Hampton recognized as a Common Sense District
Common Sense, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students and families thrive in a world of media and technology, has recognized Hampton Township as a Common Sense District. The recognition acknowledges the school district’s commitment to creating a culture in which the entire community is invested in helping kids...
Carlynton School Board passes budget with 6.6% tax increase
A tax increase in Carlynton School District will help fund specialized educational services and future capital projects, district officials say. Directors in June approved the district’s $35.9 million budget, which includes a 6.6% tax increase. “We understand that any tax increase is significant, and we do not take this decision...
Paging Kamala? Summer Lee says VP Harris is ‘obvious choice’ if Biden steps down
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee has joined a growing chorus of elected Democrats weighing in on the fallout from President Joe Biden’s lackluster debate performance, emphasizing the gravity of the presidential race and suggesting that if Biden were to step aside, Vice President Kamala Harris is the “obvious choice” to replace...
Pittsburgh furry convention names Gray Paws Sanctuary as its 2024 charity
Anthrocon has named Gray Paws Sanctuary its charity for the 2024 Pittsburgh furry convention. The White Oak nonprofit, which helps older dogs in the greater Pittsburgh area, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. “This is amazing to be selected as the charity for 2024,” co-founder Darla Poole Brescia said Wednesday. Gray...
Aquinas Academy in Hampton honors students with awards
Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh in Hampton wrapped up 2023-24 by presenting end-of-the-year awards to students for various academic and athletic achievements. Among the recipients were winners of school-level awards: • Joshua Schlemmer, Aquinas Award, given to the upper school student who through academic achievement, love of God and contributions to...
Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg honor 43 in latest Hometown Hero banner ceremony
Although he didn’t talk about it much, Charles Galbraith was proud of the two years he served in the Army. Galbraith is one of 43 veterans, first responders and local officials who were honored Saturday evening at St. Clair Park with Hometown Hero banners in Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg. Galbraith...
Bail for Ligonier Township man who was focus of April police standoff set at $150,000
A Westmoreland County judge on Wednesday set bail at $150,000 for a Ligonier Township man who has been behind bars in connection with a domestic dispute and hourslong police standoff in April. Thomas U. Crary, 47, had been held without bail since his arrest. In seeking bail to be set,...
Golf outing benefits Franklin Park Scholarship Fund
Taking a Monday off for a round of golf is a good thing, at least for high school students from Franklin Park looking for extra college funds. All the proceeds from Franklin Park’s 21st annual Community Scholarship Golf Outing, to be held July 29 at Shannopin Country Club in Ben...
Hard lemonade the latest collaboration from Turner Dairy and Pittsburgh Brewing
A year after launching IC’d Tea, Turner Dairy Farms and Pittsburgh Brewing Co. are back with another twist on a Pittsburgh favorite. Turner’s Hard Lemonade will hit shelves Monday, July 8 as a limited-edition offering from the iconic local brands. A release from Turner’s describes the beverage as a balance...
St. Aidan continues festival tradition in McCandless
For more than 30 years, the St. Aidan Festival has been a local summertime tradition, drawing in thousands for fun, food, fellowship and maybe even a little bit of faith. The festival draws around 10,000 people over the four days, with this year’s event held from July 31 to Aug....
New Kensington-Arnold superintendent’s contract extended despite proposal to shorten it
One board member’s effort to shorten a contract extension for New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck failed Tuesday night. The board ultimately voted 8-0 to give Superintendent Chris Sefcheck a new five-year contract that will run from Tuesday through June 30, 2029. It replaces his previous and initial five-year contract that...
Anti-discrimination Penn Hills Advisory Council commended for ‘energy and drive’
When Ronald Saunders saw an FBI report that named Western Pennsylvania as a hub for hate activity, the longtime civil rights activist knew he had to step in. After consulting with Richard Stewart, former president of the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch, he got in touch with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission...
Learn about the coyote lifestyle at Murrysville Community Park
Coyotes are not out there hunting for your tiny dog, Pennsylvania wildlife experts say. But they are opportunistic predators, and smaller canines are similar enough to the rabbits, squirrels and other small game that coyotes regularly hunt. A Pennsylvania State Game Warden and local wildlife expert will be on hand...
McKees Rocks woman charged with mistreating toddlers at McCandless day care
McCandless Police have accused the director of Gloworms Academy of mistreating five toddlers at the day care. Melissa Marie Populo, 38, of McKees Rocks faces five counts of endangering the welfare of children. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday. A Gloworms Academy employee contacted McCandless police at 10 p.m....
Morning Roundup: FBI, police investigate hoax threat at Tree of Life
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, July 3: FBI, police investigate hoax threat to Tree of Life synagogue Authorities are investigating a hoax threat made against the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, according to WTAE. Pittsburgh police told WTAE that...
Police shot man who left guns, ‘concerning’ notes in car at Cranberry golf course
Police fatally shot an Ellwood City man near a Cranberry Township golf course Tuesday after guns and “concerning” notes were found in a vehicle he abandoned, prompting an hourslong search and shelter-in-place order issued in the township. In a news release Wednesday, state troopers identified the man killed as Logan...
The Stroller, July 3, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Boaters bash planned July 13 in New Kensington Allegheny River Development...
Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival marks half-century
At Seton Hill College in 1974, the first Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival had around 20 booths. Fifty years later, the festival will pack 380 booths across 8 acres at Twin Lakes Park east of Greensburg. “We continue to grow and continue to get recognition locally and nationally,” executive director...
A traveling replica of George Washington’s headquarters
on display at Fort Ligonier this weekend
A traveling replica of George Washington’s headquarters and sleeping tent is on display at Fort Ligonier through Sunday. The large linen tent is filled with reproductions of period artifacts and equipment. Presented by Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution, the exhibit includes costumed interpreters who assembled a replica of another...
Rebounding Pittsburgh airport pledges shorter security wait times at new terminal
Pittsburgh International Airport marked a milestone on June 24 when security agents handled more passengers on a single day than ever before. Nearly 20,000 people flowed through the checkpoint that Monday, according to airport spokesman Bob Kerlik. Some passengers reportedly waited well over two hours in the security line that...
Last ride remembers Leechburg man’s adventurous life
Scottie Joe Hawkins got one last ride on his truck Tuesday. Family and friends hoisted his casket onto the flatbed of the tractor-trailer Hawkins used to make his living, repurposing it as a hearse to take him to his final resting place. A special platform was built onto the flatbed...
Mt. Pleasant borough manager gets 27% pay raise; council fires part-time cop
Mt. Pleasant Borough Manager Sharon Lesko’s duties have expanded once again, following her promotion from assistant borough manager shortly after the May 4, 2023, death of Jeff Landy. Her salary’s growing, too, after council this week approved a contract that gives her a 27% pay raise, from $55,000 to $70,000...
5 things to know ahead of Anthrocon 2024
The countdown is on: the annual furry convention in Pittsburgh, Anthrocon, is just days away. Every summer, anthropomorphics, otherwise known as furries — people dressed as human-like animal characters — travel from all over the world to the city for the four-day event. The group is a collection of artists,...
Plans for Pittsburgh festival fund move forward but lack key element: money
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday voted to move ahead with a plan to create a fund to support arts and cultural events that were impacted by the covid-19 pandemic — but they don’t seem to have any money for it. Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, last month introduced legislation to...
Pittsburgh finds way to avoid forfeiting nearly $9M in federal covid relief funds
Working against a ticking clock that gives the city only six months to put under contract all remaining federal covid-19 relief dollars, Pittsburgh officials are changing funding streams for projects that might be too slow for the federal government’s looming deadlines. The goal, Director of the Office of Management and...
