Western PA Local News category, Page 702
‘One of the lucky ones’: A change in how transplant recipients are evaluated is changing the lives for many Black patients
Alva Smith received a letter with surprising news last fall: She was suddenly moving up on the kidney transplant waiting list. It wasn’t because of a change in her medical status. It was because the test used to evaluate prospective kidney transplant candidates began taking race out of the equation....
‘Perfect storm’: Property tax crisis threatens suburban Allegheny County school districts
Throughout Allegheny County, waves of mall owners, hoteliers, office park operators and big-box retailers are stampeding to slash taxes by challenging their property assessments. But as property owners keep winning big breaks, they’re also creating big headaches. The more the owners succeed, the more they’re choking off critical revenue for...
Community-minded Leechburg spin studio provides more than a workout
Amy Capiross-Watterson of Allegheny Township has an uncanny talent of inspiring people to do hard things. And with her only goal being to make people feel good, she has united a group of about 50 cyclists who visit her spin classes each week at Accelerate Cycle Studio in Leechburg. Capiross-Watterson,...
Ligonier Valley students test waters of fly fishing in Trout Unlimited program
Thirteen-year-old Blake Rensko left behind the confines of his seventh grade classroom at Ligonier Valley Middle School on a recent Wednesday to spend some time angling in a nearby stretch of the Loyalhanna Creek. He didn’t catch anything during his fly-fishing excursion, but he hooked a 20-inch rainbow trout and...
Norwin Senior Citizens Dinner provides service opportunity for students
Norwin High School’s cafeteria was transformed into a disco on April 21 for the 35th annual Senior Citizens Dinner — hosted by members of student council. Kailey Resnik and Carlie Goretzka, student council members, chaired the event with a “Disco Fever” theme. About 300 senior citizens attended. “It’s definitely really...
Pittsburgh police seek help finding missing teen
Pittsburgh police seek the public’s help in locating a missing teen. Vaughn Malone Jr., 15, was reported missing by his mother after he failed to return home April 25, Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne reported. He is described as standing 5 feet, 7 inches, weighing 130 pounds with with brown...
‘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...
