Western PA Local News category, Page 1231
Sewickley Martial Arts Academy food drive nets food, other items for local food pantries
Sewickley Martial Arts Academy students and staff collected about 250 pounds of food, paper and cleaning products for local food pantries in the school’s inaugural food drive. The collection was from Dec. 5-18 with all donations dropped off at the academy, 201 Ohio River Blvd. Items were recently distributed to...
Sewickley Hills holds the line on taxes for 2023, garbage fees to increase
Sewickley Hills property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes in 2023. Council approved the borough budget Dec. 13. The millage rate remains at 2.84 mills. Borough Secretary Diana Steele said she was not allowed to comment on the budget, and all statements would have to...
Fire severely damages North Huntingdon home, pets die
A fire severely damaged a home at 231 Main St. in North Huntingdon early Thursday afternoon, but no people were hurt. Two dogs and two cats were in the home at the time of the fire, and one dog and one cat died. The other cat was still unaccounted for...
Pittsburgh controller candidate calls out Elon Musk after moving drag campaign event following online harassment
A Democratic candidate for Pittsburgh city controller said she moved a recent campaign event to a private location after being harassed following a post by a controversial, right-wing Twitter account. In response, Rachael Heisler is criticizing Twitter CEO Elon Musk and questioning why a new safety policy on the social...
Lower Burrell holds the line on 2023 real estate taxes in final budget
Lower Burrell Council unanimously approved an $11 million final budget for 2023 with no tax increase. The real estate tax rate for the city will remain at 24.75 mills. The owner of an average property, assessed at $20,000 again, would pay a real estate tax of $495. Although next year’s...
3rd suspect arrested in 2019 shooting death in Wilkinsburg
A third suspect in a 2019 homicide in Wilkinsburg has been taken into custody, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Jeremiah Ligon, 26, of Penn Hills, was arrested Wednesday by the Marshals’ Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force in connection with the shooting death of Mager Rainey, 22, of Pittsburgh’s Homewood...
Pittsburgh officials urge residents to stay off roads, help neighbors as winter weather approaches
Pittsburgh officials on Thursday said they’re preparing for a weekend of winter weather with warming centers, extended hours at homeless shelters and overnight snow plowing and salting efforts. They urged residents to do their part by staying off the roads Friday if possible. “Our forecast is showing there’s going to...
Pittsburgh’s new Fern Hollow Bridge reopens to traffic
Pittsburgh’s new Fern Hollow Bridge opened to traffic in the East End early Thursday afternoon, less than a year after it collapsed. Officials had initially said the bridge, which carries Forbes Avenue over Frick Park, would open Friday. Instead, PennDOT said motorists began using it at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Officials...
16-year-old boy surrenders to police, is charged in Monessen teen’s death
A 16-year-old boy accused in the fatal shooting of another Monessen teen surrendered to authorities Wednesday evening on homicide charges. Terry Newton was arraigned and is being held without bail at Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said authorities and sheriff’s deputies had searched...
Letter to the Editor: Writer would welcome chicken-raising in O’Hara
Dear Editor, During the pandemic, there was time to consider ways to reshape some of the ways in which we live. From supply chain issues to inflation to a renewed understanding of our environmental impact in daily life, it seems an especially good time to allow people the comfort of...
Gala supports nonprofit that serves students in Baldwin-Whitehall, Bethel Park, South Park
For nearly two decades, Melting Pot Ministries has had an overriding goal for the youngsters served by the nonprofit: “To try to help them become the best that they can be,” executive director Diane Ford, a lifelong Bethel Park resident, said. “And I’m very serious when we talk about being...
Winter storm latest: What we’ll get, when we’ll get it
For several days, Pittsburgh area residents have been told that severe winter weather is heading to the area for Christmas weekend. The burning question has been exactly when will it hit and how bad will it be? According to the National Weather Service in Moon, a cold front will move...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Dec. 23-25
Most people probably have plans to gather with family and friends this weekend, but here are a few things to do if you want to get out and about. Final requests Before he heads back to the North Pole, Santa will take last-minute gift requests from 11 a.m. to 8...
Fawn property taxes hold steady for 25th consecutive year
The Fawn supervisors hit a milestone with the approval of their 2023 budget: The township has not seen a property tax increase in 25 years. “Everything is staying the same,” Township Secretary Pam Ponsart said. Supervisors approved the $1.8 million budget, holding the tax rate steady at 3.04 mills. The...
Harrison holds the line on taxes
Harrison residents won’t face a property tax increase in 2023. The township commissioners on Monday approved the $6.3 million budget and held the tax rate steady at 5.106 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 again will pay $510. “I’m glad to see we could keep the millage...
A home for the holidays: Central Westmoreland Habitat hands over keys to Jeannette resident
This time last year, Tia Bentley of Jeannette was mourning the loss of her father and sinking $900 each month into a rental home. On Tuesday afternoon, Bentley received the keys to a newly renovated Jeannette home after spending nine months working with Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity officials getting...
It’s Christmas year-round at $1.9-million Laurel Highlands chaletVideo
It’s Christmas all year-round at a Donegal Township property that’s newly listed for just under $2 million. People who have seen it online or in person say “It looks just like a Hallmark movie,” according to listing agent Adam Cannon, a real estate adviser with Pittsburgh-based Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty....
Westmoreland happenings: Tour of Ireland, Christmas Eve services
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Westmoreland emergency services prepare as cold temps approach
As well-below-freezing temperatures approach Western Pennsylvania, emergency assistance services and cold-weather shelters in Westmoreland County are gearing up to help anyone who needs it. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania encourages people who find themselves without heat to call the 211 hotline, a call center, chat, text and web resource for...
Holiday religious services, events at Sewickley area places of worship
Beth Samuel Jewish Center Shabbat Morning Services are held every Saturday at 10 a.m. in person and on Zoom. Beth Samuel Jewish Center is at 810 Kennedy Drive in Ambridge. For more information, visit bethsamuel.org. Christ Church at Grove Farm On Dec. 23, a traditional candlelight communion service will take...
The holiday spirit: Delmont man’s day filled with kind gestures from others
At 91 years old, Emidio Gallucci has seen his share of “Scrooges” during Christmastime. But this year, Gallucci, a Delmont resident, has plenty of holiday spirit after a day running errands just kept going in his favor. After a recent stop at Macy’s in Hempfield to find a gift for...
Washington County man killed in head-on crash
A Washington County motorist was killed in a head-on collision Wednesday in North Strabane. Joseph Neil Ayre Jr., 37, of Avella was pronounced dead in the Canonsburg Hospital emergency room, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. The crash was reported at about 8:45 a.m. on Thomas Road. Warco said...
Franco Harris fans remember on-field finesse, off-field generosity
Longtime Steelers fan George Muentzer has missed the chance to have his prized photo of Franco Harris autographed by the Steelers Hall of Famer, whose unexpected death overnight was reported Wednesday. But he still can treasure his many memories of encounters with Harris during his faithful yearly attendance at the...
Defense accuses government of providing empty tubes for DNA testing in Tree of Life case
Defense attorneys in the Tree of Life synagogue shooting said in a court filing this week that 11 of 17 plastic tubes of evidence provided to them for independent DNA testing were empty when they arrived at the lab in England. Attorneys for Robert Bowers are asking the federal judge...
Woman accused of setting Harmar apartment fire on her eviction day faces charges
The woman who lived in the first-floor apartment of a house in Harmar that caught fire Tuesday has been accused of intentionally setting the blaze. Allegheny County Police say Marrisa Ash Szczpinski, 25, admitted to starting the fire in her apartment after being evicted for falling behind in her rent...
