Western PA Local News category, Page 575
Giant Eagle’s sale of GetGo refocuses company amid growing grocer competition, experts say
Giant Eagle’s decision to sell its GetGo franchise to focus on its role as a leading grocer is indicative of increasing competition from national retailers, an industry expert said. Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent company of Circle K convenience stores, announced the purchase of GetGo on Aug. 19. Giant Eagle CEO...
Allegheny Valley Regional Police, Frazer in talks for possible merger
The Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department could have a fourth member if talks between its board and Frazer officials work out. Frazer Secretary/Treasurer Lori Ziencik said her township was approached by the police commission, which serves East Deer, Cheswick and Springdale Township, to consider joining the regional department. “We have...
Man shot in leg in Pittsburgh
A man is recovering after being shot in the leg in Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights neighborhood Wednesday afternoon. Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said officers were dispatched around 4 p.m. to the 100 block of Hazlett Street for reports of a shooting. First responders located a 35-year-old man with a gunshot...
State urged to reject Donegal mine’s renewal of permit to discharge water
Almost two dozen Donegal-area residents and environmental activists urged state regulators Wednesday to reject a mining company’s request to renew its permit to discharge water from its Donegal Township mine. They contend that the water pollutes the creek, and digging out coal has damaged homes and water supplies. “Our community...
Nippon Steel pledges $1 billion to Mon Valley Works pending U.S. Steel acquisition as government opposition continues
Nippon Steel will spend $2.7 billion through 2026 to upgrade steel plants if its plan to acquire U.S. Steel comes to fruition. The Japanese company announced Wednesday at least $1 billion would be used to replace or upgrade the West Mifflin hot strip mill and other facilities to improve yield...
Leechburg Area School Board decides against lawsuit against Westmoreland County
The Leechburg Area School Board will not be following through with a promised lawsuit against Westmoreland County after being presented with a possible solution to tax rate issues by Westmoreland County assessors. “The board is still considering all of its legal options,” said Ashley Coudriet, school board president. “Currently, Westmoreland...
Authorities investigating if delayed report of sexual relationship in McKeesport schools is criminal
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing whether McKeesport School District employees failed to alert state authorities to an alleged sexual relationship between a district employee and a teenage student or delayed reporting their suspicions and, if so, whether their actions were criminal. Allegheny County Police in January charged...
Livvy Dunne aghast after Pirates blow large lead, ruin Skenes’ start
The Pirates blew a 7-run lead to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Livvy Dunne noticed. Dunne’s boyfriend, rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, started the game and left after five innings with a comfortable 10-3 lead. Not so fast. The Pirates’ bullpen collapsed and gave up 11 runs. Six of those runs...
Judge rules Washington County mail-in ballot policy violated voting rights
The Washington County Board of Elections must notify voters when their mail-in ballots have errors and give them the chance to vote provisionally, a judge has ruled. A group of seven voters sued the county in July, alleging that a board policy passed a few months earlier that prohibited elections...
Payroll irregularities lead to suspension of Westmoreland purchasing director, deputy
Westmoreland County’s director of purchasing and his deputy are suspended without pay over allegations they and four staffers were paid for extended workdays without prior approval. Purchasing Director Kristopher Cardiff and his deputy, Kristen Coyne, have been off the job since Aug. 15 after county commissioners authorized suspensions for both...
Point State Park fountain celebrates 50th anniversary
For 50 years, the fountain at Pittsburgh’s Point State Park has welcomed visitors and stood proudly as the heart of the city. “When you think of Pittsburgh, it is hard not to picture this historic water feature,” said Visit Pittsburgh President and CEO Jerad Bachar. “It’s become an emblem of...
Pittsburgh mulls study on whether city should build its own animal shelter
Pittsburgh officials are looking into whether it would be more efficient for the city to open its own animal shelter instead of paying a local nonprofit for services. Currently, the city pays Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh $375,000 a year to house abandoned animals, according to Emily Bourne, a public...
$2.4 million grant to help Pittsburgh install electric vehicle charging stations
The city of Pittsburgh plans to install dozens of new electric vehicle charging stations through nearly $2.4 million federal grant. Officials on Wednesday announced Pittsburgh will receive money from the U.S. Department of Transportation to bolster public access to electric vehicle charging sites throughout city parks, parking garages and curbside...
Ex-Rivers Casino host sues venue, claims sexual harassment by ‘high rollers’
A former Rivers Casino employee who repeatedly reported being sexually harassed by “high rollers” is suing the Pittsburgh gambling venue after she said she was fired for reporting the alleged abuse. The nine-page complaint alleging a single count of retaliation was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court. It seeks the...
Demolition of trestle bridge in Springdale on hold
How a trestle bridge over Pittsburgh Street in Springdale, near the former power plant, will be demolished now is uncertain. Borough officials originally scheduled a town hall meeting for next week to discuss the structure’s demolition, but that was canceled, leaving unknown exactly how or when the iconic trestle will...
Pittsburgh council goes back to drawing board with tiny house bill
A proposal before Pittsburgh City Council to permit regulated homeless camps Downtown, complete with utilities and services and possibly tiny houses, was withdrawn Wednesday. Two council members spearheading the initiative, however, said they intend to reintroduce the idea soon. Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, said she and co-sponsor Anthony Coghill,...
A Soulful Taste of the Burgh returns with must-try dishes
Since 2019, A Soulful Taste of the Burgh has enticed attendees with the comforting taste of soul food. This year, Downtown festival will expand its footprint further down the Boulevard of the Allies, running from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. The event features around 100 food and commercial vendors from...
‘No second shooter’ at Trump rally, FBI says
The FBI said Wednesday that federal investigators have not identified a motive or found evidence of a second shooter in the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler County. “All the rounds have been accounted for. We have zero reason to believe there...
Hampton Restaurant Week: Eat, drink and save money
As they say, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Of course, such conventional wisdom applies to women and children, too. “That’s something we’ve heard from our community for a long time, that restaurants are an important part of what they want to see with our business...
Build day planned for South Buffalo’s first public playground
South Buffalo is set to get its first public playground as the township tries to turn the RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park into a hub for government, housing and recreation. “We would like that to be a community center,” said township Supervisor Paul Bergad. In 2022, South Buffalo moved its administrative...
Sheetz enters Michigan market to large crowd and fanfare
Sheetz has entered Michigan and plans a larger expansion in the Motor City. Michigan’s first Sheetz store opened Tuesday in Romulus, which is near Detroit Metro Airport, attracting large crowds of excited customers, the Detroit Free Press reported. President and CEO Travis Sheetz flew in for the grand opening and...
Sustainability plan could bring a ‘greener’ Oakmont
Oakmont could be going “green” in the next decade. Borough council is expected to consider a sustainability plan that suggests ways to improve borough efficiency while reducing emissions and cutting costs to taxpayers. This is the first sustainability plan to come before council, and it was developed by an intern...
Westmoreland happenings: Car show, senior citizen news, more
Fundraiser • The Western Pennsylvania region of the Antique Automobile Club of America will host its 60th annual Paul P. Bell Memorial Auto, Custom and Street Rod Show from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at Legion Keener Park, 1658 Catherine St., Latrobe. Vehicle fields will include class judged...
‘Like a bomb going off’: Fire rips through RVs at Camping World in Allegheny Township
An early-morning fire damaged or destroyed more than a dozen recreational vehicles Wednesday at Camping World on Route 356 in Allegheny Township. Neighbors reported the fire to Westmoreland County 911 about 4:40 a.m. after explosions roused them from sleep, Allegheny Township police Chief Dan Uncapher said. Rachel Ramsey, who has...
High heat prompts some Western Pa. schools to dismiss early
A number of schools in Western Pennsylvania area will be releasing students early on Wednesday because of the heat. New Kensington-Arnold, Shaler and Freedom all announced early dismissals. New Kensington-Arnold will operate on a two-hour early dismissal schedule. Students will be dismissed from their schools two hours before regular dismissal...
