Regional category, Page 6
News industry veteran Robert Hammond remembered for dedication, friendship
Rob Hammond, who rose through the ranks at Trib Total Media to become general manager of The McKeesport Daily News, was remembered by former colleagues this week as much for his leadership as for his passion for the news industry. Hammond, of Elizabeth Township, died Monday at age 75. “Rob...
Fayette County borough mayor, 82, charged with DUI in hit-and-run
The 82-year-old mayor of a small Fayette County town had a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit on Election Night when he crashed his car into a woman driving her sons to a sporting event, then fled the scene, Pennsylvania State Police said. Perryopolis Mayor Charles Petrosky, locally known...
Bill Crawford leaving WDVE’s Morning Show
Comedian Bill Crawford on Wednesday announced he is leaving 102.5 WDVE’s Morning Show to focus on standup comedy. “It is weird as hell to be saying this out loud,” he said during the show. “This show has been such a huge part of my life.” Crawford, who has been on...
Judge dismisses appeal in 2009 murder of Blairsville dentist
An appeal filed by a former state trooper convicted in the 2009 murder of a Blairsville dentist was dismissed by a judge this month. Indiana County Judge Thomas Bianco wrote in an opinion that Kevin J. Foley made illogical arguments in an appeal seeking a new trial in the fatal...
Clouds could prevent Western Pa. from seeing northern lights
The northern lights are expected to return to the skies over Southwestern Pennsylvania on Wednesday night — but cloudy conditions could block the view. Andrew Kienzle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said the aurora borealis is expected to peak between 9 and 11 p.m. Wednesday night....
Police charge Butler Township man in infant son’s death
A Butler Township father has been charged in connection with the death of his 2-month-old son after police found the infant’s bruised and lifeless body on a couch Saturday. Vincent Miceli, 32, was charged Monday with homicide, aggravated assault of a young child and endangering the welfare of children. An...
Shady Ave Magazine to change ownership
Shady Ave Magazine, the highly regarded Pittsburgh-based lifestyle publication, has been acquired by Table Media Inc., officials announced Wednesday. Table Media is buying the publication from Trib Total Media, which has produced the magazine since May 2022. The transition to new ownership is expected to be completed by Dec. 1,...
TribLive and reporter Justin Vellucci honored with national Eppy Awards
TribLive was honored with a national Eppy Award for Best Daily News website for the second consecutive year, and Trib reporter Justin Vellucci won the prestigious award’s honor for best news or event feature. TribLive captured second place for Best Daily News website with 1 million or more monthly unique...
Costco looks to sell beer and wine at Cranberry store — a 1st in Pa.
Costco wants to break into the beer and wine business in Pennsylvania, starting with its Cranberry location. The bulk goods retailer has a pending application with the Pa. Liquor Control Board that, if successful, would enable it to sell limited amounts of alcohol. In states and stores where allowed, Costco...
3-vehicle crash in Fayette County kills 3
Part of Route 40 was closed in Fayette County on Monday evening after a crash that killed three people, according to state police. According to state police, the three-vehicle crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. near Dark Hollow Road and Youghiogheny River Lake in Henry Clay Township. An eastbound truck...
1st snow of season hits Seven Springs
The first snowflakes of the season landed on the slopes of Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County Monday morning. A thin layer of ice lined the tree branches across the 285-acre property, according to photos from the resort. Blades of grass poked through the light dusting of snow coating...
Appellate court panel sides with striking Post-Gazette workers; PG will appeal decision
A federal appeals court panel on Monday ruled in favor of striking journalists at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, possibly heralding an end to a long and bitter labor dispute that led newspaper staffers to walk the picket line for more than three years. The decision by three judges on the U.S....
Preliminary work underway for Route 119 revamp south of Westmoreland-Fayette border
Preliminary work is underway to set the stage for a $53.9 million PennDOT project meant to reduce crashes by reworking a section of Route 119 in Upper Tyrone and Bullskin townships — just over the border from Westmoreland County into Fayette County. That area of Route 119 includes intersections with...
2 Indiana County schoolchildren die in house fire
Two United School District students died in a fire early Sunday morning in Indiana County. “A young person’s death is always tragic, and the sudden loss of life can have a profound effect on surviving students,” United Superintendent Richard Lucas said in a statement. The fire was at a home...
Light snow and chillier temperatures predicted for Monday morning
It’s still fall, but winter is getting revved up. Unseasonably cold air is expected to sweep into the area overnight into Monday and bring with it the potential for November snow showers. National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Frazier said on-and-off rain on Sunday could change over to snow flurries between...
Colleges grapple with lukewarm perception of their importance
Joel Bauman has been involved in college admissions for 30 years, and he can’t remember a more challenging time than what he faces today. “It has become more cynical,” said Bauman, senior vice president for enrollment management at Duquesne University, “but you can’t blame families, given the financial situation.” Colleges...
Western Pennsylvania teachers get creative with classrooms in learning
Jessica Pilyih rarely sits at her desk. And her students don’t sit at theirs, either. “I am not a desk person,” Pilyih said as she sat at one of the semi-circular round tables inside her fifth-grade classroom at Holiday Park Intermediate School in the Plum Borough School District. “I have...
Arbitrators wield nearly unchecked power to return disgraced police to duty
Keith Edmonds zapped an unarmed homeless man so many times with his Pittsburgh police-issued Taser that the city paid an $8 million court settlement after the man died. Aaron Fetty, another Pittsburgh police officer, was accused of sexually assaulting a co-worker while off duty. Philadelphia police Lt. Marc Hayes texted...
Coroner: Both drivers die in Interstate 70 crash in Washington County
Both drivers died who were involved in a crash Friday afternoon on Interstate 70 in Washington County. Both people, a man and a woman, were from West Virginia; they were traveling by themselves. Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco identified woman as Donna K. Havens, 59, of Wheeling. Warco said Havens...
Hospital revenue a bright spot as Independence Health grapples with outstanding losses
Independence Health has seen some positive financial results at its five hospitals while still working to reduce overall losses in eight figures for its multi-county health care system. According to a presentation Independence Health shared this week with TribLive, revenues exceeded expenses at each of its hospitals for the 12...
How to help food banks cope with increasing demand
Amid food banks and local pantries stepping up to fill the gap left by lack of SNAP benefits, here are ways to donate throughout the region. Armstrong County Community Action Food Bank Armstrong County Community Action Food Bank accepts monetary and food donations. Due to the food bank’s affiliation with...
So far, so good: Pittsburgh airport running smoothly, for now, as flight cuts take effect
Pittsburgh International Airport appeared to be running normally Friday as the Federal Aviation Administration began curtailing flights across the nation in response to the government shutdown. Jackie Ferguson, a customer assistance representative for American Airlines at the airport, said Pittsburgh might not be directly affected until the end of the...
PNC broadens branch expansion plan to more than 300 by 2030
PNC said Friday it will be opening more than 300 new branches by 2030, adding about 100 locations to its earlier plan as it looks to expand its in-person banking footprint. Even as digital banking and online payments have lowered the need for frequent branch visits, several U.S. lenders are...
Washington County DA accuses coroner of withholding autopsy reports
Washington County Coroner Tim Warco has been accused by county District Attorney Jason Walsh of withholding multiple autopsy reports from the DA’s office, and that Warco instead sent an invoice for payment in order to release the reports, according to state police. TribLive news partner WTAE reports that state police,...
As SNAP benefits remain in limbo, grocers brace for potential impact
Grocers who rely on sales from customers using federal food assistance are bracing for financial pain that could amount to millions of dollars in losses. Nationwide, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves an average of almost 42 million participants per month who spend almost $100 billion per year on...
