Charges pending against Burrell student over threat that forced lockdown
A second juvenile from the Alle-Kiski Valley is expected to be charged in connection with an unfounded threat against a local school district. Lower Burrell police said they plan to file charges against a Burrell School District student who they say made a threat on social media that prompted officials...
Luke Bryan concert expected to bring 18K fans to South Huntingdon farm
Surveying a sleepy South Huntingdon farm field Friday morning, it was almost impossible to believe that in a little more than 24 hours, about 18,000 people will fill it to attend a concert by country music star Luke Bryan. “They’re going to have it all set up in just about...
Police seek other alleged victims of teen charged with sexual crimes in Frick Park
Pittsburgh police are investigating whether a teen charged with sex crimes against two women in Frick Park might have other alleged victims. Police arrested Isaiah Rivers, 19, of Penn Hills on Sunday and charged him with sexually assaulting one woman and exposing himself to another. A search of Rivers’ cell...
Man in custody after stealing items from unlocked vehicles in Oakmont
A 26-year-old man from Homestead is in custody after 10 to 15 cars were entered and burglarized Thursday night in the Oakmont Commons, police said. According to Oakmont police Chief Michael Ford, two people were involved, and police still are looking for the second suspect. He declined to identify the...
Allegheny County calls for dismissal of Pittsburgh Public Schools’ reassessment lawsuit
Facing declining property tax revenue and increasing payouts of tax refunds, Pittsburgh Public Schools this year sued Allegheny County and its chief executive to try to force an overhaul of the property assessment system, which, it alleges, is unconstitutional. But attorneys for the county and Executive Sara Innamorato argued Friday...
Pa. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis stumps in Greensburg, touts Dems’ health care measures
Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Austin Davis touted health care policies pursued by the Biden-Harris administration and Democratic members of Congress during a Friday stop in Greensburg Davis met with local officials and patients at the Westmoreland County Labor Council headquarters at One Northgate Square as patients Diana Steck and Lisa Gephart...
Harrison police bring back DUI checkpoints to ‘protect community’
Harrison police Chief Brian Turack is bringing back DUI checkpoints to target sections of the township that have become “concerning.” “We want to show our community we are invested,” Turack said. His department, along with the Allegheny Valley DUI Enforcement Task Force, conducted a checkpoint Sept. 20 along River Avenue...
Alcoa seeks temporary parking spaces at Upper Burrell site
Alcoa is asking Upper Burrell’s zoning board to make way for temporary parking spaces off White Cloud Road. The zoning hearing board meets next week to consider the proposal. “They need extra parking,” said Supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III. According to Alcoa’s application, the company currently leases parking spaces...
Deacon who subdued North Braddock church gunman to receive Carnegie Hero Fund medal
A deacon who subdued a gunman in a North Braddock church May 5 will receive a Carnegie Medal, North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism. Clarence McCallister, 63, is included in a list of 18 new medal recipients released by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. McCallister, who is a...
Pittsburgh man to serve 15-30 years for shooting North Versailles police officer and K-9
A Pittsburgh man will serve 15 to 30 years behind bars after pleading guilty in the shooting of a North Versailles police officer and K-9 last year. Ian Lamont Fields, 47, received the sentence as part of a plea deal this week in Allegheny County Court, according to online court...
‘Dangerous’ playground equipment removed from Lower Burrell park
Dangerous playground equipment at Lower Burrell’s Braeview Park has been removed. The equipment, deemed dangerous by a certified playground inspector, was taken away by public works crews three weeks ago, said Greg Primm, city manager. “As soon as someone tells us there’s a liability, we need to do something about...
Fire did not impact service from water treatment plant at Beaver Run Reservoir, spokesman says
A fire Thursday evening shut down a pump at a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water treatment plant in Bell Township, but a spokesman said there was no resulting interruption in service to customers. Spokesman Matt Junker said the fire affected a motor that operates a pump supplying treated water...
Authentic, transparent and timely school communication crucial during threats, expert says
Years ago, when there was an emergency at a school, the incident was addressed sequentially. The incident would occur, schools and law enforcement officials could investigate, handle the situation, and then communicate what happened to students’ families. Now, with the internet and social media, much of that has to happen...
The Stroller, Sept. 27, 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. Adventures with Wine dinner...
Battle over proposed Unity solar panel farm continues
A Unity man told a township zoning panel this week he should have the right to use part of his property near the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport for an estimated $10.5 million solar power farm, despite strong opposition from some of his neighbors. “In the final analysis, this is a...
Cider, music and more at annual Delmont Apple’n Arts Festival
If you don’t like stinging insects, Shield’s Farm is not the place to be during the last few days of September. In preparation for the annual Delmont Apple’n Arts Festival in Salem, crates are delivered filled with hundreds of pounds of apples, stacked outside the barn that houses a 117-year-old...
Shapiro launches Board of Higher Education to get colleges, universities to ‘row in the same direction’
Minutes into its inaugural meeting Thursday, the panel now tasked with bringing order to Pennsylvania’s loosely regulated system of colleges and universities received a pointed reminder of what’s at stake. “Our costs are going up and our enrollment is going down. We’re not graduating enough students with the credentials we...
Dormont hit-and-run suspect charged with being in the U.S. illegally for a 2nd time
Federal officials have begun the process to deport a Mexican national charged with a fatal hit-and-run crash Sept. 21 in Dormont. Allegheny County Police charged Saul Rivera-Ramirez on Sunday with homicide by vehicle, accident involving death by an unlicensed driver and driving without a license, after they say he crashed...
Firefighters rescue Herminie man from house fire
Firefighters rescued a Herminie man Thursday afternoon when a kitchen fire created smoke in his residence, a fire official said. The man, who was not identified, was flown by medical helicopter from the Herminie area to an area hospital, said Herminie fire Chief Joe Marincic. The man was in and...
Pa. Supreme Court won’t hear case involving ‘dead body interference’ after all
Six months ago, the state Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from a Verona woman attempting to sue the parents of her son’s killer after she claimed they concealed the murder weapon. The case, based on an unusual interpretation of Pennsylvania’s “Interference with Dead Bodies” tort, was scheduled for...
First Energy, Duquesne Light send manpower south for Hurricane Helene
First Energy is sending 200 of its workers south to help communities recover from Hurricane Helene. Todd Meyers, spokesperson for First Energy, said the 200 would be diverted from utilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland. While the majority of the workers will be line workers, vehicle mechanics...
Judge rules young boy’s statements admissible in grandfather’s assault trial
Statements made by a 3-year-old boy who claimed he was assaulted by his grandfather two years ago in Vandergrift can be used in the court case against the grandfather, a judge ruled Thursday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio rejected a defense bid to end the case against Timothy...
Murrysville home damaged by smoke after fire, chief says
A Murrysville home was heavily damaged by smoke during fire Thursday afternoon, a fire official said. White Valley Fire Chief John Bohinc said no one was injured in the blaze, which was reported just before 1:30 p.m. at a home on Kemerer Hollow Road. Fire companies from Murrysville, Delmont and...
Couple accused of bilking $20K from prospective buyer of Yukon property they were evicted from
Two people are charged with theft and conspiracy after authorities said they took $20,000 from someone who intended to buy their home. But Westmoreland County detectives said the property up for sale was not owned by Timothy Jay King, 38, or Amber Lynn Tarr, 35. In December, Tarr, who also...
Spotted lanternfly greets Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh
Vice President Kamala Harris received an unfriendly greeting from a spotted lanternfly after her plane landed in Pittsburgh this week. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato quickly neutralized the threat. She brushed the bug off of Harris’ pants suit and stomped on it. “I’ve done several tarmac greetings now, and most...
