group is celebrating after an energy company abandoned its plans to take water from Big Sewickley Creek to develop shale gas wells in Beaver County. In March, the state Department of Environmental Protection rescinded permits issued to PennEnergy Resources at the company’s request. It ended a four-year battle...
Murrysville lawyer accused of bilking elderly client dies from self-inflicted gunshot
A suspended Murrysville attorney who was accused of stealing $312,000 from a client died Wednesday, four days after authorities said he sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound as they tried to arrest him on theft charges. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Robert C. Klingensmith, 61, of Murrysville died...
Body of missing McKeesport man found in Long Run Creek
The body of a missing man was found Wednesday night in a McKeesport creek. He was identified as Jeffrey Mckenzie, 60, of McKeesport, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Mckenzie was found in Long Run Creek near the 400 block of Long Run Road, according to Allegheny County...
Public safety ‘iceberg’: Police, USGA keeping many details about U.S. Open security under wraps
Around 200 police officers from 25 agencies — some of them handling security or crowd control, others parking and traffic details — will form the U.S. Open’s public-safety backbone next week to ensure the men’s golf championship’s 10th trek to the Pittsburgh suburbs goes off without a hitch. But, when...
The Stroller, June 5, 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. LB church to celebrate...
‘Hershey’ filming brings back horse and buggy days to Ligonier
On a typical day, shoppers can be seen walking in and out of the unique shops around the Diamond in Ligonier. But on Wednesday, most of the stores were closed and the mulch-covered streets were filled with horses, buggies, antique cars and actors dressed head-to-toe in early 1900s clothing. It...
U.S. Rep. Deluzio hopes Trump-Musk rift sinks Trump’s budget
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, said he hopes Thursday’s social media spat between President Trump and his former senior adviser Elon Musk prompts senators to rethink Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “Folks might be surprised that Elon Musk agrees with me: this is a bad bill,” Deluzio said...
Monroeville Mall shop fills special request for Beyoncé fan
SpectroDolce in Monroeville Mall, a business created to give adults with autism to a safe place to gain work experience and job readiness skills, recently fulfilled a special request from a Beyoncé fan. The customer wanted a package of custom Oreos for her friends, who were attending the Beyoncé concert...
Monroeville church celebrates Scottish heritage
Monroeville’s Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church recently celebrated Scottish Heritage Sunday — a day filled with a special service, music and food. The all-ages, community-wide celebration on May 4 remembered the historic sacrifice of Scottish Presbyterians, whose faith had wide-ranging effects that went beyond Scotland. The worship service reflected on the...
Penn Hills man charged following alleged assault outside family court
A Penn Hills man faces a dozen criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted the mother of his two children, and the children, outside of the Family Court Center in Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Charges against Marlon McMillan, 36, include aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of...
Walmart, Sam’s Club sue Pittsburgh Mills mall owners over road conditions
Real estate trusts for Walmart and Sam’s Club are suing the owners of the beleaguered Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer, alleging they have failed to maintain the roads there despite being contractually obligated to do so. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court of Western Pennsylvania, asks the court...
Fourth Avenue bridge in Tarentum over Bull Creek closed
The Fourth Avenue bridge over Bull Creek in Tarentum is closed after a sinkhole formed near the span. Borough engineers said a storm sewer line beneath the road collapsed, causing ground instability. It poses a risk to the bridge and surrounding infrastructure, according to an online post by the borough....
Burrell’s Stewart Elementary celebrates its last day: ‘It’s bittersweet’
Mindy Larko may or may not have cried on her way to work Wednesday. It would mark her last day teaching at Lower Burrell’s Stewart Elementary in Room 14, a room where she, herself, was a student during the 1982-83 school year. “A lot of memories come back when you’re...
Weeknight closures of 62nd Street Bridge ramp to Etna scheduled through mid-June
Overnight closures of the 62nd Street Bridge ramp to South Main Street in Etna will begin Wednesday night, PennDOT announced. The ramp from the 62nd Street Bridge, or southbound Route 8, to South Main Street will be closed to traffic from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights through mid-June, PennDOT...
Judge dismisses ex-Norwin director’s lawsuit
A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit from a former Norwin school director and his wife, who claimed they were victims in a political dispute with another ex-school board member in 2020 and 2021. Brian and Margaret Carlton of North Huntingdon failed to state a claim against Norwin, the Westmoreland...
New era for Pittsburgh Catholics begins with Bishop Mark Eckman
Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman knew he was in the running to lead one of 24 U.S. dioceses with retiring bishops. As an auxiliary bishop since 2022, the 66-year-old Bethel Park native expected to be reassigned outside Pittsburgh. He was preparing for a move, new faces, and new routines — until...
Allegheny County officials investigate elevated sulfur levels at Clairton Coke Works
The Allegheny County Health Department is investigating elevated sulfur levels in coke oven gas reported over several hours from Monday evening into Tuesday morning at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. Health Department officials said a report they received from U.S. Steel indicated one of the facility’s control rooms, which normally...
Voodoo Brewing in New Kensington to remain open amid other closures
Voodoo Brewing in New Kensington is here to stay, despite the closure of the company’s Pittsburgh and Seven Fields locations. It’s because Voodoo Brewery, located at 956 5th Ave. in downtown New Kensington, is independently run and owned. “We are an independent location, so we’re not beholden to any corporate...
Bethel Park parish proud to call new Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman their own
Bishop Mark Eckman, newly appointed as the 13th bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, is known as a tech-savvy leader whose favorite meal is pea soup and salmon. Those close to him describe a man just as comfortable building a booth for a church festival as he is offering...
Following approval of 3rd dispensary, Ross considering setting minimum distance between medical marijuana facilities
Following approval of a third medical marijuana dispensary along McKnight Road, Ross commissioners are considering a regulation that would prohibit them from being adjacent to each other. As proposed in an ordinance introduced at the commissioners’ June 2 meeting, medical marijuana dispensaries would have to be at least 1,000 feet...
Army Corps to give update on Parks Township nuclear waste dump cleanup
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold another public information session Thursday to update residents on remediation efforts for the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township. The meeting will be at the Parks Township Fire Department, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open for display stations at 6:30 p.m. A briefing...
Planting with a purpose: Team Friends chapters unite to beautify a spot in Indiana Township
Two chapters of the nonprofit Team Friends met Monday, June 2, at the corner of Route 910 and Saxonburg Boulevard in Indiana Township for a special monthly gathering. Members from the Armstrong County chapter joined the Allegheny County founding chapter to plant flowers at the busy intersection, which is one...
Jury returns $5.25M verdict against Jefferson Hospital in wrongful death case
A jury on Friday ordered Jefferson Hospital to pay the family of a Canonsburg woman $5.25 million after it found the hospital liable in her death following what was characterized as a routine bronchoscopy in 2021. The lawsuit filed by Steven Jury as the administrator of the estate for his...
