Local category, Page 3143
Attorney says former cop not responsible for Beechview girl’s overdose death
The attorney for a former Allegheny County police officer facing drug charges in connection to the overdose of his 15-year-old niece says his client should not be blamed for her death. Daniel Bondi was arrested and arraigned Wednesday for allegedly bringing fentanyl and heroin into a Beechview home where Isabella...
No injuries in blaze that damaged house in HomewoodVideo
A fire that ignited at a house on the 7600 block of Baxter Street in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood did not result in any injuries, Pittsburgh Public Safety said Thursday. The fire started around 10:40 a.m. and initial reports indicated there might be people trapped inside but there were no injuries...
Picklesburgh takes lead for best specialty food festival
Voters have propelled Picklesburgh atop the leader board as the best specialty food festival in the country. USA Today in its series of travel guides chose the pickle celebration, held annually on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, as a finalist. At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Picklesburgh was ahead of the Bacon and...
Woman testifies in sexual assault trial against former Istanbul Sofra owner
The lawyer for a former Pittsburgh restaurant owner accused of sexual assault tried Thursday afternoon to undermine the testimony of the alleged victim while she recounted the terror of finding a stranger in her bed. Lee Rothman asked the woman if, once she went to her bedroom shortly after 1...
GOP confident about electionsVideo
Buoyed by voter registration figures that give Republicans a slight edge over Democrats in Westmoreland County, GOP officials are confident that a strong turnout will bode well for the party this year. “We should see a higher turnout than in 2015. There’s a lot of people on the ballot, and...
Fish Bowl Too celebrates 20 years as a dad and daughter pet shopVideo
For fish distributor Matt Cowger, getting hugged once a week is standard practice. It’s not that Fish Bowl Too pet shop owner Brenda Troup is overly affectionate. It’s because it has been 20 years now that Cowger, of American Aqua Culture of Akron, Ohio, has been making his weekly deliveries...
Cooking challenge puts budding Eden Hall chefs to the test
The cafeteria kitchen at Eden Hall Upper Elementary School could have passed for the set of Master Chef Junior on Feb. 27 as six of the school’s budding young culinary wizards put their recipes to the test. The fourth and fifth graders were chosen as finalists in the 2019 Sodexo...
DUI, theft, drug possession among recent Monroeville police investigations
Monroeville police filed the following charges Feb. 21-27 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Shane Kennedy, 31, of Hollidaysburg with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under a suspended or revoked license, careless driving and recklessly endangering another person. The charges were filed Feb....
Pittsburgh man set to appear on ‘American Idol’ season
A Pittsburgh man is set to appear on “American Idol,” according to a post on the show’s social media accounts. Nate Walker will be a contestant on the singing competition which airs March 10 on ABC. “I really got inspired to do American Idol after I saw somebody else from...
Annual Race for Grace gearing up at Norwin
The 12th annual Race for Grace, which has raised more than $1 million for the fight against childhood brain cancer, will be held April 6 at Norwin High School. The event is in honor of Grace Ekis of North Huntingdon. She died in 2008 at age 5 from a terminal...
W.Va. governor signs bill mandating high school computer science
BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed legislation requiring students to take computer science classes before graduating high school. Justice held a ceremonial bill signing Thursday at Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School in Beckley. The governor’s office says in a news release West Virginia is the first state to...
O’Hara offers special brush collection to clear wind storm damage
O’Hara will offer a special brush collection because of damage sustained township-wide in the Feb. 24 wind storm. Gusts of up to 60 mph tore across the region, toppling trees and leaving thousands without power long into the week. Power lines and utility poles fell, traffic signals were knocked out...
Shaler Area gym rockin’ and rollin’ during bocce match
On Feb. 27, Shaler Area High School’s gymnasium was packed to watch a Unified Bocce match between students from Shaler Area and Moon Area High Schools. Each team is a combination of special education students and typical students who went toe-to-toe. The Shaler Area student body showed up in support...
Pa. attorney general files lawsuit against Scottdale contractor
The state Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection is asking a judge to bar a Scottdale contractor from doing home improvement work because of repeated consumer complaints dating back to 2009. The 25-page complaint was filed in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court against Jeffrey D. Bollinger, 43, and businesses he...
You can dance, you can jive at TJ High’s ‘Mamma Mia!’Video
Thomas Jefferson High School students are inviting audiences to sing and dance with them as they journey to Greece to bring the heartwarming tale of “Mamma Mia!” to life. The high school stage at TJ will transform into the Greek islands from March 14 to 16, where the largest cast...
Officials probe why so little of $4.3M Westmoreland firefighter grant has been used
Hardly any of a $4.3 million firefighter grant aimed at benefiting Westmoreland County fire departments has been spent since it was awarded in 2017. Awarded Sept. 1, 2017, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant gives departments the ability to...
Delmont library will host a comedy tribute to resident Jim Davis
Jim Davis of Delmont knew how to make people laugh, whether it was cracking jokes or walking onstage at the intermission of an Apple Hill Playhouse show wearing a coconut bra and a hula skirt. “He may not have been an actor,” his wife, Charlene, said last fall. “But he...
Aria412 to perform at Harris Grill’s pop-up bar
Think sun, summer and sand as the snow falls this weekend. Aria412 opera group will perform a beach-themed show at Harris Grill’s Grilligan Island’s pop-up bar at 7 p.m. March 5 in Downtown Pittsburgh. The group will be performing opera, musical theater and popular songs around the theme of warmer...
Baldwin officer working to get more discounted door cameras for borough homes
Two years ago, a shooting in the north end of Baldwin Borough left police with little to go on. The suspects took off on foot, running through multiple streets before fleeing the area by car. Baldwin Borough police Officer Keith Hagan spent a day walking the streets looking for evidence,...
Drug, prostitution cases among those recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Shannon L. Vanorsdale, 35, of Mt. Pleasant on charges of possession of an...
Shady Side Academy middle schoolers present ‘All Shook Up’
Shady Side Academy Middle School students will shake things up during the winter musical on Friday. Teens will sing the music of Elvis Presley during “All Shook Up,” which begins at 7 p.m. March 1 in the school cafetorium, 500 Squaw Run Road East, Fox Chapel. Admission is free. Inspired...
Pop-up cat cafe coming to New Kensington Arts Center
A pop-up cat cafe is planned Saturday at the New Kensington Arts Center to help raise funds for the center and the charitable New Kensington-based pet foundation Frankie’s Friends. Arts Center board member Autumn Walker said the event will feature some of Frankie’s Friends more personable cats inside the center,...
Sharpsburg named Animal Friends’ first Compassionate Community
For its efforts in addressing the feral cat population and encouraging overall pet health, Sharpsburg was named Animal Friends’ first certified Compassionate Community. The honor came during borough council’s meeting on Feb. 28. “It’s an ongoing partnership, and I look forward to continued success,” Mayor Matt Rudzki said. It was...
Westmoreland farmers interested in growing hemp to get help with planting, harvesting equipment
Farmers interested in growing hemp will get some help with the necessary equipment under an agreement approved by the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. “Farms are turning now to other commodities that may bring more income to them,” said Greg Phillips, manager and chief executive officer of the Westmoreland Conservation...
Youngwood man appealing summary conviction he yelled at sheriff’s deputies
A Youngwood man who was convicted this month of summary disorderly conduct for yelling at Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies is appealing the decision. Fredrick G. Brandt, 61, filed an appeal this week in the county Court of Common Pleas. He was found guilty of the offense during a Feb. 6...
