Trib Lunch Box: Macy’s closing, Wendy’s pricing, Willie Nelson, Clairton Coke fines
Here are some noon headlines from TribLive, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024: • Macy’s to close more stores. What’s left in the Pittsburgh region? Macy’s will close 150 stores over the next three years and 50 by the end of 2024, the department store said after posting a fourth quarter loss...
Neo, the rescued Kiski River alligator, among more than 70 animals to die in South Park fire
Neo didn’t make it. The wayward alligator, only recently recovered in Kiski Township after escaping and apparently living along the Kiski River since last summer, was one of the more than 70 animals confirmed to have died in a fire that swept through Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park on...
Hempfield supervisors delay vote to advertise part-time fire department driver position
Hempfield supervisors are holding on hiring a paid, part-time driver for the fire department. The township set aside $81,000 in its budget this year to potentially hire four part-time drivers for the fire department, primarily to assist during daylight hours. Candidates for the position must be able to perform fire...
Mt. Pleasant School District honors bus driver Denise Fontanazza for decades of service
As Denise Fontanazza followed her familiar school bus route around Mt. Pleasant Township Tuesday morning, she wondered why so many students were missing from their stops. She found out why when she pulled bus No. 15 up to Norvelt Elementary. Fontanazza was honored Tuesday by district officials for a rewards...
Summer Lee pulls out of Muslim group fundraiser amid pressure from rivals, Jewish advocates
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, has canceled a speech at an upcoming fundraiser hosted by a national Muslim advocacy group amid mounting criticism over her participation. Lee, a freshman House member and progressive, was scheduled to speak this weekend at the annual state banquet for the Council on American-Islamic Relations’...
Morning Roundup: Officer hit by vehicle; police seek missing Jefferson Hills teen
Here are a few morning news items for Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024: Beaver County officer struck by driver A Beaver County police officer conducting a traffic stop was struck and injured by a vehicle Monday. TribLive news partner WTAE reported a New Sewickley Township officer was conducting a traffic stop...
Pittsburgh man killed in Charleroi shooting
A Pittsburgh man was killed late Monday night in a shooting in Charleroi, according to Pennsylvania State Police. State police said Tev Jerod Mungo, of Pittsburgh, was shot just before 11 p.m. Monday outside of a residence in the 800 block of Lookout Avenue in the Mon Valley borough in...
New Kensington-Arnold increases high school security measures after live round found in bathroom
New Kensington-Arnold School District officials have not figured out how a live firearm round got inside Valley High School two weeks ago, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said Monday. The district has not changed any policies in response to the Feb. 13 incident, which caused a lockdown of the school that morning,...
West Deer police SUVs stay in service through donation to fire and EMS
West Deer emergency services will have new utility vehicles for errands or to haul extra personnel to scenes, thanks to a township donation of used police SUVs. Township supervisors voted last week to give vehicles no longer used by the police department to West Deer No. 2 and West Deer...
The Stroller, Feb. 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. Annual subscription campaign continues at Lower Kiski Ambulance Service Lower Kiski...
BridgeUP program gives districts a chance to ‘grow your own’ teacher
LeAnn Dupree “always wanted to be a teacher,” but paying for a four-year college degree wasn’t in the cards for her. So she settled for an associate degree and entered the workforce, working three jobs including as a paraprofessional educator to make ends meet. She switched from special to early...
Employers at job fair face hurdles to fill slots — fewer workers and low unemployment rate
About four dozen businesses and organizations seeking workers at a job fair this week in Hempfield are facing a double whammy as they attempt to woo prospective employees: The jobless rate is at a record low, and there are fewer people in the workforce since the covid pandemic upended the...
Bail set at $250,000 after drug bust in North Huntingdon
A West Mifflin man is behind bars after police said he sold $520 worth of suspected heroin/fentanyl on Monday to an undercover officer and confidential informant in North Huntingdon. Investigators from North Huntingdon, the Westmoreland County Drug Task Force and the state attorney general’s office worked together in the bust...
Former Franklin Regional superintendent tapped as consultant to find new leader at Hempfield Area
Hempfield Area School District’s superintendent search is officially on. The district board tapped education consultant Peter Emery D’Arcangelo to begin its search for a new district leader to replace Tammy Wolicki. Wolicki announced her retirement Jan. 22, following an extended leave of absence. Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Kimberlie Rieffannacht...
Pharmacy information company hack has impact on Western Pa. pharmacies, chains
A cyberattack disrupted operations at a pharmacy information company beginning about two weeks ago, impacting a number of pharmacies around the country. UnitedHealth subsidiary Change Healthcare first reported on its website Feb. 21 that it is “experiencing a cyber security issue.” In updates Friday, the company said it was still...
Gator, turtles pulled from fire at Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park
At least one alligator and several turtles were pulled from a fire Monday afternoon at Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park. Allegheny County Deputy Steve Costello noticed the building at the intersection of Brownsville and McCorkle roads was ablaze just before 4 p.m., Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Manko said. South...
‘Crank it up as loud as you want’: Richland studio offers optimal recording environment
The sun never rises on Sunset Place Recording Studio in Richland, at least not in the part where the action is. “We’re underground, so you don’t have to worry about bothering the neighbors,” owner Destin LeCornu said. “You can crank it up as loud as you want.” For example, guests...
Sharpsburg library’s chili cook-off draws crowd, honors former winner
A food-tasting fundraiser brought folks from Sharpsburg and surrounding towns to the borough building in memory of a community legend. At least 60 people participated in Sharpsburg Community Library’s Robert “Snakeguy” Habegger Chili Cook-off on Feb. 25. They including 10 competitors and 25 registered taste testers. “This is the best...
Allegheny County hits U.S. Steel with $1.9M fine over Clairton Coke Works emissions
Allegheny County officials Monday hit North America’s largest coke-manufacturing facility — which is also the county’s top source of air pollution — with a $1.9 million fine for uncontrolled emissions. It’s the third-largest penalty levied against U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works in the past five years. The fines stem from...
Fox Chapel Area musicians perform in PMEA concerts
Several students from Fox Chapel Area School District were selected to perform in the junior high chorus, junior high band and senior high orchestra festivals for District 1 of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. District 1 includes schools from Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. • Dorseyville Middle School...
Everson man receives 2 years probation for assault of Lyft driver
A former Hempfield man was ordered Monday to spend two years on probation for assaulting a Lyft driver who took him home from a gentlemen’s club in 2022. Carl L. Beltz, 43, of Everson, pleaded guilty Monday to simple assault, resisting arrest and theft. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of Feb. 26, 2024
PA Pre-K Counts accepting applications in March PA Pre-K Counts, a program of the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc., will begin taking applications in March for its locations throughout Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette and Westmoreland counties for the 2023-24 school year. PA Pre-K Counts, offered at no cost to qualifying...
Fish fry tradition continues with new management at Our Lady of Joy in Plum
The Lenten fish fry at Our Lady of Joy is under new management. Chris Allman of the Knights of Columbus Council 4242 is the new coordinator of the fundraiser at the Holy Family Parish church in Plum. The parishioner took over for the late Joe Dello Stritto Sr., who passed...
Woman pleads guilty in catalytic converter theft ring targeting Westmoreland, Indiana counties
An Indiana County woman pleaded guilty Monday to involvement in a catalytic converter theft ring, and attorneys indicated another suspect may do the same. Debbra Lynn McAdams, 56, of Homer City entered a general plea to theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and criminal use of a communication facility. Two...
Murrysville OKs Olympus fracking pipeline work, pickleball business parking
Murrysville officials approved maintenance agreements last week with driller Olympus Energy to build temporary infrastructure connecting its fracking operations in Westmoreland County. The agreements cover the use of a small section of Thompson Road, as well as a little over a mile of Logan Ferry, Hankey Church and Beighley roads,...
