Local category, Page 3006
Aliquippa man pleads guilty to federal drug and gun crimes
An Aliquippa man accused of fentanyl-heroin distribution and firearms violations pleaded guilty in federal court. Landon Alexander Gatta, 23, admitted guilt before Senior District Judge Joy Flowers Conti to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl-heroin mixture, possession of a firearm and ammunition...
WWII combat medic, 95, honored for his heroic service
Three quarters of a century ago, Felix Lisovich was living day-to-day as a World War II combat medic tending to wounded soldiers in the Philippines, dodging kamikaze attacks from Japanese fighter planes, joining in jungle patrols. For his distinguished service to his country, the 96-year-old Lisovich on Tuesday was awarded...
Former ‘Dance Moms’ studio wants to relocate to Carbone’s building in Unity Township
Appolonia Leake is hoping to move her dance studio from Penn Hills to a portion of the former Carbone’s Restaurant in Crabtree if the Unity Township supervisors approve. Lou Demosky, Leake’s mother and business manager for the studio, said they’d been looking to make a move for about nine months...
Supreme Court sends legal fight over UPMC-Highmark split back to lower court
The state Supreme Court on Tuesday sent Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s legal push against UPMC back to a lower court to determine whether the looming split of health care rivals UPMC and Highmark can be delayed in the name of public interest. In a split ruling, the state’s highest...
Workers, patients confront UPMC execs at board meeting
Demanding attention from UPMC executives and blasting CEO Jeffrey Romoff’s recent $2.4 million pay raise, several hundred union supporters and workers rallied outside UPMC Montefiore hospital in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Joined by Democratic elected officials, patients and faith-based leaders, protesters chanted in the name of worker rights and...
IUP team to present research on biodiversity in Honduras
Four students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, including two from Allegheny County, are headed to Central America in June as presenters at an international symposium on biodiversity in Honduras. The seminar, organized by their IUP faculty advisor, Dr. Josiah Townsend, will focus on the group’s research on biodiversity in Honduras....
Braddock man sentenced to 18 months for cocaine trafficking
A Braddock man was ordered to serve 18 months in federal prison for trafficking crack cocaine in the Greenway Projects in Pittsburgh’s West End. Bryan Smith, 24, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. Prosecutors said, in 2017, the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted wire taps...
New Kensington police say man was drunk, uncooperative when Tasered
New Kensington police say a city resident was drunk and refusing to cooperate with officers when he was shocked with a Taser. According to police, Sgt. Kevin Hess tried to stop Lee Edward Jones, 51, for speeding on Stevenson Boulevard about 8 p.m. Saturday. Police said the Jeep Jones was...
North Apollo firefighters plan more fundraisers to make up for loss of fire tax
North Apollo Volunteer Fire Department will need to hold more fundraisers and look for ways to reduce expenses after borough council eliminated a controversial fire fee this month. “We saw it coming, and we are doing what we can with more fundraisers and to keep costs down,” fire Chief Chris...
McCandless OKs sidewalk near town hall, plan to add bike lane falls flat
After a lengthy discussion recently about whether to build a 1,500-foot sidewalk along Grubbs Road near McCandless Town Hall or go with more elaborate — and expensive — options that include a lane for bicyclists, town officials went with the economy version. But the May 20 discussion helped lead council...
Murrysville woman snares honors at IUP
A Murrysville woman will be featured in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Eberly College student gallery as an Outstanding Student in this year’s graduating class from the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. Julia Nitchman, a May IUP graduate, is the daughter of Beth and Craig Nitchman. She is a...
Central Westmoreland Habitat breaks ground for new house in Greensburg
When excavators arrived Tuesday at a vacant lot on Harrison Avenue in Greensburg, it marked the beginning of a construction project more than a year in the making. By fall, a two-story, three-bedroom home designed to fit nicely in the well-kept residential neighborhood that backs up to the Coulter Playground...
New youth homelessness program looking for volunteer host homes
A new program that aims to reduce youth homelessness in Armstrong, Indiana, Washington and Westmoreland counties is looking for volunteers to provide host homes. The Bridge2Home program will connect youth ages 16-20 who are experiencing housing instability with volunteer host homes for temporary housing. The program is a newly-funded outreach...
Police rescue 4 baby turkeys from Squirrel Hill storm drain
First ducklings, now poults. Pittsburgh police in Squirrel Hill pulled four baby turkeys – called poults, as officers apparently discovered – from a storm drain near Parkview Boulevard at Summerset Drive. Officer Alex Herstine climbed into the storm drain and handed the tiny turkeys up to Officer Jason Washington, who...
Wanted West Leechburg man found in Erie County
An Armstrong County man accused of drunken driving and running from police in a separate case was arrested by a fugitive task force last week. Carlin Mitchell Quinn, 28, of West Leechburg hid from authorities for more than a month before the arrest, police said. “He told police he was...
Cops: Greensburg man confesses to robbing downtown Sunoco twice in March
A Crime Stoppers’ tip led police to a 29-year-old Greensburg man who admitted robbing a Sunoco convenience store-service station downtown twice in March, according court documents. Brad L. Smith, 29, was arrested Monday on two counts each of robbery and receiving stolen property in connection with the holdups that occurred...
Pittsburgh Hilltop Urban Farm announces summer camp registration
Pittsburgh’s Hilltop Urban Farm is hosting free summer camps in 2019 where kids can learn about nutrition, cooking, growing food, local food systems and Western Pennsylvania ecology. Children from the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of St. Clair, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Carrick, Allentown, South Side Slopes, Knoxville, Beltzhoover, Mt. Washington, and Bon Air...
Sandy Hook mother to speak at Burrell High School
Scarlett Lewis, the mother of one of the 26 people killed by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012, will speak to students at Burrell High School on Friday. Lewis will share her story of losing her 6-year-old son Jesse and the impact she believes...
Olympic swimmers help Killer Whales get ‘Fitter and Faster’
Beginners met world-class champions at a local swim camp hosted by the Killer Whales. Four Olympic swimmers — Roland Schoeman, Chloe Sutton, Isabella Arcila and Ozzie Quevedo — dove in to help local youngsters at the camp that taught the value of a good attitude, nutrition and goal-setting. The Killer...
Westmoreland County may pay $85K to settle reservist’s lawsuit against sheriff
Westmoreland County commissioners appear ready to settle another discrimination lawsuit filed against the county and Sheriff Jonathan Held. The settlement calls for a payment of $85,000 to part-time sheriff’s Deputy Jonathon Sutton, who filed the federal lawsuit in March 2018. Commissioners could approve the deal at their Thursday meeting. Details...
Uniontown couple accused of robbing 80-year-old man after ATM stop
State police in Uniontown arrested a Uniontown couple in connection with a strong-arm robbery of an 80-year-old Dunbar Township man outside his home. David E. Millero, 29, and Tiffany L. Evans, 27, were arrested on multiple criminal charges in connection with the robbery and assault of John O. Welsh about...
Activist group to discuss Green New Deal in Delmont
The proposed economic stimulus package dubbed the Green New Deal will be discussed at public forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Lamplighter, Route 22, Delmont. Local activist group Voice of Westmoreland is hosting the town hall forum for residents to learn how to make the Green New Deal —...
Trib offers $5,000 reward in delivery driver’s shooting death
Trib Total Media is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any suspects in the shooting death of Gregory Lee Smith. Smith, 69, of New Kensington was shot and killed while he was out on his route delivering the Trib about 3 a.m. May...
Hulton Road reopened after truck crashes, dumps load on street
A dump truck lost its brakes and crashed Tuesday on Oakmont’s Hulton Road, closing the busy street to traffic into the evening. The wreck, reported about 1 p.m., closed Hulton between Fifth Street and Allegheny River Boulevard. Oakmont police Chief Mike Ford said no one was injured in the crash....
Crews extinguish Derry Township trailer fire
Remnants of a Derry Township mobile home caught fire Tuesday as a crew worked to demolish it. Owner George Nuttall, who lives next to the property on Chestnut Ridge Road near Route 217, said workers took a break from cutting part of the trailer’s metal frame before the fire started...
