Western PA Local News category, Page 430
Jeannette couple plans to distribute $10K in scholarships through nonprofit
A $1,000 boost from a local nonprofit helped Jeannette native Noah Sanders buy books and pay for student housing at college while he works on a degree in business and finance. A 2024 high school graduate, Sanders is hoping to become an accountant after completing coursework at Defiance College in...
Former West Deer Municipal Building demolition to begin
Demolition of the former West Deer Municipal Building is expected to begin in this month but there’s a chance a small portion of it will remain to benefit homeless dogs. Chairwoman Beverly Jordan said the board is considering a plan to renovate the old police carport area into a 26-foot...
The Stroller, Feb. 1, 2025: 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. Animal Protectors plans evening...
Failing private wastewater treatment prompts $10.8M Donegal Township sewage project
Failing private sewage systems have led to excess levels of ammonia and fecal coliform bacteria in Donegal Township’s Minnow Run. To help clean up that stream, whose waters ultimately wind up in Indian Creek and the Youghiogheny River, the township is preparing to construct its first-ever public sewage system. Tom...
Longtime physical therapy business in Scottdale sold to regional group
George Hoffman can only speculate about how a new ownership group will run his former business, Scottdale Rehabilitation. But he’s pretty sure about one thing — they won’t be making deals with patients where payment comes in the form of a pie or cake. “My wife used to make fun...
Massachusetts man accused of impersonating a police officer in Hempfield during alleged fraud scheme
A man who state troopers said portrayed himself as a Pittsburgh police officer on a Hempfield doorstep Friday morning is behind bars. State police said they were called to a home on Crows Nest Road just before 10 a.m. by a resident who reported a suspicious person knocking on her...
Oakmont Council welcomes first youth representative
Rocco Brown is a busy kid. The 16-year-old Riverview junior is president of the school’s prom committee, president of French club, treasurer for student council, treasurer for his school’s key club, a member of the inclusive leaders club and a member of the National Honor Society. He recently added Oakmont...
Freeze-thaw cycle wreaks havoc on road surfaces
Greensburg Public Works Director Tom Bell took a good bit of verbal abuse this week about a road he’s not even responsible for maintaining. “Next time, leave your phone number, and I can explain to you why and who maintains that roadway and takes care of those potholes,” Bell wrote...
Relic of ‘God’s Influencer’ visits Saint Joseph High School in Harrison
Carlo Acutis was much like the typical teen boys of today: He was a fan of soccer and spent a lot of time on his computer. He also was deeply religious and, in April, is expected to be the first person from the millennial generation to be canonized as a...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s chief of staff resigns
Jake Wheatley, chief of staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, has resigned, the mayor’s office said Saturday. A statement sent to the media Saturday evening did not list a reason for the departure. Wheatley’s resignation was effective Jan. 29. “Jake has made extremely important contributions to my administration and the...
WVU scraps Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Division office
West Virginia University in Morgantown has scrapped its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Division and is replacing it with a new initiative, keeping in line with the state’s governor who declared an end to DEI offices. State-owned WVU said the move was in compliance with Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order prohibiting...
Taco Bell manager who killed employee testifies he feared victim
Zairyre Simmons was abused as a child and grew up in the foster care system. He watched a person get shot while playing basketball at a Homewood playground and later lost his best friend and older brother to violence. All of those circumstances — along with a 2018 incident when...
Experts warn Trump tariffs could depress U.S. economy
Bill Mohler can see hard times coming. Co-owner of Sendell Volkswagen, east of Greensburg, Mohler said President Trump’s expected 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada will have a dramatic impact on his business. “It will mean the price of cars and parts could go up 25%,” Mohler said...
Monroeville Mall sold for $34 million; buyer not disclosed but store employees, shoppers hopeful
The Monroeville Mall and its annex have been sold for $34 million in cash, the mall owner said Friday. CBL Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn., did not disclose the buyer. In a statement, CBL said the sale will allow it to focus its efforts on properties with a higher productivity than...
Lawsuit accuses Allegheny County, McCandless police of civil rights violations in DUI arrestVideo
An Allegheny County Jail corrections officer taunted a handcuffed Hampton man while shocking him with a Taser last year, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit. “That feels good baby,” the lawsuit claims a corrections officer said to plaintiff Brian Estep, 30, who was being processed at the lockup on...
Author of book rejected by Pine-Richland School Board plans to visit district in late February
Randi Pink, an Alabama-based author, said she will visit Northern Tier Library on Feb. 22 after the district’s school board voted not to include her novel, “Angel of Greenwood,” in its ninth grade language arts classes. The novel, a young adult romance set during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, was...
Clubhouse restaurant in Richland getting new owner and new name
The Clubhouse, the beloved longtime restaurant and sports bar in Richland, soon will be under new ownership. While his status as sole owner is new, Mark Baranowski is not new to the Clubhouse. He and Greg Maggio founded the Clubhouse in 1995 after the two had previously established the North...
Federal judge rejects Gilpin man’s claims of harassment by police, prosecutors
A federal judge dismissed a Gilpin man’s claims that local police engaged in a pattern of harassment and humiliation toward him. In March, Dennis Kreashko put forth a series of accusations against Gilpin and the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department, the regionalized successor to the Gilpin Township Police Department. He...
Plum School Board approves architect agreement for summer middle school projects
The Plum School Board has hired an architectural firm for renovation work proposed to be done this summer at the district’s middle school. The district will pay The Hayes Design Group-Architects $170,600 for construction documents and construction administration for select projects at the school. The scope of work consists of...
Trading pin design by Deer Lakes senior Morgan McCloskey among top 3 in state
Deer Lakes senior Morgan McCloskey was tasked with drumming up an advertising design to best represent Pennsylvania, and her first thought was a bright yellow chick. Specifically, she chose a marshmallow confection chick better known as a Peep, manufactured by the Just Born company in Bethlehem. “It’s bright and colorful,...
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio and State Rep. Joe McAndrew sharing office in Penn Hills
Residents of Penn Hills and several surrounding communities can now access state and federal constituent services under one roof. The offices of U.S. Rep Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, and state Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, are sharing a space at 77 Universal Road in Penn Hills. At least one Deluzio...
Northern Regional Police Department secures $236,000 for driving simulator to educate teens
The Northern Regional Police Department, which covers several municipalities in northern Allegheny County, plans to purchase a driving simulator with a recently awarded grant. The simulator, according to Capt. Jeff Jones, will mainly be used as an educational tool to teach about impaired or distracted driving. It will include several...
D.C. plane crash killed ex-Johnstown woman, an IUP grad, and her family
An IUP grad and former Johnstown woman, her husband and two children were among the 67 people killed Wednesday when a plane collided with an Army helicopter approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Donna Smojice Livingston graduated in 1999 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a marketing degree,...
Penn Hills School District students, staff, community honor memory of beloved teacher
The Penn Hills High School gym looked more like a Penn State facility on Jan. 28 as members of the community packed the bleachers to honor a beloved teacher who died in a car crash more than a week before. In honor of 49-year-old Josh Willy’s love for him alma...
School board meeting filled with special guests to honor directors during appreciation month
The Penn Hills School Board meeting Jan. 29 was packed with special guests to celebrate School Board Appreciation Month and honor the district’s directors. Board members were treated to a performance from the elementary school chorus. Students sang songs from the group’s winter concert, including “Seven Feet of Snow” and...
