Power outage in Greensburg traps 4 in courthouse elevator
The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but for four people riding in an elevator Friday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg, those wheels actually ground to a halt. Senior county Judge Al Bell was one of four people trapped inside the elevator for about 45 minutes when a...
Victim in fatal Derry Township crash identified; Route 217 reopens
Officials have identified the person who died in a three-vehicle crash Friday afternoon at the intersection of Route 217 and Industrial Boulevard in Derry Township. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson identified the victim as David Leonard, 72, of Derry. Carson said Leonard, traveling in a red Nissan Rogue traveling south...
Allegheny County Jail now offering treatment for opioid use disorder without a prescription
A month after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Allegheny County Jail officials announced Friday that incarcerated people with opioid use disorder can now be treated with buprenorphine as part of their medication-assisted treatment program. Even patients who don’t have a prescription will be able to benefit...
Police say wanted men arrested during Verona traffic stop; 1 had 100 heroin stamp bags tucked in his buttocks
One of two men arrested in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle grocery store in Verona last Saturday had 100 stamp bags of heroin tucked in his buttocks, police said. Fred Crawford III, 27, of the 400 block of Penn Street in Verona was charged with a felony count...
Greensburg Salem elementary teacher, aide arraigned on abuse accusations
A report from another teacher prompted the investigation that led to the arrests this week of a teacher and aide at Greensburg Salem’s Robert F. Nicely Elementary School on accusations they mistreated three students in a special needs classroom, according to police. “It seems that somebody from the classroom at...
East Deer property owners to pay less in township taxes in 2024
Township taxes for East Deer property owners will decrease in 2024. Commissioners set the 2024 millage rate to 4.65 mills, a 0.25-mill or 5% decrease from this year. It’s the township’s third tax cut since 2015, Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said. Property with a median assessed value of $49,700 would...
Police: Man charged in firing of shots at truck driver near Arnold Palmer airport, leading police on lengthy chase
A man from Lancaster County faces felony charges after police say he fired shots Friday afternoon at a box truck leaving the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity before leading police on a 16-mile chase and crashing in Blairsville. Tyler J. Mieczkowski, 22, is charged with reckless endangerment of another...
West Deer budget raises taxes for most property owners in 2024
Most West Deer property owners will see a tax increase in the upcoming year. Township supervisors adopted the $10.8 million budget at their meeting last week. While the general fund millage rate dropped to 2.9 mills — a 0.09 decrease from this year — the township is implementing a 0.5-mill...
Woman critically injured in downtown Greensburg hit-and-run, police say
Investigators shut down part of South Main Street in Greensburg on Friday to gather more evidence in a hit-and-run that left a 72-year-old woman in critical condition. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was crossing the road with the assistance of a wheeled walker when she was struck....
‘Right place at the right time’: 3 women revive man with no pulse at Plum restaurant
Pam Popko was visiting her parents in Plum this month when her father suggested they have dinner at John Anthony’s. Erin Shepherd was there the same night with her mom, an aunt and some of their friends who go for the restaurant’s Wednesday night specials. Neither woman knew the other....
‘We know there’s a need’: Sheldon Park residents, local churches fill 525 bags for homeless
Scanning the numerous boxes and bags of donated items Thursday morning at the Hayden Center in Harrison’s Sheldon Park neighborhood, resident Sydney Hayden was overwhelmed and grateful for the display of support to help the area’s homeless. “We know there’s a need in this community, and we want to reach...
2 people face burglary charges after New Kensington police say they were caught inside condemned building
New Kensington police arrested two people after officers responding to a burglary call caught them inside a condemned building. Eleanor Nicole McAllister, 30, of the 200 block of North Street in New Kensington was charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass along with a count of theft. Jeremy...
The biggest Pittsburgh, Allegheny County stories of 2023
Pittsburgh is closing the chapter on another year. The year 2023 brought the city and Allegheny County closure on one its worst tragedies, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial. The Steel City’s main hub became the focus on dozens of stories — many tense and political, while others showed Downtown’s might...
Morning Roundup: 1 injured in crash in Castle Shannon; Wahlburgers location closing
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Dec. 29: Wahlburgers closing in North Hills The Wahlburgers restaurant along Northway Drive in Ross is closing permanently. The restaurant said in a Facebook post Thursday that its last day of business would be Saturday. It plans to...
New Kensington to see garbage picked up 4 days a week under new contract
New Kensington residents will have something new to learn for the new year — when their garbage will be picked up. Under the city’s five-year, $15.3 million contract with County Hauling, which starts Monday, garbage will be collected over four days each week instead of the entire city having collection...
The Stroller, Dec. 29, 2023: 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. Christmas tree recycling locations announced Several locations in the area will...
Western Pa. animal shelters scramble to keep up with influx of surrendered pets
Toni Younkin’s phone rings at all hours of the day. As director of Pet Adoption League, a small-scale animal shelter, Younkin knows people need help even outside of business hours. She starts her day early to feed, socialize and take care of the dogs at her organization’s New Stanton-area facility....
Flu shots during pregnancy help shield babies from severe illness, study finds
If you’re pregnant, getting your flu shot will help protect you and your baby from ending up in the hospital with a severe case of the flu, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Pediatricians from UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh were part of the study, which found...
En garde! Western Pa. clubs explore historical German, Italian fencing
Jon Mullin and Brendan Bailey’s clash is not flashy like an Errol
Flynn duel in one of those classic black-and-white swashbuckling films. Then again, flashiness is not a typical feature of effective, real-world sword-fighting. The goal is not to look impressive; the goal is to win the fight. Mullin and...
Pittsburgh officials announce safety measures, road closures for First Night celebration
First responders will be stationed throughout Downtown Pittsburgh to ensure safety during the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh celebration on New Year’s Eve, officials said. Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said the city is “committed to ensuring residents and visitors are able to celebrate this annual, family-friendly tradition in a secure...
Pedestrian suffers head injury in Downtown Greensburg hit-and-run, police say
An elderly woman was injured by a hit-and-run driver late Thursday night while crossing South Main Street in Greensburg, city police said. The victim, whose identity was not available, suffered a head injury from the collision with the vehicle at about 9:45 p.m. and was transported to Allegheny Health Network...
Police chase ends with suspect’s car in Forest Hills pool
A man who flashed a weapon at Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies Wednesday was arrested Thursday after a second police chase ended with his vehicle sinking in a Forest Hill swimming pool, authorities said. The suspect, Jeremy Neal, 31, was arrested after a chase that began in the city, went onto...
Woman, 82, killed after medical emergency causes car goes to go over hillside in McKeesport
An 82-year-old woman was killed Dec. 28 after a medical emergency caused her car to travel over a hillside in McKeesport, according to police. Rescue crews responded at 4 p.m. to a hill near the 1000 block of Long Run Road to find Harriet Sigmund-Dukic of McKeesport inside her car,...
Health Department reports rodents, fruit flies at Waterworks Cinemas
A health inspection this week at Waterworks Cinemas in Pittsburgh cited a rodent and fruit fly infestation. The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday issued a consumer alert about the movie theater’s conditions after a Dec. 26 inspection found six violations. An inspector found evidence of an active rodent infestation,...
$31.6M bond will support Pittsburgh affordable housing initiatives
Pittsburgh and the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority said Thursday that the URA closed on a $31.6 million bond to support affordable housing initiatives in the city. Officials have not yet released a plan detailing how the money will be spent. City Council voted this summer to provide the URA with...
