Road rage or self-defense? Jury weighs claims in killing of off-duty Oakdale cop
Kevin McSwiggen told a jury Thursday that he never intended to shoot the man he claimed cut him off in traffic two years ago. Instead, he testified, he followed Charles “Chuckie” Stipetich to his Blawnox home to talk to him about his driving to help keep others on the road...
Woman sues Kennywood, alleges injuries after Thunderbolt ride
A Homestead woman is suing Kennywood Amusement Park for negligence, claiming a ride on the Thunderbolt roller coaster left her injured. On July 23, 2022, Sabrina Williams and her son visited Kennywood and rode the roller coaster. According to the lawsuit, Williams said she had rode the Thunderbolt several times...
Westmoreland OKs new jobs, more pay for human service staffers
Westmoreland commissioners on Thursday added 32 jobs to the county payroll to expand the fledgling human services department and help ease staffing concerns at Westmoreland Manor. Commissioners also extended the workday for 10 human services administrators in what officials said was a coordinated effort to enhance public outreach and could...
Rivers Casino workers, fearful of gambling on health, rally behind effort to ban smoking
Alicia Monahan blames secondhand smoke for two fainting episodes she experienced while working at Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The table games dealer said she’s otherwise healthy but sometimes feels the effects of the smoke getting to her. Since she started working at the casino in 2019, she collapsed...
Blessed Trinity Academy garden benefits Hampton-based food pantry
Fresh vegetables are lining the shelves of a local St. Vincent De Paul food pantry, thanks to the hard work of students at Blessed Trinity Academy. A nearly $900 grant from the Sister Mary Paul Hickey Research Grant Program through Carlow University in Pittsburgh was awarded for the project in...
New Kensington man accused of murder says he’s the son of Donald Trump, husband of Michelle Obama
A New Kensington man accused of killing his former roommate claimed Donald Trump is his father and Michelle Obama is his wife during a local court appearance Thursday. What Nico Harris said during his appearance before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. will become part of the court record and...
Picklesburgh adds extra day, new events
Leave it to Pittsburgh to continue to make an even bigger big dill out of pickles. The annual pickle-inspired event — Picklesburgh — is produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and presented by Kraft Heinz. This year, there is a new competition and an extra day for the event voted...
Police arrest man linked to Gainey staffer in Downtown Pittsburgh shooting
Pittsburgh police have arrested a city man previously convicted on drug charges in connection with a shooting Downtown earlier this week. Ray Rivera, 58, of East Liberty, shot a man twice in the arm while the victim was in a car near Smithfield Street on Tuesday afternoon following an argument...
Sinkhole forces closure of Greensburg alley
A section of a Greensburg alley was closed Thursday after part of the road started sinking into an old street basement access to a building, according to public works director Tom Bell. Part of John D. Reese Way, between Tunnel Way and Otterman Street, was blocked off and a metal...
‘I’m here to honor him’: Hundreds gather for Corey Comperatore
They came from as far away as Arizona and Brooklyn, N.Y., on Thursday to honor the life of Corey Comperatore, a husband, father and former volunteer fire chief killed by gunfire Saturday at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler County. A steady stream of mourners —...
August filled with community festivals in Delmont, Murrysville and Export
Delmont officials are always looking for additional volunteers to help with the borough’s annual Delmont Daze celebration. This year is no different. The Delmont Daze committee will host its final organizational meeting before the festival at 6 p.m. July 22 at the borough building, 77 Greensburg Street. “We’re very excited...
Murrysville area: Pizza fundraiser, Delmont Daze float workshop and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Pizza party fundraiser The Delmont Public Library will host a pizza fundraiser from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 10. Families will be able to purchase a pizza and two beers for $30. Pizza will be provided by the nearby Fox’s Pizza Den, and the...
Melanie Marie Malloy Boyer champions Hispanic business growth
Melanie Marie Malloy Boyer is a business whisperer, curator of connections and proud Colombian. How does this skillset wrap all into one person? For the executive director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a multi-hyphenate — someone who has multiple skillsets and professions — it comes...
Youngwood town hall to address veterans’ health care concerns; new clinic plans noted
Representatives from the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System will field questions and concerns from area veterans at an upcoming meeting in Youngwood. Plans are underway for a new veterans outpatient medical clinic in Westmoreland County. The outreach event set for Tuesday at the town’s fire hall includes a town hall...
Sentencing for former Greensburg police chief set for December
A sentencing date for the former Greensburg police chief on a drug case has been pushed back to December. The attorney for Shawn Denning, 43, of Delmont, requested more time to prepare for the hearing while in the midst of handling other, unrelated cases, according to court filings this week....
‘Just can’t see him doing that’: Classmates discuss Trump shooter
Thomas Crooks didn’t stand out as a popular student but didn’t fit the loser characterization either, some former classmates said. They remember the man who shot up a Trump campaign rally in Butler as intelligent – enrolled in high-level Advanced Placement classes throughout high school – but quiet and reserved....
Penn Hills weighing hookah bar regulations after deadly shooting
Penn Hills may crack down on hookah bars after a June shooting at Ballers Hookah Lounge & Cigar Bar, a spot known to police for trouble, left two dead and seven wounded. A zoning code amendment slated for consideration by the Planning Commission on July 25 would for the first...
North Hills Genealogists help trace ancestries
Ancestral research could seem like a daunting task to a genealogy novice, but the North Hills Genealogists of Pittsburgh may make the process easier. It’s important to learn about one’s familial past, according to Elissa Scalise Powell, certified genealogist and member of the nonprofit group. “There are several reasons to...
Traffic study addresses Bradford Woods speeding
Bradford Woods Council approved a traffic study on July 8 to address speeding in certain areas of the borough. A group of residents presented concerns to council on perceived speeding near their homes, particularly Bradford Road. A list of 166 names was presented at the meeting of residents requesting traffic...
Aperitivo Club in Downtown Pittsburgh inspired by Italy
Aperitivo is an Italian word meaning a small drink of liquor taken to stimulate the appetite before a meal. It is usually accompanied by a light snack. The Aperitivo Club near Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh brings this tradition to life. Tucked in the back of Market St. Grocery and...
Fitz Willys barbecue restaurant emphasizes family, community and good food
The staff members of Fitz Willys Kitchen and Catering have a few standards they strive to meet every day: The restaurant is clean; everyone who walks through the door is greeted with a smile; and the food is fresh, consistent and served quickly. These seem like pretty standard restaurant practices....
Monroeville area: Walk for Peace, library fun fest, Gateway musical alumni showcase, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Backpack giveaway, more Christian Life Church, in conjunction with The Well Corporation of PA, will hold its fourth annual backpack giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 10 at the Trafford church, 900 7th Street. This event is...
All in the family: 4th-generation employee retires after more than 4 decades working at Peoples Natural Gas
Craig Wyke’s first job at Peoples Natural Gas was in the delinquent accounts department. “I had to inform people their gas was about to be turned off,” said Wyke, who grew up in Penn Hills and lives in West Deer, as he recalled his more than 40-year career with the...
Franklin Regional teacher returns from scientific expedition on Lake Erie
Franklin Regional Intermediate School science teacher Brienne May thought she understood the problem micro-plastics posed to the environment. Then she took a look through the lens of a microscope, at what appeared to be a completely empty petri dish full of water from Lake Erie. “I saw a rainbow of...
Electric vehicle owners will have to pay $200 in annual taxes starting in 2025
Twenty years ago, John Belak was watching David Letterman, listening to Tom Hanks gush about his electric-powered vehicle. “He was telling him about how he got an electric car, and he was going to save the world,” the Murrysville man said. At the time, Belak was paying about $40 a...
