Police make arrest in 2023 East Vandergrift shooting
A Bell Township man faces criminal charges after he shot into a vehicle last year in East Vandergrift, causing more than $14,000 in damages, according to police. Frank Callipare, 62, is charged with criminal mischief and property damage, a third-degree felony, over shots fired during an incident in March in...
Pittsburgh council splits over Gainey’s $6M master plan proposal
Some Pittsburgh City Council members are questioning a proposal by the mayor’s office to pay consultants $6 million for a citywide comprehensive plan, the details of which remain unclear. Several members Wednesday voiced concerns over the steep price tag, calling it “irresponsible” and “exorbitant.” Detractors said the proposal is vague,...
Programs scheduled by Northern Tier Library in Richland, Pine
Upcoming Northern Tier Library programs include: • “I Loaf You”: Saying Love through Sourdough Bread, 6:00 p.m. Feb. 12. Thinking outside the box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day? Consider giving a loaf of sourdough bread for the occasion. During this one-hour discussion and demonstration, Novel Breads Co. will explore ideas...
Fire crews respond to apartment fire in Hempfield
Fire crews responded Thursday morning to an apartment fire in Hempfield Township. Westmoreland County dispatchers said firefighters received the call around 7:06 a.m. for a fire at a multi-story building at 188 W. Hills Drive. The fire was mostly out by 7:30 a.m., and some firefighters remained on the scene...
Morning Roundup: Woman missing from Homewood; construction on McKnight Road
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Feb. 1: Police seek woman missing since November Pittsburgh police are asking for the public’s help in finding a woman who has been missing since Nov. 17. Elissa Jackson, 43, was described by police as 5 feet, 5...
1 killed in Fayette County stabbing
A 24-year-old man was killed early Thursday morning in a stabbing in Grindstone, Fayette County. According to TribLive news partner WTAE, the incident happened around 12:20 a.m. along Hilltop Avenue in Grindstone. Pennsylvania State Police told WTAE the victim, Shawn Hriscisce, was stabbed after some sort of altercation. He was...
Hempfield ice cream stand adds drive-thru, plans to open year-round
The owners at Tastyland in Hempfield are looking to keep the taste going year-round. They’re building a drive-thru at the ice cream and food stand, which has operated in the past on a seasonal basis. “We’ve owned it now for about three years and have had a lot of crazy...
TribLive kicks off Black History Month series
A study by Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission in 2019 deemed the city as one of the worst places for a Black woman. It found that the city’s Black women make only 54 cents to every dollar that its white men do and that Black women are five times more likely...
CDC recommends RSV vaccine, monoclonal antibodies in official immunization schedule update
New parents, take note: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is including vaccinations and treatments to protect against respiratory syncytial virus — better known as RSV — in its recommended vaccination schedule for infants. The treatments — an RSV vaccine recommended during pregnancy to protect the baby before birth,...
The Stroller, Feb. 1, 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. Burrell middle school students to perform SpongeBob musical The Charles A....
Power plant property owner says judge erred by granting injunction in Springdale boiler house demolition
The owner of the former power plant in Springdale cites eight reasons why an Allegheny County judge erred in granting a preliminary injunction to block an implosion of the boiler house at the site. In a court filing Tuesday, lawyers representing Charah Solutions outlined their points against the December order...
‘Non-stop sitcom with incredible music’: Split Stage Productions brings ‘Urinetown’ to Lamp Theatre
Split Stage Productions’ latest performance doesn’t take itself too seriously, said director Rob Jessup. The theater company, which opened in 2013, will perform the musical “Urinetown” Friday and Saturday and Feb. 8-10 at The Lamp Theatre in Irwin. The 16-person cast will tell the story of a post-apocalyptic world experiencing...
Gateway school counselor: Advocacy is goal year-round
There’s a lot in store for Gateway School District counselor Colleen Tortorella this month. Current president of the Allegheny County School Counselors Association, she helped plan the group’s next conference, slated for Feb. 1 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. There are typically four meetings each school year, with the focus...
Connellsville teen pleads guilty for role in New Kensington fatal shooting and later assault of a shelter worker
A Connellsville teen pleaded guilty Wednesday in juvenile court to his role in the July 2022 fatal shooting of a man in New Kensington. Braedon M. Dickinson, 16, was one of seven suspects charged with the killing of 39-year-old Jason Raiford in front of the Valley Royal Court Apartments. Dickinson...
Jim Rogers’ family, public attend Homewood video screening of man’s fatal encounter with Pittsburgh police
Myrtle and Billy Joe Jordan weren’t ready Wednesday to watch their nephew die. The Point Breeze couple last heard from Jim Rogers, who vacationed with them as a boy, a few days before his fatal encounter with Pittsburgh police on Bloomfield’s Harriet Street on Oct. 13, 2021. Rogers, who struggled...
Judge says court intervention needed to improve Westmoreland County Register of Wills office
Westmoreland County judges issued new deadlines and warnings Wednesday to Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton to properly file and process court documents. A hearing was held in response to allegations that her office has failed to process documents related to adoptions, estates and appeals. Hamilton was questioned for more...
Connellsville teen pleads guilty for role in New Kensington fatal shooting and later assault of a shelter worker
A Connellsville teen pleaded guilty Wednesday in juvenile court to his role in the July 2022 fatal shooting of a man in New Kensington. Braedon M. Dickinson, 16, was one of seven suspects charged with the killing of 39-year-old Jason Raiford in front of the Valley Royal Court Apartments. Dickinson...
Pine-Richland Youth Center welcomes new executive director
Nick Guido has been hired as the Pine-Richland Youth Center’s new executive director. His predecessor, Larry Bracco, retired in January after 30 years of service. “It’s been an honor and privilege to serve the Pine-Richland community and surrounding areas for over 30 years. I look forward to helping Nick lead...
Franklin Regional board, residents debate proposal termed ‘stealth Buddhism’ by former board member
An emotional wellness curriculum given initial approval in Franklin Regional School District was described by a former school board member as “stealth Buddhism” during a recent debate over whether the district should use it. It’s called Mind Up, and it aims to help strengthen students’ ability to regulate emotion, focus...
Pine nonprofit’s donation program helps young-adult cancer survivors
Young Adult Survivors United is inviting the community to help give young cancer survivors a helping hand through a new basic-needs donation program. Distribution Days provides household items, toiletries and nonperishable products for members of the Pine-based nonprofit, those diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18 to 45, according...
Westmoreland happenings: Black History Month programs, bingos, omelet breakfast, more
Art • The Greensburg Art Center will host a window screen painting demonstration from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at the center, 230 Todd School Road, Hempfield. Black History Month events • In honor of Black History Month, the Student PSEA group at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg...
2 suspects charged in burglary of New Kensington gun store
Federal authorities have charged two men in connection with the burglary of a New Kensington gun store last week. Steyn Sarduy, 18, no address available, confessed to the break-in, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Authorities identified the second suspect as Michael Guin, 26, who...
Building empathy, understanding: Pitt Greensburg reading initiative sparks community discussion
When Sheila Confer finished reading “Rising Out of Hatred” by Eli Saslow, she wanted everyone to experience the book. Confer, an instructor for Pitt’s Greensburg campus, gathered about 400 students and 100 community members to read the book in 2022 through a program dubbed Westmoreland Reads. Saslow, a writer for...
Presentation by Holocaust survivors’ daughter scheduled in Hampton
They had the misfortune of seeing them, swastika-bearing banners flying above the streets of their towns. They couldn’t help but hear them, youngsters their age dressed in Hitler Youth attire and singing Nazi Party anthems. “I hate the songs,” Edith Leuchter says in a video in which she and her...
Man fatally struck by vehicle in Strip District identified
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified Thomas F. Sunseri, 56, of Pittsburgh, as the pedestrian killed Jan. 24 after being struck by a vehicle in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Sunseri died at 8:22 p.m. on Jan. 24 in an area hospital following the incident, the medical examiner said. Sunseri...
