Western PA Local News category, Page 524
Democratic Westmoreland commissioner: GOP-spurred double-voting probe a waste of time
An investigation by Westmoreland County detectives into possible voter fraud prompted by a Republican state representative finding duplicate names in voting rolls in Westmoreland is a waste of time, the county’s Democratic commissioner said Friday. Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, initiated the probe by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. “You...
Lawyers argue whether Pittsburgh triple homicide defendant’s intellect should bar death penalty
A judge Friday delayed jury selection in a triple homicide case in Pittsburgh that was supposed to start after the weekend as lawyers continued to fight over whether the defendant ought to face the death penalty. Prosecutors are seeking capital punishment for Ronald Steave, 32, whose alleged victims include a...
2 longtime Westmoreland food businesses change hands
Hempfield high school sweethearts Halie Altman and Cole Rendulic have always wanted to open a business together. When the owner of Angelo’s Cucina and Catering in Hempfield stepped down, the couple of nearly a decade knew their opportunity had come. Like Altman and Rendulic, Irwin resident Shakib Ahmady also is...
No time to wait! Once-in-a-lifetime comet still visible in Western Pa.
If you look up at the night sky, you might be able to catch a glimpse of a rare, ancient comet — as long as you’re looking in the right spot. The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet, which has been visible to the naked eye this week in Western Pennsylvania, will once again...
Aldi to offer cheapest Thanksgiving basket in 5 years
Increased prices can mean increased stress when it comes to planning holiday meals — especially at Thanksgiving. Shoppers at Aldi can expect some relief as they prep for the big feast, according to the discount supermarket chain. Aldi will offer its lowest-priced Thanksgiving basket in five years during this coming...
Tapped from pandemic struggles, Buffalo Township brewpub Cellar Works to close
It’s almost last call at Cellar Works Brewing Co. in Buffalo Township. After more than seven years of business, the craft brewery will close Oct. 26. Members of the Cellar Society, an annual subscription that comes with discounts, presale priority on beer and more, are invited to a final party...
Charles ‘Teenie’ Harris Archive gallery gets permanent space at Carnegie Museum of Art
Charles “Teenie” Harris photographed a young Roger Humphries, at age 4, in black and white, sitting behind a miniature drum set with two drumsticks in his hands, playing in a classroom. Humphries was tagging along with his older brothers before he was of age to attend school and sat in...
Police: Wilkins man was driving nearly 90 mph before fatal North Versailles crash
A Wilkins man charged with homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter turned himself in at Pittsburgh Municipal Court on Friday, according to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office. Aaron J. Butler, 20, of Wilkins was driving in North Versailles on April 7 when police said he struck another vehicle. The other...
Honored alums return to Plum High School to inspire today’s students
The five graduates to join the ranks of Plum School District’s distinguished alumni this year include average students who became remarkable people. “I was a solid ‘C’ student when I went to high school,” said Jeffrey Schmeck, 66, a 1976 Plum graduate who has lived in San Antonio for 38...
Sewickley Township man accused of dousing neighbor, houses and vehicles with flammable liquid
A Sewickley Township man ordered last month to be released from jail to inpatient treatment in connection with an incident involving his neighbor was arrested Thursday night after state police said he lit a fire outside of a home in his neighborhood, according to court papers. Kurtis C. Baker, 33,...
Youngest Delmont Visionary Committee member, 9, builds community sled bin
Roscoe List loves sledding. And he loves helping people. For those who know the 9-year-old Delmont resident, it will then come as little surprise that List opted to combine those two things and recruit his parents to help build a bin he plans to fill with sleds and install in...
Citizens Bank in New Kensington Giant Eagle slated to go virtual
Citizens will replace its bank branch inside the New Kensington Giant Eagle with a virtual assistant in January. The “interactive teller machine” includes two-way video communication, said Mark Rendulic, Pittsburgh market president for Rhode Island-based Citizens. With it, customers can do about 90% of what they would do in a...
Chartiers Valley Middle School hires new assistant principal
Chartiers Valley Middle School has a new assistant principal. Regina Kim, 38, of Bethel Park, was hired by the school board Oct. 8. Kim has worked in Pittsburgh Public Schools for 16 years, where she taught English Language Arts, middle school mathematics and social studies at Pittsburgh Sunnyside. She also...
New Stanton resident collects winter clothing, essential items for community members in need
Three years after launching a winter clothing drive for New Stanton area residents, Linda Hauger’s goal remains the same — keep at least one family warm through the chilly months. Hauger’s first drive collected about 50 gently used and new coats and an assortment of hats, mittens, gloves and sweatshirts....
Slide stabilization, retaining wall slated for Bluff Street Extension in Bridgeville
Bridgeville is eyeing a fix to a borough road damaged by a landslide this spring. Council on Oct. 14 authorized the public bid of a slope stabilization and retaining wall improvements project on Bluff Street Extension. A tentative bid opening is scheduled for Nov. 6. Borough Manager Joe Kauer said...
Purple Tour pumps up music, Pitt students, during early voting at Soldiers & Sailors
Music was bumping outside Pittsburgh’s Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum on Fifth Avenue Wednesday as part of a dance party encouraging people to vote early in the presidential election. Dubbed Party to the Polls, the event was part of a 40-stop nonpartisan Purple Tour across the country encouraging...
Murrysville trail camera catches rare, unique piebald buck
The wildlife trail cameras set up by Bill Powers of Murrysville keep catching some of the area’s more elusive creatures. On Thursday, one of his PixCams cameras recorded a brief shot of a piebald white-tailed buck moving through the woods. Powers prefers not to identify the locations of his cameras....
Westmoreland happenings: Trunk-or-treat, chicken and biscuit dinner, meetings, more
Fundraisers • Harrison City Area Woman’s Club will sponsor a craft show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26 in Colton Hall, 3100 Block Road, Claridge. There will be a food truck, basket raffle, lottery basket and 50-50. • A chicken and biscuit dinner to benefit Mon Valley Paws...
Questions arise over whether Elon Musk town halls violate election law
Billionaire Elon Musk is planning to hold a town hall soon in Pittsburgh — one of several scheduled in swing state Pennsylvania — to boost former President Donald Trump’s chances of returning to the White House. But some, including writers for Slate, Popular Information and the New Republic, have raised...
Alle-Kiski towns to upgrade water, sewer facilities thanks to state funding
Low-interest loans from the state will pay for repairs to deteriorating sewage and water facilities in Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Allegheny Township. The Municipal Authority of Lower Burrell was awarded $9.55 million through PennVEST funding for the Chartiers Pump Station Project, state officials announced this week. The loan fully...
Fire company in Shaler marks 115th anniversary with renovation, new pumper
Shaler’s Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company has more reason to celebrate its 115th anniversary than merely a number. This year, the company finally received a new pumper truck that was ordered back in 2021. And thanks to a home-improvement corporation’s generosity, Undercliff’s building on Mt. Royal Boulevard is undergoing its first...
Immigration, AI: Seton Hill professor uses digital technology to craft exhibit featuring immigrant characters
At first glance, observers would have no idea the cartoon-like figures hanging in Seton Hill’s Jodee Harris Gallery are tied to discussions of immigration and the use of digital technology in art. To artist Josias Figueirido, that is precisely the point. Figueirido, a new assistant art professor at the university,...
Greensburg priests, bishop pair food, fundraising in annual charity dinner
Five clergymen in the Diocese of Greensburg traded their vestments for aprons and chefs hats this month, cooking dishes for a fundraising dinner next week. Prayer and Perfect Pairings will gather hundreds of parishioners across the three-county diocese to enjoy a five-course dinner, each paired with wine, at the Christ...
Lawsuit: Greensburg woman sickened when overhead sewage pipe burst at Live Casino Pittsburgh
A Greensburg woman was playing slots at Live Casino Pittsburgh when an overhead pipe burst, covering her with raw sewage, according to a lawsuit filed this week in Westmoreland County Court. Rita Romagnoli contracted bacterial pneumonia and was a hospital patient for 15 days, the suit states. She and husband...
Sheetz to demolish, rebuild Route 30 store in North Huntingdon
The Sheetz along the westbound lanes of Route 30 in North Huntingdon will be demolished next summer and replaced with a new site including drive-through, the convenience store chain said. The North Huntingdon commissioners Wednesday approved the permit for the demolition of the store and the site plan for a...
