Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 107

The afternoon rush hour could be dicey Thursday as several rounds of strong storms are expected to move through the Pittsburgh region, the National Weather Service said. Meteorologists are calling for severe weather that could bring large hail, damaging winds and a 90% chance of precipitation. There also is the...

One lucky person walked out of a McCandless grocery story with a winning lottery ticket worth $5 million. The ticket for the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing was purchased at Giant Eagle in McIntyre Square along McKnight Road. The ticket matched all five white balls drawn, 10-50-55-56-58, but not the yellow...

More than 500 runners, walkers, strollers — and even four-legged participants — came out May 19 for the St. Margaret Foundation Brian Demchak Hope Run. In its 31st year, the family friendly 5K raises money to help underserved patients at UPMC St. Margaret, near Aspinwall. Streets are filled with people...

A 16-year-old boy is being charged with arson after state police said he admitted setting a fire at Greensburg Central Catholic High School. The incident happened at 11:30 a.m. April 25. Calls were reported to Westmoreland 911 and crews responded to find a fire in the locker room of the...

A 2-year-old boy found alone at a Tarentum park on Tuesday is home safe but a babysitter will be charged with child endangerment, WPXI reported. Police had posted a picture of the toddler on social media asking for the public’s help in identifying him or his family. They said he...

Popular South Side restaurant Mallorca was tagged Monday with a consumer alert by the Allegheny County Health Department for unsafe food temperatures and soiled surfaces, among other issues, but the manager said early Tuesday that violations were already addressed. “I had a refrigerator that broke in the middle of the...

Fox Chapel Area senior Thomas Grandizio said he’d never seen his mom so exicted as she was when he got a call from officials at California University of Pennsylvania. Grandizio earned the 2019 BotsIQ Scholarship, renewable for up to a total of $20,000 over four years at the college. The...

One of Pittsburgh’s more popular bridges will be restricted to one lane in each direction all summer. Motorists who travel the 16th Street Bridge should expect delays, beginning June 3, while crews from Saxonburg’s Advantage Steel and Construction perform repairs. The span, also known as the David McCullough Bridge, connects...

Lower Valley residents will have three chances this week to learn more about a potential park and trail along the Allegheny River shoreline. The Allegheny River Trail Park is proposed to add 1.5 miles of trail toward the City of Pittsburgh and acres of green space to connect the public...

An undercover sting in Ohio netted three Western Pennsylvania men accused of child sex trafficking, WPXI-TV reported. David Kent, 24, of Cranberry, Steven Sutton, 44, of Prospect, and Thomas Yakemovic III, 30, of West Middlesex, were among 16 arrested on May 17 and are accused of sexual exploitation of children,...

A SWAT situation in Bloomfield ended peacefully Sunday, Pittsburgh police said. Officers closed a portion of Liberty Avenue after a man threatened to hurt himself and others, saying he had a cache of weapons, said Chris Togneri, a police spokesman. The incident happened just before 8 p.m. in the 4500...

Here are some of the news highlights from around the Lower Valley for the week of May 12: • Shady Side Academy names director of $2.7 science hub. • Aspinwall Memorial Day parade expected to draw thousands. • Fox Chapel Area earns $1 million to pay for security upgrades, internet....

Etna officials are using the kick-off of summer pool season as a springboard to launch several outdoor initiatives in the borough. When the Etna pool opens at 11 a.m. May 25, the Etna Community Organization and the borough will unveil a new Urban Walking Trail project, dedicate 12 newly planted...

Shady Side Academy students were honored by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation for stepping up efforts to help sick children. The SSA Striders team, consisting of students and teachers, raised nearly $25,000 for the 2018 Walk for Children’s and plans to participate again in the 2019 walk on June 1....

Residents are invited to a public beautification project Saturday along Route 8 in Etna. Volunteers will converge at the intersection of Kittanning and Butler streets to plant rows of colorful petunias and other posies to brighten the congested throughway. More than 400 flowers will be planted, beginning at 8 a.m....

The new $2.7 million computer science facility at Shady Side Academy has its leader. Jesse Robinson, the director of information technology at a school in Westport, Conn., will join the senior school in August as the head of the Glimcher Tech and Design Hub, with his mission to enhance the...

The work is done for Aspinwall Memorial Day parade coordinator Barb Leonard. Now, it’s up to Mother Nature to hopefully make the weather work in her favor. “There’s nothing I can do about that, but I will be checking it every day,” said Leonard, who for years has performed countless...

Nine candidates are seeking five open seats on the Fox Chapel Area School Board in the primary election on May 21. They are Marybeth Dadd of Riverwatch Drive, Greg Dolan of Mayflower Drive, Nancy Foster of Windsor Road, Ron Frank of Heathergate Drive, Eric Hamilton of Woodshire Drive, Vanessa Lynch...

Parkview EMS will host a free community car seat check-up this week. The event is by appointment only and will run 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Seats will be inspected by a certified child passenger safety technician. According to the Centers for Disease Control, children should be buckled into a...

A springtime tradition continued May 11 at Lauri Ann West Community Center in O’Hara. Gardenfest, the popular showcase of plants, pots and flowers, filled the campus at 1220 Powers Run Road, much to shoppers’ delight. “There’s no better way to celebrate spring,” said Jamie Rhoades, the center’s director of development....

More than $1 million in grants will pay for sweeping security upgrades and wireless internet services at Fox Chapel Area School District, officials announced. The district is set to receive $908,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to pay for safety improvements implemented this year. The money is...

The Shady Side Academy boys’ and girls’ varsity lacrosse teams raised more than $30,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention during a one-day event on May 4. The SSA Lacrosse Face-Off Against Suicide was spearheaded by team captain Ronan O’Connor, who lost his older brother to suicide six years...

Residents can hear from experts on a topic that heats up this time of year – ticks and Lyme disease – during a program Monday at Lauri Ann West Community Center. The speaker series will host “Lyme Disease in Our Community” at 7 p.m. at the center, 1220 Powers Run...

Organizers of Open Streets Sharpsburg expect this year’s festival to draw record-setting attendance and have opened North Canal Street to accommodate spillover. The street fair, set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 1, will occupy Main Street from Sixth to Station streets and will expand to North Canal with...

Military banners that celebrate local servicemen and women still are available in time for display by Memorial Day in most Lower Valley communities. Blawnox is the exception. “Ours are sold out,” secretary Kathy Ulanowicz said. “Blawnox would be happy to participate again if the program is made available next year.”...