Western PA Local News category, Page 1152
Westmoreland airport ‘waiting for everything to shake out’ as feds try to block Spirit, JetBlue merger
At Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, there’s little to do but wait and see how things play out as its only commercial carrier gets swept into Justice Department turbulence. The Biden administration Tuesday sued to block JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit Airlines, saying the deal would reduce competition and...
Mother of suicide victim files wrongful death lawsuit against Washington Township, 2 officers
The mother of a 25-year-old man who took his own life in 2021 filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit accusing two Washington Township police officers of ignoring signs that her son wanted to harm himself when they arrested him on suspicion of DUI. Instead of arranging for medical and mental...
The Stroller, March 8, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Cash bash planned by Pioneer Hose Auxiliary Pioneer Hose Auxiliary will...
Greensburg artist starts with kid’s paint set, featured in ‘Picture This at the Library’ exhibit
Debbie King went from painting with a child’s watercolor set to winning awards for her work in about two years. Her paintings will be featured in a “Picture This at the Library” exhibition, opening with a free reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library,...
Greensburg Y after-school students begin downtown field trips with Mediterranean meal
A trip next door to sample unfamiliar cuisine was an unexpected treat for some students attending an after-school program at the Greensburg YMCA. Digging into his bowl of chicken kebabs and rice Tuesday at Sittay’s Mediterranean Kitchen, Aiden Jackson noted, “I’m not used to eating spicy stuff, but this is...
Westmoreland County warns of potential scam involving blighted properties
People who own property near blighted structures are being warned about a potential scam to purchase parcels owned by the county land bank. Brian Lawrence, executive director of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority, said county and Monessen city officials were alerted after letters were sent from a company called Ythron...
Oakmont officials select Parkview EMS as borough’s new ambulance service
Oakmont has a new ambulance service provider. Council unanimously voted at a special meeting Tuesday night to part ways with Lower Valley Ambulance Service in favor of O’Hara-based Parkview EMS. Oakmont will pay Parkview $50,000 annually for services and allocate an additional $50,000 annually toward ambulance purchases, which are expected...
South Center Road in New Stanton reopens after crash
A two-vehicle accident shut down 424 South Center Road in New Stanton shortly before 6 p.m. Westmoreland 911 said that emergency services freed one person who was trapped in a vehicle. The road was still closed as of 6:20 p.m. between Painter Avenue and Oak Street. As of 7:20 p.m....
Big meals come from small Monroeville fish-fry operation
The saying “good things come in small packages” is very applicable to the ladies cooking in the tiny kitchen at Monroeville Fire Department No. 3 social club. Steward Marla Jordan and fellow social club volunteer Paula Fouser make magic for many customers in an estimated 200-square-foot space, less than a...
Pittsburgh to continue leasing fueling equipment for compressed natural gas vehicles
Pittsburgh will continue leasing fueling equipment for its growing fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles. The city has 10 natural gas refuse trucks and is getting 10 more this month, according to Maria Montaño, a spokeswoman for Mayor Ed Gainey. City Council members have debated the merits of compressed natural...
Pittsburgh to improve pedestrian safety near 3 elementary schools
Shannon Peterson drives his 6-year-old son Shannon Peterson Jr. to and from school every day so the boy doesn’t have to walk a dangerous route to his elementary school. The Petersons live close enough to Arlington PreK-8 in Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood that the school is well within walking distance, but...
Pittsburgh man charged in theft of church bell
A Pittsburgh man faces criminal charges in connection with the theft of a 1,000-pound church bell. Matthew Pistelli, 54, was arrested Monday night by Pittsburgh police plainclothes detectives in connection with the Feb. 12 theft of the bell from Turner Cemetery in the Squirrel Hill/Greenfield area. Pistelli faces charges of...
Water issue closes Pittsburgh zoo, but it should reopen Wednesday
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium closed Tuesday because of what it described as a water issue, but the facility is expecting to reopen to guests Wednesday, officials said. The issue was located outside of zoo grounds but was impacting the zoo with “intermittent service,” said Alex Cauley, the zoo’s public...
Lawsuit: Western Psych staff mistook nurse’s disabilities, injected him with antipsychotic meds
A former charge nurse at Pittsburgh’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic has filed a lawsuit alleging that colleagues mistook symptoms of his disabilities for substance abuse and injected him with an antipsychotic medication before trying to have him involuntarily committed. Aaron Diamond, now of Lehigh County, had worked as a...
Goodwill to end use of plastic bags in Southwestern Pa.
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is joining the plastic bag ban. The regional nonprofit chain of 34 Goodwill thrift stores will eliminate the use of plastic shopping bags later this month. Shoppers are encouraged to use a free box from the store, bring their own reusable bag, or buy a Goodwill...
Franklin Regional students channel 1950s with spring musical ‘Grease’Video
Last year in the Franklin Regional Theatre Guild’s production of “The Little Mermaid,” students had the challenge of playing princes, mythical creatures or anthropomorphized fish. This year, director Mark Wolfgang said there’s an even bigger challenge — playing a slightly different version of themselves, as the angst-filled high school students...
Pittsburgh’s police officers ratify contract with raises, new disciplinary structure
The union representing Pittsburgh’s police officers has ratified a contract with the city that includes pay increases and a new structure for disciplining officers, officials said Tuesday. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said rank-and-file officers voted Monday night to approve the deal by a vote of 572 to 13. The head...
Springdale power plant property could be rezoned residential
Riverfront property in Springdale could look vastly different if council moves forward with a proposal to rezone a coveted piece of land. The partially dismantled Cheswick Generating Station, which is on 56 acres and includes an adjoining 27-acre parcel, will be the focus of discussion during a meeting Wednesday of...
Leechburg fire chief hopes to improve safety rating by replacing old equipment
Sometimes less is more. Especially when it comes to ISO fire safety ratings. Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company Chief John Foster hopes to reduce the company’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating from a 6 to a lower number, after receiving a one-point increase during the last ISO inspection in 2020. The...
Fewer than 500 homes still without power from weekend storms
Power has been restored for nearly all of the nearly 30,000 customers affected by heavy storms that passed through the area over the weekend, toppling trees and damaging buildings. West Penn Power reported that as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, 450 homes in Westmoreland County were still waiting for the power...
Westmoreland CASA welcomes newest volunteers
Liza Moran knows she can help. A 37-year-old software engineer from Murrysville, Moran was among five new volunteers sworn in Monday to serve as court-appointed special advocates for troubled Westmoreland County children. “I have been really blessed with support during difficult times in my life, and I thought this is...
The Stroller, March 7, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Freeport Hockey Boosters to host night at the races A St....
High winds bring weekend of darkness to many near Laurel Mountain ridges
Using candles and flashlights to illuminate their Mt. Pleasant Township home over the weekend and coolers of ice to keep their food from spoiling, Ladonna and Randy Hrabak persevered during the 48 hours they went without power from Friday night to late Sunday. “We just had (cold) sandwiches to eat,”...
2 die in multi-vehicle crash in Armstrong County
Two women died in a crash Monday in Plumcreek Township, according to Armstrong County Coroner Brian K. Myers. State police on Tuesday identified the women as Lacy L. Gohn, 41, and Marasco Sonza, 70. Where they lived was not disclosed. The crash happened around noon on State Route 210 just...
Duquesne man wanted for 2022 sexual assault of 14-year-old girl arrested
A Duquesne man accused of using the internet to lure and sexually assault a 14-year-old girl last year was taken into custody Monday, authorities said. Cameron Salmon, 21, had been on the run since August 2021 when he faced charges involving a firearm, according to Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M....
