Western PA Local News category, Page 853
3 hospitalized after fire in 6th-floor cell at Allegheny County Jail
Three people were hospitalized late Monday after a small fire broke out at the Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh police said. Police and firefighters responded to the jail on Second Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. for reports of “smoke inside the building,” police spokeswoman Cara Cruz said. Firefighters found the smoke...
Oakland Catholic students host Longwood at Oakmont’s Winter Wonderland Formal
When Longwood at Oakmont hired Emma Winkler, the retirement community in Plum gained more than simply a part-time dining server. The Cheswick resident took the initiative to help organize Dancing Through the Decades, a spring prom for the residents. “Witnessing the sheer happiness the prom brought to the residents —...
Southwestern Pa. enjoying low natural gas prices after large drop from last year
Historic levels of natural gas production are among factors leading to low prices in Southwestern Pennsylvania. There are signs natural gas prices could stay low moving into next year. Purchased gas prices for Pennsylvanians are down 9% to 65% compared to where they were last year, according to Pennsylvania’s Public...
Padlocks cut on 7 units, items stolen from Hempfield storage site
Numerous items valued at $4,800 were taken from or damaged in four storage units in Hempfield last month, according to state police. Sometime between Nov. 19 and 20, two people cut padlocks on seven units at Larch’s Self Storage on Willow Crossing Road and took valuable items from three of...
Plum Middle School students return to school after odor investigated
Students and staff returned to Plum Middle School about an hour after an odor caused school and district officials to divert its students to another building this morning, district Superintendent Rick Walsh said. What initially was described as a faint natural gas odor in a classroom was detected about 7:50...
Probe continues after hunter, mistaken for coyote, is shot in South Huntingdon
A man wrapping up a day of hunting Friday in South Huntingdon was shot by another hunter, according to Travis Lau, communications director at the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Lau said the hunter was at his vehicle when he heard a gunshot and walked to an area off State Hill Road,...
Morning Roundup: Burglar targets West Homestead convenience store; Wible Run Road reopens in Shaler
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Dec. 5: Burglar targets West Homestead store West Homestead police said a burglary occurred early Monday at a convenience store along West Run Road in the borough. Police told TribLive news partner WTAE that a man in a...
50th anniversary: Latrobe historical society searches for next generation
The Latrobe Area Historical Society has evolved and expanded throughout the past 50 years — but its continued service to the local community is reliant on the work of numerous dedicated volunteers. President Mary Lou Townsend said the society is seeking younger volunteers to spearhead future growth of the organization....
Delay in state subsidy release puts local libraries, district network in budget bind
When Melinda Tanner calls vendors who supply support services for the Westmoreland Library Network, they know she’s going to ask for an extension of a bill payment deadline. “The word spreads,” said Tanner, district consultant librarian for the network, which is holding payments while waiting for a little more than...
The Stroller, Dec. 5, 2023: 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. Tarentum homes and businesses welcome to enter decorating contest Tarentum Recreation...
‘It is a huge increase’ Plum resident tells council as nearly 40% tax hike discussed
A nearly 40% property tax increase sought in Plum is too much for residents to afford at once, one resident told borough council Monday. But leaders in Plum said the hike is intended to fund the borough for the next five years or more. Brenda Demello called the proposed increase...
Large fire breaks out at Shaler home
At least 10 fire departments responded to a large house fire Monday evening in Shaler. According to Cherry City volunteer fire Chief, Nick Skalos, the fire started at 5:30 p.m. in the garage of the home in the 300 block of Hawthorne Road. He said that the fire extended into...
Unity man on trial, accused of bilking vendors for daughter’s wedding
A Unity man is on trial this week, accused of bilking vendors hired for his daughter’s wedding reception. Testimony is expected to begin Tuesday in the trial of Joseph A. Malago, 51. He’s accused in four separate cases, including three incidents in which he is accused of forging bogus checks...
Lawsuit alleges McKeesport, county police illegally searched residents after officer shootingVideo
A group of McKeesport residents who said they were illegally searched and held at gunpoint three years ago as investigators sought a man who shot a police officer filed a lawsuit Monday alleging excessive force, race discrimination and unreasonable search and seizure. The 44-page lawsuit names as defendants the City...
Greensburg courthouse restaurant opens for business
Jurors called to the Westmoreland County Courthouse looking for some grub Monday didn’t have to brave the weather to get a meal. Caffe Market Express, a new restaurant on the Upper Park level of the courthouse, welcomed more than 170 jurors and hundreds of Westmoreland employees on its first day...
Jury seated to hear case against 3 accused in New Kensington homicide
The trial of three men charged in connection with a fatal July 2022 shooting in New Kensington is expected to begin Tuesday. A 12-person jury and two alternates were seated Monday to hear evidence in the cases against Amir Kennedy, 16, DaMontae Brooks, 17, and Elijah Gary, 20, all of...
All things Grinch: Monroeville Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss favorite
The TV adaptation of the book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has aired for so many decades that people who watched it when they were children can do so again with their grandkids. And whatever the generation, the green, pointy-headed Dr. Seuss creation maintains a high level of holiday popularity....
Police seek hit-and-run driver who injured bicyclist in Derry Township
State police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck and injured a bicyclist Friday night on Route 982 in Derry Township. The crash was reported shortly after 9 p.m. near the Derry Township municipal building, east of Greenfield Road. Daemian Keener, 23, of Derry was riding south along the...
Beaver County man pleads guilty to federal charges he abused care home residents
A Beaver County man pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges that he abused intellectually disabled residents at a care home where he worked as an aid. Tyler Smith, 33, of New Brighton, will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on March 25. The negotiated plea agreement in...
Springdale power plant implosion plan now in the hands of a judge
Whether the former Springdale power plant boiler house will be demolished using explosives is now up to a judge. Both sides in the injunction case filed their final proposed findings of fact and conclusions and, now, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay Jr. must rule on whether to...
Police say impatient driver faces list of charges for driving around Freeport’s Christmas parade
A man who was Tasered twice after leading police on a high-speed chase in Freeport on Friday evening told investigators he sped off because he didn’t want to wait in traffic for the borough’s Christmas parade to finish. Zachary Stephen Zecca, 22, of the 100 block of Spohn Road in...
Hospital, Rotary host Breakfast With Santa in Monroeville
Monroeville must have seemed like the tropics compared with the North Pole for Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Western Pennsylvania rang in December with unseasonably warm weather, as mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine greeted guests as they arrived at Forbes Hospital the morning of Dec. 2. Once inside, they were...
Tarentum water rate increase aims to help restore failing distribution system, bring East Deer’s bulk costs in line
A failing water distribution system in Tarentum coupled with an impractical contract for wholesale water costs to East Deer will spur a rate increase this spring for people in both municipalities. Costs will climb by $1.30 per 1,000 gallons — about an 11% increase in Tarentum and about a 29%...
Water authority: Upgrades to affect part of Delmont
System upgrades by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will affect water service in several areas of Delmont on Tuesday, authority officials said. Between six and eight hours of work will take place Dec. 5 affecting Greensburg Street, Manor Road, Abbe Place, West Pine Street, Stotler Road, Crest Drive, Suncrest...
Officials investigate fire at abandoned Sewickley house, scene of fatal March blaze
A state police fire marshal is investigating a blaze that further damaged an abandoned Sewickley Township house that was the scene of a fatal fire March 16. Firefighters were called to the house at 1048 Yukon Road about 7:15 p.m. Sunday. The house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived,...
