Appeal in Loyalhanna triple murder case identifies potential new suspects
New attorneys for a former Loyalhanna business owner on death row for the murder of his sister, mother and elderly aunt in 2009 claim they have identified two other men as the potential killers. The evidence, they say, bolsters arguments that a new trial is warranted. Kevin Murphy, 64, of...
Theft case against Latrobe attorney is postponed
A Westmoreland County judge Monday delayed a trial for a Latrobe attorney accused of bilking a jailed client. Acting on a defense request, Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio approved the two-month postponement of the theft case filed against attorney John Allen Roth. The defense said the delay was to await a prosecution...
‘We’re all just worried’: Pitt students on edge as classmate still missing in Dominican Republic
Students who returned to classes Monday at the University of Pittsburgh were talking about a classmate who wasn’t there: Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student who went missing last week while on spring break in the Dominican Republic. “These things can happen to anybody,” said Mackenzie Shearon, 19, of Cranberry. A...
Raising chickens costly but worth it: ‘It really is an investment’
The price of eggs may be through the roof, but that doesn’t mean you’ll save money with a chicken coop. While the popularity — and legality — of backyard chickens is spreading, the economics doesn’t add up for most people thinking of bypassing the grocer for their own hens. Just...
Etna to relocate borough’s headquarters to higher elevation with purchase of building
After years of seeking higher ground, the Borough of Etna purchased a building March 7 that eventually will become the municipality’s new headquarters. The location, at 30 Pine St., sits almost directly above the current borough building at 437 Butler St. The 47,570-square-foot building is an industrial space formerly occupied...
National park sites will address effort to bring down deer population, ease strain on forest land
An overpopulation of white-tailed deer in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s three national parks has had a detrimental effect on vegetation there, officials said. They are hoping to enact a deer management plan that would involve culling part of the herd in an effort to allow native vegetation in forests and elsewhere around...
At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
Mark your calendars It’s almost time to restock your personal libraries. Northland Public Library will have its Spring Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2 and 3. Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. May 4, everything must go: Patrons can fill one bag for $5, plus tax,...
North Hills Ebony Women celebrate Black history with special meal, keynote message
North Hills Ebony Women Inc. held its annual Black History Month celebration March 2 at La Roche University’s Zappala Campus Center to further the 45-year-old nonprofit’s mission of “recognizing and promoting African American identity, heritage, education and unity.” During the event, guests shopped with several local vendors, heard musical performances...
Pennsylvania Lottery wants to go big on scratch-offs
The Pennsylvania Lottery wants to bump up the number of games it sells with big-ticket prizes. It’s a move that could bring in more money for senior citizen programs by offering more attractive games to lottery players. “There is an increasing demand for games with bigger payouts — such as...
‘You stole my world’: Killer of Pittsburgh club security guard gets up to 50 years in prison
Akeyba Sanchez tried to explain away the crime he’d committed by saying it had been a bad day. “I’m sorry this happened,” he said Monday in court. “I regret it. It wasn’t supposed to go down like that.” But, the prosecutor said, what Sanchez really meant was, he shot the...
Vandergrift man with suspended license accused of hitting police car and fleeing
A Vandergrift man led police on a high-speed chase in New Kensington on Sunday after having been told by police not to drive his vehicle and later hitting a police car with it, according to arrest papers filed against him. Police charged Cristian Michael Brown, 25, with offenses including a...
Multi-community project finds little blight in West Leechburg
West Leechburg is in better shape than a lot of communities when it comes to blight. In the second phase of a multi-community blight study, the borough has only three properties considered to be blighted. The study is led by the Westmoreland County Planning Department with help from the Westmoreland...
Democratic committee endorses O’Connor over Gainey, but tight margin triggers recount
Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor on Sunday narrowly beat out Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey for the Allegheny County Democratic Committee’s endorsement in what is shaping up to be a hotly contested mayoral primary in May. The committee in a social media post said the tally was close enough to trigger...
Burrell graduate hands over reins of wellness 5K to current students
A Burrell alumna is passing the baton of coordinating a 5K race to six high school students. Grace Nesko, now a freshman at Shippensburg University, managed the 5K wellness run and walk the past two years at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Park in Lower Burrell. The race raises awareness and...
Murrysville elevates in-house staff to community development director
Murrysville Council has named municipal engineer technician Emily Mallisee as the new director for community development. “She’s been with us in an engineering role, but she’s been handling some things on the development side,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said. “As you know, we haven’t had a community development director...
Morning Roundup: Teens arrested following assault, robbery in East Liberty
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, March 10: Teens arrested following assault, robbery in East Liberty Pittsburgh police have arrested an 18-year-old man and four juveniles in a robbery and assault Sunday afternoon at a gas station in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood. Police...
Scottdale heart transplant patient: Recovering ‘each day, one day at a time’
Thirteen-year-old Marshall Fee of Scottdale is the rare person who will celebrate a birthday twice in one year. While his regular birthday is in October, his second commemorates the day he received a new heart — which has given him hope for a full life. Fee, who had suffered from...
Drowning, abduction being considered as search continues for Pitt student missing in Dominican Republic
Some officials believe a University of Pittsburgh student missing since Thursday in the Dominican Republic died of drowning, but authorities in her Virginia home community say there is no evidence yet to support that. A search is continuing for Sudiksha Konanki, 20, who was last seen just before 5 a.m....
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of March 10, 2025
Plum shortens Winterfest to 1 day Plum’s newly named WinterFest will be one day this year instead of two days, as previously contemplated, borough Manager David Soboslay said. WinterFest is the new name for Christmas at Plum Creek, following the naming scheme for the borough’s SummerFest and FallFest. The borough...
The Stroller, March 10, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Scholarships available to local...
Greensburg Salem School Board weighs restricting livestream service to monthly voting meetings
Greensburg Salem School Board could reduce its livestreaming capacity for public meetings following a vote by the school board this week. Because of low livestream meeting attendance and difficulties finding staff to operate equipment, the board will decide Wednesday whether to restrict livestreaming to its monthly voting meeting. The motion...
Greensburg eyeing 26 new golf carts for Mt. Odin course
Greensburg is looking to add some new golf carts to its Mt. Odin Golf Course fleet. City council is set to vote Monday on financing for the $170,000 needed to buy 26 golf carts that will replace aging ones. “We have some that are from the 1990s,” Mayor Robb Bell...
Here are some upcoming programs at Penn Hills Library
The Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, offers a variety of programs for all ages. For a complete list of offerings, visit pennhillslibrary.org. Registration is required for the following programs unless otherwise indicated; however, the following teen programs do not require registration. To register for any of the programs, visit...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
Master Naturalist to discuss native gardens The Bradford Woods Conservancy is kicking off its 2025 Speaker Series at 7 p.m. March 19 at Bradford Woods Community Church, 4836 Wexford Run Road. The featured speaker will be Rhea Homa, project manager for the Native Urban Garden Stewardship Program, a Master Naturalist...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of March 10, 2025
More Real ID days set for spring The Penn Hills PennDOT Driver License Center, 11620 Keleket Drive, will host a Real ID Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14 and May 5. Applications for Real IDs will be the only services available during the event. No other driver’s...
