Western PA Local News category, Page 406
Norwin cheerleaders shine in national competition
The Norwin cheerleaders performed some magic recently in the magical land of the Walt Disney World Resort, during the national cheerleading championship competition in Orlando, Fla. “We really tried to take it to the next level. They had great execution,” said cheerleading coach Sarah Brooks, about the 23-member squad. The...
Penn Hills resident publishes book of poetry inspired by 15 years of riding bus to work
Michael Frachioni has been riding city buses for years. Unlike most who use the commute to zone out, listen to music or close their eyes for a moment, Frachioni uses that time to observe his fellow riders to find the subject of his next poem. A lawyer for PNC Bank...
Student creations featured at Monroeville library during Youth Art Month
The gallery space at Monroeville Public Library will come alive in March with Gateway School District’s K-12 student art show. This annual exhibit celebrates Youth Art Month and is organized by Gateway High School Visual Arts Department Chair Greta Severson. “The art show presents student art from every school in...
‘Anything Goes’ features humor, entries from the Great American Songbook
The Franklin Regional Senior High School auditorium will transport its audience back to the days of the Golden Age of Hollywood, big-band music and the end of prohibition in its spring musical. The high school’s Theatre Guild will stage “Anything Goes” on Feb. 27-28 and March 1-2, presenting a madcap...
Monroeville area: Library trivia, gospel performance, Gateway musical, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. ‘Good as New’ book sale The 30th annual “Good as New” book sale will be held March 21-23 at Monroeville United Methodist Church, 219 Center Road. A variety of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books will be available. Gently used puzzles...
Snowplow woes force Pittsburgh officials to explore asking for help clearing roads
With nearly a third of Pittsburgh’s snowplow fleet out of commission, some city officials want to ask their neighbors for help. Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, said neighboring municipalities often seem to treat roads more efficiently than Pittsburgh. She wants to explore paying them to treat Pittsburgh roads after they’ve...
Westmoreland County suspends new purchasing director
Westmoreland officials for the second time in less than a year suspended the director of the county’s purchasing department. Daniel Ellingsen, who has been on the job since mid-November, was placed on paid leave early last week for undisclosed reasons. His suspension was changed to unpaid starting Wednesday, Commissioner Ted...
Staffing agency owner who served Charleroi area accused of harboring illegal aliens
A Belle Vernon man pleaded guilty this week to two counts related to accusations that he ran a temporary staffing agency that provided workers who were illegally in the United States. Federal prosecutors said Andy Ha, 28, also failed to pay taxes related to those employees. Ha pleaded guilty to...
Members of North Allegheny community learn how to react in active shooter scenarios
While random gun violence can be unpredictable, knowing how best to react could help prevent tragedy. That was the message relayed to residents Feb. 19 during the Active Shooter Community Educational Night at Marshall Middle School. About 70 members of the North Allegheny community, local hospital workers, church leaders and...
Excessive force lawsuit alleges Clairton police officer sicced K-9 on motorist
A Clairton man is suing his local police department, claiming he was mauled by a police dog after being pulled over for going through a stop sign last year. Te’mon Jackson, 19, filed the lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday against Officer Fred L. Hill Jr. alleging battery and the...
Police say man with cocaine in his system caused fatal Homestead crash
A man had cocaine in his system and was driving more than 100 miles an hour just before he caused a fatal crash in Homestead in July, police said Wednesday as they announced criminal charges. Jesus Luciano, 37, of the Homestead area was charged with homicide by vehicle and other...
Man fatally shot at Tube City Cafe in McKeesport
A man was fatally shot Wednesday morning in McKeesport. The victim was shot during an argument at the Tube City Cafe in the 900 block of 5th Avenue, according to Allegheny County Police. First responders answering a 911 call at 11:51 a.m. found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds. They...
Feds claim Allegheny County man had illegal guns, child porn, violent ideology
An Allegheny County man who authorities claim had numerous guns and espouses a “racially motivated, violent extremist ideology” is now facing a charge of possessing child pornography. Aidan Harding, 20, of Crescent, was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury in U.S. District Court. Harding remains in custody following a Feb....
Ligonier Township: More funding needed to complete bridge, sidewalk for high school students
Ligonier Township has received a little less than half the state funding it sought to construct a pedestrian bridge and sidewalk for students who walk from adjacent Ligonier Borough into the township to reach Ligonier Valley High School. Local officials say students’ safety is at stake since they now must...
Westmoreland happenings: Burger bash, children’s night out, bingos, more
Children’s event • The Cook Township Community Center will host a Kids Night In for children age 5 to 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. March 7 at the center, 1714 Route 711. Cost: $5, includes cheese pizza, drink, games and a dance party. Parents may register their children and...
Nature journaling set for Twin Lakes Park meadow
A Westmoreland Land Trust programmer will conduct eight sessions this spring of natural journaling — writing one’s observations of nature — to chronicle the seasonal changes from March through June at the meadow at Twin Lakes Park east of Greensburg. Paula Purnell, the coordinator of education programming for the Land...
Arnold councilman champions regionalizing New Kensington, Arnold police forces
If New Kensington and Arnold are able to share a school district, the cities should also be able to share a police department, according to an Arnold councilman. “It’s time,” said Aaron Moore, who was elected to Arnold Council in the 2023 election. He said he received positive feedback to...
New Hampton-based theater company to offer 4 showings of ‘Be More Chill’ musical
Beginning Feb. 27, Hampton-based theater company Soulshine Performing Arts Collective Experience will stage four showings of the “Be More Chill” musical at Sunken Bus Studios in Ross. Lacey Overholt, the company’s creator and show director, said the performances will be the first for SPACE, which she opened in January. A...
Jefferson Hills resident prepares for intense swim-bike-run competition
When she has the will, Ebtehal Badawi makes her way. As an artist with a strong desire to promote acceptance and understanding, the Jefferson Hills resident launched an initiative called Pittsburgh Builds Bridges, based around her painting of an arched span adorned with clenched hands of various colors and religious...
Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders recommend closing 14 schools
After years of discussion and potential closures, Pittsburgh Public Schools leaders this week released recommendations for the district’s restructuring — including the shuttering of 14 schools. Because of declining enrollment, underutilization and aging infrastructure, the feasibility report advised the district to close the following schools:Allegheny 6-8Arsenal PreK-5Fulton PreK-5King PreK-8Linden PreK-5Manchester...
New garbage carts rolling out for Shank customers in Lower Burrell
Lower Burrell residents who use Shank Waste Service for garbage collection will have to make sure all of their trash fits into the new cans they’re getting — and they won’t be alone. The Lower Burrell-based waste hauler is moving to automated collection, with garbage trucks that use a mechanical...
Boy, 17, charged with making threats against Greater Latrobe Junior High, 2 students
A 17-year-old boy was charged as a juvenile after state police said he made threats on social media. The threats were posted in a Snapchat group chat. They were directed toward two female students, ages 16 and 15, and Greater Latrobe Junior High School, troopers said in a news release....
Indiana Township junior takes editing reins at Fox Chapel Area student-run magazine
Fox Chapel Area High School junior Karsten Buchert is passionate about telling tales. Buchert, 16, of Indiana Township, serves as student editor-in-chief and the first-ever layout editor of Fox Tales Quarterly, a student-run online and print magazine highlighting positive news and happenings in the Fox Chapel Area School District and...
Morning Roundup: Tractor-trailer fire closes Parkway West; delivery driver shot at in North Braddock
Here are some news items for Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025: Trailer fire shuts down Parkway West Four fire companies responded to a vehicle fire late Tuesday night that shut down a section of the Parkway West (Interstate 376). The fire, in the cab of a tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes,...
Monroeville Giant Eagle recalls bread
Giant Eagle officials have issued a voluntary recall of multi-grain sourdough bread sold at its Monroeville store on Monroeville Boulevard. A limited amount of bread, sold at the store’s bakery, was incorrectly labeled as “multi-grain Tuscany,” resulting in an undeclared sesame allergen being potentially present. It was discovered during a...
