Ex-Pittsburgh police commander gets probation in wiretapping case
A former Pittsburgh police commander on Friday morning agreed to take 24 months of probation on charges that he stashed body-worn cameras in patrol cars last fall to secretly record more than a half-dozen of his own officers. Matthew Lackner, 50, a Mt. Lebanon resident who led Pittsburgh police’s Zone...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: June 14-16
Happy Father’s Day! Take Dad, your friends or yourself to these events and celebrations this weekend — everyone deserves some fun! Row House Cinema 10th Anniversary Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville is celebrating 10 years in the community with special screenings and a block party this Saturday. From 3 to...
Morning Roundup: Charges filed in 2 East End armed robberies; Pittsburgh police welcome new cadets
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, June 5. Man charged in 2 East End armed robberies Pittsburgh police have made an arrest in two recent armed robberies in the East End. Nathaniel Weatherspoon, 32, faces felony charges of robbery, conspiracy, and misdemeanor receiving stolen...
The Stroller, June 14, 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. Happy Flag Day! Display your American flag today on your home!...
Greensburg rock group heads to Woodstock farm for festival’s 55th anniversary
Greensburg rock group the Derek Woods Band is headed back to Woodstock. While the festival has only happened a few times, the Yasgur family farm near the festival site in Bethel, N.Y., has hosted the Yasgur Road Reunion music festival where Woods had a chance to play on Woodstock’s 50th...
Heat wave forces shift in spending priorities as household costs jump
Summer utility bills are expected to swell as temperatures jump into the 90s over the next week in Western Pennsylvania. But while some energy experts believe the cost for electricity will rise by as much as 8% in the northeastern U.S., local energy providers suggest year-over-year utility costs actually may...
Shuman Juvenile Detention Center set to reopen
After being closed for three years, the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center is set to reopen within the next few weeks, Allegheny County officials said. Shuman, in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood, was closed in September 2021 after the state revoked its license following a number of violations. Since then, law enforcement agencies...
Norwin sets vote on hiring current assistant superintendent, Natalie McCracken, as new leader
The Norwin School Board will consider hiring a person very familiar with the school district — the district’s assistant superintendent — as the new top administrator when the board meets Monday morning. Assistant Superintendent Natalie McCracken, of North Huntingdon, was named Friday in the special meeting agenda as the person...
West Penn Power volunteers turn out for 10th anniversary of Build-A-Bike program
West Penn Power volunteers assembled bicycles as part of the United Way’s Build-A-Bike program Thursday at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township. The program provides bicycles, helmets and locks to 300 children across Westmoreland, Allegheny, Fayette, Butler and Armstrong counties. The program marks its 10th anniversary this year. Volunteers have...
ATI’s $1.2B hot strip mill in Harrison marks 10 years, remains world’s most powerful, company says
Lou Koprivnikar launched his career at ATI 36 years ago when everything was hands-on. Employees would load 43-ton metal coils by crane and affix labels on specialty metals fresh out of a 2,250-degree furnace. Today, operations are fully automated inside the Hot Rolling and Processing Facility (HRPF), a $1.2 billion...
Greensburg unveils improved Spring Avenue Park
City officials unveiled a new and improved Spring Avenue Park in Greensburg’s Fifth Ward Thursday. The city began looking at rehabbing the 1.4-acre site in 2020. Greensburg received about $600,000 in funding for the design and the construction through the city’s Community Development Block Grant program. Sports and Recreation Associates...
Westmoreland register of wills meets deadline, pays $422,000 into county treasury
More than $422,000 from court fees collected by the Westmoreland County Register of Wills Office was turned over Thursday to the county treasury. Treasurer Jared Squires confirmed the embattled row office met a court-ordered, afternoon deadline to turn over funds it received from routine office filings since the start of...
Westmoreland County launches human services expansion
Officials with Westmoreland County’s burgeoning human services department said an expansion of services launched this month will improve the quality of care for many of its 35,000 clients. A newly formed six-member complex care unit will oversee the consolidation of services administered by the county’s separate human services departments including...
Live Nation presents music venue plan for Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District
Entertainment giant Live Nation presented plans Thursday for a 4,500-seat entertainment venue at the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District. The plan, first approved in May 2023, is seeking an adjustment, as the attached parking garage now will be pursued separately. California-based Live Nation told officials at...
Marquette University President Michael Lovell, who had ties to Pitt, dies at 57
Michael Lovell, the president of Marquette University with deep ties to the University of Pittsburgh, died in Rome on Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 57 and grew up in Meadville. Lovell earned three mechanical engineering degrees including a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh in 1994. He...
Murrysville Eat’n Park remodel includes pick-up window
Murrysville’s Eat’n Park location is set to undergo a full remodel over the next several months. Courtney Caprara, marketing manager, said the renovations include the return of the salad bar, a pick-up window for takeout orders and additional seating. The remodel of Eat’n Park, which is located off Route 22...
Penn Hills School District holds line on taxes in proposed final budget for 2024-25
Residents in the Penn Hills School District won’t be seeing a change in their real estate taxes this school year. The school directors approved a proposed 2024-25 budget with no tax hike and no cuts to programs or staffing. John Zahorchak, the district’s business manager said the budget is balanced...
North Huntingdon teen killed in Butler crash
A North Huntingdon teen who graduated from Norwin High School last year was killed early Thursday morning in a one-vehicle crash in northern Butler County, state police at Butler said. The victim, Josiah Pastories, 19, was traveling northward along Kittanning Pike in Fairview Township at about 6:20 a.m. when he...
Murrysville area: VA town hall meeting, Alzheimer’s benefit and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Business group awards scholarships The Murrysville Business and Professional Association recently awarded $500 scholarships to five Franklin Regional seniors. Members of the MBPA Executive Committee visited the high school on May 20 to present scholarship awards to Finian Hutchison, Julia Kravits, Malka...
Monroeville area: VA town hall meeting, memorial golf outing and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. VA town hall meeting The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System will host a veterans’ town hall and open house at its Monroeville outpatient clinic on June 21. Veterans and their families, as well as the public, are invited to hear from...
Derry Borough appoints Eikenburg to fill vacant council seat
Derry Borough resident Rich Eikenburg enlisted in the Army National Guard last year and now has added a civilian service stint to his plate. Borough council this week voted 4-1 to appoint Eikenburg to join the seven-member panel, filling a vacancy resulting from the recent death of council President Al...
Hempfield Area considering replacing high school auditorium roof
Hempfield Area School District’s high school renovation project may yet take a step forward this summer with replacement of the auditorium roof. The roof over the seating area and stage is in poor condition, according to high school principal David Palmer. “Honestly, we cannot continue with the roof the way...
Freeport woman celebrates $1 million lottery win while mourning husband’s deathVideo
Two weeks after Karen Coffman became a millionaire, her husband died. “When I told him about the prize, he thought I was lying to him,” Coffman said of Robert, her husband of 31 years. Robert Coffman died April 10 from complications of a brain tumor. His death made her million-dollar...
3D printer purchased in memory of North Allegheny graduate
A new 3D printer at North Allegheny Intermediate High School is emblazoned with a plaque honoring former technology student and 2019 graduate Ian Brunner. The North Allegheny Foundation was able to purchase the printer from Ian’s family, who wanted to give back to the school district that nurtured their son’s...
Derry Township man surrenders after overnight standoff
A lengthy overnight standoff in Derry Township ended peacefully early Thursday when a man surrendered to state police, according to Trooper Steve Limani. Benjamin T. Clawson, 42, was taken into custody on charges of simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats stemming from an incident that prompted troopers to be called...
