Local category, Page 819

One of the most recognizable individuals in Pittsburgh history would shake hands with folks he met and introduce himself, as if they didn’t know, by saying: “Hi, I’m Franco.” The friendly, unassuming side of football legend Franco Harris is what artist Kyle Holbrook knew. “When I would text him or...

A Ligonier Township man pleaded guilty Wednesday to disseminating and possessing child pornography. Mathew Louis Hoffer, 57, was charged last spring after state investigators linked his home computer to file-sharing programs that contained sexually explicit images of children. According to court records, police found at least 25 files on Hoffer’s...

People who have dock space along the Allegheny River in Tarentum are asking for added time to pull their items from the water and shoreline after council eliminated leases until further notice. Council in August said leases will not be approved until the borough has a finalized riverfront development plan,...

Ariel Silvaggio loved animals, including bugs, spiders and worms. When her mom would pick her up from daycare, she would see the little girl playing in the dirt. Teachers would often send her mother pictures of Ariel digging to see what living things she could find outside. “She would come...

A festival to celebrate peace and what’s right with the world will take place Sept. 24 at North Park in McCandless. The 19th Annual North Hills International Day of Peace Festival is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start at Point Grove on North Park’s Lake Shore Drive. The finale, a...

Boosting the teacher pipeline in Pennsylvania and helping marginalized students succeed in college are among the five projects that have been selected for investment by the University of Pittsburgh. The program, called Pitt Seed, provides internal financial support for pilot projects that have growth potential and could have direct impact...

A tanker truck got stuck Wednesday morning at the Colfax Street railroad crossing in Springdale. The truck became hung up on the Norfolk Southern tracks, causing railroad traffic to shut down while police and officials worked to remove the tractor-trailer from the tracks. It appeared the truck might have gone...

Latrobe Art Center will host the opening reception for the 14th annual Mister Fred Rogers Fine Arts Juried Exhibition 5-7 p.m Friday. Nearly 50 of the participating artists who created the 75 pieces in the exhibition are expected at the reception. The exhibition will run through Sept. 30. Justin Gunther,...

Legislation before Pittsburgh City Council would prohibit most development in the city’s parks and greenways. Sponsored by Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, the measure would bar nonrecreational development — including most roads — in city-owned parks and greenways. “What this ordinance does is make it abundantly clear that our city parks...

A Kiski Area School District therapy dog was ready for her closeup Wednesday during picture day in the high school library. Roo, a 1-year-old deaf therapy dog, joined the Kiski Area staff in January after being adopted by Superintendent Misty Slavic. “She’s the sweetest thing when she roams the hall,”...

Oakmont Mayor Sophia Facaros swore in eight volunteer firefighters Tuesday at the borough’s monthly work session. Facaros chose to call on each volunteer separately to recite the oath of office. “You all probably don’t get as much recognition as you should for the work that you do for the community,”...

Limited archery hunting will be permitted in two Pittsburgh parks this year. City Council on Wednesday approved legislation that will clear the way for limited deer hunting to address a deer population that officials have said has grown too large. Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration will host a pilot program in...

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is warning people of potential scammers who have been posing as food bank representatives at several large events, including Rib Fest last weekend on the North Shore. The food bank said Pittsburgh police are investigating potential fraud following several reports of people posing as...

A section of Claypike Road in Mt. Pleasant Township was shut down for a couple hours Wednesday morning after a tri-axle truck overturned, spilling its load. The one-vehicle crash was reported at 9:20 a.m. in the area of Sheriff’s Lane, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. A section of...

Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking should be emailed to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks prior to the event. Each announcement is printed once; there is no fee. Church News • Greensburg Church of the Brethren will host...

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said Wednesday that state police were justified in fatally shooting a Fawn man who brandished a gun last fall after troopers responded to a domestic disturbance report. Zachary John Cervice, 50, was killed on Shamrock Lane as he got out of a...

“Let’s talk.” That’s the message from Leechburg-area clergy and officials as they prepare to host an inaugural town hall meeting Sept. 27 at the Marconi Club in Leechburg. The meeting is presented by the Leechburg Ministerial Association, which comprises several Leechburg and Gilpin churches. Participants will include government officials, school...

An Allegheny County man was identified as the person who was killed Tuesday in North Huntingdon during a narcotics investigation involving agents from the state Attorney General’s Office. Dontae D. Warner, 30, of McKeesport “became involved in an interaction with multiple police departments” and died in a parking lot behind...

Another electronic billboard could be coming to Tarentum. Representatives from Weleski Transfer in Tarentum are asking borough council to approve construction of a digital billboard that would rise 70 feet above the company’s West Fourth Avenue offices and, hopefully, catch the attention of drivers along Route 28. Lights would be...

An affordable housing development proposed in Pittsburgh’s South Oakland would cater to LGBTQ+ seniors. The proposed six-story apartment complex on Forbes Avenue would include 48 units, 24 off-street parking spaces and 22 bicycle parking spots, according to plans presented Tuesday to the city’s planning commission. All of the units would...

State troopers in three local troops were busy during the Labor Day weekend as they investigated five fatalities in four crashes, including ones in Allegheny, Fayette and Westmoreland, according to statistics released by the agency. That amounted to half of the fatalities on the roads statewide that were investigated by...

Extended, weekendlong lane closures on Route 28 in Harmar will begin Friday, according to PennDOT. The single-lane restrictions will occur in both directions on Route 28 on two bridges, as crews work on expansion dam replacement and approach road reconstruction. Work on the northbound lanes is set to begin at...

The Belle Vernon Area School District voted Tuesday evening to hire former Plum superintendent Timothy Glasspool. Some parents at the school board meeting voiced opposition to the decision, citing a grand jury report that condemned Plum School District officials following a sexual assault scandal involving a former teacher, according to...

A man with a previous conviction for sexual abuse of minors was charged recently with soliciting two underage girls for sexual favors. Jonathan Hoover, 25, of Hempfield was charged on Aug. 30 with four felonies including unlawful contact with minors, according to court documents. Hoover was convicted of sexual abuse...