Western PA Local News category, Page 779
Drug, weapons possession indictments filed in federal court against 2 Westmoreland men
Two Westmoreland County men with long criminal histories are facing separate indictments in Pittsburgh federal court. Duran Foster, 29, of Jeannette, was indicted Tuesday on two counts of drug possession and single counts each of possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. A grand jury found that...
The Stroller, Feb. 15, 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. Vandergrift veterans memorial to receive update The Casino Theater and several...
Morning roundup: Man shot outside Pittsburgh bus station
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Feb. 15: Man shot in foot outside Pittsburgh bus station A man was shot in the foot Wednesday night outside the Greyhound bus station in Pittsburgh, police said. The shooting at 11th Street and Penn Avenue was reported...
SPIES program a favorite among Gateway students
Gateway High School teachers Natalie Puhala and Jaclyn Browning make it a priority to advocate for and expand the Monroeville school’s world languages department. Puhala has been involved with the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association since 2007. Last November, she was the co-chair for the PSMLA conference, which was held...
Holiday Park Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Company in Plum kicked off fish fry season on Ash Wednesday
Fish fry season, and Lent, have officially begun. Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Company in Plum continues its food fundraiser tradition with the same menu as last year. Between 20 and 25 volunteers on Ash Wednesday and every Friday through Good Friday at the fire station at 415 Old Abers Creek...
Ex-Seton LaSalle teacher to face trial on charges of groping student
A former Seton LaSalle Catholic High School substitute teacher will face trial on charges that he sexually assaulted a student in his classroom at the Catholic school in Mt. Lebanon. Damon Gall, 24, of Canonsburg, is accused of sexual assault and uttering inappropriate comments when they were alone together while...
Police charge Hill District couple after finding drugs near children’s medical supplies
Pittsburgh police on Tuesday charged a Hill District couple who they said had hard drugs alongside medical supplies used by at least one of their twin 3-year-old boys. Lorenzo Stanley, 42, and Aniya Macon, 23, the children’s legal guardian, were arrested in the 500 block of Crawford Street. After monitoring...
Hempfield’s High Park fire station suspends service after nearly 2 years on probation
The High Park Volunteer Fire Department will no longer serve Hempfield after nearly two years on probation. The township received an email from High Park on Feb. 8 indicating the station wanted to discontinue its service. Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic suspended operations at the station Tuesday. High Park has...
Franklin Regional to install weapons detection system at senior, middle schoolsVideo
Franklin Regional School District will install a weapons detection system at both its senior high and middle school, according to a letter sent to district families earlier this week. The OpenGate Weapons Detection System, which will be installed based on the recommendation of the district’s safety committee, is a portable,...
Pine-Richland finance director calls raising tax to index ‘not a recommendation’
Pine-Richland School District last raised the real estate tax rate seven years ago, and it may hold steady again for 2024-25. The school board voted in January not to exceed an increase of 5.3% for next year, as per the base index set for the district as set by the...
Allegheny Township man dies in crash near Lower Burrell-Allegheny Twp. line
An Allegheny Township man died Wednesday afternoon when the truck he was driving went off Melwood Road near the Lower Burrell-Allegheny Township line. Lower Burrell police officer Aaron Rodgers said Nicholas A. Ganter, 29, was driving alone when his pickup went off the right side of the road. The vehicle...
Westmoreland happenings: Benjamin Franklin program, pancake and waffle breakfast, super bingo, more
Business workshop • Mt. Pleasant Business District Authority will host a workshop “Online Influence” from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Feb. 26 at the authority office, 445 W. Main St., for business owners and community members. Topics will include ways to build trust and credibility online and how to use that...
Monroeville couples celebrate 60-plus years of marriage at Valentine’s Day vow renewals
Virginia Farkas was emotional about renewing her vows on Valentine’s Day with her husband of 62 years, Bernie. But the main emotion she had about her wedding day makeup was slight annoyance. “That’s as good as it’s going to get,” she said with a laugh, looking into her mirror as...
As Chicago abandons ShotSpotter, Pittsburgh plans to expand use of the controversial technology
Pittsburgh’s police chief says the force will keep using ShotSpotter, the controversial gunfire detection system, despite news this week that Chicago will abandon the technology. In fact, a city councilman told TribLive that Pittsburgh plans to expand ShotSpotter’s use. “The bureau does not have any intention to follow Chicago’s lead,”...
Plum awards $1.12M road paving contract to Derry Construction
Plum will spend more than $1 million to resurface about 10 miles of roads this year. Council awarded a $1.22 million contract to Derry Construction. The work will not start until Aug. 1 at the earliest, to give borough crews time to finish other work on the roads, borough Manager...
Shapiro, visiting Mt. Lebanon, blasts GOP critics of budget proposal
Gov. Josh Shapiro came out swinging against his Republican critics Wednesday during a visit to Mt. Lebanon. Shapiro was touring the South Hills community’s Washington Road commercial corridor to boost his budget proposal and advocate for increased state funding for main street improvements across Pennsylvania. He is proposing $25 million...
Derry Township man accused of sexual assault
A Derry Township man was jailed Monday on state police accusations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl. Adam L. Boyer, 46, is charged with corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and child pornography. The girl reported to troopers that Boyer gave her alcohol at a township home...
Export man threatened relatives with guns, machete, police say
An Export man is accused of threatening relatives with guns and a machete before brandishing a gun in front of state police troopers responding to the disturbance Sunday. State police filed numerous charges against 63-year-old Robert Deering. According to state police, Deering was arguing with his daughter and son-in-law after...
Seton Hill University lockdown lifted after police search
Seton Hill University was on lockdown for about 90 minutes Wednesday while state police searched in the area for a man who fled when troopers tried to take him into custody on a warrant. Trooper Steve Limani said the incident happened mid-morning on Mount Thor Road at the border of...
Fox Chapel Area superintendent gets new 5-year contract, starting at $237,000
Fox Chapel Area School District Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac is expected to continue leading the district for the next five years. School board members unanimously approved a new contract with the top administrator Feb. 12. Reljac was hired by Fox Chapel Area in the summer of 2020 after she served...
Wilmerding man facing drug charges after police sting in North Huntingdon
A Wilmerding man is behind bars after police said he sold an undercover officer five bricks of heroin/fentanyl Tuesday in North Huntingdon. Township police said Quadrikis A. Phillips-Turner, 30, exchanged the drugs for $940 at a Mills Drive location. He is charged with criminal use of a communication facility and...
Online dating brings success, horror stories to Pittsburgh-area residents
Emily Fisher was dating a man in 2022 when his self-described “best friend from childhood” came to visit for the weekend. The “friend” was actually another girlfriend. “It was just so crazy,” said Fisher, 24, of Beaver. “I was like, ‘Maybe this is a joke.’ ” The relationship’s abrupt conclusion...
Southwestern Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub launches in Brackenridge to help towns access federal funding
Brackenridge Mayor Lindsay Fraser was surprised when her small town was approached to host a news conference to launch the SWPA Municipal Project Hub. But she also found it fitting. “There is a generationally historic amount of federal infrastructure money available to towns just like Brackenridge, to communities in Allegheny...
Bethel Park cheerleaders showcase athleticism, spirit
Not so long ago, Tori Magnotti was demonstrating her talents as part of Bethel Park’s competitive cheerleading program. These days, she’s guiding students as the high school team’s head coach. In advance of the squad’s annual trip to Florida for the National High School Cheerleading Championships, Bethel Park community members...
3 hires return Plum police force back to full staff
Plum Council has approved filling three vacancies in the borough’s police department and in doing so has offered employment to the department’s second female officer. Council on Monday approved conditional offers of employment to Jason Saunders, Haylee Walak and Luke Skledar. They will replace officers who have retired or resigned,...
