Julia Maruca stories, Page 7
Fire destroys Bloomfield home, 1 resident injured
A home in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood is no longer habitable after a fire Tuesday morning, according to Pittsburgh public safety officials. Firefighters were sent to the 3900 block of Mintwood Street at 11:15 a.m. The sole occupant of the home, a man in his 70s, was able to get himself...
DoubleTree by Hilton hotel next to Monroeville Convention Center to close
The DoubleTree by Hilton hotel next to the Monroeville Convention Center will close Wednesday, a staff member and an agent for the hotel’s owner confirmed. The hotel regularly hosted guests attending events at the Monroeville Convention Center, which is set to be shuttered June 1 to make way for a...
Former Franklin Regional superintendent tapped as consultant to find new leader at Hempfield Area
Hempfield Area School District’s superintendent search is officially on. The district board tapped education consultant Peter Emery D’Arcangelo to begin its search for a new district leader to replace Tammy Wolicki. Wolicki announced her retirement Jan. 22, following an extended leave of absence. Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Kimberlie Rieffannacht...
Pharmacy information company hack has impact on Western Pa. pharmacies, chains
A cyberattack disrupted operations at a pharmacy information company beginning about two weeks ago, impacting a number of pharmacies around the country. UnitedHealth subsidiary Change Healthcare first reported on its website Feb. 21 that it is “experiencing a cyber security issue.” In updates Friday, the company said it was still...
From billionaire Mark Cuban to independent store owners, criticism for pharmacy benefit managers is plentiful
At first glance, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban may seem to have little in common with an independent pharmacy owner. But they have one shared adversary: pharmacy benefit managers. They claim the drug price negotiators are putting mom-and-pop drugstores out of business. Pharmacy benefit managers — known as PBMs — are...
Saint Vincent students give younger counterparts a boost at Greensburg Salem
Saint Vincent College junior Gabriel Graham knows what it’s like to struggle in school. “I definitely didn’t have a normal upbringing,” Graham said. “Because of that, my education definitely was impacted in a negative way. Pretty much all through high school and all of my schooling, I was very much...
Multigenerational ‘Snow White’ performance set at Geyer Performing Arts Center
A fairy tale favorite is coming to the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale this month, with a cast that connects multiple generations. The musical production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” will run at the theater from Friday to Sunday. The show is a twist on the familiar...
Fort Allen Volunteer Fire Department plans to join Hempfield Fire Department
Fort Allen Volunteer Fire Department is the third of the township’s stations to take steps toward becoming a nonchartered service under the umbrella of the Hempfield Fire Department. The township received a letter Tuesday indicating the station’s intent to “go all in,” according to fire Chief Anthony Kovacic and Township...
Bitter pill: Customers lament loss of small-town pharmacies as reimbursement formulas become unsustainable
As Erica Yurt’s husband battled head and neck cancer, she relied on Mainline Pharmacy in Harrison City to get critical prescriptions for him on time. The independent pharmacy also stayed open past closing on a Friday to make sure he got the medications he needed. Now, the Level Green woman...
West Overton Village to host wedding showcase
Those interested in celebrating their special day at a historic site are in luck — West Overton Village will host a free wedding and event showcase with local vendors from 2 to 5 p.m. on April 14. West Overton is long established as a museum site that most recently returned...
‘New with the old:’ Greensburg Community Days returns with new format
The unofficial kickoff of the summer season in Greensburg is back on schedule. Greensburg Community Days, a popular gathering over Memorial Day weekend since the 1990s, will be returning this year for the first time since before the start of the pandemic. The event will take on a new form...
Students in Hempfield support programs sell handmade items through boutique
Jack Wonderling carefully lifted the lid of the heat press machine and placed a fresh tote bag inside. He pressed down on the handle of the press and held it for about a minute until the design — a glittery blue Spartan logo — was transferred onto the outside of...
Hempfield Area out $2.4M in payments to architectural firm for high school project
Hempfield Area School District paid more than $2.4 million to departing firm Core Architects for work on its now-stalled $150 million high school renovation project, according to district business manager Paul Schott. Core Architects resigned from the ambitious project last week by sending the district a letter, according to Ryan...
Hempfield Area Foundation Funds Committee to host ‘Spartan Soiree’
Hempfield Area School District’s Foundation Funds Committee is holding a weekend night of celebration to benefit student scholarships, grants and district projects. Through the upcoming “Spartan Soiree,” slated for 6 p.m. Saturdayat Ferrante’s Lakeview in Hempfield, attendees can support the committee’s efforts and enjoy food, drinks and live music. Basket...
Fire companies faced lack of hydrants in South Huntingdon blaze
The 10 fire companies that responded to a destructive house fire in South Huntington Township last week were challenged by a lack of nearby fire hydrants, according to Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department chief Dan Pergola Jr. “Our crews made every effort to fight the fire, along with the neighboring companies,...
Rock star: Lab-grown diamonds are skyrocketing in popularity, say local jewelers, industry experts
When Sandee Vargo lost one of her diamond earrings two years ago, she turned that sinking feeling into an opportunity to try something new. Her remaining one-third carat stud earring was a natural diamond, mined from the ground. But Vargo of North Huntingdon became interested in another option for her...
As architect for Hempfield Area High School project resigns, district looks for new firm
Hempfield Area School District is looking for a new architect to work on its high school improvement project after the Bellevue-based firm that worked with the district since 2022 resigned. The school board Monday approved the resignation of Core Architects and approved seeking other architecture firms to work on the...
Police: Baldwin Borough woman dies after being shot in her apartment
A woman died after being shot multiple times in her apartment in Baldwin Borough, according to Allegheny County Police. First responders were notified around 4:30 p.m. Friday of the shooting, which happened in the 5400 block of Youngridge Drive. The woman was dead at the scene. She has not yet...
Entrance to UPMC Luna Garage shut down by retaining wall collapse
A section of the retaining wall near the UPMC Luna Garage in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood collapsed Friday night, but no one was injured and no property damage was reported. According to UPMC spokesperson Rick Pietzak, the multi-floor parking garage itself, located at 5111 Baum Blvd., was not damaged and remains...
Pittsburgh police: Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Shadyside in serious condition
A 40-year-old woman was hit by a vehicle in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood Friday morning and was taken to an area hospital in serious condition. Pittsburgh police and EMS were called to the intersection of Morewood Avenue and Fifth Avenue just after 10 a.m. Friday morning. The woman who was hit...
Hempfield Area moves forward with weapons detector trial at high school
After several months of deliberation on potential security upgrades, Hempfield Area School District will test out a new weapons detector system at the high school on Feb. 21. The OPENGATE weapons detectors, a product of Ohio-based CEIA USA, are walk-through weapons detectors that don’t require students to take off their...
Study finds elevated levels of forever chemicals in rivers near Western Pa. wastewater plants
Wastewater treatment plants in Western Pennsylvania are dumping what’s known as forever chemicals into Pittsburgh’s rivers, a new study shows. The report from the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment focuses on per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS), man-made chemicals used in many industrial and consumer products. It found a higher...
Morning Roundup: Woman injures herself with gun at Cheerleaders
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Feb. 2: Woman injures herself with own gun at Cheerleaders An employee at Cheerleaders Gentleman’s Club injured herself when Thursday night after her gun went off in her bag, Pittsburgh police said. The 21-year-old woman suffered a wound...
Fire crews respond to apartment fire in Hempfield
Fire crews responded Thursday morning to an apartment fire in Hempfield Township. Westmoreland County dispatchers said firefighters received the call around 7:06 a.m. for a fire at a multi-story building at 188 W. Hills Drive. The fire was mostly out by 7:30 a.m., and some firefighters remained on the scene...
Morning Roundup: Woman missing from Homewood; construction on McKnight Road
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Feb. 1: Police seek woman missing since November Pittsburgh police are asking for the public’s help in finding a woman who has been missing since Nov. 17. Elissa Jackson, 43, was described by police as 5 feet, 5...
