Regional category, Page 355
Programs to combat homelessness in Pennsylvania to receive $108 million in federal grants
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $108 million in Continuum of Care Program grants to support local homeless programs in Pennsylvania, officials announced Friday. “Local communities in Pennsylvania are on the front lines, working day in and day out to reduce homelessness,” said Joe DeFelice, regional administrator...
Beaver pipeline explosion cited in DEP move to halt permits
The state Department of Environmental Protection says it is not approving any more clean water permits for Energy Transfer LP until the Texas-based company corrects problems related to a Beaver County pipeline explosion in September . DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said Friday that Energy Transfer, operator of the Revolution pipeline...
Fayette County man accused of impersonating first responders in emergency dispatches
A Fayette County man was arrested Thursday by Uniontown Police on five counts of impersonating a public servant for allegedly making 21 illegal radio transmissions over the county emergency dispatch system while posing as a first responder. When police identified Jonathan M. Campbell, 27, as a suspect he told investigators...
Scottdale Bank & Trust names new VP and retail market manager
Scottdale Bank & Trust appointed a new vice president and retail market manager Friday. The Millersburg-based bank hired Tiffany R.M. Guittap, a Uniontown resident, to help the bank reach financial goals and build and maintain strong customer relationships throughout Westmoreland and Fayette counties. With 13 years of banking and financial...
‘Cherry Pie’ hikes with reenactors celebrate George Washington in Butler County
What can be better than a hike with historical reenactors? One with cherry pie. A slice of pie will be the reward for walkers and visitors to a “Cherry Pie Hike” and the “Washington’s Trail Hike” on Feb. 23 for a history tour commemorating George Washington’s Birthday at Jennings Environmental...
Dairy Day offers dairy farmers education, fellowship in Blairsville
Dairy farmers looking for help in a difficult time for the dairy industry will find it at the annual Southwest Pennsylvania Regional Dairy Day on March 7. The annual event, scheduled for 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 7 at the Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort & Conference Center, Blairsville, will...
Police: Drunken man ticketed during Wilkes-Barre ‘Skate with a Cop’ event
Some police officers participating in a “Skate with a Cop” fundraiser at a roller rink had to take a break from the fun to deal with a drunken man who was falling over and running into other skaters. The Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department says officers asked the 31-year-old to leave,...
Husband accused of shooting wife in head convicted
ERIE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania man who claimed he accidentally shot his wife in the back of the head has been convicted of first-degree murder. Forty-five-year-old John Grazioli will face a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no parole under Pennsylvania law. The Erie Times-News reports jurors returned the...
U.S. attorney charges Beaver County man with cocaine dealing
A Beaver County man has been indicted on federal drug dealing charges. Rickee Dawkins, 52, of Aliquippa, sold cocaine in 2016 and 2017, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. Dawkins’ arrest is part of a long-term drug investigation focusing on Butler, Beaver and Allegheny counties. The...
Group to make its case for Sunday hunting this weekend at Penn State New Kensington
Allowing hunting on Sundays garnered some support in the past before fizzling and dying in the state Legislature. With a Senate committee’s recent passage of another Sunday hunting bill, the battle is on again, pitting hunting groups against farmers and even other outdoors enthusiasts. The state Senate Game and Fisheries...
Ice jam on Allegheny River in Armstrong County starting to break up
An almost 9-mile-long ice jam in Armstrong County is slowly breaking up between the Mosgrove and Rimer locks and dams on the Allegheny River. Flooding is a threat in areas with tributaries north of Kittanning in the Allegheny River area, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the...
Western Pa. colleges take steps to reduce plastic usage
Colleges are taking steps to reduce the amount of plastic tossed out, or even recycled, by encouraging students and staff to reuse plastic bottles. At Saint Vincent College, the student environmental awareness club recently acquired multi-purpose reusable cups that can be bought at the college bookstore for $8. Although Saint...
Comedy-skit benefit explores ‘How Heartbreak Changed History’ in Johnstown
The Friends of Flight 93, the National Western Parks of Pennsylvania and the Johnstown Area Heritage Association will partner for a night of comedy and history to support a program that encourages students to work in national parks over their spring break. “Hydration History,” modeled on the popular Comedy Central...
West Virginia deer kill up slightly in 2018
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State wildlife officials say the number of white-tailed deer killed in West Virginia during the recently completed hunting seasons rose slightly compared to a year ago. The Division of Natural Resources says in a news release that hunters killed 108,856 deer last year. That’s compared to 108,160...
Police write 171 traffic tickets during Indiana County operation
State police issued more than 170 traffic citations during an Operation Yellow Jacket speed enforcement detail Tuesday and Wednesday along Indiana County highways. According to spokesman Trooper First Class Cliff Greenfield, police wrote 171 traffic citations and three citations for motor carrier violations. They also issued 70 written warnings and...
Flood watch issued in Pittsburgh region through Friday morning
The National Weather Service issued a flood watch through 7 a.m. Friday for the region, including Allegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. With the ground already saturated by recent rain and an additional inch expected by the end of Thursday, flooding is possible on small streams, according to forecasters. Those who...
Penns Manor High student investigated after allegedly posting threat
An Indiana County high school student allegedly posted a threat on social media while he was at school, police said. The 16-year-old student is facing a disorderly conduct citation and disciplinary action from Penns Manor High School for allegedly posting the threat on Snapchat Tuesday. Pennsylvania State Police investigated. Megan...
Awareness campaign focuses on preventing scald burns
Scald injuries can be serious enough to require surgery, but they’re also highly preventable — realities that are the focus of Burn Awareness Week, observed annually during the first week of February. “So many scald burns are preventable, such as cooking safely, practicing safe bathing habits, and being vigilant when...
Cranberry medic secretly filmed 4 women in restroom, police say
A Cranberry Township medic has been charged with using a phone camera to secretly record women using the restroom at his EMS station. Matthew Thomas Leonard, 37, has been suspended without pay as police investigate. Police were first called to the Cranberry Township EMS station along Rochester Road on Jan....
DEP streamlining its permit, oversight functions in southwestern Pennsylvania
The state Department of Environmental Protection says it is cutting red tape often associated with its review of projects that could impact air, water and soil quality in southwestern Pennsylvania. In the past year, the DEP’s Southwest Regional Office reduced its backlog of permits by more than 75 percent –...
Reactions laud, slam Trump’s SOTU address
Here are a few responses from around the country to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night: “The President should have pledged tonight “no more shutdowns” and committed to taking additional steps to help the 820,000 federal employees recover from the adverse impact of his government...
State of the Union puts Western Pa. residents in the national spotlight
Tuesday night might have seen the first State of the Union address where the halls of Congress rang out with the sounds of “Happy Birthday.” Senators, representatives, Washington officials and guests spontaneously broke into the celebratory song after President Trump recognized Judah Samet. Samet arrived late to the Tree of...
Cranberry EMS veteran fired over camera in women’s room
A member of Cranberry Township EMS is facing charges after, police say, he put a hidden camera in a women’s restroom. WPXI-TV reports that Matt Leonard, a 12-year veteran of the EMS company, was charged Tuesday with invasion of privacy by viewing or photographing a person without consent and invasion...
Sunday hunting clears first hurdle in state Senate
The State Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Tuesday approved legislation for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to allow Sunday hunting. The bill still has to go to the Senate floor for a vote and then to the state House for approval before being sent to Gov. Tom Wolf. Efforts over the...
Bogus charity phone calls resurface in Indiana County
State police in Indiana County on Tuesday alerted area residents to a possible phone scam in the form of a bogus charitable solicitation. Police received a tip Tuesday from an Indiana County resident who reported receiving several recent phone calls from someone who claimed to be representing a “state police”...
