Inflation explained: Utility costs driven by war, climate change and regulatory incentives
Pennsylvanians, who live in one of America’s most productive states for natural gas extraction, have seen their utility bills climb despite that ample supply. Experts say the fault lies in the trio of international energy demand, infrastructure investment and the jump in inflation during and after the covid pandemic. “Natural...
World, state reaction to Trump’s ‘stunning political comeback victory’
World leaders early Wednesday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his return to the White House as news outlets called the 2024 presidential race for the Republican and former president. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country is managing a multi-front war in the Middle East, became one of the first...
Sewickley native cruising along in retirement, embraces antique car collection
A Sewickley retiree has been driving the same vehicle for 54 years, and he’s never been happier about it. Rick Brown, 69, was 15 when he found himself with $500 burning a hole in his pocket. “My dad didn’t want me on a motorcycle so I bought the truck,” Brown...
Register for Diwali celebration in Franklin Park
Diwali, a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil, will be celebrated at the Baierl Family YMCA in Franklin Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 10. This free event is hosted by state Rep. Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless. Registration is required at pahouse.com/venkat. Diwali is celebrated in the...
Meeting slated for upcoming trestle bridge demolition in Springdale
Springdale residents on Thursday will get a chance to learn more about an upcoming bridge demolition at the former power plant. The 6 p.m. meeting, held at the borough building, is focused on the demolition of a trestle bridge over Pittsburgh Street, overnight road closures and detours. “The meeting is...
The Stroller, Nov. 6, 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. Food, pet supply drive...
Republican Dave Sunday wins Pennsylvania’s attorney general race
Voters have selected York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, a Republican, to be the state’s next prosecutor, according to a vote-tally early Wednesday from the Associated Press. Sunday, 49, a Republican, emphasized his prosecutorial experience in the campaign against Democrat Eugene DePasquale, a former state representative and two-term auditor general....
Republican incumbent Devlin Robinson retains state Senate seat
Republican Devlin Robinson has staved off Democratic challenger Nicole Ruscitto and retained his seat representing the state’s 37th Senatorial District. According to complete, but unofficial, election results reported by the Allegheny County Elections Division on Election Day, Robinson collected 52.85% of the vote (79,014 votes) to 47.02% for Ruscitto (70,292)....
Markosek wins reelection in 25th District House race
With 100% of precincts reporting, Democrat incumbent Brandon Markosek will retain his seat in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives. Markosek, with just under 60% of the vote, beat Republican challenger John Ritter with 40% of the vote in the 25th District. More than 34,000 votes were cast in the race. Markosek...
Unofficial results: Republican Gaydos set for re-election in the state House 44th District
Republican state Rep. Valerie Gaydos is set to serve a fourth term as representative from Pennsylvania’s 44th House District, unofficial results show. Gaydos and her opponent, Democrat Hadley Haas, both came into the general election out of uncontested primaries. Haas, 53, of Bell Acres, was running a campaign to shore...
High pressure election ends with only minor problems at local polls
Given the backdrop of a fiercely contested presidential race, anxiety over voting integrity and tidal waves of social media misinformation, it could have been a lot worse. Tuesday stacked up to be a busy, but largely uneventful, election day in Western Pennsylvania, a region targeted by Democrat Kamala Harris and...
Democratic incumbent Mandy Steele captures 2nd term in state House
Fox Chapel Democrat Mandy Steele has won second term representing the 33rd state House District in Harrisburg. Steele, 47, collected 55.65% of the vote to Republican challenger Gary Lotz’s 44.18%, according to unofficial tallies that show 100% of precincts reported in the district. The 33rd District includes Harrison, Brackenridge, Fawn,...
Incumbent Jill Cooper retains seat in Westmoreland state House race
With 100% of precincts reporting, incumbent Republican Jill Cooper will retain her seat in the state House. With more than 38,000 votes cast, Cooper beat out Democratic challenger Davon Magwood, 67% to 32%, in the 55th District race in northern Westmoreland County. “I’m grateful for the trust that people have...
Incumbent Leslie Rossi retains seat in Westmoreland state House race
Garnering nearly 70% of the vote, Republican state Rep. Leslie Rossi will keep her seat representing Pennsylvania’s 59th District, according to unofficial election results. With all of the district’s precincts reporting, Rossi, a Unity Republican who has served in the state House since May 2021, collected 69.68% of the votes...
Reschenthaler heads to landslide win to retain U.S. House seat
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler is expected to win a fourth term in Congress as vote totals continued to be tallied Tuesday night. According to unofficial results from the district’s five counties, as of 10 p.m., Reschenthaler had received 64% of the vote with Democratic challenger Chris Dziados receiving...
Republicans sweep races for Pennsylvania row offices
Republican candidates, including two incumbents, swept all three of Pennsylvania’s row offices. Attorney General In the race for attorney general, the Associated Press has called the race for York County’s Dave Sunday. Sunday has amassed 51.08% of the votes counted as of 10 a.m., compared to 45.95% for Pittsburgh native...
Westmoreland mail-in vote numbers down from 2020
There were fewer people voting by mail this year in Westmoreland County, compared to the last presidential election. Westmoreland elections bureau Director Greg McCloskey said more than 55,100 mail-in packets were received from voters as of 8 p.m. Tuesday. There were about 59,500 mail-ins in 2020. Still, McCloskey said, because...
Summer Lee apparent winner in 12th Congressional District race
Summer Lee appears to be on her way to a second term in Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 12th District. The Associated Press declared the incumbent Democrat the winner shortly after polls closed. In the unofficial results as of 11 p.m., Lee topped Republican challenger James Hayes with 51% of the vote...
Deluzio defeats Mercuri in 17th District race
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio defeated challenger Rob Mercuri, a Republican state representative, in a key congressional district that could be crucial to determining which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. The Associated Press called the race in Deluzio’s favor shortly before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Deluzio received more than...
Court: Fayette judge of elections can’t conduct hand count at polling site
Fayette County sheriff’s deputies will be on call in Fayette County to escort election officials responsible for taking ballots to the courthouse in Uniontown after polls close tonight. Common Pleas Court Judge Linda Cordaro issued a court order requiring Washington Township judge of elections Vincent Manetta to follow state law...
Prosecutors say Rostraver woman was ‘killed because she was driving too slow’ as trial opens
Holly Vadella insisted on going to her Rostraver home after ringing in 2022 with her mother. The pair spent New Year’s Eve together, along with their dogs, at Dolores Coulson’s Fayette County home. Coulson testified in Westmoreland County court Tuesday she repeatedly asked her daughter to spend the night instead...
Greensburg property owners might see 3.3% tax hike in 2025
Property owners in Greensburg might see a 3.3% real estate tax increase next year. City council is set for an initial vote next week on a proposed $13 million budget that carries a 0.9-mill property tax increase. Councilman Randy Finfrock said the increase would amount to $20 more annually for...
Etna Center for Community project receives $2 million in grants
First came the announcement of a $500,000 grant. A couple of weeks later, another award was for triple that amount. All of which means that money available toward fulfilling the vision of the Etna Center for Community stands at just under $6 million. “That allows us to do the project...
Allegheny County judge orders removal of signs with false information at polling places
An Allegheny County judge on Tuesday afternoon ordered that signs outside of polling places in the state 44th legislative district targeting a Democratic candidate be removed, finding that they contain false information. “I’m going to order that the sign be removed or modified,” said Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John...
Taxes would jump 11.4% under proposed Mt. Pleasant budget
Mt. Pleasant council is proposing an 11.4% property tax hike but still will need to draw money from the borough’s reserve fund to help support a tentative 2025 budget of about $1.5 million. With the 2 mill hike, to 19.5 mills, the borough would plan to draw almost $9,500 from...
