Aliquippa man sentenced to 15 years for making, selling fake drugs on the darknet
An Aliquippa man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison in connection with a sweeping drug distribution scheme in which he manufactured counterfeit Oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax pills to sell. Jacob Blair, 27, pleaded guilty in December before U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson to a charge...
Retired attorney, Social Security judge selected to fill vacant Ligonier Township supervisor seat
A retired attorney and former administrative law judge has joined Ligonier Township’s board of supervisors to fill a vacancy through the end of the year. The remaining four supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to appoint John Fraser, 69, to a seat vacated by the recent abrupt resignation of D. Scott Matson....
Eastbound Route 30 reopens near Cedar Street exit in Hempfield after 4-vehicle crash
Two people were taken to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville on Wednesday after a four-vehicle crash on Route 30 in Hempfield, according to Mutual Aid spokesperson Shawn Penzera. Their conditions were unclear. Traffic was affected for four hours. The eastbound side of the highway was shut down in the area...
Lawsuit: Greensburg Central Catholic student injured after exposure to toxic fumes, fall
An eighth grade student at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in Hempfield was injured after being exposed to toxic fumes in the school’s gymnasium, his father said in a lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County court. The lawsuit claims the student was among several children who became sick while attending...
Churchill drug trafficker’s plea for leniency fails to sway judge at sentencing
A Churchill man who federal officials said had hundreds of thousands of doses of fentanyl he planned to traffic in the Pittsburgh area will serve 21 years in prison. Leon C. Ford Sr., 58, was sentenced on Wednesday by Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. A jury found Ford...
Ross approves reopening of Short Line Hollow trail
The Short Line Hollow trail in Ross has been reopened for limited public access. Ross commissioners voted on Monday to grant access to the Red Trail following its cleanup by community volunteers. “We’re all satisfied that it was cleaned up enough,” Commissioners President Dan DeMarco said. “They did a lot...
Man pleads guilty to lesser charge in 2022 Jeannette fatal stabbing
A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Jeannette neighbor nearly three years ago. Prosecutors said Antwone Dupree Thurston II, 25, stabbed and slashed 62-year-old William Osselburn 11 times during an altercation on Sept. 26, 2022, outside of...
Ross pursues adding sharpshooters to archers to control deer population
Ross officials want to add sharpshooters to archery hunters to improve its efforts at controlling the deer population in the township. Commissioners on Monday authorized Suburban Whitetail Management to begin the process of a deer cull program in Ross. “It’s more or less nuisance control,” said Luke Leonard of McCandless,...
Ligonier Country Market’s appeal of opening date rule heads to planning board, supervisors
The Ligonier Township planning commission on Thursday will consider an appeal by the Ligonier Country Market that could affect the seasonal venue’s opening date this year. The market is looking to modify a provision of a 2008 township conditional use permit that indicates it can’t open before Memorial Day, which...
Live like Batman and Robin at this ‘castle estate’ on market for nearly $4M in PineVideo
Batman and Robin would likely approve. An opulent castle-like residence at 724 Bristlecone Drive — with 10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and a nod to Hollywood with a replica of Batman’s office and his Batcave — is on the market for nearly $4 million in Pine. The estate includes a playful...
La Roche University international student sues feds over termination of status
A Saudi Arabian student at La Roche University in McCandless is suing the heads of U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement alleging they illegally terminated his status as an international student. Khalid Alduaij, 26, filed the complaint Monday in federal court in Pittsburgh. On Wednesday, a judge granted...
Police pursuit of vehicle stolen from Butler County ends with crash in ShalerVideo
A police pursuit of a vehicle stolen in Butler County continued down Route 8 and ended with a crash in Shaler on Wednesday, according to authorities. Shaler officers were alerted to the crash off Eighth Avenue, near Route 8, shortly before 1 p.m., Shaler police Chief Sean Frank said. Officers...
Doing the math: Spat over affordable housing data frames Gainey vs. O’Connor race
A day after clashing with his Democratic rival in a televised debate, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Wednesday doubled down on his claim that he’s “delivered” 1,600 units of affordable housing during his city hall tenure. Gainey has recited the statistic on the campaign trail time and again. He referenced...
Accused Hamas sympathizer from Moon charged with having pipe bombs, lying to U.S.
A former Pennsylvania Air National Guard member already accused of defacing Jewish religious property in Squirrel Hill has been indicted on new charges of possessing homemade pipe bombs and lying during a federal background check for top-secret clearance. The latest indictment, filed under seal Tuesday in federal court in Pittsburgh,...
ATI strikes labor deal with nearly 1,000 workers
ATI and its employees have reached a six-year labor agreement. The deal was announced Wednesday, about a week after ATI and the United Steelworkers union reached a tentative agreement on wages, working conditions and benefits for nearly 1,000 employees. Many produce specialty alloys at the company’s Harrison, Vandergrift and Latrobe...
Feds OK settlement between Shapiro, grid manager to control electricity prices
Federal regulators approved a deal between Gov. Josh Shapiro and PJM Interconnection to limit some electricity price hikes. PJM is a regional transmission organization, which works to secure generation capacity for utility companies within its 13-state network. It holds annual auctions in which the lowest bidder earns the right —...
Steelers to host NFL draft watch party
With the 21st pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers choose… Fans are invited to be on hand when the team announces that pick on Thursday at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for a free NFL draft watch party beginning at 7 p.m. Steelers’ Christian Kuntz and other guests will attend. Kuntz...
Private school, fire office approved by Arnold Zoning Hearing Board
The Arnold Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday gave the green light to a future private school and an administrative regional fire office. Matt DeHart of Harrison sought to return the 1704 Fourth Ave. building to its original use as a school for his Teach from DeHart Academy, a private school...
Chalk the Wall meant to promote creativity, community spirit
It’s not uncommon to find Christina Sharbaugh doodling with chalk on the sidewalk in front of her Aspinwall eatery, Treat Down the Street. The graduate of Georgia’s Savannah College of Art and Design hopes her passion spreads town-wide with her new initiative, the Chalk the Wall Sidewalk Arts Festival. Hosted...
Rockaway Pizzeria sets opening date in Regent Square
The wait is finally over — Rockaway Pizzeria 3.0 will open in Regent Square next week. Owner Josh Sickels said the new location’s grand opening on Braddock Avenue will take place starting at 11 a.m. on May 2. But the wait to actually get a slice of pizza will be...
Shaler Area School District to demonstrate new weapons detection system
Families can learn more about a new weapons detection system that will be in use this fall at Shaler Area’s high school and middle school. A demonstration of the OpenGate system will begin at 6 p.m. April 29 at the high school, 381 Wible Run Road. It’s being held a...
26 Walmart stores in Pa. to be remodeled
Walmart announced Wednesday it plans to remodel 26 stores across Pennsylvania this year, including some local shops. The nearest stores in the greater Pittsburgh area getting remodeled include Richland, Harrison, Johnstown, Washington, Somerset, Monaca and Punxsutawney. The remodels will focus on enhancing the associate experience and community engagement, Walmart said....
Westmoreland happenings: Chicken barbecue, art exhibit, spaghetti dinner, more
Art • The works of photographer and artist Shirleah Kelly will be exhibited April 25 through May 29 at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. An opening reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. April 25. Details: 724-244-9418. Fundraisers • Dawson Vanderbilt Lions will host...
Gov. Shapiro denounces violence in recounting arson attack in New York Times guest essay
Gov. Josh Shapiro recounted the arson attack that burned through his Harrisburg home earlier this month, penning a guest essay published Wednesday in the New York Times. A state trooper alerted Shapiro and his wife, Lori, of the fire just after 2 a.m. April 13. They escaped without injury from...
Hampton students, community preparing for annual Talbot Thon benefiting pediatric cancer research
The Hampton School District’s annual Talbot Thon fundraiser will be held from 3:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Hampton High School. The high school Student Council partners with the Pitt Dance Marathon to organize the event. This year, they hope to raise $30,000 for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s pediatric...
