Artist creates Christmas ornaments with Century III Mall demolition, Sinkhole Bus decoration
A local artist has crafted unique gifts for the Century III Mall or Sinkhole Bus lovers on your Christmas list. Toby Atticus Fraley unveiled a Century III Mall Christmas ornament to commemorate the mall, a once-popular shopping spot that is being demolished. He also is bringing back an ornament he...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh police investigating after reports of antisemitic stickers; school van crash in Greensburg
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Nov. 19: School van involved in Greensburg crash A school van was involved in a crash in Greensburg Tuesday morning, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The wreck happened just after 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of...
Man killed trying to cross road in Perryopolis
A man was killed trying to cross Route 51 in Perryopolis in Fayette County Monday evening. Matthew Warman, 51, of Braddock, was pronounced dead at 9:25 p.m., according to Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker. The coroner said he was struck by an SUV. Additional details were not immediately available....
Kiski leaves police regionalization discussions; Leechburg forges ahead
Kiski Township has dropped out of discussions about forming a regional police force with nearby Leechburg, Parks, Apollo and North Apollo. Leechburg Councilman DJ Zelczak, a member of the steering committee exploring the merger, said he did not want to speak for Kiski officials in declining to say why that...
The Stroller, Nov. 19, 2024: 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. Allegheny Valley Association of...
‘Something to give back’: Retired Naval officer expands low-cost, self-serve bookstore business to Westmoreland Mall
Griffin and Naomi Lotson have gotten used to weaving through stacks of books piled high in their Indiana Borough home. Books line the walls of the Lotson’s three-car garage, allowing just enough room for them to park their vehicles. “We could barely fit our van in there,” said Naomi Lotson,...
As garbage rates surge, Latrobe looks to join municipalities that collect their own trash
Latrobe residents were facing a quarterly rate hike of up to 40% if the city approved a new contract with a garbage hauler. But city leaders say they may be able to keep costs under control if the city instead begins picking up household refuse and recyclable items in 2026...
Some Norwin school board members want to scale back $30M project for stadium, auditorium
Norwin School District will move forward with improvements to its football stadium and high school auditorium, but some school board members are lobbying to scale back costs, which could exceed $30 million. The school board Monday authorized a Mt. Lebanon architecture firm to develop bids for the project. DRAW Collective...
Westmoreland airport officials maintain hope after Spirit Airlines bankruptcy filing
Westmoreland County officials are hopeful a stronger Spirit Airlines will emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is able to reverse a cutback in the commercial carrier’s flights at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. With that in mind, the county airport authority is restoring reservation desk staffing it had curtailed at the...
Aspinwall property owners likely won’t see a borough real estate tax hike in 2025
Aspinwall officials plan to hold the line on real estate taxes with next year’s budget. Council unanimously approved advertising its 2025 spending plan Nov. 13. Budget documents show the millage rate remains 8.36 mills, including 0.5 mills for public safety. One mill generates about $150,000 in revenue. Projected revenue and...
Woman accused in $200K bank scheme nabbed in New Stanton
A woman from the Los Angeles area was arrested this week in New Stanton in connection with a scam reported by a man who was led to believe that he was giving money to a bank in exchange for what he thought was an investment opportunity, according to court papers....
Murrysville man pleads guilty in mother’s stabbing
A Murrysville man pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the stabbing of his mother, months after a judge rejected a proposed deal with prosecutors that would have seen him serve four years on probation. Andrew J. Farbarik, 32, was allowed to plead guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced...
Son of former Steelers star to serve up to 16 years for drug offenses
The son of a former Pittsburgh Steelers star was ordered to serve up to 16 years in prison for the attempted sale of raw fentanyl to undercover officers in the Ligonier area. Cortez Marcell Haselrig, 27, of Johnstown pleaded guilty to four felony drug counts in connection with what authorities...
Allegheny County elections board finalizes provisional ballots
Allegheny County will finish this week counting its ballots from the Nov. 5 election, completing a weekslong process that has taken place amid legal challenges and on the heels of an automatic recount in Pennsylvania’s race for a U.S. Senate seat. About 725,000 total ballots were cast in Allegheny County....
Rich-Mar Rotary provides Peace Pole for Pine
For nearly three centuries, carolers of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” have vocalized the line: Peace on earth and mercy mild As such, the dedication of a new Peace Pole at the Pine Community Center came at an appropriate time of year. Brought to the center by the Rich-Mar Rotary...
Pine dazzles with holiday event
Pine celebrated the beginning of the festive season with the township’s annual Holiday Dazzle on Nov. 16. This year’s event at the Pine Community Center boasted carriage rides, ice sculptures, live performances, and a Christmas tree lighting. “The 2024 Holiday Dazzle was our biggest year to date. From community attendance,...
Judge rejects cop killer Poplawski’s request for time, money to prepare appeal
Lawyers for the man convicted of killing three Pittsburgh police officers 15 years ago say they need a year plus funding for 500 hours of work to thoroughly investigate their client’s claims for appeal. On Monday, a judge gave them just a fraction of that. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge...
Springdale’s new garbage hauler to answer residents’ questions at council meeting
Springdale residents can learn more about a new garbage collection contract during a meeting Tuesday. Representatives from the borough’s new garbage collection provider, Belle Vernon-based County Hauling, will give a presentation and oversee a question-and-answer session during Tuesday’s council meeting, said Ro Rozier, a spokeswoman for the company. “This is...
Nearly 600 fentanyl stamp bags, 7 weapons seized in search of New Kensington home
Authorities say they seized nearly 600 stamp bags of fentanyl and seven firearms while carrying out a search warrant early Monday at a home on Leishman Avenue in New Kensington. Robert Micha Whitley, 26, and Destyni Monae Compton, 24, each face several charges for drugs and weapons offenses. Agents from...
Police: North Huntingdon man charged in July crash was driving 90 mph in 35 mph zone
A North Huntingdon man is accused of driving 90 mph in a 35 mph zone when he crashed into another vehicle, seriously injuring its driver, according to township police. Nolan Patrick Mullen, 22, was arraigned Friday on charges of aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Authorities said...
Pitcairn officials look to improve recreation areas in advance of connector trail
As the groundwork continues to be laid for a connector between the Great Allegheny Passage and the Westmoreland Heritage trails, Pitcairn officials want to pave the way for what they hope will be an economic driver for the borough. “The bike trail is supposed to come through Pitcairn and our...
East Deer taxes to remain steady under proposed budget; garbage fees would increase more than 35%
East Deer property owners aren’t likely to see a tax increase next year under the township’s proposed $1.5 million general fund budget. But they would pay more for garbage pickup — more than 35% more. The township rebid its contract for the first time in eight years, resulting in the...
Pittsburgh resumes in-person permitting Downtown for first time since pandemic
For the first time since March 2020, Pittsburgh is providing in-person services for people seeking various types of permits. City officials on Monday unveiled the new One Stop PGH permitting counter at 412 Boulevard of the Allies in Downtown. Residents and developers will be able to seek help in person...
Driver strikes Shaler police vehicle responding to car crash
A driver was hospitalized Monday after striking a Shaler police vehicle en route to a car crash. Shaler police were dispatched about 7 a.m. to Kittanning Street after a car flipped onto its side near the intersection with Badali Drive, Chief Sean Frank said. Firefighters and paramedics extricated the driver,...
‘It’s an honor, it’s a blessing’: Manor appoints longtime resident to finish out term of former mayor
When Lewis Brant saw Manor accepting applications for the borough’s next mayor, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to give back to his hometown of nearly 29 years. Brant, 56, a Republican, comes to the post with no prior political experience. He worked more than 15 years as a...
