Western PA Local News category, Page 679
Franklin Regional proposes 3.5 mill tax hike for 2024-25 school year
Franklin Regional School Board members approved a proposed final budget for next school year that calls for a 3.5-mill property tax increase. The final vote on the $69 million budget will come at the board’s June 17 meeting. The spending plan comes with a roughly $643,000 deficit with just under...
Unity center begins second year training union apprentices for in-demand HVAC service work
The price is right for Dane Dyson. When the 22-year-old Yough Senior High graduate realized it would cost him $22,000 to attend a career school to learn the tricks of the plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning trades, he opted instead to join a local union apprentice program. Dyson...
The Stroller, May 18, 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. Safety town camp planned for children Mary, Queen of Apostles School,...
Meet the family behind Luke Bryan’s ‘Farm Tour’ concert in South HuntingdonVideo
When Joshua Cunningham found out his family’s South Huntingdon farm was in the running to host a concert by “American Idol” judge and country music star Luke Bryan, he asked Bryan’s producer about their honest chances. “He said, ‘I’ve been looking at it on Google Maps — you have a...
Norwin trails group seeks seeks regional committee
A Norwin area group that is promoting the creation of a network of hiking and biking trails in that area wants to form a regional transportation committee to work toward that goal. The nonprofit Friends of Norwin Trails has asked officials in Irwin, North Irwin and North Huntingdon to appoint...
‘She fought until the very last day’: Youngwood organ donor helps save 3 after overdose death
From the printer to the sweeper to the decorations on the wall, almost everything in Anna Vukovich’s Youngwood home reminds her of her daughter Jennifer. Jennifer’s comforter is still on the bed in her childhood bedroom, her purse still hangs on a hook on the wall. “Everytime I pull something...
Man dies in 2-vehicle crash in Shaler
A man died Friday evening in a two-vehicle crash in Shaler. Allegheny County Police said the crash occurred at about 7:40 p.m. in the 3100 block of William Flynn Highway. The victim was not immediately identified. He was traveling alone, as was driver of the other vehicle. That person was...
Woman with dementia reported missing from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh police seek help finding a missing woman with dementia. Joan Blaney, 78, wandered from her residence along the 8400 block of Bricelyn Street on Friday, Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz reported. She was spotted by staff at Second Chance at 8350 Frankstown Ave., walking inbound at about 12:40 p.m....
New Kensington police investigate phone store robbery
New Kensington police are searching for a man who is accused of robbing a business Friday evening. Westmoreland County Public Safety officials said officers were dispatched shortly after 7 p.m. to the AT&T store at 270 Tarentum Bridge Road. No injuries were reported. Officials said the suspect was described as...
Here’s what’s on tap for ‘Week of Kindness’ at Latrobe Art Center
Latrobe Art Center on Monday will kick off its fourth annual Fred Rogers-inspired Week of Kindness by hosting an informational gathering for educators and child caregivers. Held in partnership with the Fred Rogers Institute and WQED Education, Monday’s session, set for 4 to 6 p.m., is titled “Educator Playground: Being...
National Weather Service confirm 3 tornadoes in the region; researching another
The National Weather Service confirmed Saturday that an EF-0 tornado with winds of up to 70 mph struck the Harrison City area of Westmoreland County on Friday. Teams were out Saturday in the daylight to gather data and evaluate the damage at four suspected tornado sites, said NWS meteorologist Lee...
McKees Rocks man pleads guilty to storing guns, drugs, machine gun part
A McKees Rocks man caught with methamphetamine, fentanyl and an illegal Glock switch that converts handguns into fully automatic weapons pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to drug and gun crimes. Reginald Blunt, 32, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before Senior...
Westmoreland register of wills ordered to pay about $500K in fees to county
Embattled Westmoreland County Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton was ordered to transfer an estimated $500,000 in funds collected by her office over the last four months to the controller’s office by May 28. The register of wills office — which oversees the filing and processing of adoptions, guardianships, wills...
Financial issues cited in pending closure of Latrobe personal care home
More than two dozen residents of a Latrobe personal care home will need to find other accommodations before July 8. Latrobe Manor administrator Kim Cecere said this week the home is working with families of its residents to find other placements for them. The 28 residents include elderly people and...
Steelers fans anticipate Christmas game against Chiefs, speculate on Taylor Swift
Vern Hess welcomed news that the Steelers will play on Christmas Day this year. After the NFL schedule was released the Steelers fanbase had mixed reactions — and many weren’t positive. The team does not play a divisional game until Nov. 17 and opens the season with three out of...
Man arrested after he tried to mail cocaine from New Kensington to California, police say
A man was arrested when, police say, he tried to mail about 2 pounds of cocaine to California from the New Kensington post office. Jonathan Ray Booher, 33, was arraigned Friday before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on charges filed by the Office of Attorney General of...
Frazer police arrest California man linked to gift card scams in 6 states
A Walmart at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer proved to be the last stop in an alleged scammer’s nationwide crime spree. Frazer police arrested Zhixiang Chen, 19, of San Gabriel, Calif., on Wednesday after their license plate readers alerted them to a silver Toyota sedan linked to 16 other...
Pittsburgh controller, councilman rebuke Gainey over lack of transparency in payment controversy
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration refused Friday to cooperate with the city’s independent fiscal watchdog in her probe of questionable payments to a contractor. The decision to withhold records from Controller Rachael Heisler caps a week of controversy for the administration, which acknowledged that it would discipline employees for violating...
Greensburg police: Scam calls ask for cryptocurrency to resolve a warrant
Greensburg police are warning residents of a scam this week in which a caller impersonated a local officer and requested cryptocurrency to resolve a warrant, according to Detective Sgt. Justin Scalzo. The caller told a woman she needed to pay $1,400. The call came from what appeared to be a...
Westmoreland residents need to log internet speed if county is to qualify for federal cash
Westmoreland County is looking at internet speed, and fast. County officials put out a last-minute call urging residents to participate in online testing of existing internet services as part of a necessary requirement to qualify for funds needed to enhance local broadband infrastructure. Testing needs to be completed before Thursday...
Judge denies Pittsburgh synagogue shooter’s request for new trial
A federal judge on Friday denied a request for a new trial filed by the man convicted of killing 11 people at a Squirrel Hill synagogue more than five years ago. U.S. District Judge Robert Colville used the terms “entirely baseless” and “meritless” when describing arguments from defense lawyers. Robert...
Members of Pittsburgh-area Mustang club pay visit to New Kensington career & technology school
The lone “pony” in the stable at the Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center had some visitors Friday morning. Members of the Greater Pittsburgh Mustang Club brought about a dozen of their Ford Mustang “pony cars” to put on a car show for students at the New Kensington school. They...
Mixtape in Garfield using space for different entertainment experiences
Mixtape, the music-themed cocktail lounge in Garfield, continues to transform. It’s been a Halloween-inspired space dubbed House of Burton, a holiday bar called Tinseltown and The Tipsy Elf, an “Alice in Wonderland” venue with the moniker Wonderland: An Immersive Adventure, and is currently decked out as a 1980s retro arcade,...
Greensburg man arrested, charged in connection with hit-and-run of 76-year-old woman
The Greensburg man wanted in connection with a December hit-and-run in Greensburg that seriously injured a 76-year-old woman while she was crossing Main Street using a wheeled walker was jailed Friday night. Christopher M. Degnan, 44, was charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving injury and four summary counts...
Golfers still hitting the links, trying to shoot their age, at 86 and 90 years young
Ron Owen of O’Hara is the “spring chicken” when enjoying a round of golf with longtime golfing friends at the Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel. That’s because, at 75, Owen frequently covers 18 holes with his 86- and 90-year-old golf comrades Walter Meloy and Tom Bigley, both formerly of...
