Plum residents worried, angry as council approves nearly 40% increase in property tax rate
Plum residents voiced concerns and, at one point, erupted in anger as council approved a nearly 40% increase in borough property taxes Wednesday. Council voted 6-1, with Dave Vento against, to increase the borough’s 2024 property tax rate by 1.85 mills, from 4.78 mills to 6.63 mills. It will support...
AHN expands services at Downtown Pittsburgh clinic
Allegheny Health Network is adding services to its primary care clinic in Downtown Pittsburgh. The Express Care services at its clinic on Penn Avenue are available for minor health conditions such as cold, flu and covid-19 symptoms; rashes and infections; and other afflictions. Testing also is available for covid, flu,...
Beaver County police officer charged in 2022 death of bystander at shooting scene
A Beaver County police officer accused of assaulting a man who later died is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. A grand jury recommended charging former Center police officer John J. Hawk, 37, with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and perjury....
Santa, cookies kick off Christmas Eve 5K in North Park
Work off those inevitable Christmas cookie calories by racing in the Christmas Eve 5K Run/Walk in North Park. The event, sponsored by Wolf Creek Race Management, starts at 10 a.m. Dec. 24 near the lake at the North Park Swimming Pool on South Ridge Drive in Allison Park. Volunteers from...
2 girls hit by vehicle on the North Side; 1 in critical condition
Two 11-year-old girls are hospitalized after being hit by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon in the North Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Allegheny County dispatchers confirmed that two people were hit and taken by medics to the hospital after the incident, which was reported shortly after 4:30 pm. Police said one girl...
Pittsburgh considers extending lease on police HQ for 6 years, with option to buy
A proposal before Pittsburgh City Council would extend the city’s lease on its North Side police headquarters for six years, after which it would have an option to buy the building. The city has leased the building on Western Avenue for 20 years. The current lease is set to expire...
Winterfest in McCandless attracts hundreds to holiday event
Hundreds of people came out for McCandless Township’s third annual Winterfest celebration on Dec. 2. Food, games, light displays and fireworks were part of the fun. The event was held at the public works garage adjacent to the township building on Grubbs Road. Winterfest is one of the township’s best-attended...
State police seek suspect in Indiana County bank robberyVideo
State police are looking for a suspect who robbed a bank Wednesday afternoon in Indiana County. No one was injured in the 12:20 p.m. robbery at the Homer City S&T Bank branch, according to Trooper First Class Cliff Greenfield, public information officer for the state police. He said a male...
Pittsburgh City Council tweaks mayor’s budget proposal, to vote on spending plan next week
Pittsburgh City Council advanced a package of budget-related legislation Wednesday after tweaking the spending plan proposed by the mayor, including more than doubling a would-be pay raise for council members. The proposed 2024 budget includes no tax increase, though City Council Budget Director Peter McDevitt has said that the city...
The Borough of Seven Fields will join the Northern Regional Police Department
Seven Fields Borough Council on Dec. 11 approved a four-year contract for police services to begin in early 2024 from the Northern Regional Police Department. The contract will cost Seven Fields $650,000 in its first year, according to a statement posted on the Seven Fields website. Northern Regional will provide...
Seven Springs slopes to open this weekend, close for week
Area snow sport fans need wait no longer as Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County will open its slopes this weekend. The slopes will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, according to Anna Weltz, senior communications manager...
Judge tosses out dozens of charges in North Huntingdon gun theft case
Dozens of weapons charges were dismissed Wednesday against an Allegheny County man accused of stealing guns from a North Huntingdon home. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik ruled prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to support theft allegations regarding 10 weapons. She dismissed 51 counts, including felony charges...
Monroeville plans to hire new municipal manager
Retirement has arrived for Timothy Little, who attended his final council meeting as Monroeville’s municipal manager on Dec. 12. Council voted unanimously to advertise an ordinance appointing his successor, Alexander Graziani, with a vote on his approval expected in January. The ordinance includes approval of a contract that establishes the...
Conditional use approval helps cause for digital billboard in Monroeville
A billboard with rotating digital images may be coming to Business Route 22 in Monroeville. On Dec. 12, municipal council voted 3-2 to grant a request by Wolfgate Devco LLC for a conditional use as permitted in a municipal C-2 commercial district, paving the way for what is proposed as...
PPG expands in Europe with new facility in France
Pittsburgh-based paint and coatings company PPG has opened a facility in France to improve its operations in Southern Europe and North Africa. The $17 million aerospace application support center in Toulouse, France, will provide filling and packaging capabilities for aerospace materials, including coatings and sealants for aircraft, according to the...
Latrobe approves budget with no tax increase
Latrobe residents will soon be able to pay city garbage bills and other fees online. Council on Monday approved a five-year agreement with Invoice Cloud to process online credit card payments. City manager Terry Carcella said the company will enable residents to pay their trash bills online for the first...
Pittsburgh to use money from anti-violence trust fund on parks, recreation
Money from Pittsburgh’s anti-violence trust fund can now be used on parks and recreation projects. City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allow up to 10% of the money in the Stop the Violence trust fund to go to the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, D-Hill...
Sharky’s Cafe seeks donations for Christmas meal drive
Sharky’s Cafe in Unity is seeking donations for its Christmas meal program— which helps to feed those in need during the holiday season. Donations are being accepted until Dec. 21, the date of the meal drive. Organizer of the drive Sharky’s co-owner Jamie Huemme said the drive will provide 600...
Deadline nears for Greensburg holiday contest, letters; music classes planned for spring
Greensburg Parks and Recreation is celebrating the season with the return of its holiday decorating contest. Friday is the deadline for contest entries and for kids to correspond with Mr. Claus in the Letters From Santa program. City residents can take part in the contest by submitting a photo of...
3rd person accused of failing to keep gators from escaping in Kiski Township
Another person is facing charges in the case of wayward alligators in Kiski Township. Stephanie A. Suman, 26, of the 1300 block of Brownstown Road in Kiski Township, was charged via summons last month with two misdemeanor counts each of reckless endangerment and cruelty to animals. Police say she risked...
Westmoreland happenings: Choral concert, church services, blood drive, more
Arts • The Irwin Male Chorus will present a concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Community United Presbyterian Church, 1640 Keystone Park Road, New Alexandria. Refreshments will be served. Details: 724-668-7752. • The Westmoreland Performing Art Professional Theatre Company will present “A Christmas Story – The Musical” Dec. 22...
After shooting trooper, Damian Bradford gets additional 10 years in killing of Mercer County urologist
A Pittsburgh man formerly of Beaver County will have to spend another 10 years in federal prison for killing a Mercer County urologist in 2005 while having an affair with his wife. The additional time was imposed on Damian Bradford, 42, after a judge determined that he violated his release...
Indiana Township ambulance service closing after 28 years
After working under the same roof for almost three years, employees with Seneca Area Emergency Services soon will be working as West Deer EMS Service. Seneca Area EMS announced Tuesday night that it will close as of Jan. 1, after operating for 28 years. Seneca Area EMS covers the western...
Morning Roundup: Police say woman used Taser on pregnant woman; man shot in Pittsburgh; 73-year-old scammed
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Dec. 13: Police say woman used Taser on pregnant woman A Greensburg woman is accused of using a Taser stun gun on a pregnant woman on the stomach Saturday, according to court papers. City police said Lillian G....
3-month-old boy dies in Brighton Heights, police investigating
A 3-month-old boy died Monday at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh after first responders were notified that the infant was in distress in Brighton Heights. Kyrie Robert Mitchell was unresponsive when first responders arrived at the infant’s Davis Avenue home around 8:20 p.m., city police said. Detectives are investigating. The...
