Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 2
Layoffs possible as commissioners seek to reduce $30M deficit from 2026 budget
Westmoreland County commissioners said additional spending cuts and layoffs could be implemented to trim a nearly $30 million deficit from the proposed 2026 budget. Commissioners unveiled a preliminary spending plan Thursday that calls for more than $463 million in expenses, an $11 million increase over this year. About 30% of...
Latrobe man sentenced for child porn possession
A Latrobe man was sentenced Thursday to serve at least six years in prison for possession of child pornography. Joshua Allen Clawson, 46, pleaded guilty in August to 10 felony counts in connection to files police said were discovered on a computer he sold to a Hempfield pawn shop in...
Community leaders anticipate economic boost from Independence-WVU Health merger
The proposed acquisition of Independence Health System by the West Virginia University Health System (WVU Medicine) could be a major benefit for the community, local leaders said Wednesday. Officials announced that Independence’s five hospitals — including facilities in Greensburg, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Butler, and Clarion counties — will join the...
Independence Health announces merger with WVU Health System
Independence Health System — with hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Mt. Pleasant — announced Wednesday that it will join West Virginia University Health System beginning in fall 2026. The agreement includes an $800 million commitment from the WVU system over the next five years to strengthen Independence Health System’s five...
Westmoreland to break 200 election ties with draws from a jar
More than 200 races in this month’s municipal election in Westmoreland County ended in ties. The county election board Tuesday issued a precertification of the results of the hundreds of races that appeared on the Nov. 4 ballot after tallying more than 22,000 write-in votes, said Election Bureau Director Scott...
Westmoreland officials refute claims of backdoor salary deal for former purchasing director
Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas on Tuesday refuted defense claims that the criminal prosecution of the county’s former purchasing director was an effort to cover up actions taken outside of official channels. Kopas, Controller Jeffrey Balzer and county finance director Meghan McCandless testified under defense subpoenas as part of an...
Westmoreland detention center passes state inspections
Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center has been given a clean bill of health by state inspectors. Inspections conducted this month by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and over the summer by federal auditors found no deficiencies in operations of the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield. The facility serves...
Murrysville man sentenced to prison for sex videos with teens
A Murrysville man was ordered Monday to serve up to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession and dissemination of child pornography. Prosecutors said Kevin M. Hullenbaugh, 32, had a sexual relationship from October 2023 through mid July 2024 with two 16-year-old girls. According to court records...
Westmoreland casino marks 5th anniversary as local officials tout community impact
It was not exactly a roll of the dice when Live Casino Pittsburgh opened five years ago at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield. The small-scale casino was envisioned by state lawmakers to bring additional tax dollars into the state coffers. For county leaders, it was expected to enhance local tourism, and...
MAWC seeks funds to fix century-old underground arch in Scottdale
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County is seeking $1 million in aid from the state to make repairs to a century-old underground brick arch that allows the flow of sewage through Scottdale. The small 4-foot arch, which authority engineer Dan Schmitt described as similar to an aqueduct, was discovered shortly...
New Kensington woman sentenced for assault on grandmother
A New Kensington woman was ordered to serve one year on house arrest for the assault of her 83-year-old grandmother last year in Lower Burrell. Nicole Patricia Smith, 29, pleaded guilty in October to aggravated and simple assault in connection to a violent confrontation as the older woman cared for...
Westmoreland commissioners say new state budget won’t immediately fix county finances
Westmoreland officials warned that passage of a state budget on Wednesday will not immediately resolve the county’s financial hardships, which led to cutbacks and employee furloughs. “It’s a relief and we’ll be getting back to work but we expect this will have an impact for the next 24 months,” said...
Westmoreland Food Bank receives grant to help stock shelves as demand increases
The Westmoreland County Food Bank this week received a $75,000 emergency grant to help feed hungry residents. The money from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County is needed to assist the food bank as uncertainty over federal SNAP benefits funding continues amid the federal shutdown, according to Executive Director McCrae...
Jury convicts roommate of attempted murder in Penn Township shooting
A North Versailles woman was convicted Friday of attempted murder in the shooting of her former roommate in Penn Township. After just over an hour of deliberations, a Westmoreland County jury found Leah H. Gillis, 36, guilty of all three charges she faced: attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment....
Prosecutors say jealousy led woman to attempt to kill her Penn Township roommate
A woman’s jealousy over her roommate’s romantic interests led her to attempt to kill him more than three years ago in Penn Township, a Westmoreland County prosecutor said Thursday. Leah Hope Gillis, 36, now of North Versailles, Allegheny County, is on trial on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and...
Higher-than-expected election turnout boosted by judicial race, officials say
Political leaders on attribute a higher-than-expected voter turnout for Tuesday’s general election to the hotly contested state judicial retention vote. Turnout in Westmoreland County, which featured few contested local races, reached 42%. County election officials had initially predicted turnout would be about 30%. In neighboring Allegheny County, where the Pittsburgh...
Guilty plea entered for man charged in Jeannette chase
An eastern Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty Wednesday to fleeing from police following a traffic stop two years ago in Jeannette. Police said a Jeep driven by Lance W. Frederick, 36, of Chester County, was stopped on Oct. 8, 2023. Police say he consented to a search of the vehicle, during...
Westmoreland voters opt for computers over paper ballots
The biggest winner on Election Day in Westmoreland County was the touch-screen voting machine. County voters overwhelmingly rejected the use of optional paper ballots at the polls, as just 5% of those who cast ballots at Westmoreland’s 306 precincts used pen and paper to vote Tuesday. “It proves me right....
1 incumbent wins, another ousted in race to reshape Southmoreland School Board
One incumbent and three challengers won seats Tuesday to serve four-year terms on the Southmoreland School Board. Incumbent Stephanie Geyer was reelected while newcomers Nathan Alexander, Mellisa Moore and David Thomas appeared to win seats on the board, defeating incumbent Brian Shipley and challenger Bud Santimyer. With all precincts reporting,...
Popovich win 5th term as West Newton mayor
Democrat Mary Popovich, West Newton’s mayor, held off a challenge Tuesday from a political newcomer to win a fifth term in office. Popovich, 71, defeated Republican Robert Kepics, who was making his first run for public office. With all precincts reporting, Popovich received more than 61% of the vote. Kepics...
East Huntingdon supervisors win reelection
Republican incumbents Jeff Keefer and Justin Morrow won landslide victories Tuesday for seats on the three-member East Huntingdon board of supervisors. Keefer, 55, defeated Democratic challenger Wayne Godfrey, 65, a retired truck driver, to win his first four-year term in office. Keefer was appointed to the board in June 2024...
Westmoreland judges win retention
Westmoreland County voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly returned three local judges to the Common Pleas Court bench. With all 306 precincts reporting, incumbent judges Tim Krieger, Scott Mears and Harry Smail Jr. won new 10-year terms. Krieger’s retention was supported by 65% of voters, Mears’ by 66% and Smail’s by 66%....
Westmoreland finalizes state loan, threatens more job cuts as budget impasse continues
Westmoreland commissioners voted Monday to accept an $11.6 million state loan, a move they say is necessary to fund essential social service programs through the end of the year. Even in doing so, more furloughs of county staff and partial closures of the county courthouse could follow as early as...
Attorney General’s Office sues Hempfield contractor
The state’s Attorney General’s Office has filed a civil lawsuit seeking to bar a Hempfield home improvement contractor from doing business in Pennsylvania. A three-count lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County accuses A&S Contracting and Roofing, LLC and its owner, Stephen Spallone, of violating Pennsylvania’s Consumer Protection Law and Home Improvement...
Westmoreland judges seek return to bench amid political headwinds
All three Westmoreland County judges who are seeking new 10-year terms on the Common Pleas Court bench know there is political attention this year on judicial retention. They also worry the large sums of cash spent to campaign for and against the retention of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices could...
