Holiday tree house: Ligonier Township home decked out with dozens of themed Tannenbaums
Jane Mattern decks out more than 40 Christmas trees, at least one for every day of the holiday season and for every room of her family’s expansive Ligonier Township home. The variously themed trees range from an 18-foot live Fraser fir that stretches toward the living room’s cathedral ceiling to...
U.S. Steel sale will create new jobs, spark investment in Mon Valley, analyst says
John C. Tumazos thinks unions and Pennsylvania politicians have gotten the U.S. Steel sale all wrong. The Wilkinsburg-bred metals industry analyst said Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion acquisition of the Pittsburgh-based steel icon will not trigger mass layoffs in Southwestern Pennsylvania or encourage the new owners to idle mills. Instead, the...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy wraps up 1st project funded by parks tax
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is completing its first project partially funded by the city’s controversial park taxes, with four more projects in the works for the new year. The 0.5-mill parks tax — or $50 per every $100,000 of a property’s assessed value — was first collected in 2021 after...
Man wanted on felony gun charges arrested after barricading himself when SWAT team responds
Pittsburgh police announced Friday that fugitive wanted on felony gun charges was apprehended the previous morning with the help of a SWAT team. Pittsburgh Public Safety said city police’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit and a SWAT team executed an arrest warrant for Donald Hines Jr., 19, in the 400 block of...
Pitcairn police chief surprises Gateway students as The Grinch
Pitcairn Police Chief Scott Farally’s annual undercover assignment is quite a few steps off the beaten path. Each year, Farally can be seen around the borough in December, dressed as everyone’s favorite holiday sour-puss, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. This year, PTO parents at Dr. Cleveland Stewart Jr. Elementary arranged...
Murrysville landmark owner backs leniency for building’s arsonist
Monica Meehan sat quietly in a Westmoreland County courtroom Friday to watch the man who burned down her business, the Spaghetti & Steakhouse and Hot Rod Lounge in Murrysville, receive a state prison sentence. “It’s pretty devastating and the land is for sale now,” Meehan said. “At the time, things...
West Deer 11-year-old collects gifts for Belair nursing home residents
A West Deer boy is giving back to the community in ways bigger than himself. On Friday, Colton Petrosky, 11, distributed gift bags to more than 70 residents of Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Lower Burrell. Colton, dressed as an elf, made the rounds with Santa Claus. “I just wanted...
Fern Hollow Bridge documents reveal PennDOT’s concern over city’s lack of action
The city of Pittsburgh knew at least 11 bridges required high-priority repairs in late 2017, about four years before the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed, according to documents released by PennDOT relating to spans owned by the city. Specifically, PennDOT chided the city for dragging its feet on making priority repairs...
Arnold approves new police contract, payment for firetruck repairs
Police in Arnold will start the new year with a new contract and, officials hope, a higher and more attractive starting wage. City Council unanimously approved the new, four-year agreement during a special meeting Friday. It covers 10 officers, nine full time and one part time, who already had accepted...
2 men shot outside Lowe’s store in Waterfront
Two men were shot outside of a Lowe’s Home Improvement store at The Waterfront shopping complex Friday afternoon, police said. Allegheny police responded at 1:45 p.m. to the Lowe’s for a report of one person chasing another with a gun in the parking lot. Officers said they found a firearm...
Pine-Richland students fill 6 Toys for Tots buses
The Pine-Richland High School Student Government Association helped a local radio station beat its target goal for its annual Stuff-A-Bus program. Pine-Richland students stuffed six buses full of toys for the annual fundraiser helping 96.1 KISS FM fill a record 68 buses this year. Toy donations were collected at all...
Panther students stay busy during the holiday seasonVideo
From the high school down to kindergarten, when Franklin Regional students aren’t busy studying, they found plenty of ways to get into the spirit of the holidays. The FR Thespians Club hosted a senior breakfast as part of its run of “A Christmas Carol” performances, eighth grade art club students...
1st employee of Northland Public Library named Ross Citizen of the year
The first employee of Northland Public Library has been honored by her hometown. Willa Neil, 79, received the 2023 the Durachko-Gottfried Ross Township Citizen of the Year Award at the December commissioners meeting. After volunteering at the Shaler North Hills Public Library during her high school and college years, she...
Prisoner swaps with Russia should include Oakmont man, delegation says
More than a dozen members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are calling on federal officials to include Marc Fogel in any potential prisoner swaps made with the Russian government. Fogel, a Butler County native who lives in Oakmont, has been detained in Russia for more than two years after he was...
Stewart Elementary students raise over $3,000 for Children’s Hospital with holiday market
Students at Stewart Elementary School on Thursday set up shop to sell candy, toys, crafts and other items to their peers as part of their annual holiday market. But the proceeds weren’t going to them. Instead, the money was being collected by Stewart administrators who then, at the end of...
Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Boyce Park open slopes this weekend
Hidden Valley skiing fans can hit the slopes Friday, and those waiting for Laurel Mountain will be able to head downhill starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. Vail Resorts announced opening dates and holiday hour for ski and snowboard operations at its Laurel Highlands locations. Hidden Valley Hidden Valley Resort opened...
Murrysville area: Native plant program, MMA fight night, ‘Winter Wonderlab’ and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Native plants program A staff member from Rust Belt Natives will host a Jan. 16 presentation on gardening with native plants at the Murrysville Community Library. Participants will learn how to create a low-maintenance, environmentally friendly garden space, how to choose the...
Memorials to slain Lower Burrell pub owner a testament to his popularity; no new details emerge
The usually vibrant activity outside Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell was gone Friday, giving way to makeshift memorials dedicated to the bar’s owner. And as friends, family members and the community grieve the loss of David “Mogie” Magill, 64, the investigation into his death continues. Magill was shot to...
Pittsburgh firefighters finalize new contract with city
The city of Pittsburgh and the union representing city firefighters announced a new contract Friday that includes wage increases, new parental leave and health insurance policies, and modernization upgrades to fire stations. The contract covers the next five years with members of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters, IAFF Local No. 1. IAFF...
Morning Roundup: 9-car chain-reaction crash in Strip District; fire in Duquesne
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Dec. 22: 9-car crash in Strip District under investigation An early Friday morning crash in Pittsburgh’s Strip District caused a chain reaction involving nine vehicles and city police are trying to figure out what happened. One vehicle was...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Dec. 22-25
We’ve made it to the weekend. It is three days off for some with Christmas Day on Monday. In between those final shopping stops at the mall, local retailer or Peoples Gas Holiday Market, here are some other ways to spend it. Christmas Day at Pitt The annual Christmas Day...
Light ’em up: Synchronized light displays becoming more popular since pandemic
Western Pennsylvania saw its first decent snowfall Dec. 18. But it’s been “snowing” at Dr. Lou DiToppa’s house for a while now. DiToppa of North Huntingdon has been ramping up his Christmas decoration display for a few years. It began with brightly lit snowflakes around his house, front yard and...
The Stroller, Dec. 22, 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. Help available to apply for Dollar Energy Fund assistance Allegheny Valley...
Plum School Board considering 6.2% property tax increase
Plum residents already hit with a spike in their borough property tax bill also might see an increase in the largest part of their bill: the school district’s property tax. Ryan Manzer, the district’s chief financial officer, presented several options, including a 6.2% tax increase for the 2024-25 school year....
Residents, business leaders say Westmoreland tax hike could stunt growth, hurt pocketbooks
“Why was the tax hike so big?” That was the question asked by Westmoreland County residents and business owners who reacted to the commissioners’ decision to raise real estate taxes by 32.5% next year. It could have been done in smaller increments over the past few years, some people said....
