Mon Valley Independent marks 10th anniversary in printVideo
The Mon Valley Independent in Monessen will mark 10 years since it reshaped itself from its predecessor, the Valley Independent, and published its first edition on May 2, 2016. The newspaper will host a 10th-anniversary celebration this weekend. After the Valley Independent ceased publication at the end of 2015, Moe...
Meal plan, fees raised at PennWest, room rates adjusted
Meal plan costs, fees and some room rates are increasing at Pennsylvania Western University. The cost of 19-week and 14-week residential meal plans will increase by $100 per semester, said Wendy Mackall, PennWest spokeswoman. It reflects a 4.1% increase from PennWest’s vendor. The current 19-week plan is $2,475 and the...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh demolition efforts expand; 3rd Laurel Highlands teacher placed on leave
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, April 28: Demolition efforts expand Pittsburgh officials are continuing work to demolish rundown and unsafe properties across the city. Mayor Corey O’Connor announced the demolition projects in February, with work taking place in Arlington, Beltzhoover, Knoxville and St....
Police investigate murder-suicide in Seven Fields
State police are investigating a possible murder-suicide Tuesday in Butler County. State Trooper Bertha Cazy said Northern Regional Police Department responded to a Seven Fields home at 1:15 a.m. after receiving a phone call from the parents of Ryan Hosso, 26. Authorities found Madeline Spatafore, 25, dead inside the home...
Laurel Highlands stream remains ‘impaired’ with elevated lead levelsVideo
Months after a shooting range was deemed the culprit of lead contamination in a popular Laurel Ridge stream, high levels of the heavy metal still flow through the water despite ongoing remediation. Testing performed this month by the Mountain Watershed Association showed there were 336 micrograms of lead per liter...
On social media, concerns and questions arise about a U.S. military draft
Since the U.S. and Israel launched war on Iran, concerns are cropping up on social media that the country’s first military draft since 1973 could return. Popular influencers like Spencer Hunt have been expressing such worries. A March TikTok post on the topic by Hunt (@spencewuah) — which garnered over...
NFL Draft furniture to be sold at Pittsburgh’s Habitat for Humanity ReStoreVideo
Western Pennsylvanians will soon get a chance to take home a piece of the NFL Draft. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh ReStore will sell a collection of authentic NFL Draft furniture from the event’s green room. The furniture collection, donated by the NFL and Lowe’s, includes couches, love...
Boy dies in hit-and-run crash in Beaver County
A Monaca man is accused of driving under the influence in a deadly hit-and-run involving a boy in Beaver County on Friday evening. Rochester Borough police charged Thomas Earl Cole, 53, of Monaca with homicide by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving death or personal injury and DUI, according to court...
Western PA experts offer what to serve at your Kentucky Derby party
The Kentucky Derby may be nicknamed “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” but hopefully your Derby party will last significantly longer than 120 seconds. This year will be the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, which takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. The race takes place May...
WCCC president: college changes inevitable to achieve improvement
The president of Westmoreland County Community College said Friday continued efforts to improve the college’s educational programs will involve change. “We have to adapt to change,” said Kristin L. Mallory. “We are not going to stay stagnant. We are moving forward.” Mallory, 63, has been president of the 4,000-student community...
Slippery Rock, PennWest name schools after philanthropic backers
Big financial investments were recognized this week by Slippery Rock and Pennsylvania Western universities. Slippery Rock on Thursday unveiled the Haverlack College of Business, the first named college at the university. It’s established from a $5 million gift, the largest in the university’s 136-year history, from Rhonda and Elliott Haverlack....
Homer City power plant: Citizens group to meet ahead of DEP pipeline hearing
An Indiana-based citizens group opposing a planned power plant and data centers in Homer City plans to meet Sunday in Indiana borough. The group will share information about a May 12 hearing regarding a permit for a 5.8-mile pipeline that would feed natural gas to the plant. Concerned Residents of...
State conservation officials plan to distribute ‘pocket meadow kits’ to foster native plants
Homeowners are reminded in springtime how little most of them enjoy mowing. April showers might very well bring May flowers, but they also cause the grass to grow at an exorbitant rate. State conservation officials are aiming to help homeowners cut down on mowing, while also helping native flora and...
PennWest merger undershot estimated tuition revenue by $63M, enrollment by 4,800 studentsVideo
While the 2022 merger of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities realized savings in personnel and operations, enrollment projections for Pennsylvania Western University were short 4,800 students and $63 million in tuition revenue last school year. “While we’ve generated significant savings, it’s not as significant as had been originally projected, and...
Volunteer opportunities can make every day ‘Earth Day’
It’s Earth Day, and millions of people across the globe are spreading the word about ways to make the planet better, healthier and cleaner. That includes tons of initiatives right here in the Pittsburgh area, and most of them happen throughout the year, not just on Earth Day. Here are...
Pittsburgh locals split on NFL Draft, but agree it will be a spectacle
Danielle Nolan and her husband, John, have been Steelers season ticket holders since 2021. For them, attending the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh was a no-brainer. After months of planning, just hours remain until the massive spectacle opens Thursday to the public. The Nolans live in East Liverpool, Ohio, just an...
Grandmother, family friend charged in Renesmay Eutsey death investigation, Fayette DA says
Two more people — the victim’s grandmother and a family friend — are facing charges in connection with the September death of 9-year-old Renesmay Eutsey. Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said charges were filed Tuesday against the grandmother, Theresa Marie Shipley, 63, of Upper Tyrone, and family friend Sandra...
Turnpike starts engineering work for updated Breezewood, I-70 interchangeVideo
More than 5 million vehicles per year traverse the short stretch of Route 30 that links the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Interstate 70. This month, preliminary engineering work began on a new interchange that will give drivers a direct connection to I-70, accommodating those who want to remain on the turnpike...
Breeze Airways delays restart of Pittsburgh-Los Angeles direct flights
Breeze Airways will delay the relaunch of nonstop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport to Los Angeles. Spokesman Ryne Williams said the seasonally available route was initially scheduled to resume on May 7. That has now been pushed back to June 2, “due to rising fuel costs,” he told TribLive Monday....
From ‘Steel City’ to ‘eds and meds’: As Pittsburgh welcomes NFL Draft, it isn’t so easily defined anymoreVideo
When a Pittsburgh sports team appears on national television, it’s a sure bet that one of the commentators will refer to the team’s hometown as “the Steel City” in one way or another. But even as the Steel Curtain defense was helping propel the Steelers to the first of four...
Freeze watch, frost advisory issued for Western Pa.
Get your winter coats back out, Western Pennsylvania. A freeze watch and frost advisory were issued by the National Weather Service in Moon — starting Monday. The frost advisory will be effect from 2 to 10 a.m. Monday, and the freeze watch will be in effect from Monday evening through...
3-alarm fire displaces 13 in Allentown
A residential structure fire early Sunday morning in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood left 13 people displaced from two homes. Pittsburgh Fire was dispatched just after 5 a.m. Sunday to the 1500 block of Arlington Avenue. What started as a 1-alarm fire “quickly grew to three alarms,” according to Pittsburgh Public Safety...
Walmart delivery driver charged with running over customer
GREENVILLE — A part-time Walmart delivery driver is accused of repeatedly running over a customer in West Salem Township. Troy David Clark, 55, of 236 Marshall St., Hermitage, faces charges of assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. Clark is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing...
FBI says a threatened flight landed safely in Pittsburgh
A plane with a reported threat landed safely at Pittsburgh International Airport Saturday, according to FBI Pittsburgh. United Airlines Flight 2092 departed from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and was traveling to LaGuardia Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. It was diverted after the crew reported “a possible security issue” and...
Diocese of Greensburg bishop joins clergy nationwide weighing in on Trump, Pope Leo XIV discourseVideo
Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick said Thursday that Pope Leo XIV is “speaking from his rightful position” in criticism of President Donald Trump and the Iran war. The polarizing debate between the president and the pope has pushed onlookers to opposing sides. But Kulick views Leo’s continued calls for...
