Democrats nominate committee stalwart to run for Westmoreland commissioner
Westmoreland Democrats nominated a Mt. Pleasant Township woman to run for a seat on the county board of commissioners. Party officials on Thursday announced that longtime committee member Lisa Gephart will fill a vacancy on the November ballot to run alongside Commissioner Ted Kopas as Democrats seek to reclaim a...
Albert Hahn Day: North Hampton firefighter honored for 60 years of service
A North Hampton Volunteer Fire Department member was recognized by Hampton Township Council for 60 years of service. Council declared Aug. 23 to be Albert Hahn Day in honor of his six decades of dedication. You may wonder how someone could serve the community for so long and still be...
UPMC sees growth in insurance usage during first 6 months of the year
More people are using UPMC’s insurance options, particularly in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh-based health care giant reported an 11% increase in insurance enrollment, bringing membership to about 4.5 million during the first half of 2023. UPMC attributed the growth to its expansion of behavioral health and Medicaid products into the...
Nearly 50 Pittsburgh police officers on administrative leave following fatal Garfield standoff
Nearly 50 Pittsburgh police officers are on administrative leave after Wednesday’s hourslong standoff in Garfield that ended in the death of the suspect. Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto said at a news conference Thursday he anticipates the officers could return to work within three to five days. In the meantime,...
Greensburg Music Fest is back with free lineup of 10 bands
The fifth annual Greensburg Music Fest will rock the city Saturday with bands performing on multiple stages beginning at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free for the all-ages sets by 10 diverse local and touring artists who will play in succession through 9:30 p.m. Presented by the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, the...
Norwin area: Norwin VFW Post seeks members; library plans book sale; car and truck show in Herminie set and more
Norwin VFW seeks members The J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781 on Billot Avenue, North Huntingdon, is seeking qualified veterans to join the organization. Kory Bulloch, VFW Post commander, said that potential members need to present their DD-214 papers as proof of service in a combat zone....
Zappala removes video briefing on Downtown shooting case, seeks gag order
A week ago, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. released and promoted a 13-minute video in which he called the defendant in a pending case a criminal. This week, he removed the video from YouTube and is now seeking a gag order to limit pretrial publicity in the...
Man who died in Garfield standoff suspected of being shot by law enforcement, medical examiner says
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Thursday that it suspects the man who died Wednesday after a six-hour standoff with police in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood was shot by law enforcement. William Hardison, 63, died at 5:07 p.m. in the 4800 block of Broad Street, the office said. Several law...
ScareHouse at Pittsburgh Mills to hold ultimate zombie dress-up competition
Those who think they have what it takes to be “Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie” should shuffle their way to the Pittsburgh Mills mall Monday night. The ScareHouse is seeking people to dress up like zombies and compete for the title of Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie Monday at 8 p.m., with entry beginning...
Braeburn Alloy Steel workers ratify new contract
Braeburn Alloy Steel workers in Lower Burrell ratified a new contract, capping off unusual negotiations during which the plant owner didn’t recognize or bargain with the labor union until ordered to do so by the National Labor Relations Board. Union employees ratified a three-year agreement Tuesday, with leaders saying the...
Animals front and center: Dairy cattle, rabbits vie for titles at Westmoreland Fair
Sara Forry had been training her rabbit, Lilly, for five or six years just to complete the lap at the end of her run in Westmoreland Fair’s Rabbit Agility Show on Wednesday night — training that earned her first place. In the competition, six rabbits faced off in a 10-jump...
Warm welcome: Greetings for Gateway students on return to school
Depending on your point of view, you either dreaded or looked forward to the beginning of a new school year. Given the welcome that University Park Elementary students receive, they should fall into the latter category. As students emerged from their buses on Aug. 24 for the first day of...
Police release description of suspect in Asay’s newsstand robbery in Tarentum
Tarentum police posted a notice on social media asking for help identifying the suspect in a robbery Wednesday afternoon at Asay’s News Stand in Tarentum. Police are searching for a white man who was wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants, black shoes, a green-and-brown face mask, sunglasses and a ball...
Spiritwear store takes over former Buckets Boutique location in Harrison City
For Lori Allen, moving her spiritwear business from her home to a Harrison City storefront “just felt right.” Allen of Penn Township started LNJ Spiritwear out of her home 13 years ago to provide local school apparel to the community. Now, she is taking over the former Buckets Boutique space,...
Murrysville area: ‘Plum Proud’ benefit ornament sales, local speaker series, Rotary Oktoberfest and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. ESAL speaker focuses on portrait painting The East Suburban Artists League will welcome Tom Tholen as the featured speaker for its Sept. 7 meeting. Tholen will discuss his expertise in portrait painting. He spent a career working for companies including Disney, Marvel...
Highlands kicks off school year with new hires, promotions
A slew of adminstrative changes will greet Highlands School District students when they return for the first day of class Aug. 31. The school board on Monday approved several promotions and new hires, setting in place new administrative teams at the high school and middle school. They include: • Kaitlyn...
Public information session scheduled about increase in activity at Parks Township nuclear waste dump
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it will hold a public information session about an increase in activity at the Shallow Land Disposal Area in Parks Township. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Parks Township fire department, 1119 Dalmation...
Harrison girl plans ice cream social to raise money for Lower Burrell’s police dog, Buc
A Harrison girl known for raising money for area police departments is coordinating an event for Lower Burrell’s police dog, Buc. Kaley Bastine, 11, will be holding an ice cream social to raise money for Buc from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mogie’s Irish Pub, 3210 Leechburg Road. “It’s...
Sportsmen’s groups push for use of semi-automatic rifles for big game hunting
Some sportsmen’s league leaders are pushing for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to allow the use of semi-automatic rifles for big game hunting. Members of the Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League, Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania and the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action collaborated to write...
Square dancers of all ages twirl around Westmoreland Fair, learn steps with seasoned caller, musicians
Square dancing has been an integral part of David Lang’s life since he was a boy. “I (was) probably dancing before I was born because my mother was dancing when she was pregnant with me,” said Lang, 62, of New Stanton. “I guess you could say (my life) kinda revolves...
Armstrong County woman charged with abandoning dog at Pittsburgh airport
Allegheny County Police charged an Armstrong County woman with cruelty to animals and other offenses, saying she abandoned a dog at Pittsburgh International Airport earlier this month. Police announced Thursday that charges were filed against Allison Lyn Gaiser, 44, of East Franklin. They said investigators determined Gaiser intentionally abandoned a...
Coraopolis man dies following Neville Island crash
A man died following a crash Tuesday afternoon on Neville Island, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Lawrence Mollica, 36, of Coraopolis, was taken from the scene to the emergency room at Allegheny General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 4 p.m., the office said. The...
Morning Roundup: National Aviary looking for names for new Steller’s Sea Eagle
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 24: National Aviary looking for names for new eagle One of the most well-known residents at the National Aviary has a potential mate, and the Pittsburgh attraction is looking for the public’s help in naming her. As...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Aug. 25-27
Take a chance on them The SummerSounds season wraps up with music by Dancing Dream at 7 p.m. Friday in St. Clair Park, 132 N. Maple Ave., Greensburg. The ABBA tribute band plays the pop and disco songs of the Swedish vocal quartet known for 1970s hits like “Take a...
North Allegheny junior’s Eagle Scout project installs food pantry box in Millvale
Franklin Park’s Caden Currykosky wanted his Eagle Scout project to make an impact somewhere beyond just the North Allegheny area. “I kind of wanted to do something that would help a lot of people,” said the NA junior. After he posted a notice on Facebook seeking locations to build a...
