Historic Westmoreland County covered bridge damaged in hit-and-run
Part of Bells Mills Road was closed this week after a portion of Westmoreland County’s last covered bridge was damaged in a hit-and-run. County engineer Vaughn Neill said a state trooper reported the damage on Bells Mills Bridge. “Somebody struck this, we don’t know who, we don’t know when,” Neill...
Retired teacher’s book aims to preserve a snapshot of Westmoreland’s natural areas
Dick Byers of Stahlstown loves nature. The 81-year-old retired biology teacher has enjoyed the natural areas of Westmoreland County and the surrounding region for decades. While there are plenty of publications exploring the trails that crisscross the area, Byers was more interested in preserving a snapshot of what nature looks...
Drunk man on smoke break ends up between train cars at 125 m.p.h. in frigid German weather
BERLIN — Police say an intoxicated German man who ducked out of a train for a cigarette during a short stop got into trouble when he tried to jump back on board between two cars after the train departed without him. Police said Thursday the 33-year-old clung on to the...
Student arrested for stealing own car settles suit for $1.25M
EVANSTON, Ill. — A Chicago suburb has tentatively agreed to pay a former doctoral student $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit alleging police officers tackled him to the ground and arrested him for stealing a car that turned out to be his own, his attorney said. Evanston City Manager Wally...
Iowa Sen. Ernst says she was raped in college by boyfriend
DES MOINES, Iowa — Sen. Joni Ernst says in an interview that she was raped by a boyfriend while she was a student at Iowa State University but didn’t report the assault. In an interview with Bloomberg posted online Wednesday night, Ernst disclosed the attack. She also clarified her discussions...
Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf takes new step on marijuana with town hall sessions
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is taking a new step in its exploration of legalizing marijuana, with Lt. Gov. John Fetterman preparing a series of town hall-style public listening sessions. Fetterman, himself an advocate for legalizing marijuana, said Thursday he’ll hold a listening session in each of Pennsylvania’s...
Authority lifts boil water advisory for McKeesport, Port Vue
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on Thursday morning lifted its boil water advisory for customers in Port Vue and McKeesport. The authority said tests confirmed there is no longer a contamination risk to the more than 2,100 Allegheny County water customers impacted by a water main break earlier this...
Walnut Grill offers free meals to furloughed federal employees
As the government shutdown trudges toward its sixth week, furloughed and unpaid federal employees can enjoy a free meal thanks to local restaurant chain Walnut Grill. Employees – and their spouses and children – can choose from a menu of salads, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas. The meal also includes a...
Ammunition in Rose’s pocket, stolen guns in car irrelevant in Rosfeld case, DA says
Prosecutors in the case against Michael Rosfeld argued Thursday that it is irrelevant whether Antwon Rose II was in a car with a stolen gun or had ammunition in his pocket when he was shot and killed by then-Officer Michael Rosfeld last year. None of that should have any bearing...
Armstrong County drug task force arrests 3, uncovers stolen handgun, in Ford City
The Armstrong County drug task force arrested three individuals in Ford City on drug-related charges Tuesday. Laval Bruce, 23, of Pittsburgh, Ericka Jean Golden, 23, of Braddock and Melissa Jane Kladny, 47, of Ford City, will face various charges regarding possession of and intent to deliver controlled substances, as well...
Pennsylvania man says emotional support alligator is ‘just like a dog’
YORK HAVEN —A Pennsylvania man says his emotional support alligator helps him deal with his depression. Joie Henney, 65, said his registered emotional support animal named Wally likes to snuggle and give hugs, despite being a 5-foot-long alligator. The York Haven man said he received approval from his doctor to...
4 Nevada killings spook neighbors who don’t know motive
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nervous neighbors were shining floodlights on their property at night in a northern Nevada community where Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken were killed this month in slayings that authorities blame on a 19-year-old from El Salvador said to be in the U.S. illegally. Residents also were...
Florida school joins list of universities that have had to withdraw acceptance letters
College acceptance notifications are occasion for celebration; but there are some exceptions. The Tampa Bay Tribune reported that this year’s exception was the University of South Florida, where someone hit a send button that sent email notifications soaring through the ether to some 680 applicants who had applied to the...
PennDOT crews respond to large crack in Penn Township road
Drivers headed through Penn Township should avoid Paintertown Road between Route 130 and Simpson Road, until PennDOT crews are able to address a slide that took place on Thursday morning. Police chief John Otto said police were notified about the road by a motorist shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday morning....
Vandergrift proposes more handicap parking spaces for residents
Vandergrift council will vote on an amendment to expand the number of handicap parking spaces in town during their regular meeting on Feb. 4, at the borough building, 109 Grant Ave. “The intent of council is to expand the handicap parking opportunities in our town,” said Larry Loperfito, borough solicitor....
Trump’s shutdown gift to Pelosi: a unified Democratic caucus
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has done something remarkable in the government shutdown: He’s unified the diverse new House Democratic majority firmly behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It’s not even about the wall at this point. Democrats are sticking together with an unusual amount of unity as a way to strengthen...
Trump, GOP embrace amid political fallout from shutdown
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. — As President Donald Trump’s approval rating falls, the Republican Party is grasping him ever tighter. Gathering in New Mexico, the Republican National Committee’s governing body will take the unusual step Friday of voting to declare the party’s “undivided support” for Trump and his “effective presidency.”...
2 cold weather shelters open in Westmoreland County
Two cold weather shelters are open in Westmoreland County when the temperatures dip below 25 degrees at night. The shelters — in Greensburg and Latrobe — will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through March 31 for those who are homeless or others whose homes aren’t adequately heated...
Europe court orders Italy to pay damages to Amanda Knox
MILAN — Europe’s human rights court on Thursday ordered Italy to pay Amanda Knox financial damages for police failure to provide legal assistance and a translator during a long night of questioning following the Nov. 1, 2007 murder of her British roommate. But the court said there was insufficient evidence...
24 neighborhood nonprofits share in $341K ‘Small and Mighty’ grants
The Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-Op plans to spend a $15,000 infusion on expanding a neighborhood nutrition program and planning a co-op grocery store and farmers market in Homestead. Raising Achievement in Monroeville and Pitcairn, a volunteer-led organization known as RAMP, plans to offer $1,000 stipends to...
Pitt lacks details other Pennsylvania colleges included in hazing report
Reports documenting alleged incidents of hazing at the University of Pittsburgh main campus in Oakland lack the detail included in reports from other schools across the state. University officials said they provided information mandated by a new anti-hazing law that requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to post public, online reports...
$15,000 allegedly stolen from Hempfield man, sweepstakes company warning against fraud
A sweepstakes company is warning people to watch out for a scam that caused a local man to have $15,000 taken from his bank account, police said. Scammers claiming to be from the United States Sweepstakes and Fulfillment Co. allegedly sent a mailer to a Hempfield Township man saying he...
Unloaded school bus involved in Murrysville crash
An unloaded school bus was involved in a crash Thursday morning in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The crash between the bus and a passenger vehicle on School Road North happened at 7:15 a.m. Traffic was being affected in the area while emergency responders worked to clear the...
Plummeting temperatures, gusty winds set to smack Pittsburgh region
Western Pennsylvania could see roughly an inch of snow in some places Thursday. A special weather statement issued early Thursday by the National Weather Service said temperatures have quickly dropped behind a cold front, allowing rain to transition to snow. A quick coating to near an inch of snow will...
Tarentum police searching for 2 people involved in hardware store theft
Tarentum Police are trying to identify two men accused of stealing a shovel from the Tarentum Hardware store on First Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Chief Bill Vakulick said. Security camera footage posted to the department’s Facebook page shows two men — one wearing a bright green, hooded sweatshirt and...
