Fort Ligonier, West Overton join forces for whiskey tasting, sales honoring Arthur St. Clair
Visitors to Westmoreland County’s historic Fort Ligonier soon will be able to toast one of the county’s founding officials with a limited-edition whiskey issued in collaboration with West Overton Distilling. In celebration of the county’s 250th anniversary and in homage to early political and military leader Arthur St. Clair, the...
Morning Roundup: Police continue crime crackdown in the South Side
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Aug. 1: Police continue South Side patrols Pittsburgh police have released the numbers from a recent four-day weekend (July 27-30) patrol of East Carson Street. Increased officer presence and patrols resulted in two arrests, 15 traffic stops and...
The Stroller, Aug. 1, 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. Help available to replace damaged license plates State Rep. Rob Mercuri...
Newly consolidated Tarentum/Brackenridge police force begins patrols
The Brackenridge Police Department has officially disbanded, but its officers will still be patrolling the borough. A newly minted Tarentum police force, which absorbed the three Brackenridge officers, begins Tuesday. Both councils voted Friday for shared police services for a five-year trial period. Schedules, pensions and administrative issues will be...
Independence Health hospital presidents focus on future plans
After reported losses of $62 million and hundreds of staff cuts, Independence Health System’s two new hospital presidents confirmed Monday that all five of the system’s hospitals — Westmoreland, Frick, Latrobe, Butler Memorial and Clarion — are part of the system’s future. “Our leadership team right now strongly believes that...
Hempfield Area parents, board members debate book policies ahead of upcoming vote
Occasional cheering and applause rose on Monday as Hempfield Area School District residents and parents reviewed book challenges and bans. A policy governing the process awaits a final vote by the school board in two weeks. During Monday’s school board meeting, several residents talked about the proposed policies, and some...
After 4-hour standoff, SWAT clears Homewood house, but suspect wasn’t inside
Pittsburgh police responded to a SWAT situation in the Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood Monday night. According to a social media post by Pittsburgh Public Safety, SWAT, paramedics and fire teams are in the 7300 block of Stranahan Street after receiving reports of a man believed to be barricaded inside a...
Shapiro signs executive order in Pittsburgh to create statewide workforce development program
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order Monday in Pittsburgh’s Esplen neighborhood, creating a statewide workforce training program. The move comes after Pittsburgh was designated a “workforce development hub” by the White House, with the first lady visiting the region to sing the praises of the region’s workforce development efforts....
Allegheny County Councilwoman Liv Bennett not running for reelection
One of Allegheny County Council’s progressive members announced Monday that she will not be seeking reelection. The campaign of Allegheny County Councilwoman Liv Bennett, D-Northview Heights, tweeted that Bennett has dropped her independent run for reelection. Earlier this year, Bennett was running for Allegheny County Executive and her council seat...
SAG-AFTRA members rally in Pittsburgh as Hollywood strike drags on
Randy Kovitz is a middle-class actor. It’s a title he says he’s proud of, with a resume showing credits from film, television and commercials. His first role was in George Romero’s cult classic and genre-defining movie “Dawn of the Dead,” a cult classic, filmed at Monroeville Mall. He received $50...
North Huntingdon man sentenced to probation for 2020 armed robbery
A North Huntingdon man was ordered Monday to serve seven years on probation for his role in an armed robbery nearly three years ago in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery, conspiracy and weapons offense related to a Dec. 19, 2020 incident...
Thrasher ends tenure as Westmoreland commissioner
Gina Cerilli Thrasher’s title will remain the same. In her next role, Thrasher will serve as a commissioner on the state’s Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board when she starts her new job Tuesday. Her more than seven years as a member of Westmoreland County’s Board of Commissioners ended Monday. “It’s bittersweet...
West Deer to consider allowing linkup of Leto well pad with eastern interconnect
West Deer supervisors heard more than six hours of testimony last week on a project that, if built, would allow gas to flow from the approved Leto well pad in Bairdford to the eastern interconnect pipeline. Hyperion Midstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Energy of Canonsburg, seeks approval for...
Westmoreland coroner turns tragedies into prevention program
After two infants in Westmoreland County died this year following unsafe sleep practices at home, Coroner Tim Carson started searching for a way to prevent more parents from suffering that loss. He landed on Cribs for Kids, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that connects families with free cribs and education classes. “Two...
Former Pittsburgh police chief dead at 81
Former Pittsburgh police Chief Earl Buford Jr. has died. Buford, who led the city force from 1992 to 1995 and was just the second minority to hold the top post, died July 25, according to police spokeswoman Cara Cruz said Monday. Buford was 81. Born on April 9, 1942, in...
Rock Talks: Plum enthusiast presents on Led Zeppelin, myriad other topics
In an unprecedented violation of marketing orthodoxy, the British band Led Zeppelin released its fourth album in 1971 with nothing on the front cover but a painting of an old man carrying a bundle of sticks. A turn of the gatefold jacket reveals a similarly wizened, wizardlike figure standing atop...
8-year-old girl ejected from SUV during Arnold police pursuit
An 8-year-old girl was ejected from the window of an SUV that Arnold police were chasing Saturday. The vehicle was driven by a woman who didn’t have a license because of a DUI suspension, police said. An officer arrested Amanda Nicole Shaw, 30, of Arnold at gunpoint after she drove...
Jurors deliberating whether Pittsburgh synagogue shooter is sentenced to death or life in prison
Eleven times, the prosecutor repeated the same sentence, changing only the subject. “Her loss, alone, is sufficient to justify a sentence of death.” “His loss, alone, is sufficient to justify a sentence of death.” Eleven times, one for each person killed in the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue nearly...
Gas prices soar amid heat-related refinery outages, analyst says
The Pittsburgh area’s brief stint of hot weather may be over, but drivers are still feeling the heat at the gas pump. Gas prices in the region and across the nation have soared over the past week because of heat-related outages impacting some of the country’s largest refineries, said Patrick...
Bushy Run prepares for 260th anniversary of Penn Township battle
About 90 reenactors are registered for this year’s Bushy Run Battlefield reenactment, which was in jeopardy earlier this year after a change in state policy. The reenactment traditionally held the first weekend in August portrays a 1763 clash between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War. It will take...
Attempted homicide charge filed against Monessen man after stabbing at Valley Manor apartments
A Monessen man is facing attempted homicide charges after city police said he stabbed another man Friday evening during an argument at Valley Manor apartments, according to court papers. A witness told police that she and her brother asked Robert W. Varner, 60, to be quiet a few times around...
Passenger fatally stabbed on Greyhound Bus traveling from Pittsburgh to D.C.
An 18-year-old Detroit man charged with fatally stabbing a fellow passenger Sunday night aboard a Greyhound bus just outside Pittsburgh told first responders it was the first time he had killed anyone and referred to a “demon” who “took many souls,” according to a criminal complaint. Police said Javon Garrett...
Police, firefighters searching for alligator in Kiski River
Local police and firefighters are actively searching the Kiski River between Avonmore and Apollo for a wayward alligator spotted by kayakers over the weekend. A state humane officer is putting out baited traps for the animal, assumed to be a pet that escaped or was released when its owner no...
Westinghouse retirees’ group donates to more than 20 food pantries, food banks, Meals on Wheels programs
Lynn Staab was plenty familiar with serving the community before retiring from Westinghouse and getting involved with its Service Uniting Retired Employees (SURE) program. Staab had been involved with Murrysville Meals on Wheels, providing a hot lunch and cold dinner to more than 50 clients in the area. Former SURE...
Westmoreland County community festivals feature local musicians
The Westmoreland County region’s musical and culinary talent will be on display at several upcoming community festivals — all free and open to the public. All of the festivals will include food and vendor areas along with special events and entertainment for children. • Delmont Daze, noon to 7 p.m....
