Local category, Page 3161
West Mifflin Area School District officials fire superintendent Daniel Castagna
West Mifflin Area School District’s superintendent was fired by the school board Wednesday night, according to WPXI. Trib news partner WPXI reported the board voted 6-3 at a special meeting to terminate Daniel Castagna’s employment. District officials claim Castagna is guilty of multiple fireable offenses, including neglect of duties and...
Irwin police to get new vehicle
The Irwin Police Department is getting a new vehicle for $52,870, but the borough had to tap into its liquid fuels fund to cover the cost. Borough council on Wednesday approved the purchase of a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe from Kenny Ross Chevrolet Buick GMC in North Huntingdon. The price includes...
Police: Missing McKeesport man found safe
A McKeesport man who had been reported as missing has been found, police said Thursday. McKeesport police posted on Facebook that Charles Devon Surratt, 42, had be found and was safe. Police thanked the public for their assistance....
Pittsburgh man accused of attempting to extort an undercover FBI officer
A Pittsburgh man allegedly attempted to extort an undercover FBI Task Force officer as part of a kidnapping hoax, federal authorities announced Wednesday. Kevin Harris, 37, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of attempted extortion, robbery, brandishing a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of...
Homestead man charged with federal gun crimes
A Homestead man was indicted by a federal grand jury for firearms violations, authorities announced Wednesday. Michael William Horvwalt, 32, was accused of having a firearm and ammunition on Jan. 8, despite having prior felony convictions, authorities said. Federal law prohibits a felon from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The...
Pittsburgh rec staffer set to oversee Greensburg sports programs
A member of the Pittsburgh CitiParks staff has been tapped to take over as program manager for the Greensburg Parks and Recreation Department. Lydia Kinkaid, 27, of Pittsburgh, is expected to begin her new role in Greensburg later in March. Director at CitiParks’ Brookline Recreation Center, she previously was an...
West Mifflin man, 47, who once served 15 in prison for drugs, sentenced to another 2 years
A West Mifflin man who previously served state and federal prison time for selling drugs was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh to serve two years in prison for possessing drugs. Stanley Church, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. The judge gave him credit for time...
Pittsburgh man faces federal gun charges
A federal grand jury has indicted a Pittsburgh man for firearms violations, authorities announced Wednesday. The one-count indictment named James Robert Snyder, 27, as the sole defendant. Authorities said Snyder illegally possessed a 5.45 x 39mm caliber semi-automatic Saiga rifle on Feb. 15. He was previously convicted of a felony...
Murder-for-hire scheme, which actually was a federal sting, gets Pittsburgh man 8 years in prison
A former Pittsburgh man was ordered to spend eight years in prison for an interstate murder-for-hire plan that involved killing his wife. Brad Lanese, 52, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Prosecutors say Lanese and two others, including his wife, operated a large marijuana grow operation in...
Last of 9 indicted in Pittsburgh federal court enters guilty plea to selling crack cocaine
The last suspect accused by the Drug Enforcement Administration in a 2016 drug conspiracy has pleaded guilty. Mark Fisher, 40, of Pittsburgh is the last of nine people to admit guilt to taking part in the cocaine conspiracy. Fisher entered the plea last Wednesday before U.S. District Judge David Stewart...
Greensburg’s Nevin Arena loses Pens’ ‘Renovate the Rink’ contest
The votes are in, and Greensburg’s Kirk S. Nevin arena lost the competition for a $100,000 grant from the Pittsburgh Penguin’s Foundation. New Castle’s Hess Ice Rink won the Penguin’s first “Renovate the Rink” contest by getting the most votes from fans. Nevin Arena Manager Trudy Ivory said she wasn’t...
Tree falls on person in Sewickley Township
A tree fell on a person in Sewickley Township on Wednesday evening, according to Westmoreland County 911. Sewickley EMS were dispatched to the incident on Lowber Road at about 7 p.m. The extent of the person’s injuries were unknown, according to 911. Further details were not immediately available....
Leechburg police seeking known suspect accused of robbing Market Street Sunoco
Leechburg police are searching for a borough man who is suspected of robbing the Sunoco store on Market Street on Tuesday night. Police are looking for Travis M. Haun, 36. Leechburg Officer in Charge Jason Schaeffer alleges Haun went into the store at 265 Market St. about 11 p.m. “When...
Bank, Penn State affiliate to offer business tips to Vandergrift businesses on Friday
Vandergrift’s VIP program along with First Commonwealth Bank and Penn State Cooperative will explore financial help and education for the borough and local businesses during a public meeting Friday at the borough building. First Commonwealth and Penn State Extensions’ Smart Growth Program will see if Vandergrift Borough and local businesses...
Testimony places alleged murder weapon in Latrobe man’s home
The alleged murder weapon and two other guns had been seen in the home of a Latrobe man who prosecutors contend helped plot a robbery that left another friend dead, according to testimony Wednesday in the trial of Colin Gearhart. Gearhart, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and other offenses...
Westmoreland primary could see nearly 500 candidates running for 173 elected offices
Nearly 500 candidates are expected to appear on the May 21 primary ballots in Westmoreland County. Elections bureau officials on Wednesday made public the complete list of candidates seeking 173 elected offices this year. Republican and Democratic voters will nominate candidates for state and county judges, county commissioners and row...
Children in Mt. Pleasant enjoy story time with therapy dogVideo
Nearly a dozen children gathered Wednesday at the Mt. Pleasant Public Library for Story Time with Therapy Dogs. The weekly story hour featured Cindy Porterfield and Rylee, her two-year-old German Shepherd from Youngwood Top Dog Therapy Dogs. The children spent time playing with Rylee before librarian Rose Eckman read three...
Trial begins for man accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian
Jolene Cummins said her husband was excited to finally spend Christmas Eve with his family. Having previously been on call for the holidays, Joseph Cummins had a new job and for the first time in years did not have to work. He prepared to head to church with his wife...
North Hills Art Center hosting program on painting pet portraits March 23
Can’t get enough of looking at your adorable pet or showing them off to others? Then learn how artists capture animal images on canvas during a demonstration at the North Hills Art Center in Ross at 1 p.m. on March 23. Local artist Kim Freithaler, who serves as the center’s...
County detectives: Woman dies after being shot by Greensburg police
A woman died Wednesday after being shot by Greensburg police, according to Westmoreland County detectives. Police said the woman refused to drop her handgun after firing at a vehicle across the street. Her identity has not been disclosed. No one else was hurt, according to police. The woman started shooting...
Apollo-Ridge looks to cut costs, maintain quality through early retirements
Apollo-Ridge School District is offering an early retirement package to teachers with five or more years of experience — a package for which about 80 percent of the district’s nearly 100 teachers would be eligible. “The timing of the offer is to continue our desire to creatively find ways to...
Franklin Regional students take 2nd place at regional Science Olympiad at Cal U
The Franklin Regional Middle School (FRMS) Science Olympiad Team placed second at the Pennsylvania Southwestern regional tournament held March 6 at California University of Pennsylvania. The competition was a series of 23 events that used various methods to test students’ scientific knowledge, including written tests, problem-solving activities and building events....
Pittsburgh Council amends proposed firearms ordinances
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday attached 2,200 pages of academic data on gun violence to proposed legislation that would ban certain firearms, ammunition and accessories from within city limits. Council members said the information, including peer reviewed academic studies and Congressional testimony, would help them draft amendments for the gun...
Female cop who accused McCandless chief of sexual harassment hires Philly lawyer
A Philadelphia attorney has informed the Town of McCandless that he is representing a female police officers who accused the police chief and a lieutenant of engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior. A McCandless official confirmed Wednesday that the town received the letter from attorney Dion G. Rassias of The Beasley...
McKeesport mayor critical of study ranking city as 4th most dangerous in country
McKeesport’s mayor lashed out at a recent study that claimed his city was one of the most dangerous in the country. Mayor Michael Cherepko accused the study of using “manipulated statistics” and “unethical scare tactics” to sell home security systems. The study, conducted by the National Council for Home Safety...
