Western PA Local News category, Page 896
Bids rejected for Hampton tennis courts
As details emerge about the future of the tennis courts in Hampton Community Park, it’s becoming more evident how difficult it is to find affordable labor post-covid. At the Oct. 25 township council meeting, officials voted to reject all current bids and create a plan of action for moving forward....
Coroner identifies 2nd person who died in Washington County house fire
The second victim in a Washington County structure fire Tuesday has been identified. Coroner S. Timothy Warco identified the second victim as Kimberly Montes DeOca, 39. Warco said the coroner’s office has “exhausted all attempts to locate and notify” DeOca’s family. Warco is asking anyone who may have information about...
1 man dead, another in custody after North Versailles shooting
A man is in custody after a fatal shooting Thursday afternoon in North Versailles, authorities said. North Versailles police and EMS responded to the 600 block of Della Drive at about 1:15 p.m. In an apartment, they found a man, who they did not name, suffering from gunshot wounds, Allegheny...
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee votes against pro-Israel resolution on Hamas attack
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, voted against a pro-Israel resolution that passed the House on Wednesday in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on the Middle Eastern country. Lee, who has condemned Hamas’ recent attack on Israel, said she voted against Wednesday’s Meeks-McCaul resolution because it fell short of acknowledging...
Police say North Side man confessed to killing former neighbor
It took three tries this week for Joshua James Short to kill his former neighbor, Pittsburgh police said. The 21-year-old North Side man tried breaking into Joseph Sees Jr.’s Manchester home at about 1 a.m. Saturday, Short told police in what they called a full confession to the murder. When...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Oct. 27-29
The last hurrahs of the fall festival and Halloween seasons welcome visitors this weekend. Bushy Run Battlefield in Penn Township tries out a new programming approach to replace its traditional hayrides, and local vendors gather for the Irwin Farm Market. Bushy Run Duncan Campbell Haunting As a replacement for the...
Incumbent Democrats, Republican challenger vie for 2 Greensburg council seats
Greensburg residents voting Nov. 7 to fill two seats on city council will have a choice among incumbents in Democratic nominees Sheila Brumley and Randal Finfrock and Republican challenger Carrie Hamley. Brumley, a 2020 appointee seeking her first elected term, and Finfrock, who is completing his fourth term, are jointly...
On, Comet! Astrobotic sets Christmas Eve launch date for lunar lander
Pittsburgh has officially set its date to travel to the moon, and it will come as a Christmas present. Pittsburgh-based space company Astrobotic will launch its Peregrine lunar lander on Dec. 24 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, said Astrobotic CEO John Thorton. “It has been 16...
Oakmont to host 2nd annual gourd drive for goats
Oakmont is preparing for its second annual gourd drive, a collection that will help settle a debt to some hard workers from earlier in the year. Over the summer, the borough partnered with Butler-based Capricious LLC, a goat rental company that specializes in clearing out or managing overgrown land. Eight...
Jeannette man to serve prison sentence for gun offenses
A Jeannette man was sentenced Thursday to a 5-to-10 year prison term for two gun-related incidents in 2021. John R. Horne, 32, pleaded guilty in August to his role in repeated weapons fire at a Jeannette home and allegations that he brought an old gun into a district judge’s office...
Local leaders recognize North Allegheny’s 75 years
State elected leaders presented citations during the Oct. 25 school board meeting that celebrate the 75th anniversary of the North Allegheny School District. State Rep. Dr. Arvind Venkat, D-McCandless; Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine and Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, presented the citations. Grace Muller, a representative of State Sen. Lindsey Williams,...
Hempfield unveils decade-long vision for township park
Hempfield Park is set to undergo a series of improvements over the next decade under an updated master plan presented at the township supervisors meeting this week. The plan focuses on enhancing the park environment, expanding recreation opportunities, fine-tuning operations, increasing accessibility, improving facilities and increasing staff, said Chris Sarson,...
Pittsburgh’s Sister Bridges star in light demonstration
Lights. Camera. Bridges. Allegheny County on Wednesday demonstrated an enhanced lighting system being installed on the Roberto Clemente (Sixth Street), Andy Warhol (Seventh Street), and Rachel Carson (Ninth Street) Bridges. They’re commonly referred to as the Sister Bridges. The installation of 601,440 color LED lights across the three bridges that...
Aggravated assault while DUI charges filed in Unity crash
A Unity man was arraigned Thursday on aggravated assault while driving under the influence charges in connection with a July crash that left two people seriously injured. Gianni A. Gonzalez, 24, used marijuana and drank alcohol prior to the July 11 crash, according to court papers. He is free on...
Pro-Palestine graffiti in Squirrel Hill called ‘despicable’
Pro-Palestine graffiti was found Thursday morning at multiple Squirrel Hill locations, including a wall outside Allderdice High School and on yard signs near a Jewish private school. Officials said they don’t know who spray-painted “Free Palestine” on a brick wall at Allderdice or changed a yard sign reading “I Stand...
Argentine restaurant, Balvanera, opens its doors in Pittsburgh’s Strip District
For the owners of the Argentine restaurant Balvanera, opening in the Strip District is a bit of a homecoming. Meredith Boyle grew up in Aspinwall. On one of their many trips back to her hometown, her husband Chef Fernando Navas fell in love with the city as well. So when...
McCandless-based Variety’s ‘chief excitement officer’ retires after long career helping kids
When Tyler Winfield at age 4 first met Charlie LaVallee, Tyler couldn’t talk. He was termed nonverbal due to a disability. Fortunately, LaVallee was chief executive officer — or chief excitement officer as LaVallee likes to say — at Variety — the Children’s Charity, which provides services for disabled children,...
7 candidates seek 5 Gateway School Board seats
Editor’s note: A version of this story ran Oct. 26 with incomplete information. Two Democrats, Donna Burns and incumbent Susan DeLaney, and two Republicans, George Lapcevich and Kelly Matrazzo, and are on the ballot for Gateway School Board in the Nov. 7 election. In addition, incumbents John M. Bova, John...
Contractor already facing fraud trial accused of taking money, not doing work in Lower Burrell, New Kensington
A home remodeler who is awaiting trial for allegedly committing contractor fraud last year was accused this month of taking money from residents in New Kensington and Lower Burrell for work he never did. Jason Raymond Mager, 47, of the 400 block of Ridge Avenue was charged Tuesday by Lower...
Murrysville area: Conservancy hikes, Medicare information sessions, drag queen bingo and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Event listings must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Upcoming Westmoreland Conservancy events The Westmoreland Conservancy will host the following events: • Opt-Outside Black Friday hike, will take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 24, leaving from the Murrysville municipal building,...
Norwin area: Gymnastic center to hold food drive; election day bake sale set
Irwin to livestream council meetings Those who want to watch the Irwin Borough council meetings, may get that chance in November. Council in October awarded a contract to Precision Copy Products of Clairton to install an Aquos board with a camera to livestream the meetings at a cost no more...
Attorneys compete for Export district judge seat
Two Murrysville attorneys will vie to replace retiring District Court Judge Charles Conway in the Nov. 7 general election. Republican Robert Klingensmith, 59, a practicing attorney for more than 20 years, said he likes the engagement district judges have with the communities they serve. “You do everything,” he said. “You...
Westmoreland County Community College president will resign in summer 2024
Westmoreland County Community College’s first female president announced her resignation at the college’s board of directors meeting Wednesday. Tuesday Stanley, 55, who joined WCCC in 2014, will remain in her position at the school near Youngwood through June 30. She will have served as president for exactly a decade. Stanley...
Franklin Regional school board candidates cite state funding, safety as major challenges
In the Franklin Regional School District, seven candidates will compete for five full-term school board seats in the Nov. 7 general election, while the current board president goes up against a challenger for a two-year seat. Full-term seats George App, 42, said he wants to be a voice of civility,...
Pittsburgh to provide protection for renters experiencing domestic violence
Pittsburgh renters experiencing domestic violence will now be able to terminate leases early without penalty and request locks to be changed. Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that requires landlords to permit domestic violence victims to exit leases early without penalty and requires them to change victims’ locks...
