State lawmakers hope pressure, even legislation, can keep Penn State New Kensington off the chopping block
Alle-Kiski Valley lawmakers are hoping the combination of political pressure — and even legislation — can help keep Penn State New Kensington off the chopping block when the university considers the closure of branch campuses. “I am in the process of putting out a letter to the university president in...
Last of Springdale boiler finally falls; owner says property under sales agreement after cleanup
The final remains of the massive boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station was pulled down shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday. Thick dust, including pieces of fiberglass insulation, enveloped the lower Springdale neighborhood adjacent to the property after the building fell. It was the conclusion of a demolition attempt...
Greensburg Salem raises money for student activities with ‘Mr. GS’ competition
Greensburg Salem held its Seventh annual “Mr. GS” competition Friday evening, raising money for student activities at the high school. Audience members paid for tickets to choose who they wanted to win the event. Nine seniors competed in various events: Cooper Dann, Logan Dunkerley, Wesley Heverly, Logan Lewis, Ethan Miller,...
University of Pittsburgh housekeepers union reaches 1-year contract, says university fears federal funding cuts
The union representing University of Pittsburgh cleaners, housekeepers, grounds crew, and movers and receivers says it has agreed to a one-year contract as the result of uncertainty in education funding from the federal government. The union, 32BJ SEIU, is a branch of the Service Employees International Union. In a press...
‘Fiscal prudence’ at Pitt, CMU means Science Writers 2025 won’t be held in Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University won’t be teaming up to host a national science writers conference they’d initially committed to support. Pitt and CMU committed to host the Science Writers 2025 conference last year, but on Feb. 13 they withdrew that commitment, according to a statement from...
Pine considers joining Lights Out program to protect birds during spring, fall migrations
Pine officials are making strides to protect birds as spring approaches. The township, which was named a Bird Town this year, is considering participating in a new initiative called “Lights Out” to help prevent bird deaths associated with nighttime light pollution. However, the board of supervisors recently tabled a vote...
DA withdraws all charges against bookkeeper in $580K Mon View Heights theft case
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Friday withdrew charges against one of three men accused of stealing nearly $600,000 earmarked for a West Mifflin subsidized housing complex, with the prosecutor apologizing to the man as he left a preliminary hearing for the defendants. Jonathan Liani, 39, of New York...
Gainey announces plan to shield long-time Pittsburgh homeowners from property tax hikes
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey on Friday announced an initiative to protect longtime homeowners in the city from property tax hikes. The goal, the mayor said, is to ensure that people who own homes in neighborhoods where property values are skyrocketing don’t find themselves struggling to pay their taxes if their...
Projectiles launched, zombie art composed at annual Shaler Area STEAM competition
Teams from 16 schools applied their knowledge and creativity in a series of challenges Friday during an annual STEAM competition hosted by Shaler Area High School. The competition, which began several years ago with just six schools, features a daylong sequence of science, technology, engineering, art and math trials in...
Construction begins on Rachel Carson EcoVillage in McCandless
Construction on the long-awaited Rachel Carson EcoVillage at Providence Heights, a sustainable cohabitation of 35 units in McCandless, has broken ground after several years of discussions and rezoning. The village is located on land donated by the Sisters of Divine Providence near Cumberland Road and Babcock Boulevard adjacent to La...
Jeannette man’s murder convictions, life sentences vacated over debunked fire science
A former Jeannette man serving three life prison sentences for the first-degree murders of his wife and two young children in 1993 is entitled to a new trial, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Friday. Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani vacated the convictions and sentences of James Young, 57, who...
Rob Gronkowski, U.S. Steel partner to pay $400K to make over Woodland Hills fitness center
A Woodland Hills alumni who parlayed the strength fostered in the high school’s weight room into an NFL career has partnered with U.S. Steel to create an upgraded fitness center at the high school. “We started working on this eight or nine months ago,” Ty Brown, the district’s athletic director,...
Giant goldfish at Presque Isle serves as reminder for invasive species week
Think goldfish are tiny? Think again. A massive goldfish turned up during an electrofishing survey in Presque Isle on Lake Erie, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to share the shocking find on Facebook for National Invasive Species Awareness Week. “Your pet store goldfish after two years in the...
Whitehall historian provides Underground Railroad perspective
In greeting members of a full-house audience, David Thomas set the scene for the evening’s topic, the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. “Think of your journey here tonight. It’s a little drizzly, a little dark out there,” Thomas, president of the Whitehall Borough Historical Society, said. “Now think of what it...
Police seek owners of collectible coins recovered during shoplifting, gun theft, drug arrest in Unity
State police arrested a Cook Township man Friday on a shoplifting charge and found him in possession of a gun they say was stolen and 63 collectible coins they believe could be linked to a local theft. Police said they found the coins and a silver bar in 26-year-old Alexander...
Pittsburgh Brewing’s St. Patrick’s Day event to feature festivities, parade
The Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is getting ready to paint East Deer green for the second year in a row. The brewery’s Irish City St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will take place Saturday, March 15 at Pittsburgh Brewing, 150 Ferry St. in the township’s Creighton neighborhood. The event is for people 21...
Fence project at Natrona Community Garden strives to keep deer at bay
Bill Godfrey knows that lettuce, peppers and fruit grown in the Natrona Community Garden are vital to feeding residents of the Harrison neighborhood. But that doesn’t include the deer. “There was a total destruction of our garden last year once a herd discovered it and had a gourmet salad buffet,”...
Last defendant in torture death of Oakmont girl is found guilty of 1st-degree murder
In hundreds of text messages between them, the sisters who helped kill the 3-year-old girl referred to her in any number of ways. Ugly. Animal. Crackhead. Ebola. But never once, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Beemer noted, did they call her by her name: Bella. “The malice, the wickedness,...
Killer of Uber driver seeks new trial over claims of racial, political bias
The man convicted last month in the high-profile murder of an Uber driver in Monroeville wants a new trial because of what his lawyer called “political and racial bias” by the Allegheny County district attorney and the lead detective on the case. In a court motion, the attorney for Calvin...
Local groups take financial worries out of prom season
Hidden behind the glitz and glam of dresses, suits, pictures, flowers and all things that makes prom night magical is the realization of how quickly the expenses can add up. For the students and families worried about the cost as prom season approaches, there are groups in the area that...
Officials say flights to Fort Lauderdale to resume from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Direct flights from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will resume in May, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority announced Friday. Spirit Airlines will initially operate two weekly flights to the south Florida city, a move officials said will return profitability and jobs to Westmoreland County’s lone commuter airport....
Man, 41, dies at Allegheny County Jail while awaiting arraignment
A 41-year-old man died early Friday morning at the Allegheny County Jail while awaiting an initial court appearance, jail officials said. The man, who wasn’t identified, was brought to the jail at 6:44 p.m. Thursday. He was accused of resisting arrest and drug offenses. He was taken to a hospital...
Company’s proposed move from New Kensington to Plum includes large office building
A New Kensington company didn’t want to look too far away for a new home where it could bring its operations together. In addition to a proposal to build a storage yard and maintenance facility at 1450 Greensburg Road in Plum, once the location of Golf Oasis, Geo-Solutions also plans...
Anti-Israel referendum bid in Pittsburgh fails again
An effort to use a referendum to ban Pittsburgh from doing business with companies linked to Israel has again failed after the parties agreed Friday morning that the petitioners did not gather the required number of signatures. Following a short hearing before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay,...
Farmer x Baker relocating from Aspinwall to Sharpsburg
A popular riverside dining experience is leaving Aspinwall. Farmer x Baker, a shipping container-turned-eatery cafe in Aspinwall Rivertrail Park, is the culinary creation of owner/
baker/chef Jennifer Urich. But the popular al fresco cafe of six years closed in November. Urich cited ongoing friction with park officials as the reason for...
