‘Unconscionable’: At Ash Wednesday vigil in Pittsburgh, Christians decry ICE tactics, pray for immigrants
Michael Airgood felt compelled Wednesday to join dozens of fellow Christians who prayed for peace and called for humane treatment of immigrants during a vigil in Downtown Pittsburgh. “I’m here because I think what our government is doing to immigrants and people of color is unconscionable,” said Airgood, a minister...
Holiday Park VFD fish fry season started Ash Wednesday, runs through Good Friday
Fish fry season has begun and one of the major fundraising food providers in Plum is the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department. About 25 volunteers prepare and serve hand-breaded fried cod, pierogies, crab cakes, french fries, cole slaw, mac’n cheese and more. Led by fish fry coordinator Josh Scalamonga, more...
Downtown Pittsburgh assault near Kaufmann’s clock leads to 3 arrests
Police on Wednesday arrested three of four suspects charged with punching and kicking a man dozens of times earlier this month while beating him in Downtown Pittsburgh near the landmark Kaufmann’s clock. The three — Shakeem Griffey, 31, of Pittsburgh; Mateke Katzbeck, 26, of Pittsburgh; and Caleb Mitchell, 23, of...
Hundreds attend Ash Wednesday services in Greensburg
Students from Aquinas Academy, an elementary school adjacent to Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, were among hundreds of people to visit the cathedral for Ash Wednesday services....
Water main break closes part of Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville
Old William Penn Highway between Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint and Hills Church Road was closed Wednesday due to a water main break, Murrysville police said. Ginny’s is located just east of Fitzsimmons Lane. Police advised drivers to avoid the area and find an alternate route. Matt Junker, a spokesman for...
‘To dust you shall return’: Christians begin Lent with Imposition of Ashes
Christians across the Alle-Kiski Valley began Lent on Wednesday by donning ashes in the sign of the cross on their foreheads. The “Imposition of Ashes” is a centuries-old Christian tradition meant to signify repentance and mortality. It marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent, one of the holiest...
Theater group will host auditions for ‘Women of Troy’ staged reading
StoryZ Studios will host auditions on Monday and Tuesday for a staged reading of Euripides’ “Women of Troy.” The play, originally performed 2,500 years ago, tells the story of the women of Troy held hostage and removed from their homeland, a story of family separation and the abuse of power....
Pitt Athletics to host block party complementing NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t just for fans of the pro game anymore — Pitt Athletics has announced that a three-day block party will take place during the April festivities in Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to partner with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to create a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans during...
Repeated drug deals nets Trafford man prison sentence
A Trafford man who police claimed sold drugs to an undercover officer on multiple occasions was ordered to serve up to 12 years in prison. Vondae Duane Freeman, 40, pleaded guilty in November to three felony counts including one weapons offense and two drug charges in connection with what state...
Former Highlands teacher headed to court on 2nd set of charges
The defense attorney for a former Highlands elementary school teacher accused of indecent assault on two students attempted Tuesday during a preliminary hearing to paint the alleged interactions as merely friends hugging. Attorney Duke George, representing former Highlands School District teacher Sean Dicer during a preliminary hearing Wednesday at District...
Construction to begin on Oakland’s Panther Hollow Bridge
Construction is set to begin on the Panther Hollow Bridge, which has been closed since inspectors discovered corrosion on the span’s steel trusses during an inspection in fall 2024. Pittsburgh on Wednesday said repairs on the 640-foot-long bridge — which spans Panther Hollow near Anderson Playground — will start within...
Mt. Washington’s PJ McArdle Roadway reopens after rockfall
Pittsburgh’s PJ McArdle Roadway reopened Wednesday afternoon less than five hours after city officials closed it when rocks fell from a Mt. Washington hillside. Workers from multiple Pittsburgh departments responded to the scene around 9:15 a.m. following a report of fallen rocks, said Molly Onufer, a spokeswoman for Mayor Corey...
Wilkinsburg man to face trial on charges he held people at gunpoint in Duquesne home
A Wilkinsburg man is facing trial after police said he held a group of people captive at gunpoint at a Duquesne home in December — just days after being released from jail for a separate assault. During a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Duquesne, a district judge held 20 charges against...
Pitt’s spring graduation to be held at Acrisure Stadium
A larger graduation class means a larger venue for the University of Pittsburgh’s spring commencement. Pitt’s universitywide undergraduate spring commencement ceremony will be held May 3 at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. “This venue change will ensure every eligible graduate can participate and receive an appropriate number of tickets...
Woodland Hills board president resigns after felony charges
Woodland Hills School Board President Terri Lawson has resigned following controversy surrounding suspected misuse of nearly $10,000 in unauthorized purchases on a borough credit card. Lawson, former Rankin borough manager, was charged with felony counts of theft and fraud as well as misdemeanor counts of forgery and tampering with records...
Norwin youth sports leagues face jump in school facility use fees
Norwin youth sports teams and community groups will pay more to use school district facilities starting in the 2027-28 school year under a fee schedule the school board approved unanimously this week. The board hiked the rates without discussion for the use of gymnasiums, ball fields, the swimming pool and...
4th person sentenced in Westmoreland catalytic converter theft ring
The last of four people charged with operating a catalytic converter theft ring throughout Westmoreland County in 2022 was ordered to serve at least 21 months in prison. Vince Lamar Skillings, 48, of Derry pleaded guilty last February to theft and two additional felony counts in connection with his role...
Improvements eyed along Route 50 at Bridgeville, Collier border
In an effort to eliminate the bottleneck at their border, Bridgeville and Collier are studying what it would look like to widen Route 50 between Mayer Street in Collier and Bower Hill Road in Bridgeville. Bridgeville Manager Joe Kauer said the municipalities are looking to enhance plans presented in 2015...
Recent bitter weather has wreaked havoc on humans. What about nature?
Ice scrapers and heavy coats have been temporarily set aside for sunglasses, but the natural world is still reeling from the deep freeze that gripped the region for the past several weeks. During the final week of January, temperatures only made it as high as 17 degrees, dipping to their...
Irwin officials consider temporary bridge after Colony Drive closure
With funding for a new bridge likely unavailable for three years, Irwin officials are expected to discuss next month whether to rent or buy a temporary structure to replace a bridge closed in January because of a hole in the decking. “If everything went smoothly, we’re still looking at three...
Morning Roundup: Fugitive nabbed in Verona; Fayette County borough council president accused of stalking police chief
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Feb. 18: Fugitive taken into custody after being on the run in Verona Verona police announced the arrest of a fugitive who fled a traffic stop Saturday. Police said Joseph Fisher of Pittsburgh was stopped Saturday at a...
4C’s Night shows what Baldwin High School is all about
Think back to school lunches and how you probably would have preferred skipping many of them. For students at Baldwin High School, there’s little chance of that today. Lunchtime offers a variety of choices that folks of previous generations could only dream about, from delicious day-launching breakfasts to restaurant-quality pizza...
The Stroller, Feb. 18, 2026: 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. Drive-thru dinner to aid...
Hempfield Area considers replacing 4 high school grass fields with turf
Hempfield Area High School may replace four grass athletic fields with synthetic turf, Superintendent Mark Holtzman said. The district is eyeing its baseball, softball and multipurpose grass fields for replacement, Holtzman said. The school board will vote on the matter next week. Because of snowmelt and spring rainfall, the district’s...
North Allegheny School District approves 3 dozen retirements
The largest set of retirements in recent years at the North Allegheny School District was approved by the school board in February, opening up career opportunities for those looking to become a “Tiger.” Altogether, 36 retirements and two resignations were listed on the Feb. 11 school board agenda, all of...
