More than a dozen departments respond to house fire in Plum
At least 14 departments responded to a two-alarm house fire Tuesday morning in Plum, authorities said. The fire was reported around 7 a.m. in the 100 block of Elwood Avenue, according to Glenn Kopec Jr., assistant chief of Unity Volunteer Fire Department. It took about 45 minutes to knock down...
Latrobe hires 2 police officers, OKs purchase of new handguns
Latrobe bolstered its police ranks Monday by hiring two new officers. Joining the force and increasing the number of patrol officers to nine will be David Antal, a 2013 Kiski Area School District graduate, and Brady Sherback, a 2018 Greater Latrobe School District alumnus. Antal will be joining the Latrobe...
Pittsburgh Public Schools sues Allegheny County, Innamorato to trigger countywide property reassessment
After weeks of warning about its financial peril, the Pittsburgh region’s largest school district on Tuesday sued Allegheny County and its executive, Sara Innamorato, to try to force a countywide property reassessment. Pittsburgh Public Schools solicitor Ira Weiss said the urban school district is facing a dire financial crisis caused...
Morning Roundup: Police seek suspect in Braddock shooting
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, April 9: Police seek help finding suspect in fatal Braddock shooting Allegheny County Police said they are seeking the public’s help in finding a suspect in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in Braddock. On Monday, police...
1 killed, 2 injured in Rostraver Township crash
A man is dead following a motorcycle crash Monday night in Rostraver Township. Camden Ellin, 24, died at Penn Highlands Monongahela Valley Hospital after his motorcycle crashed along Fellsburg Road. Officials said two motorcycles collided with an SUV. The Washington County Coroner said a state trooper witnessed the crash, which...
The Stroller, April 9, 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. Salvation Army accepting summer camp reservations Reservations for summer camp at...
EMS providers need more than state money to fix funding woes
Regional ambulance service officials say they’ll try to grab a piece of increased state funding for emergency medical services, but repeated their plea for a new funding model. “In a nutshell, the system has been collapsing for a good while,” said Brad James of
Eureka Hose EMS in Tarentum. The...
‘I sprinted out of the building’: Franklin Regional reflects on attack 10 years later
Kate Berry heeded the fire alarm, briskly walked down a stairwell and opened the doors into a hallway at Franklin Regional High School when she encountered a knife-wielding student. She was face to face with Alex Hribal. “I remember … seeing him and thinking like, ‘Oh, why is he walking...
Woman, 3 children hurt in crash in Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood
A woman and three children were sent to hospitals Monday night when the woman’s vehicle hit a utility pole in the Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood, Pittsburgh police said. The driver was hospitalized in critical condition after the crash, reported at 6:55 p.m. at Arlington Avenue and Rinne Street, police said. A...
Lawsuit accuses SWAT team of fatally shooting mentally ill Upper St. Clair man in back
An Upper St. Clair man who was killed by police officers responding to his mental health crisis in January was shot eight times in the back, a federal lawsuit alleges. Filed on Monday, the lawsuit claims that Christopher Shepherd, who was armed with a kitchen knife, was running away from...
Solar eclipse photo gallery 2024
Western Pennsylvanians turned their attention to the sky on Monday to catch a glimpse of the solar eclipse. TribLive journalists were there, from Unity to Springdale to Pittsburgh to Erie, to document the event. Here is a selection of the best images from the day....
Judge rejects Youngwood man’s appeal of murder conviction
A Westmoreland County judge on Monday rejected the appeal of a Youngwood man who sought to withdraw his guilty plea last year to third-degree murder. Michael James Covington Jr., 26, claimed he was coerced into accepting a deal that resulted in a 60-year prison sentence. He also argued that the...
Totality plunges Erie, surrounding region into darknessVideo
ERIE — The timing in Erie couldn’t have been better for a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse, which shrouded the city in darkness for a few minutes Monday afternoon. A dreary morning gave way to sunshine and clear skies around 2 p.m. as the moon began carving ever-larger chunks out of...
‘Right in front of this church’: Richland group hosts historian’s talk on ‘Mrs. Soffel’ jailbreak, escape
A 1902 Pittsburgh jailbreak that inspired songs, books, stage plays and feature films took the escapees through the heart of Richland. “They’re going to go right in front of this church,” Butler historian Bill May said. “And the folks from Bakerstown are going to come out the next morning, and...
Zoning hearing board to review plans for townhouse in Irwin
A North Huntingdon developer wants to build a two-story four-unit townhouse in Irwin. Painter Development Co. LLC is seeking a special exception to Irwin’s zoning ordinance to build the multi-unit residential building at the corner of Chestnut Street and Eighth Avenue. The borough’s zoning hearing board has scheduled a hearing...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of April 8, 2024
Blood donors sought Vitalant is marking National Donate Life Month during April with a series of blood drives throughout the Pittsburgh region, including: • 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 16: Penn Hills High School, 309 Collins Drive • 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18: Redeemer Lutheran School,...
Teenage boys charged in connection with Hempfield armed robbery
Two teenage boys were charged as adults over the weekend in connection with an armed robbery in Hempfield. Daniel Govora, 17, of Crabtree, and Cayden Essway, 16, of Greensburg, are each charged with robbery, a felony, and theft and possession of a firearm by a minor, both misdemeanors. Essway faces...
Northern Tier Library events, week of March 8, 2024
Events and programs offered by Northern Tier Regional Library, 4015 Dickey Road, Richland, include: • Friends of the Northern Tier Library’s used book sale is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 12 and 13, noon to 3 p.m. April 14, and...
Burrell student to perform with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
When he was in the fourth grade, Alex Platt told his parents he wanted to play the clarinet because it sounded “jazzy.” “It’s an odd reason, but that’s the reason,” said Platt, now 18 and a senior at Burrell High School. “But I stayed with it, and it’s a beautiful...
Chartiers Valley senior to compete at national business competition
Kendal Astor has been around sports her entire life. Growing up, the 18-year-old Chartiers Valley student was involved in softball and currently is the team manager for the Colts’ football, boys soccer and track teams. She competes on Chartiers Valley’s unified bocce team and is president of the school’s Best...
Section of Route 130 in Jeannette expected to close Friday
A section of Route 130 in Jeannette and Penn Township is expected to close Friday. PennDOT officials said the road likely will be shut down through late June, depending on weather and operations. Route 130, or Harrison Avenue, connects Harrison City and Jeannette. During the closure, a 60-inch corrugated metal...
Guided wildflower walks set for Braddock’s Trail Park
Nature lovers who enjoy seeing wildflowers can join the Wildflower Walks at Braddock’s Trail Park of Robbins Station Road in North Huntingdon. The guided walks are led by local experts and gives participants the opportunity to learn about the natural beauty the park, according to the North Huntingdon Parks and...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area events, week of April 8, 2024
Old Mine Road becomes Mike Thomas Way The U.S. Postal Service was expected to process address changes for Old Mine Road to Mike Thomas Way on April 9, the borough announced. Plum Council in October approved changing Old Mine Road to Mike Thomas Way in honor of the former borough...
In brief: North Allegheny area happenings, week of April 8, 2024
Understanding Climate Change An Understanding Climate Change event is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. April 18 at the Heritage and Cultural Center, 830 Aufman Lane, McCandless. The presentation will be directed at understanding the current status of the changing climate for a nontechnical audience. Suggested donation is $10. Register...
In brief: Pine-Richland area happenings, week of April 8, 2024
Hall of Fame noms The Pine-Richland Athletic Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for its Class of 2024. The Hall of Fame honors and recognizes those associated with Pine-Richland athletics who have experienced significant accomplishments. Nominations will be accepted through April 30 in these categories: • Athlete — must have...
