Western PA Local News category, Page 44
Lower Burrell man to seek insanity defense in fatal shooting of Mogie’s Irish Pub tavern owner
A Lower Burrell man accused of killing a popular tavern owner plans to use an insanity defense at his murder trial. Nathan Salem, 47, is scheduled for trial in Westmoreland County court in June for the Dec. 21, 2023, fatal shooting of David “Mogie” Magill. Prosecutors say Magill, 64, was...
Acme pair charged with murder after toddler dies of methamphetamine overdose
Two Acme residents are facing third-degree murder charges after a 15-month-old child died from a methamphetamine overdose in a home investigators found was freezing and filled with waste. Michael Blasser, 34, and Ashley Makarsky, 31, were arraigned Monday on charges of murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment. The charges stem...
Intoxicated truck driver accused of assaulting state trooper in South Huntingdon
A New York City man whose commercial truck became disabled Monday in South Huntingdon is accused of spitting on a state trooper and calling him a racial slur, according to court papers. Troopers said Enayet Hossain, 47, of the Richmond Hill section in Queens, is subject to removal from the...
Kotecki Dog Park closed as safety precaution
High winds over the weekend caused a pole at the Kotecki Dog Park in Lower Burrell to lean far enough that officials decided to close the park Monday and Tuesday out of “an abundance of caution.” Mayor Chris Fabry said it doesn’t look like the pole will fall, but the...
College of 2nd chances: Professor who has taught at CCAC since it opened reflects on 60-year tenureVideo
Microbiology professor Francis Maxin has taught at Community College of Allegheny County since it opened its doors 60 years ago. He has no plans to retire anytime soon. “How can I retire? The college can’t afford my retirement present,” Maxin joked. “I want a BMW with a heated steering wheel.”...
UPMC warns embattled data exchange Health Gorilla may have improperly pulled patient records
UPMC says its medical records may have been improperly accessed by Health Gorilla, a patient data gatekeeper accused in federal court of mismanaging sensitive information. Health Gorilla requested data “under the pretext of providing treatment to shared UPMC patients and claimed it had permission to do so,” according to a...
Allegheny YMCA reopens on North Side after $26M renovation
Crowds were eager to get a glimpse of the newly renovated Allegheny YMCA on Pittsburgh’s North Side on Monday. The historic 1926 facility at 600 W. North Ave. opened to excited patrons before dawn, following a $26 million, yearlong renovation. “It’s gorgeous,” said Linda Scott, membership services coordinator. “We’re getting...
Sale of long-vacant property in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood section expected to create jobs
The sale of a 25-acre property in Pittsburgh’s West End — dormant for nearly 15 years — is expected to boost local tax revenue and spur economic redevelopment in the city’s Fairywood section. The property, which includes a 150,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility, was sold for nearly $26 million to...
Penn State police crack down on e-scooter use
Penn State police will be cracking down on students’ e-scooter use following spring break. In a Facebook post before spring break, Penn State University Police and public safety asked those who currently use an e-scooter on campus to “please take it and leave it at home when you return.” “Police...
Allegheny County sets dates for mail-in voting and certifies Feb. 24 special election
While certifying the results of Feb. 24’s special election in the South Hills, the Allegheny County Board of Elections approved plans for the upcoming midterms. Voters can expect much the same process that has been followed in recent years. This includes the option to request a mail-in ballot and return...
Verona shooting was targeted, police say
A shooting Sunday night in Verona was not a random act of violence, according to borough police Chief Thomas Dessell. “This was targeted,” Dessell said. As of Monday morning, police had not identified a suspect, he said. First responders were called around 10:20 p.m. to the 500 block of Vogels...
Freeport Area School District eyeing options as budget deficit looms
Freeport Area School District officials are looking at a possible $180,000 deficit as the June 30 budget deadline approaches. That is the message Brad Walker, district business manager, recently delivered to the school board. “That is based on no new local revenue to our funds,” Walker said. The district has...
Latrobe Poetry Neighborhood celebrates the art form in April
During the entire month of April, downtown Latrobe will once again be bursting at the seams with poetry. As part of National Poetry Month, Latrobe resident Bobbie Hineline and Saint Vincent College professor Jeannine Pitas organized Latrobe Poetry Neighborhood last year, putting together poetry readings, workshops and other events, and...
Heinz Endowments to help fund Pittsburgh’s controversial 25-year master plan
A controversial master plan meant to guide Pittsburgh’s zoning policies through 2050 will get funding from a local foundation, saving taxpayers from footing the entire bill. Mayor Corey O’Connor on Monday announced The Heinz Endowments, partnering with The Pittsburgh Foundation, will provide $750,000 for the multimillion-dollar project. “It’s important that...
Ministry in motion: Penn Hills church helps others through clothing outreach, handmade goods
Mt. Hope Community Presbyterian Church in Penn Hills has more than just worship services going on under its roof. Downstairs, Wendy Redington leads a team of 11 faithful volunteers to stock the Clothesline Ministry. And on Thursday mornings, members of the Hearts and Hands Ministry are busy making a variety...
Canonsburg’s Coen Markets eyes sale to U.K.-based convenience store giant
Canonsburg-based Coen Markets could soon be part of a convenience store empire. Coen’s 50-plus stores in and around Southwestern Pennsylvania are being acquired by United Kingdom- based EG Group, the companies announced Thursday. EG Group owns more than 1,500 U.S. convenience stores across 10 brands, including Turkey Hill, Minit Mart and...
New hospitality group cooking up more dining, entertainment for Downtown Pittsburgh
There’s a new hospitality group ready to ramp up the Downtown Pittsburgh dining and entertainment scene this year — and beyond. The news of Legacy Hospitality Group was announced on Monday. It’s the newest business collaboration from the hospitality team of professionals behind restaurants Ritual House, Palm Palm, Shorty’s and...
Parking temporarily prohibited on East 10th Avenue in Tarentum
Parking is prohibited along East 10th Avenue in Tarentum on Monday. A. Liberoni, Inc. will be working on manholes along the stretch, from Ross Street to Prospect Cemetery. It comes on the heels of PennDOT issuing emergency repairs Saturday for the pothole-riddled, state-owned road. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said last...
Jeannette parks to receive interactive signs encouraging activity
Interactive signs are expected to be installed at Jeannette parks under a Leadership Westmoreland project. Each sign will have a different activity for children that encourages them to learn about the environment around them and exercise their imaginations, said Kelli Gardner, Westmoreland County Community College director of development. City council...
Freeport Area School District prepares to shift admin roles
Freeport Area School District is preparing to shift administrators in anticipation of a planned retirement. Larry Robb, who has served as Freeport Area’s program director since 2010, will retire effective June 30, according to school board President Gary Risch Jr. To fill the vacancy, the school board promoted Timothy Walters,...
Bridgeville mulls off-street rules for large equipment
Bridgeville officials are considering rules to prohibit on-street parking and storage of large equipment. Council is considering a proposal that would prohibit on-street parking and storage of cargo trailers, boats, box trailers and storage containers, said Manager Joe Kauer. The rules, as drafted, would still allow for short-term parking of...
Coroner asks for public’s help with identifying man found in Youghiogheny River
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker is seeking help identifying a man’s body that was found Sunday evening in the Youghiogheny River near Dawson. Baker said the white man is bald and has an athletic build at 5-feet, 11-inches tall and 182 pounds. He has a tattoo on his right...
Morning Roundup: Verona man shot several times; Butler firefighter injured in weekend windstorms
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, March 14: Verona man shot several times A man was shot several times late Sunday in Verona, according to borough police. First responders were called around 10:20 p.m. to the 500 block of Vogels Lane, where police Chief...
College of 2nd chances: Professor who has taught at CCAC since it opened reflects on 60-year tenureVideo
Microbiology professor Francis Maxin has taught at Community College of Allegheny County since it opened its doors 60 years ago. He has no plans to retire anytime soon. “How can I retire? The college can’t afford my retirement present,” Maxin joked. “I want a BMW with a heated steering wheel.”...
Proposed Trolley Line Trail would connect Irwin, North Huntingdon
A Norwin-based trail group is seeking a feasibility study to transform a former trolley line into a 1.5-mile hiking and biking path connecting Irwin and North Huntingdon. Dan Korhnak, co-founder of the nonprofit Friends of Norwin Trails, told North Huntingdon commissioners that the group will commission an engineering firm to...
