Friends group donates $15,719 to Bethel Park Public Library
The Friends of the Bethel Park Library is a nonprofit organization that promotes Bethel Park Public Library and raises money to provide resources that the library cannot purchase through its budget. During September, Love Your Library Month in Allegheny County, the Friends donated $15,719, which the Bethel Park library plans...
Raises doled out to Westmoreland retirees as pension fund nears record high
Westmoreland County government retirees will receive a 3.4% cost-of-living raise in 2025. The county’s retirement board on Tuesday approved the increased benefit for the 1,400 former employees who in 2024, for the first time in 13 years, were denied raises. “We’re not supposed to give raises out every year, but...
DA won’t seek death penalty for man charged in Homewood triple homicide
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office on Monday said it would no longer seek the death penalty for a man charged in a Pittsburgh triple killing. Ronald Steave, 32, had been facing the possibility of capital punishment if found guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend Nandi Fitzgerald, 28; her son, Denzel...
Greensburg among police departments targeting drivers along school bus routes
A few problem areas for Greensburg Salem School District buses will be among those targeted Wednesday for enforcement and driver education, said city police Sgt. Reginald Harbarger. Greensburg officers are assigned to follow bus routes and sit at bus stops while paying special attention to the area of East Pittsburgh...
Wanted: Buyer for Pittsburgh Municipal Courts Building with costly maintenance, jail views
Pittsburgh will try to sell the Downtown Municipal Courts Building, described by City Council as a money-sucking facility that will cost more than $1 million to maintain. But whether anyone wants to buy the building, and for how much, remain open questions. Council voted Tuesday to send legislation authorizing the...
McKees Rocks woman gets $1M from Elon Musk PAC
A McKees Rocks woman received $1 million from billionaire Elon Musk’s political action committee — all for signing a petition. Musk, the founder of Tesla and Space X who’s gone all-in on Republican Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, has already committed at least $70 million to help the former president. Now,...
Republican Natalie Mihalek, Democrat Peter Kohnke vie for 40th state House seat
Voters in Pennsylvania’s 40th District, which includes parts of the South Hills in Allegheny and Washington counties, will choose between incumbent Republican Natalie Mihalek and Democrat Peter Kohnke for representation in Harrisburg. Mihalek was first elected in 2019. Kohnke won a write-in nomination for the Democrats. The district covers Bethel...
Sun spells fun for Hampton Halloween parade
For those who picture October weather in Western Pennsylvania as generally cloudy and cold, Mother Nature had other ideas this year. Hampton’s Halloween parade benefited with an ideal day for costumed folks to take a leisurely stroll. The mercury in the thermometer — at least, that’s the way they used...
Republican Gary Lotz takes on Democrat Mandy Steele for 33rd House seat
Republican newcomer Gary Lotz will take on Democrat incumbent Mandy Steele for the state House seat representing the 33rd District, which runs from Aspinwall to Harrison. Both candidates have long made their homes in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Lotz, the vice president of Dick Building Co., lives in Harmar. Steele grew...
Pittsburgh to implement new garbage citation system
Pittsburgh officials will more easily be able to cite people who leave garbage on their property, improperly store trash cans or leave their cans at the curb too long before and after trash pickup. City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that will allow inspectors to issue quality-of-life tickets to...
Police charge homeless man with breaking South Side woman’s back, pelvis in rape attempt
Pittsburgh police on Monday charged a homeless man they say broke a woman’s back and pelvis by shoving her to the ground while trying to rape her two months ago in the city’s South Side neighborhood. William Hercules, 27, pushed the woman, who uses a walker, to the ground around...
Pittsburgh councilman demands answers on police Chief Scirotto’s part-time refereeing gig
A Pittsburgh councilman called Tuesday for public answers about the police chief’s decision to referee NCAA college basketball games while running the 751-member force. Chief Larry Scirotto last week announced he would resume refereeing part time, something he had given up when he was named chief last year. “We need...
2nd annual Trunk or Treat celebrates season at Richland Township Community Park
For those who aren’t all that sure what the first part of “trick or treat” is supposed to mean, the name of an event of increasingly growing popularity makes more sense. Trunk or Treat was launched last year at Richland Township Community Park, and the tradition continued this season with...
14 high school bands will compete at PIMBA 2024 Championships in Monroeville
Marching bands from across the region will compete this weekend in Monroeville at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association’s 2024 championships. For Shawn Harris, director of the Southmoreland High School Scotties Marching Band, it’s a chance to showcase his students’ talent. “A lot of times at halftime, we aren’t always...
Halloween not here yet, but the PPG Plaza Christmas tree is up
Christmas in October? The giant Christmas tree is up and towering over Pittsburgh’s PPG Plaza. For those who were wondering, the 60-foot, 11,939-pound tree is indeed fake. It has 540 pre-lit branches and was installed on Oct. 4 this year, according to Anthony Battistella, marketing manager at JLL property management....
Proposed 2025 Upper Burrell budget holds the line on taxes, hikes fire hydrant fee for nearly all properties
Upper Burrell plans to raise its fire hydrant fee by one hundredth of a mill next year, which will result in an increase of a few dollars for property owners who pay the fee. All but 182 properties in the township pay the hydrant fee, which is charged to properties...
Innamorato defends property tax hike proposal, asks council to suggest cuts
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato on Tuesday defended her proposed property tax increase as necessary to combat the county’s ballooning budget deficit, pay for public safety and infrastructure repairs, and address homelessness. Speaking at a news conference in Downtown Pittsburgh, Innamorato also challenged County Council to work with her on...
Hampton High School music program benefits from nonprofit’s 5K
Feet on the ground meant music to the ears. Since its second year of existence, the nonprofit Hampton Alliance for Educational Excellence has organized a combination 5-kilometer race and 1-mile walk as its main fundraiser. Prior to the start of this year’s 32nd annual event, held Oct. 13, participants and...
Democrat Bill Petulla, Republican Jeremy Shaffer chase open seat in 28th State House District
Democrat Bill Petulla and Republican Jeremy Shaffer are striking moderate messages in the race to represent Pennsylvania’s 28th State House District, a right-leaning band of mostly affluent suburbs along Allegheny County’s northern border. The district includes West Deer, Marshall, Bradford Woods, Pine Township, Richland and Hampton. Both candidates ran unopposed...
Democrat Arvind Venkat, Republican Nathan Wolfe square off for 30th state House seat
Incumbent Democrat Arvind Venkat is being challenged by Republican Nathan Wolfe for a seat in the state’s House of Representatives, covering parts of Allegheny County’s North Hills. The district includes Kilbuck, McCandless and Ohio townships, part of Hampton Township, and Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth and Franklin Park boroughs....
Hempfield approves director position to create innovative programs for students
A week after district officials discussed incorporating a center of innovation into its high school renovation project, the Hempfield Area School Board voted to hire a director for the proposed space. The board unanimously voted Monday evening to create a Director of Innovation, Strategic Programs and Safety position focused on...
Man pleads guilty in New Year’s Eve stabbing death on North Side
A Pittsburgh man Monday pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for fatally stabbing his roommate after a New Year’s Eve drinking session escalated into a fight. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Flaherty sentenced Martin Lopez Hernandez, 33, of East Allegheny, to time already served in the Allegheny County Jail —...
Greater Latrobe replaces water-damaged gym floor in time for volleyball Senior Night
Greater Latrobe School District has completed replacement of its water-damaged senior high school gym floor about a month earlier than expected. The floor was damaged on a Sunday night in late June when water overflowed from the school’s nearby swimming pool, running under connecting doors and into the gym. Superintendent...
Roundup: 3 stabbed in Mellon Park; Car crashes into New Kensington Denny’s
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Oct. 22: 3 people stabbed in Mellon Park Two men are in critical condition after being stabbed in the chest near Pittsburgh’s Mellon Park playground, authorities said. Police were called at about 12:45 a.m. to the park along...
Police investigating death of 2-year-old in Fayette County
The death of a two-year-old girl in Fayette County has been labeled suspicious by Coroner Bob Baker, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. The victim was identified as Margaret Nunn. Police were called at about noon Monday to the Village of Searights apartments in Menallen Township for a medical emergency....
