2 Westmoreland men indicted in federal Snapchat hacking case
Two Westmoreland County men are among seven people who were indicted by a federal grant jury in Erie alleging they conspired to hack into Snapchat accounts, steal explicit photos and videos and distribute them on the web, federal prosecutors said. Edward Michael Grabb, 31, of Jeannette and Michael Paul Yackovich,...
Fire in McKeesport under investigation
McKeesport Fire Department officials are investigating what sparked a fire at a two-story dwelling Tuesday night. Allegheny County dispatchers confirmed firefighters, police and EMS personnel were dispatched to the 2100 block of Duquesne Avenue around 10 p.m. It was unclear if anyone was injured. Dispatchers said there were no medical...
West Mifflin Council unanimously condemns former Century III Mall
West Mifflin Council voted unanimously Tuesday to condemn the former Century III Mall. The vote was 6-0 with Councilman Anthony Topolnak absent. Attorney Nicole Nino, filling in for borough Solicitor Phil DiLucente, said the property owner, Moonbeam Capital Investments, has 30 days to appeal. She said she could not comment...
Jill Biden touts airport funding, workforce development during Western Pa. visit
Flanked by scores of cranes, first lady Jill Biden visited the Pittsburgh region Tuesday in an effort to remind the region that the Biden administration supports, and provided funding for, many of its largest infrastructure projects. In a speech just outside of Pittsburgh International Airport, she praised Western Pennsylvania for...
Canonsburg man indicted on charges of shooting bald eagle
A Canonsburg man has been indicted by a federal jury, charged with shooting America’s national bird this past spring in Mount Pleasant in Washington County. Rodney Thomas, 50, was charged with violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, accused of shooting and killing a mature bald eagle with an...
Monessen man convicted of sexual assault of blind victim
A Monessen man was convicted this week of sexually assaulting a legally blind woman last year outside a Rostraver home. Following a nonjury trial Monday, Timothy L. Stitch was convicted of one felony count of sexual assault in connection with allegations made by a 36-year-old woman who claimed she was...
Business owner regroups after Scottdale fire
A Scottdale business owner was at a loss for words Tuesday after a fire damaged his automotive business the night before. “I’m just feeling a little lost right now,” said John Hyatt, owner of Keystone Autoworx LLC. “This isn’t just a job for me. I have everything in this (business).”...
Baby shower shooter paroled after serving year in jail
Isiah Hampton had a baby on the way and was surrounded by friends and family who wanted to celebrate when everything changed. Hampton, 27, of Arnold pulled out a gun and shot two people after he refused to carry baby shower gifts out to his car at the end of...
Acts sought for Bethel Park Battle of the Bands
Musicians, get those demos ready. As part of its Park and Play series, Bethel Park Recreation will host a Battle of the Bands on Sept. 2, with five acts to be selected for a set on the stage. “We’re looking for bands that are going to be family-friendly and appeal...
Delmont man sentenced in federal child pornography case
A former Delmont man was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison following a guilty plea on charges of possession of child pornography, according to Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan. Joshua K. Minehart, 47, was initially charged in 2019 following an investigation by the U.S....
Derry man sentenced to 20 years in federal child pornography case
A Derry Borough man convicted of producing, possessing and distributing child pornography was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Tuesday, according to Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan. Michael Wilson, 44, of Derry, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by 15 years supervised release....
Pennsylvania Turnpike motorists to be hit with 5% toll hike next year
Pennsylvania Turnpike travelers will see a 5% toll hike in January, continuing a 15-year trend of annual rate increases by the Turnpike Commission. The new toll rates are scheduled to take effect Jan. 7, equaling the most recent percentage increase, imposed earlier this year. Next year, the most common toll...
Mercer Co. woman who used bullhorn to direct Capitol rioters is convicted
A Mercer County woman who used a bullhorn to direct rioters attacking the U.S. Capitol was convicted on Tuesday of charges that she joined the mob in an attempt to keep President Joe Biden out of the White House. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth heard testimony without a jury before...
Trib Total Media recognized as one of America’s best small employers by Forbes magazine
Trib Total Media has earned a spot on Forbes magazine’s inaugural list of America’s Best Small Employers. The Trib was ranked No. 69 out of 300 small businesses featured on the list, which was released Tuesday to highlight the top companies that employ nearly half of the American workforce. “We...
Hays Woods officially designated a Pittsburgh park
Hays Woods is officially a Pittsburgh park. City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that officially recognizes the 624-acre site — which includes city-owned land in Pittsburgh’s Hays and St. Clair neighborhoods as well as Baldwin — as a park. The sprawling wooded area will be the second-largest park in...
Leechburg police, fire departments hosting bike safety program for kids; event includes free helmets, visit from county K-9
Kids in Leechburg can learn how to be safer while riding their bikes at a free program Aug. 10. Sponsored by the Leechburg Police Department and the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company, the event will run from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the fire hall on Canal Street. Staff from UPMC...
McKees Rocks man sentenced in death of woman found in a refrigerator
A man charged with homicide in a case involving a woman found dead in a refrigerator in McKees Rocks in 2020 was sentenced to voluntary manslaughter and abuse of a corpse. Daryl Jones, 44, of McKees Rocks, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to felony voluntary manslaughter and misdemeanor abuse of...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Vandergrift, East Vandergrift
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Carnegie Museum to spearhead campaign raising awareness about invasive plants
Carnegie Museum of Natural History officials may catalog the existence of invasive plant species in Western Pennsylvania. But that doesn’t meant they like them, or want them here. With $225,000 in hand from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, museum officials will embark on a campaign later this year in partnership...
Downtown Pittsburgh’s last McDonald’s to become a Huntington National Bank
Huntington National Bank is slated to take over the Stanwix Street site that formerly housed Downtown Pittsburgh’s last McDonald’s. The fast food restaurant in the spring opted not to renew its lease at the location just outside Market Square. The Golden Arches had been at the site for about 50...
Family members describe ‘profound’ loss of victims in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz believed it was better to be kind than right. Bernice and Sylvan Simon could have been the poster children for a happy marriage. Joyce Fienberg doted so much she reminded her son of Mary Poppins. Rose Mallinger loved to do the chicken dance. Irv Younger was so...
Pittsburgh moving ahead with plan for medical debt relief
Pittsburgh officials are moving ahead with plans to alleviate medical debt for some city residents. Councilman Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, introduced a measure last year that would use $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars to contract with a company that will buy dischargeable health care debt from...
2nd annual Sizzling Summer Night set for downtown New Kensington
The sizzle is coming back to New Kensington. First held last year, the Sizzling Summer Night will become an annual event when it returns Saturday. The free community event is sponsored by Shop Small, Shop New Ken and overseen by Jamie Parker of Sweet Alchemy Bake Shop and Michelle Thom...
Par Mar convenience sets opening date in East Deer
After a nearly three-year hiatus, a convenience store/gas station is returning to East Deer. A Par Mar convenience store will take over where Sheetz once was, at 899 Freeport Road and the Crawford Run Road intersection, in the township’s Creighton neighborhood. The store plans to open at 6 a.m. Friday,...
Animal Rescue saves 27 dachshunds from North Fayette home
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh is caring for 27 dachshund dogs that were rescued from a North Fayette home Monday. With help from North Fayette Police Department, Humane Animal Rescue officers executed a search warrant on a North Fayette house Monday. Officers were investigating neighbors’ concerns about unsanitary conditions and...
