Western PA Local News category, Page 3182
Springdale Manor resident caused fire after falling asleep while smoking
A resident of the Springdale Manor high-rise fell asleep while smoking and caused a small fire in his apartment Monday morning, officials said. “Fortunately, the smoke detector woke him up and he dumped water on the fire in the carpet,” said Allegheny County Housing Authority police Sgt. Ed Mogus. Had...
Vandergrift woman’s first-degree murder trial delayed
A Vandergrift woman accused of killing her cousin will have her trial delayed at least four months. Ashley Croft, 35, is awaiting trial in connection with the Oct. 18 shooting death of John Edward Smail of Greensburg. Croft is charged with first-degree murder. She is being held in jail without...
Penn Hills, Allegheny Land Trust team up to protect wooded areas
Penn Hills municipal staff is working with a nonprofit to figure out how to better protect 143 acres of wooded land that is unable to be developed. Council approved a resolution in February allowing Penn Hills staff to work with the Allegheny Land Trust on three separate sections of land...
Commissioner Cerilli won’t comment on campaign money from dead man tied to massage parlor prostitution ring
Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli on Monday refused to comment on $1,900 in donations her campaign received from a deceased family friend implicated in a human trafficking and prostitution ring at area massage parlors. According to campaign finance records, Cerilli received four donations from Henry “Sonny” Caruso dating to 2015,...
GOP commissioner candidate challenges ballot order selection for Westmoreland primary
Members of Westmoreland County’s Elections Board could meet this week to consider allegations of impropriety made by a Republican candidate for county commissioner over a lottery that chose the ballot order for May’s primary. John Ventre, one of seven GOP commissioner candidates seeking two nominations this spring, wants a do-over....
Federal bump stock ban goes into effect Tuesday; none turned over to ATF in Pennsylvania
With the bump stock ban looming, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it is not aware of anyone turning a single one in at the field office in Pittsburgh or the dozen other offices across the state, a spokeswoman said. The final rule promulgated by the...
Robert Morris University symposium to focus on women’s leadership
Robert Morris University’s Women’s Leadership & Mentorship Program will present its 4th Annual Women & Transformational Leadership Symposium, from 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. March 28 and 29 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel, 1160 Thorn Run Road, Moon Township Demeatria Boccella of FashionAFRICANA will be keynote speaker for the...
North Allegheny hosting ‘Celebration of Us’ diversity event on April 10
The North Allegheny School District’s unity and diversity committee is hosting a program called “Celebration of Us” on April 10. The free event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the senior high school, will feature a variety of performances, exhibit tables from student groups and community organizations as...
Taste of Shaler held at Elfinwild Fire Hall
Taste of Shaler was held at Elfinwild Fire Hall on March 23 as the community was treated to foods and beverages from locations throughout the Shaler Area. In addition to the variety of consumable goods, there was also music, student artwork and even a silent auction. The annual event is...
State Police Troop A, Indiana station, moving to new building
State Police Troop A’s Indiana station will be moving into a new home effective 7 a.m. Tuesday. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the station’s new address will be 35 Fenton Road, Indiana, PA 15701. The station is relocating about one-half mile away from its former location at 4221 Route 286 Highway...
Man drives over New Kensington wall onto railroad tracks 15 feet below
The driver of a car that went off New Kensington’s Constitution Boulevard onto railroad tracks at least 15 feet below managed to get himself out of the overturned car safely after the wreck, according to police. New Kensington police Chief Bob Deringer said the driver, Ricky Burkett of Arnold, will...
Pittsburgh would pay teen $77,500 to settle police brutality lawsuit
Pittsburgh and a West End company that provides security at Heinz Field would pay a South Park man $97,500 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging a former city police officer assaulted him and violated his civil rights during high school football championships at the stadium in 2015. Gabriel Despres, 23,...
Police: Road rage made Arnold man attack truck with golf club
An Arnold man told police he struck another man’s truck with a weighted golf club this month because the other man cut him off in traffic and slammed on his brakes in front of him, according to a criminal complaint. Theodore Clayton Volkar, 47, admitted that he got out of...
Roberto Clemente’s World Series bat, Josh Gibson photo sell at auction
Covered in ball marks, ball stitch impressions, cleat marks and with a crack in the handle, one thing sticks out about the bat — Roberto Clemente’s childhood name “Momen.” Clemente purchased the “Momen Clemente” bat on Oct. 3, 1960, two days before the World Series against the New York Yankees...
North Allegheny board OKs work to add turf, lights to intermediate high school field
The North Allegheny School Board has taken a step toward improving playing conditions for its sports teams by agreeing to resurface the field at the intermediate high school with artificial turf and add lighting. In February the board considered a series of options to add turf and lighting to two...
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner arraigned on felonies in Detroit
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner and her husband were arraigned Monday afternoon in Detroit on charges related to an altercation with police at a hotel earlier this month. After the brief hearing, Wayne County Judge Ronald Giles set a $5,000 personal bond with no travel restrictions for each defendant, Wayne...
Sen. Kim Ward posts online survey regarding Sunday hunting, legalizing pot
State Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, wants to know what Westmoreland County residents think about Sunday hunting and the legalization of recreational marijuana. She is starting a new feature on her website that poses survey questions about issues being considered by legislators. “I’m going to start doing this on a regular...
McCandless seeking ‘junior’ council member; applicants to fill environmental board vacancy
McCandless council is taking applications to fill a pair of volunteer advisory positions: A high school student to serve as a junior member of town council; and a resident from Ward 6 to complete the remainder of a term on the Environmental Advisory Committee. Applicants for the junior councilmember are...
Loyalhanna Twp. man, 15-year-old boy accused of shooting 4 bulls, killing 2Video
State police charged a 60-year-old Loyalhanna Township man and 15-year-old boy with shooting four bulls with a crossbow at a nearby farm over St. Patrick’s Day weekend and then attempting to cover up the incident. Shaun D. Ross was arrested on charges of agricultural vandalism, ecoterrorism, aggravated cruelty to animals,...
Police: West Deer man who ran from crash was wanted on warrant
A West Deer man told authorities he ran from a two-vehicle crash in which he and three others were injured Sunday because he was wanted on a warrant, according to police. Now Travis Trenton Brewer, 30, faces nearly two dozen additional charges. Police suspect Brewer was high on heroin when...
As students walk out for Antwon Rose, his mother urges Woodland Hills students to stay putVideo
As hundreds of students marched in Downtown Pittsburgh to honor Antwon Rose II, kids at Woodland Hills High School, where Rose was a student, stayed put. They stayed at the request of Rose’s mom. “There is nothing to accomplish by walking out,” Michelle Kenney said to the group of Woodland...
Sign-ups open April 1 for competitive Spanish Immersion pilot program
Fox Chapel Area will open registrations on April 1 for the district’s new Spanish Immersion pilot program where at least 80 percent of instruction will be delivered in the foreign language. It will be limited to one class of 25 students — 2019-20 first-graders — pulled from all four of...
Tour of French saint’s intact heart to stop at Hempfield parish
The “incorrupt,” or intact, heart of St. Jean Vianney, a 19th-century French priest, will make a stop in Hempfield on April 17 as part of a national tour. The unusual relic will be available for veneration at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 1011 Mt. Pleasant Road, following a 9 a.m....
Avian researcher at Powdermill Nature Reserve gets grant
An avian research coordinator for the long-term bird-banding program at Powdermill Nature Reserve was named a Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award winner. Lucas W. DeGroote was one of the four winners of the award, presented to organizations and individuals demonstrating leadership, effectiveness and results in making an impact on the environment....
Aspinwall dog park closing April 1 to make way for baseball season
Aspinwall’s dog park will close April 1 to make way for summer sports. The area for four-legged friends is housed at the community ball fields off Fifth Street and returns to its original use each spring. The park will host baseball and softball leagues through Halloween. Residents are reminded to...
