Bird flu affecting more than 600 birds at Butler County farm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed Butler County’s first case of bird flu. The virus was detected in a backyard flock of 610 birds. The USDA confirmed the infection on Feb. 20. It classified the farm, which was not identified by the USDA, as a kind that does not...
Person killed in 2-vehicle collision in Sewickley Township identified
The man killed in a two-vehicle, head-on crash Tuesday afternoon in Sewickley Township has been identified. Dean B. Carlson, 71, of North Huntingdon was traveling north on Clay Pike Road in a Hyundai Accent when a Ford F-150 driving south crossed over the center line near Orchard Drive and the...
Groups battle anew over Pittsburgh referendum effort targeting ties to Israel
Pittsburgh’s business ties to Israel are once again stirring controversy. In November, pro-Palestinian group Not on Our Dime tried to let voters decide whether to ban the city from doing business with companies linked to Israel. But a challenge to the signatures sunk that effort. Now the group is trying...
Springdale boiler house demolition to be delayed 1 day
The boiler house at the former power plant in Springdale will have to wait one more day to meet its fate. Springdale announced the boiler house demolition, originally slated for Saturday, now is planned for Sunday at a time yet to be announced. The delay is because inclement weather is...
Fixes not fines: Pittsburgh wants to aid, not punish, poor homeowners with crumbling sidewalks
Pittsburgh will consider expanding a program to help poor homeowners fix dilapidated sidewalks outside their houses rather than slapping them with fines for failing to make pricey repairs. City Council in 2023 authorized a pilot program for the city to repair sidewalks at a discounted rate for low-income homeowners. Homeowners...
Alcoa CEO predicts Trump aluminum tariffs will cost 100,000 jobs
Bill Oplinger, CEO of Pittsburgh-based aluminum producer Alcoa, warned Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s 25% import tax on aluminum could kill off around 100,000 U.S jobs. “This is bad for the aluminum industry in the U.S. It’s bad for American workers,” Oplinger told a crowd at a metals and mining...
Scottdale man ruled sexual predator after serving prison term for rape
A Westmoreland County judge Tuesday declared a Scottdale man, who completed a six-year prison sentence in 2023 for assaulting a teenage boy, to be a sexually violent predator. Anthony Kiliany, 59, pleaded guilty in 2017 to 14 charges including multiple felony counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault...
Judge says sex assault victim’s emotional outburst no grounds to overturn conviction
A teenage girl’s behavior while testifying before a jury did not prejudice their decision to convict a man accused of sexually assaulting the girl, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday. In a 19-page opinion, Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ruled convictions of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault...
Damage reported at U.S. Steel facility in Braddock, followed by increase in air pollution
An incident over the weekend at the Edgar Thomson Steel Works facility in Braddock resulted in damage to the building, described as a hole. U.S. Steel submitted a breakdown report to the Allegheny County Health Department, saying the incident occurred at 7 a.m. Sunday. It did not offer specific details...
Church resurrects Monroeville DoubleTree, plans to emerge as Legacy Hotel
A Monroeville church plans to resurrect the former DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Monroeville and create a boutique lodging site. The multimillion-dollar renovation announced Tuesday will feature a theme paying homage to Western Pennsylvania legends in industry, sports and entertainment, church and hotel officials said. Two Trees Global LLC of...
Pine remembers longtime Wexford Volunteer Fire Company member with proclamation
Pine supervisors recognized the late Richard Voll, a longtime resident and volunteer firefighter, for his dedication and contributions to the township at their Feb. 18 meeting. “This past week, we lost a true community steward. Mr. Richard Voll passed away. His volunteerism showed in his dedication to his community, to...
Settlement in Fern Hollow Bridge case collapses amid finger-pointing
The City of Pittsburgh is blaming everyone but itself for the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse. In recent court filings, lawyers for the city have faulted the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the private engineering firms who conducted annual inspections — even the victims driving across the bridge in 2022 when it...
84-year-old Monroeville man dies in crash
A Monroeville man was killed in a crash on Fox Hill Drive Tuesday, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Raymond Manns Jr., 84, was ejected from a vehicle that was traveling on the road at 8 a.m. He died at the scene....
Archers killed 199 deer as part of Pittsburgh culling program in parks
Nearly 200 deer were harvested as part of Pittsburgh’s deer management program over the 2024-25 archery season. A city harvest report said 92 of those deer were donated to local food banks, which provided 3,980 pounds of venison and 14,720 meals to residents. Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety said the...
Nippon to meet with federal officials in bid to salvage U.S. Steel deal
Nippon Steel plans to meet with federal officials to work out a solution to the U.S. Steel takeover, and will use the existing merger agreement as a starting point in negotiations. The Japanese steelmaker’s chief operating officer, Tadashi Imai, unveiled the plan to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. Imai’s stance...
Pittsburgh council OKs tax incentive for Esplanade development
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a critical tax diversion for Esplanade, a sprawling $740 million development planned along the Ohio River. The developer, Cecil-based Piatt Companies, will now turn its attention to seeking similar approvals from Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools. If the measure is approved by...
Etna Slice House closed indefinitely after chef departs
Etna Slice House, open for less than a year, is closed indefinitely after the departure of its manager and some staff. Though he said there is no hard feelings, the Slice House’s former manager and head chef, Massimo Vozza, said he decided to leave the business last week. That is...
Penn State to close some branch campuses; New Kensington, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Beaver at risk
Penn State officials have made it clear that it will close some of its branch campuses, and all four of those in Southwestern Pennsylvania are among those that might close. University President Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement Tuesday that she expects a final recommendation to be announced no later...
Youngwood gun shop owner faces additional theft charges
More theft charges were filed Tuesday against a Hempfield woman who owned a Youngwood gun shop. Westmoreland County detectives said Tracey G. McMahan, 67, took $3,600 from two customers who made down payments for gun purchases and kept two guns that were to be sold on consignment at Hi-Grade Shooters...
Police say man sexually assaulted child in Arnold
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Thursday, March 6, 2025. A manfaces trial after being accused by Arnold police of sexually assaulting a child. James Benitto, 40, was held for court on March 6 on felony charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault of a person...
Solar power project on course at Hempfield municipal complex
Hempfield is moving forward with a solar power project at its municipal complex. Township supervisors on Monday approved an agreement with Envinity, Inc. of State College for the construction of a solar array on the roof of a multipurpose building that has been erected at the site under development at...
Residents invited to complete parks survey to help shape future of recreation in McCandless
McCandless residents are encouraged to help shape the future of the town’s parks and recreational programming by completing a Parks Master Plan Questionnaire. The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to March 31. The survey is available online at townofmccandless.org. Paper copies are available by request at Town...
Heated debate surrounds Pine-Richland School Board’s library policy; final vote next
A final vote on Pine-Richland’s controversial library policy is in sight after another contentious meeting Feb. 24 set the stage for a third and final read of the proposed rule changes. The three-hour meeting was the latest in a series of often embittered discussions during which community members have lashed...
Plum Creek watershed project aims to address flooding, pollution concerns
Conservation officials hope a project to manage stormwater in the uppermost area of the Plum Creek watershed will help reduce downstream flooding and pollution into the creek. The nearly 21-square-mile Plum Creek watershed covers parts of Plum, Penn Hills, Oakmont and Verona, according to the Allegheny County Conservation District. A...
Police: Man dies in Route 28 crash after appearing to jump from moving vehicle
A man who police believe jumped from a moving vehicle was struck and killed along Route 28 in a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Connell Nihei, 50, of Pittsburgh. The crash near Etna was reported shortly before 7 a.m., according to...
