City Nature Challenge coming to North Park
That itsy, bitsy spider in the front yard can be part of a worldwide effort to collect all things natural as part of the 2024 City Nature Challenge, happening April 26 and 27 globally and in the Pittsburgh region. Participants are to digitally capture observations in nature and upload them...
Plenty on tap for Pine’s first Earth Day Event
Protecting the environment is an important goal of Pine, where leaders aim to provide community members and visitors the opportunity to lead an environmentally conscious and sustainable lifestyle and spread awareness. The township will host its first Earth Day Event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 27 at the...
Comcast expands services in Marshall, Pine
Comcast announced the expansion of its fiber-based network to about 3,000 additional homes and businesses in Marshall and Pine. Construction is ongoing with some residents already able to connect to Xfinity residential and Comcast business services, the company announced March 25. “This project, in addition to our expansion in Cranberry...
Break out the cigars: Punxsutawney Phil is a dad
Punxsutawney Phil got busy after predicting an early spring this year. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club took to Facebook on Wednesday to announce groundhogs Phil and Phyllis have given birth to two babies. The baby groundhogs are healthy and with their mom and dad at the zoo located at the Punxsutawney...
Arnold man sentenced for unlawful possession of a firearm, drugs
An Arnold man was sentenced Tuesday to five to 10 years in a state prison in connection with crystal meth, guns and more than $15,000 in cash seized from his home in April 2022. Tyson J. Bargerstock, 38, pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with...
Prosecutors ask judge to revoke $500K bond for East Huntingdon man accused of shooting at troopers
Westmoreland County prosecutors asked a judge to revoke the $500,000 bond posted by an East Huntingdon man accused of shooting at state troopers in January. Meanwhile, the defense on Wednesday secured access to James R. Miller’s cellphone in an effort to see whether a Ring doorbell video exists of the...
Former Allegheny County DA detective has assault charge reduced to harassment citation
A former Allegheny County detective initially charged with simple assault and harassment after being accused of punching two women at an Export bar last year instead was given a lesser summary citation in court this week. Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, said the initial charges...
Duquesne man accused of groping female Westmoreland sheriff’s deputy
A Duquesne man is accused of groping a female Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputy this week, moments after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced in a drug case, according to court papers. Investigators said Jerome D. Felton, 23, pinned the deputy up against a wall and groped her while she was...
Trader Joe’s increases banana prices for 1st time in 20 years
Trader Joe’s banana prices have held at 19 cents each for over 20 years. Until now. The bananas are now priced individually at 23 cents. The more than 20% increase was enacted because Trader Joe’s reached a point where the change was “necessary,” a spokesperson told CNN. “We only change...
School mask policy incident in 2021 results in conviction on disorderly conduct, other charges
A South Greensburg man was acquitted this week of two assault counts related to a 2021 incident at Hempfield Area High School in which he got into an altercation with school police while demanding to deliver a letter related to the district’s mask policy. Richard M. Bettis, 58, was convicted...
In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of March 25, 2024 and beyond
Bridgeville Area Historical Society events scheduled Coordinated by the Bridgeville Area Historical Society, Gary Euler will present “The Life and Times of Roberto Clemente” on April 30. On Tuesday, May 28, Layla Asbury will present “An insight into the relationships of Presidents and their Wives.” Both events start at 7:30...
Pittsburgh targets more tax-exempt properties, including 61 owned by UPMC
Pittsburgh is challenging the tax-exempt status of more than 100 properties as part of its review of sites exempted from property taxes, Mayor Ed Gainey said Wednesday. Sixty-one properties — more than half of the 104 properties the city will challenge this year — are owned by UPMC. Also included...
‘Indian Idol’ puts vocal talents on display at Sri Venkateswara Temple in Penn Hills
Much like America’s televised version, Pittsburgh had its own “Indian Idol” on March 9, with singers displaying their talents at Sri Venkateswara Temple in Penn Hills. The competition’s winner was Tarun Sharma, a vocalist and composer from Squirrel Hill. The event raised $4,000 to a local and international charity, and...
Plum School Board recognizes high school students’ accomplishments
More than 20 Plum Senior High School students were recognized for spring sports and technical academic accomplishments at the district’s March 26 school board meeting in the high school library. Boys wrestling coach Mike Supak, girls basketball coach Rich Mull, girls wrestling coach Dave Miller, principal Patrick Baughman and athletic...
Student in McCandless earns Carson Scholars Fund Award
Providence Heights Alpha School eighth-grade student Aine Corrigan has earned the Carson Scholars Fund Award. Aine is being honored because she demonstrates the highest standards of academic achievement, integrity, and civic and social responsibility. In addition to a $1,000 college scholarship, Aine will receive a medal and certificate at the...
New wrongful death suit filed in case of former nurse Heather Pressdee
Another wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Butler Township in connection with the death of a patient cared for by former nurse Heather Pressdee. The suit, filed Wednesday morning in Butler County Court, claims a 43-year-old man died May 1 at the center...
Westmoreland happenings: Easter services, kindergarten registration, meetings, more
Church News • Living Word Congregational Church, 2003 Ridge Road, Jeannette, will have Holy Week prayer services at 7 p.m. March 25 through March 29. A celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord will be at 11 a.m. March 31. • Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, 3618 Hills Church...
Club Erotica shooter jailed after Supreme Court declines to hear appeal
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will not take up the appeal of a Carnegie man whose murder conviction was tossed by an Allegheny County judge but later reinstated by the Superior Court, clearing the way for him to be sentenced. Charles Becher, 27, was convicted in 2021 of third-degree murder for...
Morning Roundup: Police say fight at North Oakland gas station was bananas
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, March 27: Police say fight at North Oakland gas station was bananas A fight involving bananas and PVC pipe at a North Oakland Sunoco station on Tuesday night has a store employee facing criminal charges. Yubaraj Budhathoki, 26,...
Police: Former Pitt player charged in connection with Clairton shooting, South Hills pursuit
A former University of Pittsburgh football player turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning after police accused him of being involved in a shooting in Clairton and pursuit throughout the South Hills earlier this month. Paris Ford, 25, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count each...
The Stroller, March 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. HOPE Center accepting donations The Alle-Kiski HOPE Center is seeking donations...
Environmental group touts success against proposed injection well in Plum
An environmental group is celebrating some recent legal challenges against a proposed injection well in Plum while encouraging others to join the effort. “We’re really excited and happy that we have good news to share with the community,” said Gillian Graber, executive director of Protect PT. “We’re making some really...
Neighbors oppose special exceptions for 2 Unity homes housing college students
About a half dozen neighbors told the Unity zoning hearing board Tuesday that they don’t want the panel to clear the way for a township couple to continue operating two rental homes for Saint Vincent College students in the township’s Lawson Heights residential neighborhood. The panel’s decision is at least...
SummerSounds and Greensburg Community Development Corp. make merger official
SummerSounds, an annual Greensburg concert series and community favorite for the past 23 years, took a big leap into the future Tuesday as its members voted unanimously to merge with the Greensburg Community Development Corp. The merger will help ensure the summer concerts, which garnered around 41,000 total visitors last...
Wendover Middle School seventh graders participate in special day of service
Wendover Middle School seventh graders participated in a day of service at the school Tuesday, including participation in a Chemo Comfort Care Totes Project. The project started in 2017. Each year students assemble tote bags filled with comforting items for community members beginning chemotherapy treatments. The totes hold blankets, socks,...