1st class of female students in 136 years set to make their mark on private Kiski School
Lilian Turpen doesn’t feel like she is part of a historic moment. But, as Turpen walked the 350-acre grounds of Kiski School in Saltsburg this month, she became one of the first girls to enroll as a student in the private boarding school’s 136-year history. Turpen, 14, of Clarksburg is...
Greensburg native hopes to bring homegrown tech to wildfire fights
Throughout the day on Thursday, crews were battling wildfires across California that have destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Greensburg native and former city firefighter Larry Sukay, 68, wants to give them some help. And the technology to make it happen started in his hometown. For the...
Coming this fall: Penn State plans to regionalize or share more operations across its branch campuses
Penn State University intends to regionalize or share additional operations across its branch campuses this fall, including services such as advising and student affairs. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and top aides outlined the move Thursday during an update on efforts to ease financial pressures — some caused by sharp...
Pittsburgh police chief explains transfers of motorcycle supervisors in Trump rally security flap
Pittsburgh’s police chief said Thursday that a lieutenant overstepped his authority when he approved at least a dozen members of the city force’s motorcycle unit to provide security at the Butler County rally at which former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto said he...
Trial begins for Tarentum man charged with sexually assaulting child
A trial for a Tarentum man charged with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old opened this week in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, where the alleged victim took the stand Thursday. Brian Jefferies, 27, is charged with aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact, endangering the welfare of children, indecent exposure,...
Local election officials confident mail-in ballots will be delivered on time despite national concerns
Nationwide concerns over the United States Postal Service’s ability to deliver election mail this fall don’t seem to worry local election officials. Abigail Gardner, spokeswoman for Allegheny County, said the county doesn’t have any concerns at the moment. “Allegheny County Elections has a very good relationship with USPS leadership at...
Westmoreland County waives residency requirement for government workers
Westmoreland County commissioners waived for one year a residency requirement Thursday for all government employees, and officials suggested the change could become permanent. A policy was enacted decades ago to ensure that employees at the courthouse and other county facilities were county residents. It was previously waived for certain essential...
Skimming device found in checkout lane at New Kensington Golden Dawn
A skimming device was found in a checkout lane at the Golden Dawn grocery store in New Kensington on Wednesday, the store’s owners confirmed Thursday. The store has five checkout lanes. The skimmer was found on register 2, co-owner Gene Tommasi said. They believe the device — which can capture...
Westmoreland County fires purchasing managers after payroll irregularities discovered
Westmoreland County commissioners fired the director and assistant director of the county’s purchasing department Thursday over alleged payroll irregularities. Authorities suspended Purchasing Director Kristopher Cardiff and his deputy, Kristen Coyne, on Aug. 15 after allegations surfaced that they approved — without authorization — additional pay for themselves and the department’s...
Norwin briefs: Library to hold genealogy program; Gig on Main set
Norwin library holds programs Norwin residents have the opportunity to learn about English as a Second Language services and programs in the community during a free presentation at 6 p.m. May 23 at the Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin, Cathy Maloney, the ESL coordinator for Calvary Church in...
Love Your Library at Northern Tier in Richland
September marks the eighth annual Love Your Library campaign, and all donations made to Northern Tier Regional Library during the month will receive a prorated match from the Buncher Foundation. Library events and activities include: • Mamma Mia Disco Party, 3 p.m. Sept. 28. Join the chorus and sing along,...
Rotary club, food bank to host food drive
The Murrysville-Export Rotary and Westmoreland Food Bank will host a food drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 in the parking lot outside Busy Beaver in Salem. All items must be non-perishable. The most requested items are canned tuna, chicken or salmon; canned fruits and vegetables; canned meals...
Monroeville officials agree to purchase convention center
Several details need to be finalized, but Monroeville officials have agreed to buy the Monroeville Convention Center from the development group that originally planned to turn it into a Hobby Lobby. Municipal council members adopted a resolution in August to execute a sales agreement and buy the 100,000 square-foot convention...
Ligonier Township posts emergency closure of bridge near Wilpen
A problem discovered during an inspection prompted an emergency closure Wednesday of the Ramsey Road bridge near the Ligonier Township community of Wilpen. Township manager Michael Strelic said township road crews had been keeping an eye on the decades-old steel grate span across Hannas Run and patched the bridge deck...
Franklin Regional adds weapons detection system to stadium entry points
Franklin Regional school officials will add a weapons detection system to entry points at Panther Stadium for events taking place during the 2024-25 school year. “The only new thing is the addition of the weapons detection system, since we didn’t put that into play at our middle school and high...
Deer Lakes primary school named among ‘America’s Healthiest’
It’s not uncommon to see students at Curtisville Primary School dancing and stretching during class. The youngest students in the Deer Lakes School District have movement breaks, when they are encouraged to shake off “the blahs” and reenergize themselves to learn. Elsewhere in the school on Saxonburg Boulevard, tower gardens...
West Penn Hospital nurses ratify contract with 24% raises
Hundreds of nurses at Pittsburgh’s West Penn Hospital ratified a union contract Wednesday providing significant wage increases and staffing improvements. Nearly 700 nurses at the hospital in the city’s Bloomfield neighborhood voted to accept a three-year contract that will boost wages by an average of 24% and will guarantee at...
Biden jokingly dons Trump hat while meeting with Shanksville families
While meeting with firefighters in Shanksville on Wednesday, President Joe Biden did something quite unthinkable in an election campaign — wear the opposition’s merch. The president was at the fire station near the Flight 93 Memorial, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, while marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,...
Monroeville area: Medicare talk, fall craft festival, Gershwin program, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Jazz program Join Ron Bickel for jazz performances from 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 30 at Monroeville Public Library’s Gallery Space. Bickel will provide commentary and explanation about the jazz tunes and styles played. An adjunct professor of piano at Duquesne University,...
Murrysville area: Art show submissions, FR Athletic Hall of Fame inductions, fall craft festival and more
Art show set for Oct. 25 The Murrysville Woman’s Club art show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 at Redstone Highlands in Murrysville. The show is open to all artists. All work submitted must be original and cannot use molds, kits or copies. This year’s...
Renovations slated at Carnegie Elementary; state money spurs start
A comprehensive renovation is slated for Carnegie Elementary School. Carlynton School District officials recently were awarded a $197,761 grant from the state’s Public School Environmental Repairs Program, to support renovations at Carnegie Elementary. The funding will address removing environmental materials at the school, said Superintendent John Kreider. “This effort is...
Dragon boats coming to North Park for benefit race
A Chinese tradition dating more than 2,000 years old will be on display at the Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival on Sept. 28 at the lake in North Park, off Pearce Mill Road. Dragon boats are colorful 40-foot canoes featuring the head and tail of a dragon. Nearly two dozen teams...
Plum Boy Scout organizes box lunch donation for Light of Life Mission
Braden DiBello, a member of Boy Scout Troop 111 in Plum, recently earned his Eagle Scout rank in part by organizing a team of 40 youth and adult volunteers to assemble nearly 200 box lunches for donation to the Light of Life Mission. DiBello is a 2024 Plum graduate, and...
Buffalo Bill’s House near Perryopolis open for more tours
With Halloween season looming, horror movie buffs have two more opportunities this year to tour Buffalo Bill’s House — the real film site where the cinematic climax of “The Silence of the Lambs” was filmed. The two weekends fans can sign up online for limited guided house tours include September...
Freeport passes short-term rental regulations, but parking concerns remain
If and when Airbnb-type rentals start popping up in Freeport, borough officials say they will be ready. Council unanimously approved an ordinance governing short-term rentals offered by businesses such as Airbnb. The ordinance defines short-term rentals as a dwelling unit or part of one, that is available to rent for...
