Westmoreland category, Page 16
Judge nixes request for AI lawyer in pending New Kensington murder case
A Washington County man charged with the 2022 murder of a New Kensington man told a Westmoreland County judge Friday he wants to represent himself at his upcoming trial with the help of an artificial intelligence lawyer. Larry Osborn Nix II, 42, of West Brownsville is awaiting trial for criminal...
Westmoreland Intermediate Unit looks to borrow millions, warns of possible layoffs during budget impasses
The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit wants to borrow $2 million to keep services and programs operating during the ongoing state budget crisis, the organization’s leader said. If the Intermediate Unit board of directors approves borrowing the money through a revenue anticipation loan, it can avoid disruptions through the remainder of the...
Southwest Greensburg man charged in flagpole altercations at ‘No Kings’ protest
Charges were filed Friday against a Southwest Greensburg man who police said was involved in an incident that injured a woman at the No Kings protest outside the Westmoreland County courthouse. Jeffrey C. Greece, 58, is facing two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, and a summary offense of harassment....
Salem man accused of driving drunk in Route 22 crash that injured 3 others
A Salem man is accused of driving drunk and rear-ending an SUV on Route 22 in Murrysville, sending three people to a hospital with serious injuries, according to police. Wynn Noll, 63, was arrested Thursday on charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Murrysville...
5 candidates compete for 4 open seats on Franklin Regional School Board
Five candidates will compete for four open seats on the Franklin Regional School Board in the Nov. 4 election, and their goals and concerns cover a wide range of topics. All candidates are running for a four-year term. Shannon Venditti received the highest number of votes on the Republican ballot,...
Incumbents face same Democratic challenger in race for 2 East Huntingdon supervisor seats
East Huntingdon incumbent supervisors Jeff Keefer and Justin Morrow have the same job. They also have the same opponent in separate races for two seats on the township’s governing board. Keefer, 55, a Republican, is seeking a four-year term. A former member of the township’s road crew, Keefer was appointed...
Social media’s impact on children topic of panel discussion on ‘Anxious Generation’
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg communications professor Jessica Ghilani likens the design of social media platforms to casinos without windows. The introduction of algorithmic sorting to Facebook in 2009 paved the way for social media platforms to generate endless streams of content for users — a system Ghilani describes as...
Republican incumbent, Democratic newcomer vie for votes in Latrobe mayoral race
Christine Marquis wasn’t expecting to run for mayor of Latrobe, but she accepted the Democratic nomination for the post after supporters waged a successful primary write-in campaign on her behalf. On Nov. 4, Marquis will face off against Republican incumbent Eric Bartels. Bartels is seeking his second term as mayor,...
Change of fortune: Charleroi sees drop in Haitians; deportation fears, job loss
As Jim Alexandre looks out the window of his Haitian Resource Center office in downtown Charleroi, he wonders how his community will handle its latest challenge — the closure of a food processing plant that will eliminate 250 jobs by the end of October. “In general, it’s the newest problem,”...
Murrysville council candidates zero in on comprehensive plan update
Candidates competing for four open seats on Murrysville Council have unanimously identified one central issue facing the municipality: the long-overdue update to its comprehensive plan. All five candidates running for the four seats cited the planning document — which serves as the town’s vision for growth and development — as...
Jeannette struggles to fill 2 openings on police force
Jeannette is looking at financial incentives and other options to encourage more applicants to two openings on the police force. As of Tuesday afternoon, no one had applied for the positions, police Chief Derek Manley said. The application period closes Oct. 31. During a meeting Monday to prepare for the...
Judge upholds life sentences for Monessen man in 1973 rape, double murder case
A judge has rejected an appeal from a Monessen man who has spent 50 years in prison for the 1973 murders of two young children and the rape of their mother. Attorneys for John Veltre Jr., 69, claimed that Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Stewart II abused his...
PennDOT work restricts traffic on Rostraver bridge over I-70
Traffic has been reduced to a single lane on Crawford Lane Bridge in Rostraver. Temporary traffic signals have been installed at each end of the bridge, on Crawford Lane and Finley Road, to guide traffic over the span that crosses above Interstate 70. The lane restriction is slated to continue...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Oct. 24-26
This pre-Halloween weekend is packed with scary good activities for all ages throughout Westmoreland. Don your costume and get ready to haunt the town with these events. Halloween tales tours The Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown will host a fascinating and spine-tingling event with real ghostly tales from the Ligonier...
Irwin to hold Halloween parade Saturday
Youngsters in Irwin Borough will have a chance to don their Halloween costumes and go to businesses in downtown Irwin for a trick-or-treat from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, followed by a parade along Main Street. Registration for the parade will be held 1 to 3 p.m. at the S&T...
Hempfield Township hauls in $180K from auction after 66,000 people browsed
Hempfield raked in $180,500 in proceeds from an online auction of 116 pieces of surplus equipment. More than 66,000 people looked at what Hempfield had for sale through Anderson Auctioneers, including trucks, firefighting equipment, traffic signals, kitchen appliances, chairs and reflector lamps. “That’s impressive,” said township Supervisor Jay Anderson. “There’s...
6 vie for 4 seats on Youngwood council
Six people are running for four spots on Youngwood council — including three incumbents, two newcomers and one who has filled in for a vacant seat on the board for about four months. Managing borough finances, replacing public works equipment, updating stormwater infrastructure, fostering community and addressing blighted properties are...
Penn-Trafford freshman installs ‘Kindness Rock Garden’ at Children’s Home
The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh holds a special place in Penn-Trafford freshman Amelia Montenary’s heart. Her 8-year-old sister, Lucy, diagnosed with Trisomy 18 as a baby, has spent much of her life in the Bloomfield care facility. Also known as Edwards Syndrome, Trisomy 18 is a rare genetic condition that...
Judge laments crimes he claims are linked to Hempfield casino as blackjack player is sentenced for having loaded gun
A Jeannette man will serve two years of probation for illegally possessing a loaded handgun while playing blackjack in a Westmoreland County casino. Kenneth J. Czarnecki, 26, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of carrying a firearm without a license while gambling at Live Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall in...
Hempfield man sentenced to probation, house arrest for stalking teen at school bus stop
A Hempfield man was ordered to serve seven years on probation after he pleaded guilty to charges related to claims he propositioned a teenager last year at a school bus stop. Police claimed Michael D. Thomas, 72, made sexual comments to a 13-year-old Wendover Middle School student as she waited...
Judge rejects bail request of Jeannette man awaiting retrial for 1993 fatal fire
A judge on Wednesday denied bail for a former Jeannette man awaiting retrial on charges he set a fire three decades ago that killed his wife and two young children. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Stewart III ruled that state law prohibits bail for defendants who face a...
Murrysville has few options to protect traffic light control boxes
Murrysville officials have had problems in recent years with crashes on Route 22 causing damage to the electrical boxes that control several traffic lights along the highway. The municipality plans to replace the current light-control system. But in the meantime, they don’t have a lot of options to protect the...
City manager expects 2026 Jeannette budget to balance without tax increase
Property taxes are expected to remain steady in Jeannette’s 2026 budget. “I do not see a need for a tax increase unless something disastrous happens between now and the November council meeting,” City Manager Ethan Keedy said. There is more work to be done on the proposed spending plan, but...
Southmoreland reviews livestream policy, plans hearing regarding controversial director’s comments
The Southmoreland School Board is reviewing a policy that would end the livestreaming of its meetings in favor of posting a video recording after the meeting’s conclusion. The move comes a month after School Director Catherine Fike, a retired school psychologist, was accused by the school board of disclosing confidential...
Westmoreland commissioners OK loan to pay for human services amid state budget impasse
Westmoreland commissioners on Tuesday authorized the county’s finance department to apply for a $14.1 million state treasury loan to fund essential human services amid Pennsylvania’s ongoing budget stalemate. The commissioners said an infusion of cash is needed as county resources used to pay key service providers that care for children...
