‘Kites for Gaza’ event draws families to Point State Park in support of Palestine
Kites of all shapes, sizes and colors could be seen flying in the air at Point State Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday — or at least trying to fly — as part of a Kites for Gaza event. Emily De Ferrari was one of the organizers of the pro-Palestine event,...
Longtime New Ken-Arnold School District public servant honored for ‘lifetime of service’ to the community
The Rev. Kent Commodore of Second Baptist Church in Ford City had to remind his older brother Hank several times it’s OK to be appreciated. That everything is as it should be when more than 100 people pack the dining hall of MJ’s Bar & Grille in Arnold on a...
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg grads ready to move on after covid-impacted college
Brianna Bicker of Delmont recalled how strange it was for students starting at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg campus in fall 2020, where they didn’t eat their meals in the dining room, had few people attend class in person and couldn’t gather in large groups because of the covid-19...
Ohio man accused of stashing guns, ammo inside luggage at Pittsburgh airport
A Youngstown, Ohio man prohibited from having a gun was jailed Friday night for allegedly hiding three handguns, three boxes of ammunition and multiple ammo magazines inside a briefcase at the Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County Police said. The briefcase that belonged to Luis Rojas Cay, 26, was stashed inside...
Fire hits Pirates store at PNC Park
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ merchandise store at PNC Park on the city’s North Shore caught fire Friday night as the Pirates were getting ready to play in San Francisco, public safety officials said. Pittsburgh firefighters brought the fire at the Fanatics Pirates Clubhouse Store on Federal Street under control within 20...
Pro-Palestinian protest to continue at Pitt
The pro-Palestinian protest at Schenley Plaza is expected to continue until Monday. Demonstrators told TribLive news partner WTAE that they planned to remain encamped at Schenley Plaza in the city’s Oakland neighborhood. The demonstration began Tuesday in support of Palestinians, a free Palestine and for the University of Pittsburgh to...
Two men shot in McKees Rocks
Two men were shot at a McKees Rock apartment building early Saturday morning, Allegheny County Police reported. County police said one was hospitalized in critical condition and the other was listed in stable condition. The men were found shot inside an apartment building on Bell Avenue in Hays Manor, said...
The Stroller, April 27, 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. Help needed at Vandergrift Meals On Wheels Vandergrift Meals On Wheels...
17-year-old suspect in McKees Rocks homicide arrested in Florida
A teenager charged with a fatal April 20 shooting in McKees Rocks was arrested in Florida on Friday afternoon, Allegheny County Police said. Fifteen-year-old Ahsan Edwards was found shot multiple times on April 20 in the borough’s Third Street Park. Edward later died at a hospital. Through witness interviews and...
Crowds pack downtown New Kensington streets for first Fridays on Fifth of the season
Fridays on Fifth launched its fourth season Friday, April 26. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. the fourth Friday of each month, April through September, along Fifth Avenue between Ninth and 11th streets. The remaining dates are May 24, June 28, July 26, Aug. 23 and Sept. 27....
Motorcyclist killed in Harmar crash
Allegheny County Police detectives are investigating a fatal crash that took place Friday in Harmar. Police said a Harmar officer came upon a crash involving a vehicle and motorcycle at the intersection of Freeport Road and Alpha Drive just before 4:30 p.m. Friday. The man driving the motorcycle was pronounced...
Truck driver injured in crash into Murrysville collision center
Derek Severns was not interested in the irony of a truck colliding with the collision center he manages. Severns was more concerned with making sure his employees were all right. “Amazingly, no one inside was injured,” said Severns, manager at Bowser Collision Center on Route 22 in Murrysville, where a...
J. Alan (Jerry) Johnson, former U.S. attorney who prosecuted Pittsburgh Drug Trials dies at 79
J. Alan (Jerry) Johnson was born to be a trial attorney. With a booming voice, a meticulous manner and sense of fairness, he carried himself with authority. But he also had an ability to connect with jurors, to capture their attention with his charm and good humor. Johnson used all...
Penn Hills School District to trial run monitors on buses to keep elementary students in line
Students at Penn Hills Elementary School will be seeing some familiar faces on the bus starting next week. The school district will begin a trial program with staff members riding the bus with students to and from school. Superintendent John Mozzocio called it a preventive action to ensure good behavior...
Penn Hills School District takes first steps to revamp district security, develop police staff
Penn Hills School Board members unanimously appointed a director of school district security April 24 with an eye toward developing its own police force. The position was created after the district began looking into ways to revamp safety and security in the schools, Superintendent John Mozzocio said. “Safety and security...
Penn Hills approves 5-year contract with Krise Transportation
Penn Hills School Board members unanimously approved a five-year contract with Krise Transportation at their meeting Wednesday night. The renewed contract will begin next school year and last until the spring of 2029 with rates increasing each year — starting at about $407 per bus, per day, and ending at...
Federal judge keeps accused Jan. 6 rioter from Burgettstown behind bars pending trial
Video evidence shows a man identified as Joshua Lee Atwood screaming obscenities at the law enforcement officers protecting the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he also has two small children at home and another on the way. Atwood threw a bottle at police, investigators say, then used wooden...
Out of the ashes: Unity fitness center clients help owner recover from devastating fire
For many clients of My Fitness Kitchen in Unity, seeing the damage left behind by a fire this week at the business was heartbreaking. Knowing owner Mark Rullo’s passion and livelihood was in jeopardy made it even worse. That pushed dozens of them to show up Friday morning to the...
Defense claims prosecutor misconduct during 2016 trial for New Stanton motel killing
The lawyer for a McKeesport man convicted of first-degree murder at a New Stanton motel is accusing prosecutors of misconduct during a 2016 trial. Attorney Chris Rand Eyster said prosecutors failed to adequately disclose key information regarding pending federal charges against an eyewitness. The eyewitness testified that she saw Christopher...
New Kensington Camera Club’s spring photography show highlights some of area’s top floral images
Nan Belli has four photos entered in the New Kensington Camera Club’s Spring Floral Photography & Art Show this year. But after seeing the other 100-plus entries, she isn’t sure hers will place among the top three when they are voted upon by the public. “I would have a hard...
Plum firefighters schedule trainings at former borough building ahead of its demolition
Firefighters from Plum’s four volunteer departments will be using the former borough building for training exercises beginning this week and running into early June, Holiday Park fire Chief James Sims said. The first sessions at the vacant building on New Texas Road will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m....
Washington Township stable owner avoids animal cruelty charges
A Washington Township stable owner agreed to take part in Westmoreland County’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program to avoid animal cruelty charges filed a little less than a year ago. Sandra A. Hobbs, 67, owner of Victory Stables on Camp Nancy Road, initially was charged with animal cruelty and neglect, the...
Plum equipping school buses with cameras to catch drivers passing illegally
Electronic witnesses could catch drivers illegally passing stopped school buses in Plum. The Plum School District has equipped about one-third of its vehicles with external cameras and is working toward having cameras on all of them, according to Assistant Superintendent Ashley Boyers. The district placed multiple cameras on 23 buses...
New Kensington police accuse man of raping girl he knew was 14
A New Kensington man is accused of raping a girl just over a year ago when he was 18 and she was 14. New Kensington police charged Nasai Minan Parker-Hill, now 19, of New Kensington on Thursday with rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion, sexual assault, indecent...
Vandergrift event regulations on hold; changes planned for fall
Vandergrift officials and business leaders say they’ll use feedback from the spring and summer festival lineup this year to tweak event regulations passed in December. As it stands, an ordinance requires event organizers to submit contact information, an event description, proof of insurance and a $500 refundable cleaning deposit. They...
