Washington County DA conducts raid on coroner’s office over inquest records
A dispute between Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh and Coroner Timothy Warco over a fatal police shooting in the spring led to a raid on the coroner’s office Tuesday morning. Warco, who this month was reelected to a ninth term, said four detectives from the DA’s office and four...
Highmark reports profit as post-covid health care system steadies
A growing insurance business and rising patient volumes at Allegheny Health Network helped boost Highmark Health’s first nine months. Highmark Health, the parent company of the 14-hospital Allegheny Health Network, reported a profit of $431 million on $20.3 billion in revenue. That’s an increase over the same period last year,...
Bethel Park increases taxes on real estate, earned income
As the longtime president of Bethel Park Council, Tim Moury has worked on municipal budgets each year going back to the 1990s. His final effort in that regard comes with a tough choice: raising the real estate tax rate by .75 mills and the municipal portion of the tax on...
Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa falls victim to cyberattack, feds say
Federal and state security officials said a poor or even default password could be the weak link that enabled hackers to break into a Pittsburgh-area water system. The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa suffered the cyberattack on Saturday, with several media outlets displaying images of a screen from the authority...
Woman identified who died after shuttle bus struck her in Oakland
The woman who died Wednesday morning after a shuttle bus struck her in Oakland has been identified. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Emily Watson, 29, of Pittsburgh. Watson was a UPMC employee and was struck by a UPMC shuttle while she was walking, according to...
3rd annual Wreaths Across America event scheduled in Bethel Park
Lisa Jenkins’ father, David Schmitt, was a U.S. Army tank driver in Korea. He is her inspiration for becoming co-coordinator of Bethel Park Wreaths Across America with her husband, Jim Jenkins. Wreaths Across America started in 1992 when the owner of a company in Maine arranged for placement of wreaths...
Allegheny County’s Homeless Advisory Board calls on city, county to open extreme weather shelter
Allegheny County’s Homeless Advisory Board is calling on Pittsburgh and the county to establish clear criteria for opening their joint extreme weather shelter. Board members said during a meeting Tuesday that they were upset there appeared to be no plan to immediately open the shelter, despite the recent frigid temperatures....
Reflections on a rewarding journey with Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall
This is my final column in the Signal Item. I have enjoyed writing them over the last several years. More importantly, the Signal Item has written myriad articles about happenings at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall over the last 122 years. It’s a relationship! I am not...
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden in North Fayette hosts ‘Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh’ through Jan. 1
Pittsburgh Botanic Garden is blooming with a field of 2,000 illuminated flowers. “Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh” is a winter display featuring a million lights throughout the garden. Guests can stroll under dozens of handmade Moroccan lanterns hanging from the treetops, a new feature this year, and through a tunnel of giant...
‘Bridgeville in 1223 A.D.’: Historian discusses long-ago local inhabitants
Under what now is Interstate 79 as it passes through the westernmost part of Bridgeville, a settlement flourished nearly a millennium ago. Historian John Oyler remembers some related local folklore. “Anybody my age who grew up in Bridgeville heard about the Indian mound on Gould City Hill all their lives,”...
Jeannette plans to add 63 more surveillance cameras, including 16 license plate readers
The number of surveillance cameras in Jeannette is more than tripling, according to Police Chief Donald Johnston Jr. The department is adding 63 cameras, including 16 license plate readers, with grant funding received last year from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Johnston estimated the 25 cameras already affixed...
Plum School Board hires new transportation director, manager
The Plum School District has new leaders in its transportation department. The school board Tuesday approved hiring Taye Coles as the district’s director of transportation and Mark Delahunty as transportation manager. Coles’ annual salary was set at $85,000, while Delahunty will be paid $57,000. Both hires are retroactive to Nov....
Stop the Judgement passes out nearly 100 Narcan kits in Marshall event
Stop the Judgement Project distributed nearly 100 kits containing the drug Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, during a Nov. 25 event at Generoasta Coffee and Cafe in Marshall Township. Those attending were also trained free of charge to spot the signs of an overdose and...
Pittsburgh looks to make it easier to open child care businesses in residential areas
A Pittsburgh zoning change that is one step away from gaining approval would make it easier to open child care businesses in the city’s residential areas. Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of the proposed zoning amendments, which would allow for child care facilities within neighborhoods zoned for...
West Deer fire destroys home after man tried to light his fireplace, fire chief says
A West Deer man’s house was destroyed Tuesday night when he tried to start a fire in his fireplace but it got out of control, a township fire chief said. Anthony Creaturo, chief of West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, said crews were dispatched at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to...
Harrison man to stand trial on charges he used stolen driver’s license, bank card to steal $7K
A Harrison man accused of using a stolen driver’s license and bank card to withdraw more than $7,000 from the owner’s accounts has been ordered to stand trial. Rodney Gaschler, 57, of Walnut Street was charged Nov. 6 with felony counts of forgery,receiving stolen property and access device fraud. Several...
Heights Plaza buzzes with opening of Harvest Moon’s 2nd location
Scott Walmsley relaxed in a velvet armchair with a hot beverage Wednesday morning during the grand opening of Harvest Moon Coffee & Chocolates in Heights Plaza in Harrison. He couldn’t have looked more content. “This is exactly what I’d be doing at home,” said Walmsley of Freeport. “It’s a comfortable...
New Kensington man gets court date in fentanyl-related Route 28 crash case
A New Kensington man accused of being under the influence of fentanyl this summer, blacking out on Route 28 and crashing his car with his 5-year-old son in the back seat is headed to Allegheny County Court. Ryan Joseph Walsh, 29, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Route 28...
Westmoreland happenings: Concert, blood drive, Christmas parties, more
Fundraisers • Mt. Pleasant Church of God will host a Fair Trade Marketplace from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the church, 936 W. Main St. There will be more than 20 vendors, music and free coffee and doughnuts. Admission is...
Pittsburgh’s Frick Park a step closer to historic designation
Pittsburgh’s Frick Park is a step closer to receiving historic designation. The city’s Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to recommended granting the historic designation. Located in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill South, Regent Square, Point Breeze and Swisshelm Park neighborhoods, the 644-acre Frick Park is a “visual landmark” in the community, said...
Man accused of being lookout during New Kensington burglary faces felony charges
New Kensington police accuse a man of participating in a burglary at a home where fireworks were stolen and more than $1,000 in damage was caused while the occupants were away camping. Trevon Lamont Wilson, 20, of the 1400 block of Fifth Avenue in Arnold was charged with felony counts...
Big video screen in plaza near PNC Park would boost entertainment on North Shore, developer says
Plans are moving ahead for a proposed video screen in a new plaza near PNC Park where people could watch Pirates games without going into the stadium. The concept was first introduced to the Planning Commission last month. Commissioners said then that they were concerned the large LED screen would...
Pittsburgh woman faces charges after 45-mile police chase
Pennsylvania State Police said they have charged a Pittsburgh driver after a 45-mile police chase on Thanksgiving Day. Police said the chase began in Mercer County and ended in Wexford in Allegheny County. Troopers said they attempted to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation in the southbound lanes...
Elizabeth Borough looks to disband police department
The Elizabeth Borough Council on Tuesday voted to move ahead with a proposal to disband its police department, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. The borough currently has one full-time police officer — Chief William Sombo — and a rotating list of 12 to 15 part-time officers. Council on Tuesday...
Morning Roundup: Fire destroys former alpaca farm in West Deer
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Nov. 29: Fire destroys former alpaca farm in West Deer A former alpaca farm in West Deer was destroyed in a fire Tuesday night. West Deer fire Chief Anthony Creaturo told TribLive news partner WTAE that the homeowner...
