Western PA Local News category, Page 8
Judge rejects accused Mogies shooter request to remain in mental facility to await trial
A Lower Burrell man will be transferred from a mental hospital back to the Westmoreland County Prison this weekend to await trial on charges that he shot and killed the owner of Mogies Irish Pub in late 2023. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani on Thursday declined a...
Pennsylvania officials warn of PennDOT text phishing scams
If you’ve received a text message recently from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, it’s definitely a phishing scam, state officials say. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration Thursday put out a notice — alongside PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission — warning of text phishing scams “currently targeting Pennsylvanians.”...
Guilty plea set for mother, daughter charged in Greensburg Beverage estate theftVideo
Lawyers for a Jeannette woman and her daughter, accused of stealing a $4 million estate from the former head of Greensburg Beverage, told a Westmoreland County judge Thursday the pair plans to liquidate assets to facilitate a plea deal. Lisa Anne Valesky, 52, of Jeannette, and Angela Lynne Valesky, 28,...
Police respond to shootout at Edgewood Towne Center
One person was injured in a shooting Thursday afternoon at Edgewood Towne Center, police said. The incident occurred shortly before 3:15 p.m. TribLive news partner WTAE footage showed officers in the parking lot near the Wendy’s at the South Braddock Avenue shopping plaza. “First responders determined that two males had...
State education secretary, lieutenant governor visit Point Park for food accessibility initiatives
Point Park University sophomore Chloe Humway believes on-campus resources like a free food pantry and community garden can be vital to students. And to some, those resources can be the deciding factor when attending a college, she said. “It is almost like a life-changing thing,” Humway said. “We have a...
Westmoreland museum presents annual Art in Bloom
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art exhibit Art in Bloom began Wednesday and will run through Sunday, and it includes a score of local floral designers creating displays inspired by art throughout the museum. On Sunday, admission to the exhibit will be free to the public for the last day...
GoFundMe launched to support TSA workers at Pittsburgh International Airport
The Allegheny County Airport Authority Charitable Foundation launched a GoFundMe campaign Thursday, aiming to lift up government workers hit hard by the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown caused by the ongoing federal budget deadlock. By 4:30 p.m., the GoFundMe had raised more than $4,000 for Transportation Security Administration (TSA)...
Candle studio joins pop-up businesses fueling Downtown’s NFL Draft push
The temperature Tuesday afternoon in Downtown Pittsburgh didn’t climb much above freezing. But patrons at Kayla Branca’s new candle workshop, The Studio by PGH Candle, said they felt something warm wash over them upon entering the Wood Street store. Branca made the shop’s opening official this week with an oversized...
Westmoreland commissioner warns sheriff’s deal with ICE could lead to ‘hellish territory’
Westmoreland County commissioners and Sheriff James Albert could be headed for a showdown over potential dealings with federal immigration officials. Albert on Thursday insisted he will deploy his deputies to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and provide crowd control during operations in Westmoreland County, despite claims from commissioners...
AG-led raids targeting illegal guns lead to seizures in Pittsburgh, Rankin
Local police and agents from the state Attorney General’s Office last week arrested two teens and seized three guns after securing search warrants for homes in Pittsburgh and Rankin, the agency announced Thursday. Authorities said they arrested Daonte King, 18, on gun charges after searching his Mount Washington home March...
Pool party: A modernized Oliver Bath House delights swimmers
Renee Gielewski has decades of fond memories at Pittsburgh’s century-old Oliver Bath House, interrupted only by its six-year closure for renovations. With the historic swimming pool recently opened once again, the 83-year-old Gielewski is already hard at work making new memories. For the last few weeks since the pool invited...
‘Nobody’s coming to save you’: Wife of ex-UPMC doctor facing attempted murder charges testifies 1 year later
Arielle Konig thought her husband, a former UPMC anesthesiologist who used to live in Mt. Lebanon, was joking at first when he threatened her after the troubled couple snapped a selfie while strolling down a Hawaiian hiking trail last year. Then, she testified Tuesday in an Oahu courtroom, Gerhardt Konig...
Pitt chancellor emeritus Mark Nordenberg to retire after serving university for almost 5 decades
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg will officially retire from the university this summer, ending a nearly five-decade run shaping and leading Pitt. The university announced Thursday that Nordenberg, 77, will step down on June 30 as chair of the Institute of Politics and director of the Dick Thornburgh...
Coroner identifies man found in Youghiogheny River
Authorities in Fayette County used fingerprints and rapid DNA testing to confirm the identity of a man whose body was found earlier March 15 in the Youghiogheny River near Dawson. Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker on Thursday announced the man’s identity as William Guidi, 42, of Somerset. Baker had...
Point Park alumna makes television debut on ‘The Pitt’
Like many Pittsburghers, Lorna Lominac is a fan of “The Pitt.” As a Point Park University acting student, “My roommates and I, we would just like gab about it, like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s so cool, there’s a show (set) in Pittsburgh,’ ” Lominac told TribLive. But Lominac didn’t imagine...
The AI doctor is in: Survey suggests nearly one-third of Americans rely on chatbots for medical advice
An estimated one-third of U.S. adults are asking artificial intelligence to play doctor, according to a survey released Wednesday by KFF. The health policy nonprofit recently collected answers from more than 1,300 Americans as part of wider poll on how people sought medical information over the past year. The results...
Discarded and forgotten objects serve as inspiration for art exhibit at Sharpsburg library
Pittsburgh-based artist Brad Bianchi collects forgotten and discarded materials from around the world for his art. Known as a reuse artist and for his one-of-a-kind furniture creations, Bianchi has works nationwide. One of his pieces recently was added to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s permanent collection. “Every Piece: Art by...
Acrisure Stadium to host free, public World Cup watch parties
For Pittsburghers who haven’t had a chance to snag tickets to the FIFA World Cup soccer matches coming to Philadelphia this summer, the Steel City will be one of three areas having free public watch parties. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Visit PA, in partnership with the nonprofit local host committee...
Hempfield seeks more information on potential easements related to Northmont flood control project
Hempfield supervisors for the second consecutive month opted to not take any action on a request from Greensburg to use eminent domain on two township properties for a planned flood control project. Supervisor Doug Weimer said after the meeting he wanted updated information about easement agreements and offers Greensburg has...
Pittsburgh’s budget is a mess: What you need to know
Pittsburgh’s $693 million budget is back on the drawing board … again. Earlier this month, Mayor Corey O’Connor flagged serious concerns about the city’s finances. He said this year’s budget — the plan that finances every facet of city operations — faced a shortfall of up to $40 million. Crafting...
Woodland Hills to pilot program exploring medical fields
Eddie Willson heard from Woodland Hills High School students that they wanted to work in the medical field, but didn’t know how to break in. “After graduating high school, they’re going into interviews with AHN and UMPC saying, ‘I have a high GPA and I have recommendation letters from my...
Market Square brawl reignites Downtown Pittsburgh safety concerns weeks before 2026 NFL Draft
A Market Square brawl last weekend has renewed pressure on business owners and elected leaders to crimeproof one of Downtown Pittsburgh’s most visible public spaces — just weeks before hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on the city for the 2026 NFL Draft. About 40 people wreaked havoc around 5:30...
Owner of Plum’s Lelulo’s Pizza wins $25K grant for contributions to community
For many Plum residents, Lelulo’s Pizzeria is known for its community engagement and active social media presence. During the covid-19 pandemic, owner Patyn McCune provided free lunches for several local children. Since then, she has also helped with clothing and Easter basket drives, opened a food pantry during last year’s...
Pittsburgh in line for damaging winds, isolated flash flooding Thursday night
Pittsburghers looking to soak up sunshine and warm temperatures should do so while there’s light Thursday, as storms forecast for the evening are expected to segue into cooler conditions this weekend. Temperatures are forecast to reach into the low 70s Thursday, said Jared Rackley, meteorologist for the National Weather Service...
Pittsburgh area 8th grader has the last remaining perfect women’s NCAA bracket
The only perfect bracket left after the opening weekend of the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments — from more than 40 million entries across all the major contests — was produced not by some college basketball expert or betting guru but an eighth grader from suburban Pittsburgh. His name is...
