Hempfield, Unity would have to pay millions for state police coverage under Wolf proposalVideo
Hempfield could pay almost $7 million for state police coverage under Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal — yet another attempt to collect from municipalities that rely on troopers rather than their own police department. Hempfield is one of nearly 2,500 municipalities across Pennsylvania without a local police department. The proposed...
Westmoreland water authority will test chlorine alternative in McKeesport
A small-scale treatment plant will be built at the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s McKeesport facility to test a new chemical additive that officials said could improve the taste and smell of the system’s drinking water. The authority will spend $170,000 to construct the mock treatment plant that will serve...
State Rep. Justin Walsh announces candidacy for Westmoreland County judge
State Rep. Justin Walsh this week announced his candidacy for judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Westmoreland County. Walsh, R-Rostraver, touted 22 years of experience as an attorney, legislator and small businessman. He pledged to continue his work protecting local families and their Constitutional rights as judge. “Recent...
Kiski Township will end police coverage for North Apollo without a new contract
North Apollo could lose the police coverage provided by Kiski Township within the next few weeks. The borough was given an ultimatum Wednesday by the Kiski Township supervisors to ratify a contract offer at its next council meeting or risk losing local police coverage. “If they don’t ratify the contract...
King the wire fox terrier takes Westminster’s best in show
NEW YORK — Wire fox terriers are still King at Westminster. A wire fox from Brazil who’s won big in Europe became America’s top dog Tuesday night, beating out a crowd-pleasing longhaired dachshund and popular Sussex spaniel. There were some boos — along with modest cheers — when judge Peter...
Dominion plans to reduce methane emissions 50 percent by 2029
Dominion Energy officials on Tuesday announced their intent to reduce methane emissions from their natural-gas infrastructure by 50 percent over the next decade, the equivalent of taking 2.3 million cars off the road for a year, or planting 180 million trees. The primary focus will be on reducing and eliminating...
Before Bezos fight, National Enquirer publisher AMI faced steep losses
NEW YORK — The publisher of the National Enquirer, currently under attack by Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos, has been facing steep financial losses that have left the once-loyal keeper of Donald Trump’s secrets with more than $1 billion in debt and a negative net worth. The closely held American...
Oakmont Bakery’s opening week brings traffic nightmaresVideo
The new Oakmont Bakery at Third Street and Hulton Road in Oakmont has been open only a week, and the traffic nightmares have begun. “The whole area’s a disaster, but it will get worked out,” interim Borough Manager Harry Dilmore said Tuesday. “We knew there was going to be a...
Some people say a gun ban will increase crime in Pittsburgh
A group of speakers panned Pittsburgh’s proposed gun ordinances Tuesday, saying the legislation would do more to increase crime than reduce gun violence in the city. City Councilwoman Darlene Harris of Spring Hill assembled the panel to offer their opinions on bills that would ban certain semi-automatic rifles, ammunition and...
Police detective killed by friendly fire in New York City
NEW YORK — A New York City police detective was shot and killed by friendly fire Tuesday night as officers confronted a robbery suspect who turned out to be armed with a replica handgun, Commissioner James O’Neill said. “This appears to be an absolutely tragic case of friendly fire,” an...
Penn State alumni trustees attack Louis Freeh investigation into Sandusky report
PHILADELPHIA — A report compiled by long-standing critics of Louis Freeh’s 2012 investigation into the sex-abuse scandal at Penn State University asserts that the former FBI director didn’t have the evidence to blame the school’s football “culture” as he did, much less prove that its leaders knew or conspired to...
Pittsburgh Planning Commission approves Penn Plaza redevelopment
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission on Tuesday approved redevelopment of the former Penn Plaza Apartment property in East Liberty, ending more than three years of acrimony between the developer, city, residents and community activists. Larry Gumberg, founder and president of L.G. Realty Advisors, called it the most “exciting and time consuming”...
Pittsburgh bald eagles deliver 1st egg of the year in 7th year of nesting
The Pittsburgh Hays bald eagles have delivered for the seventh year, laying their first egg of the season Tuesday. The egg first was spotted via a live webcam at about 6:45 p.m., according to a release from the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. The Hays birds are the first pair...
Search to resume for body reportedly seen in Brush Creek
A search is expected to resume Thursday along Brush Creek in North Huntingdon for a reported body seen floating along the creek on Saturday. North Huntingdon Police Chief Robert Rizzo said that the search will resume with a “larger operation” that is expected to last most of the day. Rizzo...
Police: Ohio State student and her abductor killed in Kentucky chase
CRESTWOOD, Ky. — A female student from an Ohio State University campus and a man suspected of abducting her both died after a police chase and shooting, Kentucky State Police said Tuesday. The chase began Monday afternoon in northern Kentucky as police responded to a call about a person in...
Meeting set on gas well failure near Beaver Run reservoir
The failure of CNX Resources Corp.’s gas well near the Beaver Run Reservoir in Washington Township in January and its impact on the community will be discussed by environmental groups during a public meeting later this month in Delmont. The incident involving CNX Resources Shaw 1G Utica shale gas well...
Arnold father and son subdue, tie up would-be robber in their home, police say
An alleged armed robbery attempt in Arnold didn’t turn out so well for the suspect. According to police, a father and son subdued a man they say pulled a gun in their home while trying to rob the son. The accused robber, Raiquan Shakeem Banks, 19, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was...
Math understanding improving this year, Hempfield principals say
As part of their yearly goals, Hempfield Area principals identified numeracy understanding as a top priority — something teachers and principals say is improving. Working on different levels — high school, middle school and elementary school — principals have created curriculum that will help students improve their skills and to...
Wind causes heavy damage to Derry post office
Heavy wind caused serious damage to the post office in Derry Borough on Tuesday morning. No one was injured when strong winds caused part of the roof to buckle at 9:42 a.m., according to Derry Volunteer Fire Department officials. Because of the damage, postal operations have been moved temporarily to...
Westmoreland treasurer seeks third term
Westmoreland County incumbent Republican Treasurer Jared Squires announced Tuesday he will seek a third term. Squires, 41, of Mt. Pleasant Township, was first elected in 2011 and won re-election in 2015. “The Treasurer’s Office has continued to maintain a focus on customer service while keeping the costs of the office...
Charleroi, Monessen areas under boil-water advisory
Thousands of customers in the Mon Valley towns of Monessen, Charleroi, North Charleroi and Speers are under a boil-water advisory because of the possibility disease-causing organisms may have entered the system through a break in a transmission line Tuesday, the Borough of Charleroi Water Authority said. Water buffaloes have been...
NASA about to pull plug on Mars rover, silent for 8 months
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA is trying one last time to contact its record-setting Mars rover Opportunity, before calling it quits. The rover has been silent for eight months, victim of one of the most intense dust storms in decades. Thick dust darkened the sky last summer and, for months,...
Missing Bridgeville boy found safe
Bridgeville Police say a missing 12-year-old boy has been found safe, according to WPXI-TV. The Bridgeville Police Department posted on their Facebook page Tuesday afternoon they were looking for Robert Rave. He had been seen in Scott Township around 7 a.m. Tuesday after spending the night at a friend’s house...
National debt hits new milestone, topping $22 trillion
WASHINGTON — The national debt has passed a new milestone, topping $22 trillion for the first time. The Treasury Department’s daily statement showed Tuesay that total outstanding public debt stands at $22.01 trillion. It stood at $19.95 trillion when President Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2017. The debt figure...
Kansas declares staffing emergency at most crowded prison
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas declared an emergency Tuesday at its most crowded maximum-security state prison over what Gov. Laura Kelly called “serious staffing shortages” inside a lockup that’s had multiple inmate disturbances over the past two years. But Kelly acknowledged that the most immediate effect of the declaration — longer...
