County leaders say furloughs, service cuts won’t disappear because of state budget deal
County officials are relieved that state money will begin flowing again but they aren’t out of the woods just yet. Despite a new state budget being signed Wednesday, austerity measures in most counties are expected to continue, including employee furloughs that, in some cases, could last through the end of...
Former Greensburg Community Development Corp. leaders reflect on 50 years supporting city
As Greensburg Community Development Corp. celebrates its 50th anniversary, former board president Scott Brown cannot help but reflect on how the nonprofit’s challenges and scope have changed. When the development corporation formed in 1975, its purpose was to maintain the city’s business scene amid the success of Greengate and Westmoreland...
Leafier look ahead for Rodi Road as Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission wraps up goal for corridor
Cold weather did not deter more than 25 volunteers — including Penn Hills acting police Chief Jason Bonace and his wife, Michele — from joining the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission in planting 15 additional trees Nov. 8 along Rodi Road. “We have a granddaughter that’s due in a month,”...
Irwin OKs $148K in changes for building project
Irwin council this week approved another round of unanticipated costs for converting a former storefront in a century-old building into modern municipal offices, resulting in a project delay of about four months. On Wednesday, the council approved approximately $148,000 in additional spending to convert the former appliance store into accessible...
Reading is Fundamental for Fox Chapel Area volunteers; group impacts childhood literacy
Story-tellers are success-builders, according to a group of Fox Chapel Area residents helping to battle the country’s literary crisis. Through the simple task of turning pages in a book, the volunteers are helping to build successful foundations for children. “We are igniting passions,” said Kyle Fahsel, director of mentoring at...
Northland Public Library’s executive director retiring; search on for replacement
The grand opening of the newly renovated Northland Public Library may be a bittersweet moment for its executive director, Amy Steele, who is set to retire Feb. 12. Steele has worked at Northland for 24 years, the past 12 as its executive director. “While we aren’t quite done yet, the...
Former Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt charged with selling cocaine, stealing rifle from police evidence room
Former Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt is accused of selling cocaine in Armstrong County and previously stealing an assault-style rifle from the Arnold Police Department evidence room, according to charges filed by the state Attorney General’s Office. Doutt, 56, of Arnold, a former Arnold police chief and New Kensington-Arnold School...
Fire scorches vacant Verona home that was being renovated
Fire crews rushed to the scene of a blaze at an unoccupied home on Peter Street in Verona on Thursday afternoon. The fire, which began just after 4 p.m., seems to have ignited in a bathroom, according to Verona Volunteer Fire Company Capt. Andy Tihey. Though renovations had been ongoing...
‘I felt it was either him or me,’ defendant testifies in Banksville Road shooting death
Connor Makstutis felt like he was being hunted. For months, he told a jury on Thursday, Richard Derkach had been following him, threatening him — even chasing him. It became so bad, Makstutis said, that the day after Thanksgiving in 2022 — when Derkach chased him through Brookline at speeds...
‘Pain,’ ‘change’ to be expected as Pine-Richland School District tackles $4.9 million deficit
The Pine-Richland School Board will be diving into building the district’s 2026-27 budget after finishing a series of four meetings dedicated to examining the district’s finances as it confronts a $4.9 million deficit. A combination of spending cuts and revenue increases, including an administratively recommended property tax increase, are expected...
Eat’n Park on southbound McKnight Road closing
Ross’ days as a two-Eat’n Park town are numbered. On Dec. 1, the Homestead-based chain will close its restaurant along southbound McKnight Road after 46 years of business, company spokeswoman Courtney Koch told TribLive. Another Eat’n Park, on the northbound side of McKnight Road just half a mile away, is...
Victim identified in fatal Brighton Heights blaze
Authorities Thursday identified the victim of a weekend house fire on Pittsburgh’s North Side as Mark A. Jeselnick, 64. Firefighters were dispatched around 5 a.m. Saturday to a home in the 300 block of Parviss Street in the city’s Brighton Heights neighborhood. When they arrived, they found the home engulfed...
5 takeaways about Pittsburgh police chief nominee Jason Lando
Jason Lando, 48, was introduced Thursday as Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor’s pick for police chief. Lando spent more than two decades with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police before taking over the significantly smaller police force pf Frederick, Md. O’Connor campaigned on a pledge to find a permanent police chief who...
Pittsburgh airport sees flight disruptions abating in time for new terminal opening
Pittsburgh International Airport officials expect flight cancellations and delays caused by the government shutdown, which ended Wednesday, to taper off in time for the new terminal’s opening Tuesday. Flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration at 40 airports — not including Pittsburgh’s — remain in place and have had...
2 arrested after massage parlor raids in Westmoreland
Greensburg and state police raided four massage parlors Thursday and arrested two women on prostitution charges. The two police agencies teamed up on the investigations at Mu’s Asian Massage locations in Hempfield and Unity and Ruiquan Foot Spa and Li’s Massage on Main in Greensburg. Trooper Steve Limani said state...
In brief: Happenings across the North Hills Journal area
North Hills kicking off holiday season The North Hills School District will host its annual Hilltop Holiday Town and A Night Around the World from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21. Lighted and decorated displays from parent and community groups, sports teams and clubs will be outside on the hilltop...
Northland Public Library secures bump in funding for staffing costs; renovation nears completion
Municipalities in the North Hills are agreeing to a slight increase in funding for Northland Public Library’s 2026 budget, which will help keep staff pay competitive and cover rising health care costs. The library’s 2026 $3.5 million budget reflects an overall 5.7% increase. “This budget will help us to continue...
Reverse Trick-or-Treat brings young, old together
Halloween is for everyone as one recent event showcased. Chrildren at the Vincentian Child Discovery Center in McCandless kicked off their Halloween celebrations early with a Reverse Trick-or-Treat party Oct. 24. Instead of collecting candy themselves, the preschoolers handed out treats such as lottery tickets and decks of cards to...
2 arrested after North Huntingdon vape shop raid
Two men are behind bars after police raided a North Huntingdon vape shop Wednesday and seized numerous items authorities said were illegal, according to court papers. Al Merdaie Mohamed, 41, of Irwin, and El Hacen Mohamed Najem, 27, of Brooklyn, N.Y., were charged with drug offenses after an undercover officer...
$5 million gift to Slippery Rock, largest in university history, names business school
A $5 million gift to Slippery Rock University — the largest in its 136-year-history — will fund scholarships, faculty research and add opportunities in Slippery Rock’s business program, officials say. Slippery Rock officials announced Thursday the university had received the donation from Rhonda and Elliott Haverlack, of Estero, Fla. Elliott...
Murrysville area: Delmont police food drive, Salvation Army bell ringers, holiday events, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Delmont police host food drive The Delmont Police Department will host a Nov. 23 food drive for the Westmoreland Food Bank. It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Delmont Borough Garage, 30 Bierer St. Only nonperishable food items...
Federal workers in Western Pa. cheer shutdown end but remain uneasy
Elizabeth McPeak on Thursday was glad to be driving to work for the first time since she was furloughed in early October, one of hundreds of thousands of federal workers shut out of their offices during a lengthy government shutdown. McPeak is vice president of Chapter 34 of the National...
Plum searches for 4 new patrol officers
Plum Police say they soon plan to hire four new patrol officers. Department spokesman Det. Joe Little said the department is hiring in anticipation of retirements to bring the force up to its “typical compliment of officers.” The borough’s website states the department has 29 officers, including the chief and...
Food drive to support Harrison’s 1st Ward residents
Harrison Commissioner Justin Johnson has organized a food drive for 1st Ward residents to help neighbors in need. Though federal and state budgets were approved this week and SNAP benefits are expected to be restored, Johnson said “people in need are still going to be in a deficit. They have...
Garbage pick-up day changed in Freeport
Garbage pick-up day for most residents of Freeport has been moved up a day. Pick-ups normally scheduled for Friday will now take place on Thursdays, according to borough Manager Tina Ferringer. For residents of Laneville and Franklin, Washington and Buffalo streets, garbage day will remain on Tuesday....
