Local category, Page 3083
State Rep. Austin Davis named to Port Authority board
State Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, was appointed Thursday to the Port Authority of Allegheny County board of directors by House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. The move puts Davis in a position to have more oversight on public transportation services and issues in and around Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. “Providing efficient,...
16th possible arson damages vacant Somerset mobile home
The cause of a suspicious fire inside an abandoned Somerset mobile home early Thursday morning is being investigated as the 16th possible arson at the same mobile home court since last May, Somerset police said. Somerset police and the state police fire marshal are seeking the cause of the fire,...
Assault, drug cases among those recently handled by Judge Zucco in Plum – Mar. 28, 2019
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtScott Mang, 32, of Plum on charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, false imprisonment and harassment. Charges were filed Jan. 21. Robert...
Youngwood man claims he was on drugs when he confessed in 2017 robbery, murder case
A Youngwood man testified Thursday he was under the influence of drugs when he confessed to police about his role in the 2017 robbery and murder of an acquaintance. Jason Sullenberger, 41, claimed he consumed cocaine and 50 stamp bags of heroin in the hours just before he was brought...
Pittsburgh schools add 2 programs for 2019-20 school year
Pittsburgh Public Schools will offer two new programs for students during the 2019-20 school year. Career and Technical Education students will be able to enter a new early childhood program at Pittsburgh Milliones. It will include instruction in growth and development, nutrition, program planning and management and other topics to...
Peduto eager to take on challengers to Pittsburgh’s proposed gun ban
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Thursday said he is looking forward to a promised legal battle over the city’s proposed gun ban and plans to immediately sign the regulations into law once City Council approves them. Addressing the legislation for the first time in weeks, the mayor repeated a promise...
Freeport officials weigh options for police protection as pool of part-timers diminishes
The shortage of applicants for part-time police positions in Freeport is prompting council to reconsider its options. For months, the borough has been advertising for part-time police officers to supplement its two-man, full-time force but with little to show for it. Councilman Sean McCalmont said the situation is serious. “We’ve...
Pittsburgh man ends primary campaign for East End council seat
The slate of candidates seeking a Democratic nomination for an East End Pittsburgh City Council seat is getting smaller by the day. Community activist Randall Taylor of East Liberty announced on Thursday that he was pulling out of the primary and would run for a District 9 council seat as...
Rare cancers prompt Pa. Health Department reviews
The rare Ewing sarcoma cancers that struck 12 children and young adults in southeastern Westmoreland County between 2011 and early 2018 did not reach the threshold to be considered a statistically significant cancer cluster, a state health department spokesman said Thursday. “We looked at all the cases and determined there...
Pa. Ag secretary praises farmers for thinking outside the glass
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding praised dairy processors such as Penn Hills’ Turner Dairy Farms on Thursday for thinking beyond fluid milk. “We need more dairy processing in the state to correspond with where the consumer trends are,” Redding said at the annual Turner Dairy Producers Luncheon in Blairsville. Those...
Westmoreland County to again serve as its own workers compensation insurer
A controversial program initiated two years ago to have a private insurance company oversee Westmoreland County’s workers compensation cases will end this year. County commissioners on Thursday said they will not give a new contract to the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange. Instead, the county will return to serving as...
Westmoreland commissioners focus on eliminating political activities inside courthouse
As election season in Westmoreland County swings into full gear, commissioners on Thursday approved a revised policy they said will ensure there is no politicking by county employees while on the job. The revised policy specifically prohibits workers from performing any political activity while on duty or coercing any employee...
Pittsburgh receives $1 million for improvements to Oakland, South Side Flats
Pittsburgh received $1 million in grants from the state this week to make various improvements in its Oakland and South Side Flats neighborhoods. Improvements in Oakland, which will occur along Bigelow Boulevard between Fifth and Forbes avenues, include new sidewalks, bike lanes, a new and safer pedestrian crossing in the...
Armstrong County billboard owner on controversy: ‘I will not give in’Video
The owner of an Armstrong County gas station said Thursday he might close his business after Sunoco and at least two local fuel suppliers cut ties with him over controversial messages he posted to a digital billboard. John Placek, who owns both the billboard and a gas station along Route...
ESAL group to display pieces at Latrobe Art Center through April
A newly renovated art center in Latrobe will showcase East Suburban Artists League pieces through April. From April 3-27, the Latrobe Art Center will welcome around 80 pieces of art, including oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastel paintings, photography, drawings in ink and pencil and crafts. The 44 ESAL artists hail...
Deer Lakes aims to ‘launch’ new uses for intermediate school libraryVideo
Deer Lakes School District’s East Union Intermediate Center plans to transform its library into an interactive space where students can work together on projects using high-tech STEM equipment and still do traditional reading and research there. The school is raising money for the estimated $10,000 project, which it hopes to...
Frazer to hold clean-up event for residents
Frazer will hold a spring clean-up April 22-28 for its residents. Dumpsters will be available between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the township’s maintenance building at 2129 Butler Logan Road. No batteries, tires, electronics, TV’s or appliances with freon will be accepted. Proof of residency is required....
North Allegheny school board awards contracts for paving, ventilation work
The North Allegheny School Board on March 27 unanimously approved contracts totaling nearly $407,000 for work at three district school buildings. • A $185,581 contract was awarded to A. Folino Construction in Oakmont for paving at Ingomar Middle School. The work includes milling 2 inches of the existing pavement material...
Officials laud VisitPittsburgh for changing Pittsburgh’s image to the world
VisitPittsburgh last year booked 494 meetings, conventions and sporting events that pumped an estimated $226 million into the Allegheny County economy, according to Craig Davis, the organization’s president and CEO. Davis outlined VisitPittsburgh’s 2018 accomplishments Thursday at Rivers Casino during the organization’s annual meeting. VisitPittsburgh serves as the tourist promotion...
Heinz History Center docent will discuss Pittsburgh’s famous figures
A Heinz History Center representative will give a talk on Pittsburgh’s historical figures at the next International Women Club meeting, set for 9:30 a.m., April 5 in Monroeville. Dr. Clive Kimblin, a docent at the history center, will discuss the famous men and women from Pittsburgh who made an impact...
Plum post office reopens with new roof, other updates
The U.S. Postal Service in Plum has reopened after directing all business to a Monroeville post office location six months ago. The building closed in September after sustaining damage to its roof. Tad Kelley, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman for Western Pennsylvania, said the building got a new roof and...
A ‘Shred-A-Thon’ is April 6 at UPMC Passavant
UPMC Passavant and Passavant Hospital Foundation will hold its annual free “Shred-A-Thon” on April 6. Residents can bring up to six boxes of documents to safely shred for free at the “Shred-It” vehicle from 9 a.m. to noon at the UPMC Passavant green lot, 9100 Babcock Blvd. Any confidential information...
Brentwood bringing magic of ‘Mary Poppins’ to stage
Audiences will soar into the magical world of “Mary Poppins,” as Brentwood Middle/High School students bring the famed show to life April 11-13. The cast and crew of about 60 students will leap across chimneys, fly kites high in the sky and share the importance of family through song and...
Charley Family Shop’n Save owner will bike 3,000 miles in 48 days for charityVideo
Ray Charley is going to bike a mile for nearly every year of his life. Every day. For 48 days. Charley, 67, owner of the Charley Family Shop ’n Save stores in Greensburg and Murrysville, sets out Monday from San Diego and heads to St. Augustine, Fla., cycling across the...
Belle Vernon superintendent stays in position after resigning in February
A little over a month after she submitted her resignation, Belle Vernon Area Superintendent Michele Dowell has decided to remain at the district. At the end of February, Dowell told the school board that she would be leaving to work as director of curriculum with the Ringgold School District in...
