Madasyn Lee stories, Page 24
Pittsburgh-based Duolingo a fan of talk-to-kids ‘SNL’ sketchVideo
The writers at “Saturday Night Live” have dreamed up a “brat whisperer” app. In its latest episode, NBC’s comedy show used the Pittsburgh-based language education app Duolingo to poke fun of people who don’t know how to talk to kids. Kristen Stewart stars in the clip, which features the fake...
Woman beaten during Penn Hills home invasion dies
Police are looking for two men in connection to an October home invasion in Penn Hills where a woman was beaten so severely that she died. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Oct. 30 in a home in the 900 block of Cimarron Drive. Penn Hills police were called to...
Tarentum firefighter Michael J. Sims Sr. honored 20 years after deathVideo
It’s been 20 years since Tarentum volunteer firefighter Michael J. Sims Sr. was killed on the job. But the sacrifice he made for his community hasn’t been forgotten. Nor will it be. Family, firefighters and community members Sunday gathered by the fireman’s memorial at Riverview Memorial Park to remember Sims,...
Detroit man sentenced to 10 years for selling deadly tranquilizer carfentanil
A Michigan man was sentenced last week to 10 years in federal prison for selling an elephant-tranquilizer drug that killed one Beaver County resident and seriously injured another roughly three years ago. Reginald Davis, 32, of Detroit, was convicted of distributing carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is used on elephants...
Republican Michael Korns aims to unseat Democrat Joseph Ferguson in Allegheny Township
A Republican challenger is looking to unseat a longtime elected official for an open Allegheny Township Board of Supervisors seat in the Nov. 5 election. Republican Michael Korns will face Democrat Joseph Ferguson, whose term expires in December. Terms on the three-member board are six years. Ferguson, 66, has been...
4 incumbents, 2 newcomers vying for 5 seats on Deer Lakes School Board
Four incumbents are facing off against two newcomers for five seats on the Deer Lakes School Board in Tuesday’s election. The incumbents are Louis “Corky” Buck, III, 67, of East Deer; Larry Neidig, 41, of West Deer; Jodi Banyas-Galecki, 53, of Frazer; and William A. LuPone, Jr., 60, of West...
Kaufmann’s added to Miniature Railroad exhibit at Carnegie Science Center
The Miniature Railroad & Village exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center turns 100 this year. To celebrate, the museum is adding a model of Kaufmann’s, the department store at the center of Downtown Pittsburgh for decades. “We thought that in terms of iconic symbols of Pittsburgh that really are memorable...
New, multi-use development coming to North Shore
An agreement for developing the last remaining parcels between PNC Park and Heinz Field was reached Wednesday, the city of Pittsburgh announced. The mixed-use development includes the first residential units to be constructed between the stadiums along the North Shore. Continental Real Estate Companies of Columbus, Ohio, continues as the...
Frazer dance school gives people with disabilities an opportunity to shineVideo
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mlee@tribweb.com. Joe Brown loves to dance, and he isn’t afraid...
Missing Vandergrift teen found
A Vandergrift teenager missing since Thursday has been found, according to police. James Edward Nelson, 16, was found early Monday morning. He was last seen around 2 p.m. at his Vandergrift home....
Police: Jefferson Hills man arrested, charged with trying to rape boy
A registered sex offender charged with attempting to rape a teenage boy in Washington County last month was arrested Sunday in Downtown Pittsburgh, authorities said. Russell Michael Marycz, 43, of Jefferson Hills, was arrested about 2:45 p.m. in Market Square by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies. Carroll Township police have been...
Allegheny Police officer hurt in head-on collision with suspect in Turtle Creek
An Allegheny County Police officer suffered minor injuries Saturday night when a man fleeing a domestic incident drove head-on into his police car in Turtle Creek, authorities said. Jestin Towner, 18, of Turtle Creek, faces more than a dozen offenses in connection to the 5:50 p.m. incident, including aggravated assault,...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trying to sell cocaine
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison this week for conspiring to sell cocaine, federal prosecutors said. Thomas Poole, 54, was convicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. A Drug...
Highlands disputes claims made by former principal who sued school district
Highlands School District on Wednesday disputed claims made by former Principal Heather Bigney in a federal lawsuit filed against the district this week, alleging officials retaliated against her for taking unpaid leave and dating a former teacher. “The district and its solicitor … have received and reviewed the complaint Dr....
West Deer bridge project completed ahead of schedule
A project to demolish a structurally deficient bridge in West Deer was completed earlier than expected, officials said. Work at the intersection of Lick and Bairdford roads began Sept. 3 and was expected to continue until November, according to officials with the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. Officials announced...
North Braddock man pleads guilty for role in fatal overdose
A North Braddock man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to supplying drugs that led to a fatal overdose, prosecutors said. Demiyr Johnson, 21, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a substance containing heroin and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady...
Cheswick Ace Hardware to close, consolidate with Oakmont store
The Ace fix-it Hardware store in Cheswick is closing. The store at 1500 Pittsburgh St. will close Nov. 27, according to owner Chuck Bickel. It will be consolidated into another store Bickel owns on Oakmont’s Allegheny River Boulevard. The Cheswick store has been around for more than a decade. “The...
Harrison massage therapist uses personal experience to help clientsVideo
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mlee@tribweb.com. Heather Erb injured her back in a car crash...
Railroad project to close portion of South Side street for a week
A portion of South 18th Street in Pittsburgh’s South Side Flats will close for a week in November so crews can lay new railroad tracks, the city announced Monday. The closure of South 18th Street at South Shore Court will take place from Nov. 4 through Nov. 8. During the...
North Hills DUI checkpoint in Indiana Township nets 4 arrests
Four people were arrested Saturday at a sobriety checkpoint along Route 910 in Indiana Township, officials said. There were 570 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint and eight people who were given field sobriety tests. Of those tested, one was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and three...
Pittsburgh police looking for man who fled from shooting scene
No one was injured in a Sunday morning shooting in Larimer, but Pittsburgh police said they are looking for a suspect who fled the scene. The shooting took place shortly after 3 a.m. in the 100 block of Putnam Street. Zone 5 police officers were in the area when they...
Food pantry opens in Harmar after overcoming hurdles
Feeding the Flock Ministries opened its Harmar food pantry Thursday, ending a months-long permitting dispute with the township. “It’s wonderful,” Director Michele Bock said. “I’m just hoping that moving forward we can be a good neighbor to the community.” Feeding the Flock, a nonprofit food ministry, is located at the...
Vandergrift Council candidates to speak at forum
Vandergrift residents will have an opportunity to hear from three borough council candidates Thursday at a candidate forum at the Center on Franklin Avenue. Three four-year council seats are up for election this year. Candidates expected to attend include Republicans Tim Turner and Karen McClarnon and Democrat John Uskaritis. Council...
Former Redirections doctor sentenced to home confinement for illegal prescriptions
A former employee of Redirections Treatment Advocates was sentenced in federal court this week to home confinement and probation for illegally prescribing a drug used to treat opioid addiction. Michael Anthony Bummer, 40, of Sewickley, also was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay roughly $157,000 in restitution, prosecutors said. U.S....
School-based mental health program now at Deer Lakes
Deer Lakes School District officials said it made sense for them to partner with Wesley Family Services to offer Allegheny County’s only public school-based partial hospital program for students with severe mental health and psychological issues. The program had been based in Highlands School District for more than a decade,...
