Western PA Local News category, Page 880
Be my neighbor: Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium’s Thanksgiving gathering to highlight a Mister Rogers philosophy
The theme is “Giving Thanks for our Neighbors.” It’s an appropriate title for the annual Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium Community Network’s Thanksgiving gathering on Nov. 20 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Eastmont in Penn Hills. Caring about everyone in the community is the mission of the group, a partnership of the...
Medical examiner identifies pedestrian killed Nov. 9 in North Braddock crash
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday identified a pedestrian struck and killed by a car Nov. 9 in North Braddock. Harry King, 75, of Braddock, was killed when a motorist driving north on Braddock Avenue went off the roadway around 8:15 a.m. and struck him, police and the...
Commission: Jeannette City school board member, former president fined for violating Ethics Act
A Jeannette City school board member was fined $500 for violating the state Ethics Act, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission said. Mark Gogolsky violated the state’s Ethics Act when he filed deficient statements of financial interests between 2016 and 2020 by failing to disclose all reportable sources of income, according...
2 antisemitic incidents in Pittsburgh bring annual tally to nearly twice 2022’s figure
Two antisemitic incidents — a “threatening” Instagram meme and graffiti scrawled at the University of Pittsburgh’s campus — were reported this week to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, bringing 2023’s number of incidents to 242, nearly twice the total reported last year. Security officials released the information Thursday morning,...
More questions than answers in search for man seen jumping from Hulton Bridge
More questions than answers remain as authorities continue to search the Allegheny River for a man witnesses say jumped from the Hulton Bridge between Harmar and Oakmont after crashing his car Tuesday evening. The man remains missing and unidentified publicly, Harmar police Chief Jason Domaratz said Thursday while providing an...
Shadyside Gap employee accused of secretly taking photos of customer in changing room
A employee of the Gap clothing store in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside was accused of secretly taking photos of a woman in a changing room in September. Police responded to the Walnut Street store after a caller reported trying on clothes in a dressing room when she saw a phone camera appear...
Lawsuit: Man removed from transplant list after UPMC officer assaulted him, falsified charges
A UPMC police officer assaulted a Uniontown man during a medical transport and then lied about the incident to file criminal charges and have him involuntarily committed, a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday claims. The allegations led to the man’s removal from a liver transplant list, although the charges were ultimately...
Democrats sweep Riverview School Board races
Democrats swept the races for Riverview School Board, earning five seats for four-year terms and another for a two-year term in the Nov. 7 election, according to unofficial Allegheny County results. Jennifer K. Chaparro, board president, won reelection with a leading total of 1,875 votes. “I am grateful to the...
Penn Hills School Board appoints new superintendent
The Penn Hills School Board hired a new superintendent Nov. 8. John Mozzocio was appointed, 8-1, at a special voting meeting. Board member Devon Goetze was the lone no vote. “I have thought about this pretty well,” Goetze said. “I intend to 100% support Mr. Mozzocio, but my vote is...
Morning Roundup: Man stabbed in Wilkins Township Shop ‘n Save; police investigating purchase made with stolen credit card in Hempfield
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Nov. 9: Man stabbed in fight in Wilkins Township Shop ‘n Save A 42-year-old man was stabbed multiple times during a fight in the Shop ‘n Save in the 3000 block of William Penn Highway in Wilkins Township...
The Stroller, Nov. 9, 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. Food collection to benefit local families in need Vandergrift Police Department...
Unity mother reflects on ‘the worst 4 months of my life’ as probe into daughter’s killing stalls
Bruna Vesco Leonard had a few video chats with her 25-year-old daughter on the evening of June 9. Brianna Lartz was visiting a friend in Jeannette, and they were getting ready to eat dinner. Hours later, Leonard was panicked to hear about a shooting at the friend’s home. Leonard said...
St. Brendan’s in Franklin Park hosts Cookie Walk Nov. 18
The Cookie Monster would love this, not to mention Santa and his elves. St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church of Franklin Park will hold its annual Holiday Happenings Craft Show and Cookie Walk on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than two dozen vendors will offer handcrafted goods...
Butler Health System losses nearly doubled in 2023, according to financial statements
Butler Health System’s losses almost doubled in the fiscal year ending June 30, according to newly released financial documents. The system, which in January merged with Excela Health to create Independence Health System, lost $43.3 million in fiscal year 2023. Butler Health reported $22.8 million in losses in the fiscal...
Union workers at West View Water Authority poised to strike as contract negotiations drag on more than a year
Members of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 416 at West View Water Authority could go on strike at any time. Union president John Witheral said members voted in May to authorize a strike after negotiations with the authority stalled but have held off. Their last contract, a five-year...
First lady Jill Biden highlights Western Pa. workforce development efforts during Pittsburgh stop
First lady Jill Biden visited Pittsburgh on Wednesday and praised the region’s efforts in expanding workforce development programs and other career training initiatives — including a major one in New Kensington. Pittsburgh was designated a “workforce hub” in May. That provided federal funding and other assistance to existing workforce training...
Boil-water advisory extended for Ligonier, Laurel Mountain, portions of Ligonier and Fairfield townships
A boil-water advisory has been extended as the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County awaits the results of a third precautionary test following a water main break in Ligonier Township on Sunday. Spokesperson Matt Junker said the latest water sample was taken Wednesday and tests take about 24 hours to get...
Westmoreland political leaders take contrasting view of election results
Westmoreland County Democratic leaders had high hopes but few expectations with regards the handful of county races on Tuesday’s ballot. While Republicans maintained control of county government, the more than 31,000 votes received by an underfunded and untested candidate who was on the campaign trail for just two months signaled...
How Steve Zappala was reelected as Allegheny County DA running on the GOP ticket
Ben Wren parked himself Tuesday night in the back of Cupka’s Cafe II on the South Side, the “war station” of Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala’s reelection effort. Politicians, supporters and reporters flowed like koi past Wren’s table. He constantly checked information on two tablets and a laptop....
Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund officials visit Flight 93 memorial, meet with community
“You are not forgotten.” That was the message Allison Turkel wanted to make clear for anyone who responded to the Flight 93 crash site in Stonycreek on Sept. 11, 2001. Turkel, who was appointed in March as special master of the federal Sept. 11th Victim Compensation Fund, was joined by...
First lady Jill Biden highlights Western Pa. workforce development efforts during Pittsburgh stop
First lady Jill Biden visited Pittsburgh on Wednesday and praised the region’s efforts in expanding workforce development programs and other career training initiatives. Pittsburgh was designated a “workforce hub” in May. That provided federal funding and other assistance to existing workforce training programs in the region. Pittsburgh is one of...
Unity supervisors express concern over Greater Latrobe’s multimillion-dollar revitalization project, planned tax hikes
When Mike O’Barto learned of Greater Latrobe school board’s multimillion-dollar revitalization plan that will raise taxes through 2039, he said he thought it was “ludicrous.” The district will proceed with the plan after 19 months of study, review and public comment, with an expected cost between $182 million and $198...
Nearly half of all Westmoreland write-in votes came from Greater Latrobe school board races
When John Petrarca saw the number of write-in votes in the Greater Latrobe school board election for four-year seats, he said it was “hard to believe.” Nearly half of the 22,259 total write-in votes cast in Tuesday’s election in Westmoreland County were done so in the two races for Latrobe...
Bipartisan Norwin School Board victors say they hope to promote respect, avoid polarization
Members of the bipartisan “We aRe Norwin” slate of candidates will form a majority on Norwin School Board, according to unofficial election results. All five members of the slate were leading in unofficial vote tallies from Tuesday’s election. Tim Kotch Sr. led with 11.2%, and Nina Totin came in second...
Ohio just legalized recreational marijuana. What does that mean for Pennsylvania?
On Tuesday, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational use of marijuana after having a medical-only program in place. Now all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors, except West Virginia, allow recreational marijuana use. Pennsylvania passed medical marijuana laws in 2016. Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients must now be diagnosed with at least...
