Western PA Local News category, Page 802
Westmoreland tops 100 demolished properties as part of ongoing revitalization effort
Mayors in two Westmoreland County communities said demolition of dozens of dilapidated structures has improved the health and safety of local residents and set the stage for revitalization efforts in their cities. “It means we have reduced crime and reduced costs all around. It allows the concept of a reset...
Evidence linking Unity woman’s death to Thomas Stanko revealed in court filing
A Unity man prosecutors contend killed his girlfriend, although her body hasn’t been found, was suspected of prior abuse against her and former wives, according to court filings. Thomas G. Stanko, 53, was charged in late 2022 with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence and abuse of corpse in connection with...
Arrests reported in New Kensington gun store smash and grab
Federal investigators say they’ve arrested four men who may be connected to the theft of about two dozen firearms from a New Kensington gun shop. TribLive news partner WTAE first reported the suspects in the burglary were taken into custody Wednesday after police stopped an Audi at the intersection of...
Westmoreland happenings: drama productions, blood drive, senior citizen news, more
Arts • Westmoreland Performing Arts students will perform two productions at Science Hall at Westmoreland County Community College. The Teen Group will stage the Monty Python musical “Spamalot School Edition” at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 26, 7 p.m. Jan. 27 and 2 p.m. Jan. 28. The production is appropriate for all...
Hampton library hosts soup cookoff, trivia night, programs for all ages
Programs scheduled at Hampton Community Library include: • “Soup”er Bowl Cookoff, 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 3. Registration is closed, but you still can attend and vote for your favorite soup. For $12, you can taste all the soups, and for children under 5, it costs $5. A bake sale...
Former Bullskin pain clinic physician accused of improper preparation of medication
A physician who operated a pain clinic near the Fayette-Westmoreland border has been indicted on accusations that he sold and administered injections to patients that were prepared in unsanitary conditions at his Monroeville home, according to court papers. John I. Park, 67, is charged with adulteration of a drug shipped...
West Deer man accused of recording secret videos of nude girl
A West Deer man was arrested Tuesday after, police said, he secretly video recorded a girl nude in Derry Borough, according to court papers. Coby C. Jones, 51, is facing charges of child pornography, invasion of privacy and sexual abuse of children filed by Westmoreland County detectives. Jones is formerly...
New Kensington shooting investigated; suspects in custody
Traffic was stalled briefly on the New Kensington Bridge Wednesday afternoon while police stopped a vehicle suspected of being involved in a shooting in the morning. According to Westmoreland 911, a shooting was reported around 10:30 a.m. along Haser Drive in the city at a Westmoreland County Housing Authority apartment...
West View police arrest Bradford man accused of sexual assault
A Bradford man is facing seven felony charges after West View Police arrested him on charges of sexually assaulting a minor. According to the criminal complaint, Eric Collins, 50, is accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old in 2016. West View Police began a juvenile assault investigation when the now 13-year-old...
New Kensington cat rescue investigates after 70-plus rabbits disappear from home
Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue spent days preparing to take in more than 70 rabbits trapped in squalid conditions outside a Butler County home. Workers gathered supplies and arranged for adoptions and transfers, with plans to execute a search warrant Saturday. But, when the New Kensington rescue’s humane agent visited the...
Frequent GOP candidate Shaffer launches bid for North Hills House seat
A frequent Republican political candidate in Pittsburgh’s North Hills is taking another shot at elected office, this time for a state House seat being vacated. Jeremy Shaffer, a former Ross commissioner, announced his candidacy Tuesday for Pennsylvania’s 28th state House District, which includes Bradford Woods, Marshall, Pine, Richland, West Deer...
St. Ladislaus church’s Stations of the Cross moves to Most Blessed Sacrament
A piece of history from the now-demolished 120-year-old St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church in the Natrona section of Harrison has found a new home not far away. Fourteen Stations of the Cross, plucked from the walls of the old Polish church, were installed Tuesday at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, also...
North Strabane man to plead guilty to fatally shooting bald eagle
A North Strabane man has agreed to plead guilty to fatally shooting a bald eagle last year in Washington County, court records show. As part of the plea deal, attorneys said Rodney Thomas, 51, will forfeit an air rifle and suppressor and pay $9,800 in restitution to the Pennsylvania Wildlife...
Trib Lunch Box: Science center name change, Super Bowl streak, TV news personalities take vacation
Here are some noon headlines from TribLive, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024: We’ve made it even easier to get news from TribLive delivered right to your inbox. Choose from daily news and sports newsletters to stay informed of the news that matters most to you. Sign up here: • Carnegie...
New Kensington woman found hiding in discarded refrigerator in the woods after high-speed chase, police say
The search for a woman who police said they pursued in a high-speed chase through New Kensington and Lower Burrell led officers to a rusted refrigerator in the woods, court documents show. That’s where police said they found Rachel Mautino, 45, of New Kensington, hiding early Sunday after the pursuit...
New Kensington man accused of assaulting, threatening officer during arrest
A New Kensington man is accused of hitting and threatening a city police officer while he was being arrested on charges of strangling a woman Sunday. Charles Lavon Lewis, 27, is being held in the Westmoreland County jail on $25,000 bond. New Kensington police went to an apartment in the...
Leechburg forges ahead with regional police plans; state study supports move
Leechburg officials are moving forward with efforts to regionalize their police force with West Leechburg and Parks Township. A regional police study was completed in December, and it recommended consolidating the departments. Officials met Jan. 11 to review the study results. “The biggest thing is the coverage and the assistance...
Man whose car went into Harmar creek found dead in vehicle
A man whose car sped through a Harmar parking lot Wednesday morning before rolling over and landing in a creek was found dead in the vehicle, but it remains unclear what caused the crash or the man’s death. The crash happened just after 8 a.m. off Gulf Lab Road, near...
Huntington gets OK to move into former Downtown Pittsburgh McDonald’s
Huntington National Bank is one step closer to moving into the site that previously housed Downtown Pittsburgh’s last McDonald’s restaurant. Last spring, the fast food spot opted not to renew its lease at the Stanwix Street location just outside Market Square. The Golden Arches had previously been at there for...
National Aviary announces death of macaw featured on ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh on Tuesday announced the death of its “beloved and well-known” macaw Benito. The aviary’s male Hyacinth Macaw died unexpectedly over the weekend from an aneurysm. The jewel-toned bird, once featured on an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” arrived at the Aviary’s Allegheny Center neighborhood in...
Morning Roundup: 2 Pittsburgh officers injured after shots fired in Garfield
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Jan. 24: 2 Pittsburgh officers injured after shots fired in Garfield Two Pittsburgh police officers were injured Wednesday morning after responding to a ShotSpotter notification in the city’s Garfield neighborhood. Police were dispatched to the 5300 block of...
Authorities ID man killed by Pittsburgh police in South Side Slopes
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed early Wednesday by Pittsburgh police as Austyn Cousins, 26. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Cousins was shot by “law enforcement officer(s)” in the 1900 block of Huron Street around 1:49 a.m. He died less than an hour later at UPMC...
Harrison native has never missed a Super Bowl. He’s set to attend for 58th time
Harrison native and mega-Steelers fan Tom Henschel isn’t letting recent physical ailments deter him from continuing his streak of attending every Super Bowl. “It’s my 58th year going to a Super Bowl,” Henschel said Tuesday. “He’s determined to go and on a mission,” added Regina, his wife of 47 years....
The Stroller, Jan. 24, 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. Donations welcome for Leechburg PATH program The Leechburg Food Bank and...
As Hempfield pushes to unite fire department, stations grapple with future
Capt. Steve Kohl won’t miss worrying about keeping the lights on at the Midway-St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. After putting the question to a vote, the majority of his station’s 20 members made up their minds — Midway-St. Clair would “go all in” and become a nonchartered fire station in...
