Regional News category, Page 323
Former Monongahela cop charged with on-duty sexual assault
A former Monongahela police officer has been charged with having unwanted sexual contact with a woman while he was on duty, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday. Dustin Devault, 47, of Monongahela, was charged with indecent assault, official oppression and obstruction based on the recommendation of a grand jury...
Cops seek Fayette County man in string of armed robberies
Police in Fayette County are asking for the public’s help in locating a Leisenring man wanted for questioning in a string of armed robberies at area convenience stores and gas stations last week. David A. Kramer, 31, is wanted by state police in Belle Vernon and Uniontown and Connellsville City...
Western Pa. Shred-It events accept unwanted documents, electronics
Guardian Storage locations across Westmoreland and Allegheny counties are hosting free shred-it events this week as a way for people to get rid of unwanted documents. Thursday through Saturday, individuals and local businesses can drop off five boxes per person to be disposed of, but more may be accepted during...
Police use Taser on teen running from Ambridge fight
An Ambridge police officer used a Taser on a 14-year-old boy as a fight broke out after a high school football game Friday night, the Trib’s news partner, WPXI-TV, reported. The boy suffered a broken jaw and injuries to his face after falling to the pavement, the station reported. According...
Mars Area High School student accused of making 2 threats
The Mars Area School District and Adams Township police have identified a student responsible for threats at the high school, according to the school district. Although the Monday afternoon threat was deemed “non-credible,” the district cancelled evening activities at the high school as a precaution, according to a letter from...
Steelers Nation reacts to losing Ben Roethlisberger for the seasonVideo
Big Ben is gone, but the season goes on. Western Pennsylvanians on Monday had mixed reactions to news that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be out for the rest of the season because of an elbow injury. The reaction ranged from: “There’s no hope” to “Out with the old,...
New Pa. program aims to help opioid-dependent patients avoid black market
A week after Gov. Tom Wolf renewed his opioid disaster declaration for the seventh time since 2018, Secretary of Health Rachel Levine spoke about the successes against the ongoing crisis and a program that will assist dependent patients cut off by their doctors. Speaking Monday at “Opioids: The Fight Continues,”...
Judge puts hold on next week’s Sandusky re-sentencing
BELLEFONTE — Jerry Sandusky’s resentencing on a 45-count child sexual abuse conviction is on hold and it’s not clear when it will occur. Judge John Foradora issued a short order on Monday saying the Sept. 23 proceeding won’t take place as scheduled. Sandusky was sentenced to 30 to 60 years...
Analyst: Attack on Saudi Arabia not expected to lead to major gas price hikes
Oil prices are likely to jump after an attack on Saudi Arabia that knocked out more than 5% of global oil production, an industry analyst said. “While there is some good news that motorists should not expect a sudden and major uptick in gas prices, there may be a minor...
Giant Eagle urges against open carry on store properties
Giant Eagle is the latest retailer requesting customers refrain from openly carrying guns on store property. On Friday, the Pittsburgh-based grocery store released a statement reading, “We respect the rights of each individual who chooses to shop with us, and also recognize the heightened concern customers may feel when they...
Drug arrest ends former Belle Vernon man’s prison release, adds 2 years to sentence
A former Belle Vernon man was sentenced to two additional years behind bars after Pittsburgh police arrested him on drug-related charges — the same day he began a supervised release from prison. U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence Thursday on Eric Seighman, 36, in Pittsburgh. Seighman previously was...
Dragonfly swarm stops in Southwestern PennsylvaniaVideo
Not a bird, not a plane: Dragonflies are swarming the skies over Southwestern Pennsylvania. The insects have been observed throughout the region over the past week, touching down to refuel before continuing their yearly migration toward Central and South America. “Swarms are great for cutting down the small insect population,...
Feds: Beaver County man admits to trying to sell 5,700 fake Viagra, Cialis pills
A Beaver County man admitted to plotting to sell more than 5,700 fake Viagra and Cialis pills in Western Pennsylvania, officials said. Rahnon Carter, 39, pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh to one count of holding a counterfeit drug for distribution, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. The...
Beaver County man accused of selling heroin-fentanyl mix that led to a death
A Beaver County man is accused of selling a mixture of heroin and fentanyl that resulted in a person dying, federal prosecutors said Thursday. Zachary Martin Cymbalak, 32, who resides in the borough of Freedom, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on two counts of narcotics charges...
State police: Patrols nabbed more drivers impaired by drugs than alcohol
State police arrested 52 people for drunken or drugged driving and confiscated about $17,000 in cash during patrols last weekend in Armstrong, Butler and Beaver counties, according to a report. Police said one driver led them on a chase early Saturday before he was stopped near Rural Valley in Armstrong...
FBI agent who investigated Erie pizza bomber case speaks at Duquesne
A sex worker with Westmoreland County connections was the linchpin in the infamous Erie pizza bomber case, a former FBI agent who investigated the crime said Thursday at Duquesne University. Jerry Clark, now a Gannon University professor, worked for 21 years in the FBI, including nearly a decade with the...
Connellsville earns ‘scenic achievement’ award from Pittsburgh groupVideo
Connellsville’s reputation is that of a post-industrial town, and as the former “coal and coke capital” of the United States. But city officials looking to pay homage to its history — while also casting an eye to the future — are being recognized for their efforts. The city will receive...
Charges dropped against man who put leash on ailing wife
YORK, Pa. — Authorities have dropped a simple assault charge against a Maryland man who used a dog leash to lead his wife around a Pennsylvania fair because she has late-stage dementia. Court documents show York County District Attorney Dave Sunday found the husband “made an ill-advised decision while attempting...
Boat capsizes on Lake Erie; 8 without life jackets rescued
LORAIN, Ohio — Authorities who responded after a boat capsized on Lake Erie say they rescued eight people, who were found without life jackets. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office say a 36-foot catamaran overturned in rough waters a few miles from the Lorain lakefront in...
Fayette County man admits ‘swatting’ online gaming opponent after dispute
A Fayette County man pleaded guilty in federal court this week for making hoax emergency phone calls to a Florida police department following an argument with an online gaming opponent, according to federal court records. Nicholas Huffine, 20, pleaded guilty to interstate threats, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said. Huffine participated...
‘From fingers to a fist’: Heroics of Flight 93 passengers, crew remembered on 9/11 anniversaryVideo
They stood in line Wednesday under a hot Somerset County sun, waiting to say one of 40 names that have been forged into the country’s history. Some held back tears as they approached the microphone. Some added extra meaning: “flight attendant, “first officer,” “our beloved,” “our brother.” Bells rang 40...
Pittsburgh ranked as 3rd-best Rust Belt comeback story in nation
A new study ranks Pittsburgh No. 3 among the 17 most successful Rust Belt comebacks. Using U.S. Census data, the commercial real estate information services provider CommercialCafé evaluated a city’s performance across a number of indicators, including population and income growth, unemployment and poverty, educational attainment levels, and median home...
State rep will host concealed-carry seminar in Fayette County
Kim Stolfer, president of Firearms Owners Against Crime, wants Pennsylvania residents to know “not just the law but also the moral and ethical duties when it comes to carrying a firearm.” Stolfer will discuss those duties, as well as talk about Pennsylvania’s concealed-carry laws and permitting, at a free seminar...
18 years later: Honoring Flight 93 victims on anniversary of 9/11
Dignitaries and families of those aboard United Airlines Flight 93 are gathering in Somerset County this morning for the 18th annual remembrance of the 40 people who died fighting back against terrorists. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt were keynote speakers for the observance at...
Somerset County community starts memorial in honor of post-9/11 War on TerrorVideo
The global War on Terror started over the skies of Western Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, a Somerset County group wants to honor the military men and women who continued that fight with a new memorial park a few miles from where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a...
