Valley News Dispatch category, Page 3
Protesters call for state gift ban and end to Pittsburgh rodeo at Sen. Joe Pittman’s New Kensington office
In Pennsylvania, legislative officials are allowed to accept gifts from lobbyists so long as they disclose amounts greater than $250 and any travel, meals or lodging over $650 to the state Ethics Commission. Sally Simpson, a member of March On Harrisburg, which has advocated for a gift ban for the...
Harmar man guilty of forging signatures to get congressional hopeful on 2022 ballot
A jury on Friday found a longtime political volunteer guilty of forging signatures in a bid to help a Democratic congressional hopeful get on the ballot in 2022. Kirk Rice, 66, of Harmar was convicted of 38 criminal counts, including 14 counts of forgery and multiple counts of identity theft,...
7 ‘unsafe’ buildings coming down in Harrison, more to followVideo
Work is underway to take down the first of 26 deteriorated or dangerous buildings in Harrison. Middlefield Demolition is razing homes in the Natrona neighborhood, with the first ones coming down along Pine and Walnut streets. Commissioners last month approved the contract of just under $123,000 for seven buildings to...
Sweeping improvements expected for PRT bus routes in Tarentum, Harrison, Brackenridge and New Kensington
Brackenridge resident Eric Hohman said trips to the grocery store won’t feel like a time crunch if proposed changes for Pittsburgh Regional Transit are approved in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond. “As it is now, I have to get up to Walmart during the week because that’s when the buses...
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. to host 2nd annual Rockin’ Regatta
Water, sun and competition are coming to Pittsburgh Brewing Co. during the second annual Iron City Rockin’ Regatta. On June 6 and 7 the East Deer brewery in partnership with Three Rivers Outboard Racing Association will transform the brewery campus into a river racing spot for some of the region’s...
New Kensington shelter dogs benefit from increased volunteerism — in part, thanks to MiaVideo
A year after New Kensington’s Animal Protectors of the Allegheny Valley adopted out a shelter dog named Mia, who went viral online for her three-year stay there, the organization has seen a residual boost in volunteerism. Animal Protectors took to social media with Mia’s story, and it caught widespread attention....
Neighboring Springdale churches now both for sale
Two churches along Springdale’s Pittsburgh Street — one Catholic, the other Methodist — are now up for sale after extended vacancies. St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church closed in 2022, while Springdale United Methodist Church shuttered last June. The two former houses of worship sit opposite each other in the heart...
The Stroller, May 22, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Golf outing to raise...
Westmoreland County water authority drops fees, offers free lead pipe replacementsVideo
Hoping that a price tag of zero will entice reluctant property owners, the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on Thursday dropped plans to charge residents to replace lead water lines and will instead offer the service for free. Just months after launching a program that could have cost homeowners and...
Brackenridge water tap-in fees see steep increase
Water tap-in fees are set to skyrocket in Brackenridge, even though there’s typically little to no new construction in the borough. The move is meant to replace an outdated rate structure and stop the borough from losing money, officials said. New residential tap-in fees will quadruple, from $500 to $2,000....
Jury begins deliberations in forged-signature trial tied to 2022 congressional race
The attorney for a Harmar man accused of forging signatures on a politician’s election form said in closing arguments Thursday that the case came down to one point: prosecutors did not present enough evidence to convict. Jurors who will decide the fate of Kirk Rice resume deliberations in the trial...
New Kensington veteran has kept Memorial Park in bloom for more than 2 decades
While many see Memorial Day weekend as a time for tending to the graves of service members, one veteran can be found tending to a different kind of plot. For more than 20 years, retired Army veteran Jeanne Smith, 75, has tended the gardens at New Kensington’s Memorial Park —...
The Stroller, May 21, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Revolutionary War gear to...
Late-season freeze puts chill on fruit harvests across the region
Those looking forward to the annual ritual of picking fruits and berries are likely to be disappointed this year. Blame Mother Nature. A late-April frost wreaked havoc with crops, killing many of the buds that would have produced fruit. Perennial crops such as apples, pears, peaches, strawberries and cherries bloom...
Faces of the Valley: New Ken-Arnold wrestling coach builds offseason club for young athletes
Dane Johnson started wrestling when he was 4, but without years of training and development, his passion wouldn’t have led him to where he is today: the boys varsity wrestling coach at Valley High School. Now, his mission is to give kids the opportunity to train year-round for wrestling. Johnson,...
Petal to the metal: Shaler artist sculpting pollinator piece for Sharpsburg Community Garden
Sharpsburg Community Garden soon will add a heavy metal touch to its ecosystem. Shaler artist Oreen Cohen has spent the better part of the past few months working on a pollinator-themed scrap metal sculpture for the garden next to the Sharpsburg Community Library along Main Street. Cohen, a Carnegie Mellon...
Closed-door hearing for Niki’s Quick Six ends in mysterious ‘resolution’
The mystery of a sealed injunction against an Armstrong County bar persists. A hearing scheduled to discuss the injunction against Niki’s Quick Six, the Parks Township bar where a woman was shot and killed last month, took place out of the public eye Wednesday afternoon. Bar owner Niki Hosack; her...
Allegheny Valley School Board moves forward on budget without tax hike
The Allegheny Valley School Board approved its proposed budget Monday, meaning local homeowners likely won’t see any changes to their tax bill next year. The budget would maintain the district’s current rate of 21.7049 mills. That means a taxpayer who owns property with the median assessed value of $85,900 would...
Fawn seeks resident to fill supervisor vacancy
Fawn officials are looking for a resident to fill a vacancy on the board of supervisors after Paula Legge resigned. Legge was elected in 2022 to a six-year term. “I don’t feel I’m able to do the job I was elected to do,” Legge said when contacted by phone. “I...
Freeport Area budget would include small tax hike in Buffalo Township, tax cut in Freeport and South Buffalo
Residents in Buffalo Township could see a slightly higher tax bill, while Freeport and South Buffalo residents could get some relief if the Freeport Area School District moves forward with its proposed budget. Freeport Area is a school district that crosses county lines, with Buffalo Township in Butler County, and...
Trial postponed again in pet cremation scandal
A court date has been postponed for the second time in the case of a funeral home director accused of scamming pet owners by taking money for cremation and instead disposing of the animals in landfills. Patrick Vereb, 71, of Hazelwood, now is scheduled for trial Oct. 19 before Judge...
The Stroller, May 20, 2026: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Fridays on Fifth event...
Manufacturing workforce program launches at Westmoreland County Community College New Ken campusVideo
The production of composite materials is a growing industry with an array of job opportunities, which led to the new Composite Manufacturing Technician Program at Westmoreland County Community College Composite materials are made of two or more different materials. The finished product is used in aerospace, defense and other industrial...
Charges against alleged Pagans member waived to court
Charges against a Tarentum man, who police say is affiliated with the Pagans Motorcycle Club, were waived to court Tuesday at his preliminary hearing. Joshua Drum, 31, is charged with felony and misdemeanor charges of retaliation against a witness or victim and intimidating a witness or victim. He also faces...
Parking restrictions scheduled for Allegheny River Boulevard
Parking along Allegheny River Boulevard in Verona will be restricted on May 26. According the borough’s police department, the roadway’s markings and parking lines will be repainted from the area of the GetGo gas station to Wildwood Avenue, through Verona’s business district. Originally scheduled for Thursday, inclement weather caused the...
