East Deer to discuss 5% amusement tax this week; decision could come as early as next month
An amusement tax in East Deer could be enacted as soon as February. The township commissioners Thursday discussed the idea of establishing an amusement tax, in light of scheduled events at the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. facility. Township officials plan to continue the discussion Thursday, said commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani. If...
Police say felon found with stolen gun when SUV was pulled over after fight in New Kensington
A New Kensington man who is not allowed to possess a gun is accused of having a stolen pistol tucked in his waistband when an SUV in which he was a passenger was pulled over. Michael Lamar Harris Sr., 47, of the 300 block of Third Avenue was charged with...
‘Skill’ games become popular, ubiquitous but may not stay legal
Frequent Pittsburgh Mills walker Paul Tyree recently noticed a new form of entertainment during his fitness jaunts around the inside of the Frazer shopping mall. A four-game skills gambling kiosk, each with large, colorful digital displays and an accompanying chair occupy the middle of a corridor that’s visible from Macy’s,...
The Stroller, Jan. 6, 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. Pa. Litter Hawk Youth Award accepting entries Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is...
Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls are set to rise again
Pennsylvania Turnpike toll rates are set to rise starting Sunday for the 16th consecutive year. Here’s what motorists can expect: • A 5% increase. • For passenger vehicles, the most common toll will increase from $1.80 to $1.90 for E-ZPass customers and $4.40 to $4.70 for Toll by Plate. •...
Pittsburgh police: Missing Braddock girl found safe Saturday
A 17-year-old girl with Down syndrome who went missing after she was dropped off early Friday morning at Sto-Rox High School has been found safe, Allegheny County Police said Saturday afternoon. The girl, Kayla Durler, of Braddock, was last seen at a nearby bus stop in Stowe shortly before 10...
Snowstorm forecast prompts vehicle restrictions on Pennsylvania Turnpike, other major routes
Vehicle restrictions will be in place beginning Saturday on portions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other major highways in the state as officials prepare for an expected weekend snowstorm. Starting at noon, PennDOT restrictions will take effect on the section of the toll road stretching from the New Stanton exit...
Records reveal gun arrests for suspect in Monroeville police shooting
The man accused of shooting a Monroeville police sergeant after robbing a cookie shop Wednesday night is a convicted criminal with a history of arrests on gun charges dating back nearly a decade. Jamal Brooks, who is charged with wounding the sergeant while spraying his marked police car with 16...
River Road from Apollo to Vandergrift reopens following widespread fuel spill
River Road from Apollo to Vandergrift reopened Saturday morning after a truck leaving Apollo Plaza had its fuel tank damaged Friday afternoon, dumping hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel onto the road. According to Armstrong County 911 dispatchers, the road was reopened by about 7:18 a.m. Saturday, and the spill...
Judge rules former Derry man charged with sexual assaults of multiple teens competent to stand trial
A former Derry man will stand trial in five cases in which he is charged with sexual assaults and other crimes against multiple teenage girls over the last year. Christopher Fraser, 20, was charged last year in connection with allegations he had improper sexual contact with children ranging from 12...
2 men wanted in connection with ATM theft from Downtown business have been apprehended
Both men wanted for allegedly stealing an ATM from a Downtown business on Christmas Eve have been arrested, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday. Raymond Fields III, 59, of Pittsburgh was apprehended Thursday night without incident at a residence along the 2600 block of South 18th Street on Pittsburgh’s...
‘I will never be who I was before the shooting,’ woman shot on Pa. Turnpike tells gunman
As Morgan King drove to her Eastern Pennsylvania home after a weekend in Pittsburgh, the last thing she expected was to be shot in a fit of road rage. King, 40, was hospitalized for five days for injuries suffered from the shot fired by Andrew Skinner, 33, of Monroeville moments...
Judge again orders engineering firm to turn over Fern Hollow Bridge records
A judge on Friday again ordered a balky engineering firm to turn over voluminous records about the Fern Hollow Bridge for his review before he decides whether to give them to lawyers representing victims of the span’s collapse nearly two years ago. The records — unredacted bridge inspection reports and...
Rostraver father will stand trial after July accidental shooting of 4-year-old son
A 4-year-old Rostraver boy continues to recover from a head wound after accidentally shooting himself in July with his father’s gun. Meanwhile, his father was ordered Friday to stand trial on charges of child endangerment and reckless endangerment. The gun was left loaded and unsecured under a bed next to...
Point Breeze dog eats thousands in cash, garners national attention
When Carrie Law heard her husband yelling from across their Point Breeze home, she quickly came running — only to find $4,000 in cash strewn about the room, with much of it torn into pieces. “Cecil ate the money!” her husband yelled. Their dog, Cecil, a goldendoodle, had discovered the...
New mayor outlines goals for Lower Burrell in 2024
Lower Burrell’s new mayor took the gavel Wednesday night and prioritized continued business growth and development, community engagement and transparency. “There’s no more of us reacting to stuff,” Mayor Chris Fabry said. “We’re really going to take a proactive approach moving forward in the city, because that’s what needs to...
Greensburg Salem plans session to review, get feedback on school facilities
The state of Greensburg Salem School District’s facilities will be the topic of a public meeting set for Jan. 17 in the high school auditorium. “It’s really an informational meeting, to talk about the current state of the facilities,” said district Superintendent Ken Bissell, “so we can start to collect...
In events like the Springdale high-rise evacuation, coordination is key, officials say
Evacuating a high-rise building full of senior citizens, many of whom are physically handicapped, during a cold January night could spell a recipe for chaos. But on Tuesday night in Springdale, it wasn’t. The Springdale Manor high-rise, which houses about 90 residents, was evacuated because of a natural gas leak....
Monroeville police sergeant’s car sprayed with bullets; officer struck 3 times
The armed robbery suspect who sprayed a Monroeville police sergeant with gunfire Wednesday night has been identified as 32-year-old Jamal Brooks. Brooks has been charged with striking the officer three times as he sat inside his marked car, according to a criminal complaint. The sergeant — who was not identified...
Meteorologists say weekend’s expected snow to be a ‘non-event’
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh are debunking social media posts that have predicted a foot of snow to be dumped across Pittsburgh early Saturday. “It’ll be a non-event,” said Lee Hendricks, from the weather service in Moon Township. “We will see little to no accumulation Saturday or...
Morning Roundup: Crews battle fires in Manchester and Elizabeth Borough; break-in reported at Monroeville pizza shop
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Jan. 5: Two-alarm fire in Elizabeth Borough Crews battled a two-alarm structure fire early Friday in Elizabeth Borough. The fire was reported at about 5:10 a.m. along South Third Avenue, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. No injuries...
Wage increases included for some Frazer part-timers in 2024
Frazer supervisors opened 2024 with reappointments to boards and commissions as well as pay increases to some part-time employees. Matthew Beacom was unanimously reappointed as the supervisors chairman, and William Creevey will remain vice chairman. Supervisor Lori Ziencik was reappointed as the township’s secretary and treasurer. Because Ziencik is an...
The Stroller, Jan. 5, 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. Local schools competing in Paint the Plow contest Leechburg Area and...
Lack of snow, where rainfall ends up factors in declining Beaver Run reservoir levels
There’s been little change to an extended dry spell that has dropped water levels to rarely seen lows in the region’s reservoirs. But water customers who’ve been asked to cut back on their use are doing their job, according to municipal authority officials. Customers have been conserving, said Michael Kukura,...
Wilmerding receives funding to demolish 3 blighted properties
Wilmerding code officer and Fire Marshal Al Hussey doesn’t have any specific plans for the property at 109 Middle Ave. But he sure was glad to find out the borough would be able to tear it down in the near future. “It’s literally leaning on Angie’s Restaurant next door,” Hussey...
