Allegheny County sheriff’s race pits incumbent Kevin Kraus against challenger Brian Weismantle
Both candidates vying to be Allegheny County sheriff agree: the Nov. 4 election will be a referendum on incumbent Kevin Kraus. Kraus, a Democrat and retired Pittsburgh police officer, is seeking reelection to a second term. He touts his management experience in overseeing the $24 million, 177-deputy office as a...
Where do Pittsburgh’s mayoral candidates stand on key issues?
Voters on Tuesday will choose either Democrat Corey O’Connor, the Allegheny County controller, or Republican Tony Moreno, a former Pittsburgh police officer, as Pittsburgh’s next mayor. O’Connor, 41, of Point Breeze, is a former city councilman and son of the late Mayor Bob O’Connor. He defeated incumbent Mayor Ed Gainey...
2 people in critical condition after shooting in McKeesport bar
A man and a woman were shot in a McKeesport bar Thursday night and remain in critical condition, according to Allegheny County Police. Both victims were shot shortly after 9:30 p.m. inside the Beer Barrel on Fifth Avenue. Police said the man was listed in critical condition, while the woman...
Pittsburgh man arrested with $300K in luxury watches was wanted for playground shooting
A fugitive wanted for a September shooting at a Pittsburgh playground was arrested more than 200 miles away — with $300,000 worth of counterfeit watches in a rental car’s trunk, authorities said. A Pennsylvania State Police trooper said he arrested Kaheem Sturdivant, 24, of Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood around 2:30...
Pittsburgh homicide suspect arrested in New Kensington
A man accused of an August homicide in Pittsburgh was arrested Wednesday in New Kensington’s Parnassus neighborhood. Terrance George, 36, of Pittsburgh, is charged with criminal homicide, illegal possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license in connection to an Aug. 26 homicide in Pittsburgh’s East Hills...
Budget reviews under way in Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, McCandless, Marshall
Municipalities in the North Allegheny are in the middle of holding budget reviews and public hearings, giving residents a chance to provide feedback and learn more about where their tax dollars are heading next year. Attending a budget hearing can be extremely beneficial, according to Zachary Filous, Franklin Park’s borough...
Westmoreland commissioners pass resolution to condemn political violence
Westmoreland County commissioners unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution Thursday to condemn political violence, days after the measure appeared unlikely to pass. The vote followed a public plea from Smithton resident Karen Primm, who was injured in an alleged attack by a counter-protester during a recent No Kings rally in front...
Proposal by Pa. Dems would provide $62M to help with SNAP fallout
Pennsylvania Democrats are making a push to help people who are set to lose SNAP benefits on Saturday, but the help won’t come immediately. Members of the state Senate Democratic Caucus introduced legislation this week to use reserve money to provide $50 million to 18 food banks, $10 million to...
‘He’s going to survive this’: Long road lies ahead for Acrisure Stadium fall victim
A friend of Keith Keller, the TV crewman who plunged at least 50 feet from Acrisure Stadium’s main scoreboard last weekend while prepping the Pittsburgh venue for a prime-time Sunday Night Football audience, said the Chicago-area man has a long road — and a lot of medical bills — ahead...
Candidates square off for 2-year seat on Mt. Pleasant Area board
Two candidates with teaching backgrounds are running for a two-year term on the Mt. Pleasant Area School Board. Democrat Kathleen Ceroni, 74, of Mt. Pleasant Borough, and Republican William K. Johnson, 82, of Mt. Pleasant Township, will square off in the Nov. 4 election. Ceroni, a retired Southmoreland High School...
Enrollment drops at Penn State’s closing branch campuses in Western Pennsylvania
While overall enrollment at Penn State’s main campus remains steady, universitywide enrollment this fall decreased by 1.6% over last year, and dropped 5.7% overall at branch campuses. According to Penn State data released this week, 386 students are enrolled at Penn State New Kensington this fall. That’s a 10.6% decrease...
Attorney says Hempfield woman will claim self-defense in husband’s shooting
The attorney for a Hempfield woman accused of fatally shooting her husband said he plans to present a self-defense argument at trial. “We’re going to do everything we can to bring this case to trial as soon as possible so the jury can make a decision,” attorney Tim Andrews said....
Eye implant co-created by Pitt researcher helps the near-blind see again
A retinal implant the size of a strawberry seed co-created by a University of Pittsburgh researcher has helped partially restore vision for older people suffering from macular degeneration. The study was conducted in Europe and co-led by Dr. José-Alain Sahel, chair of Pitt’s ophthalmology department and director of the UPMC...
State police say death of transient man found in Loyalhanna was result of a homicide
State police said Thursday the death of a man whose body was found on state game lands was the result of a homicide. Trooper Steve Limani declined to release details about how Robert Friend, 64, was killed. His body was found Oct. 25 by a hunter on game lands in...
Jury orders Allegheny County to pay $450K to businesswoman handcuffed in parking dispute
A business owner who sued for retaliation and malicious prosecution after she was taken into police custody following a parking dispute in Pittsburgh has won a $450,000 jury verdict against Allegheny County. Marsha Simonds of Upper St. Clair, whose family in 2016 bought a parking lot in the 4700 block...
Penguins offer new details about plunge that critically injured fan at PPG Paints Arena
The Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday broke their silence and provided new details about a man’s 35-foot fall from the upper concourse of the arena during Monday night’s game, leaving him critically injured. The team and Oak View Group, the venue’s managing partner, “can confirm the patron was not using the...
Fire damages Irwin home undergoing renovations
An Irwin house was extensively damaged by fire Thursday afternoon. Multiple firefighters departments responded to the fire at the two-story house at the corner of Sixth and Warden streets. The fire was reported at 1:15 p.m. The owner was not home at the time of the fire, and no injuries...
Pittsburgh nonprofit sends Hurricane Melissa disaster relief supplies
Ozzy Samad, president of Brother’s Brother Foundation, knew Pittsburgh needed to step up to help Jamaica after seeing the size and strength of Hurricane Melissa. Within 72 hours, the North Side-based nonprofit had packed and loaded its first shipment of relief supplies onto trucks for transport. On Monday, Samad reached...
Check out the most popular Halloween candy in each state
With just hours until Halloween, last-minute candy shoppers are stocking up for trick-or-treaters. In Pennsylvania, though, shoppers are likely purchasing Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Reese’s cups are the most popular Halloween candy in the Keystone State, according to DoorDash. The company analyzed customer candy orders made between Oct. 1 and...
Firefighters respond to reports of smoke at Verona Municipal Building
Emergency responders from Verona and Oakmont reported to the Verona municipal building early Thursday morning after receiving reports of smoke in the building. According to interim Verona Manager Jason Dailey, a smoke alarm in the building went off a little before 7 a.m. Responders discovered one of the building’s four...
Private investigator, retired police chief talks shop at Monroeville library
John Hartman, a graduate of Gateway High School, built an extensive career in law enforcement before becoming a licensed private investigator and published author. The career path seemed almost predetermined for Hartman, the son of a Monroeville police officer. He would listen as his father discussed cases at the dinner...
Monroeville library features work of local sports artist
Eric Poole has loved sports and drawing for as long as he can remember, aspiring to be a cartoonist. While earning a writing degree from the University of Pittsburgh, the Ligonier native worked as a cartoonist for the school’s student newspaper, The Pitt News, from 2002 to 2004. Poole started...
Harrison man arrested in FBI raid accused of threatening judge, others through voicemails
A man arrested Tuesday in a raid on a Harrison home by federal authorities is charged with two counts of making interstate threats and accused of leaving multiple menacing voicemails. Federal prosecutors say Thomas Dorn called an unidentified victim earlier this month, threatening to kill them and others — including...
Here are some places in Western Pa. offering food as SNAP benefits end
With federal funding stalled by the government shutdown, Pennsylvania’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are expected to run out this week, leaving many families uncertain about how they’ll put food on the table. About 46,000 people in Westmoreland County and another 160,400 people in Allegheny County rely on SNAP,...
Etna, Reserve to continue talks on regional police force, cite higher cost as a concern
Officials with Etna and Reserve say they need to further explore the possibility of forming a regional police force after a state study found it would cost more to operate than the municipalities’ existing departments. A regional police department with 12 full-time officers would start with an annual budget of...
