Western PA Local News category, Page 3220
Poll workers needed in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County needs poll workers in several locations for the May 21 primary. Workers will be trained and make $95-$130 for the day. Polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Openings are available in Allegheny Township, Avonmore, Derry Township, Hempfield, Irwin, Ligonier Township’s Wilpen area, Monessen, Murrysville, New Kensington, North Huntingdon...
Penn Hills man pleads guilty to conspiracy to sell 14 ounces of fentanyl
A Penn Hills man will spend at least a decade in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Investigators say Veryl Long, 29, conspired to distribute more than 14 ounces of the drug between October 2016 and March 2017, according to prosecutors....
Man arrested short time after allegedly robbing bank in McCandless
A Beaver County man who allegedly robbed a bank in McCandless on Tuesday morning was arrested after police spotted him fleeing in a vehicle along Interstate 79. Patrick Acierno, 34, of Freedom is in the Allegheny County Jail after failing to post a $250,000 cash bond, according to court records....
Gibsonia woman shares Lithuanian heritage through favorite family dish
Kugelis and Balandeliai/Halupki are Lithuanian heritage recipes that Donna Urbanec, a resident of Gibsonia, is so proud to share. Her grandparents, Vincas Kapucinskas and Magdelina Romanauskas Kapucinskas came to the United States through Ellis Island and insisted that their eight children all learned how to cook — especially these two...
Carnegie Boys & Girls Club presented strong message about drugs
District Judge Jack Kobistek had the roomful of youngsters at the Carnegie Boys & Girls Club riled up. Drugs ruin people’s lives, and he had the proof. “How many of you would steal $8,000 from your grandma?” he asked the kids, who displayed shocked and horrified faces. “Do you want...
Woman celebrates 106th birthday, gives valuable advice about life
At 106 years old, ManorCare-Health Services North Hills nursing home resident Emma Hughes has a zest for life. Her family threw her a birthday party March 2 at the facility in Ross. “(She) still has her right mind,” said her granddaughter, Linda Hughes, 59, of McKees Rocks. “People drop off...
Shaler Area senior places in Brain Bee
Andrew D’Agostino, a senior at Shaler Area High School, recently competed in the Pittsburgh Regional Brain Bee and brought home two trophies. D’Agostino competed in the regional competition at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Neuroscience and won second place in the individual competition, and first place in team competition...
Hampton officials seek 100 volunteers for annual clean-up day
About 100 volunteers would be ideal for Hampton’s annual litter/cleanup day, March 30. This would be quite a jump from last year’s 30-some participants, but the need is there, especially with the amount of trash they’ve collected in years past, according to Township Manager Christopher Lochner. “You would be surprised...
North Area Environmental Council kicks off annual seedling sale; orders due April 5
North Hills gardeners looking ahead to the spring planting season can get what they need to beautify their landscapes while helping out a local organization devoted to environmental awareness and stewardship. The North Area Environmental Council, which is marking its 50 year, is now taking orders for its annual seedling...
3 Western Pa. state prison employees accused in drug smuggling cases
Three prison staff members, including a guard at SCI Somerset, are charged in unrelated drug smuggling cases, the state Department of Corrections said Wednesday. “When we closed off the mail as a major avenue for drugs getting into prisons, we knew there would be pressure on other avenues for contraband...
PWSA waives hearing on 161 criminal charges over replacing lead lines
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges that it violated Pennsylvania’s Safe Drinking Water Act during a lead line replacement program in 2016 and 2017. PWSA faces 161 criminal counts and fines ranging from $201,250 to $2 million. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office...
How Ash Wednesday ashes are made
Editor’s note: This story originally published in 2019, but the process of making ashes remains the same. The ashes smudged on people’s foreheads to mark the Christian holy day Ash Wednesday were made from the blessed palm fronds distributed at last year’s Palm Sunday services, which mark the beginning of...
Bellevue police searching for man, 56, missing since Feb. 1
Police are searching for a Bellevue man who has been missing for over a month. Wendell Caldwell, 56, was going to visit a friend on Pittsburgh’s North Side on Feb. 1, but never arrived, according to the Bellevue Police Department. The last communication his friend had with him was when...
Men need to step up to thwart violence against women, coalition says
“It’s none of my business.” “But he seems like a nice guy.” “Well, what was she wearing?” Those statements — referencing all-too-common reactions to reports of sexual abuse — are splashed across posters distributed around Western Pennsylvania alongside two words in large, bold lettering: “NO MORE.” Beneath the words appear...
Fox Chapel Area School Board considering new courses including coding, music production
Computer coding, music production and recreational fitness courses are in store for Fox Chapel Area students this fall. School board members approved five course changes during the regular meeting March 11 at the high school. They include: • A high school pilot course, Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science, for...
Amid code crackdown, Export officials remind residents of disposal options
Export residents, as part of their hauling contract with Republic Services, are able to dispose of household hazardous waste, borough officials reminded residents on Tuesday night. “For something like an old television, you call, let them know what you want to put out, and they’ll tell you when to take...
Irwin tables proposed amusement tax
Irwin Borough officials this week decided to delay any decision on starting an amusement tax. Options for the proposed tax, which has stirred controversy, include a levy of 5 percent or a flat 50 cents on the price of tickets sold at entertainment venues in the borough, such as The...
Woman hospitalized after crash in Pittsburgh’s West End
A woman was transported to a Pittsburgh area hospital in stable condition after crash in the city’s West End Tuesday. Department of Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri said officers responded to a report of a vehicle crash around 5:36 p.m. near the intersection of South Main Street and Noblestown Road....
14 cats, 2 dogs found crammed into vehicles outside O’Hara hotel; 1 cat dies
At least one cat died and 15 other cats and dogs are being cared for by a Westmoreland County shelter after authorities discovered all 16 animals locked inside two vehicles in an O’Hara Township parking lot, Trib news partner WPXI-TV reports. A hotel employee alerted authorities Monday night after overhearing...
As Lent begins, Valos Chocolates gears up for busiest time of the yearVideo
They never give up chocolate here. Especially during Lent, which, beyond its religious aspects, is the run up to Easter, the busiest holiday of the year for Valos Chocolates in Arnold, according to owner and chief chocolatier John Mandak. At the company’s factory on Fifth Avenue, gallons of molten chocolate...
New Vandergrift resident running for council
A new Vandergrift resident plans to run for borough council in the upcoming primary on May 21. Steve Jurovic, 81, a Democrat and retired structural designer, has lived in the borough for about a year and a half. Jurovic, who has never held public office before, said he has some...
Second elderly Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking
An elderly Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to trafficking in cocaine and money laundering for more than 20 years. Richard Stuart Wright, 76, entered the guilty plea to three counts before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak. He will be allowed to remain at home...
Pittsburgh police say woman was drunk, combative when trying to pick up kids from YMCA
A Pittsburgh woman walked into the Hill District YMCA on Monday with a Smirnoff Ice in her hand, requesting to pick up her children, who had been taken home on a bus, according to charges filed against the woman. Staff members at the Centre Avenue facility told police that Anastasia...
QV’s Huang seeded third in 200 IM at states
Members of the Quaker Valley-Sewickley Academy combined boys and girls swimming and diving teams are seeded for the PIAA Class AA championships March 13-14 at Bucknell University. Freshman Isabel Huang, the WPIAL champion in the girls 200-yard individual medley, is the third seed in the event at states. She also...
North Park ice rink ends skating season early amid mechanical problems
The winter season has ended early at North Park’s ice rink. Allegheny County officials announced Tuesday that they shut down the outdoor ice rink for the remainder of the year because of mechanical problems with the cooling system. All public skating and open-stick sessions have been canceled at the rink...
