Western PA Local News category, Page 1251
Pleas issued for blood donations as supply suffers holiday season shortage
Regular blood donor Kayani Hull had an extra incentive to roll up her sleeve for a donation drive last week at the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus. “I found out that B-type blood is pretty rare, and I have B blood,” said the Pitt-Greensburg sophomore from Verona. “It makes me...
Judge dismisses charges against Jeannette man who refused to supply ID to police
A criminal case was dismissed against a Jeannette man charged with obstruction of justice based on allegations that he refused to identify himself to police last year. Jonathan Durbiano, 42, was detained by Jeannette police in the early hours of June 6, 2021, on Maryland Street. He also was charged...
Hundreds of new charges filed against Squirrel Hill man accused of hiding cameras in bathrooms
A Squirrel Hill man arrested last month for planting a hidden camera in a restroom at The Frick museum now faces a slew of additional charges for hiding the device and spying on restroom-users elsewhere. Todd Bueschen, 35, was charged Tuesday with eight counts of sexual abuse of children by...
Pittsburgh Regional employees sue over covid-19 vaccine mandate
A group of Pittsburgh Regional Transit employees and former employees filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court Tuesday challenging the authority’s covid-19 vaccine mandate. The lawsuit, filed as a class action, seeks to represent not only employees who were terminated by PRT for failing to get vaccinated but also employees...
Recipients announced for 2023 Westmoreland tourism grants
Michael Hartung wants more exposure for the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum, and, by virtue of a grant funded by Westmoreland County’s hotel tax, he now has the money to make that happen. “We’re trying to bring in people from the outside. The only people who come are firefighters or...
Pittsburgh Public Schools students, staff to get free Penguins tickets through new mentoring program
The Pittsburgh Penguins are partnering with Pittsburgh Public Schools to provide free tickets to students, teachers and staff at elementary and middle schools to attend regular season home games. The PPS All-Stars initiative, announced Tuesday, is a new mentoring program that also includes career path development sessions for students. The...
Stowe fire chief punched firefighter during blaze, police say
A fire chief is facing charges after police say he punched a firefighter at a McKees Rocks blaze the two were battling. Stowe Fire Chief Matthew Chapman was charged Tuesday with simple assault and harassment in connection to the Sunday incident. Chapman was the first to arrive on scene and...
Students from Aspinwall’s CDTCA deliver holiday cheer to UPMC St. Margaret
Students from the third and fourth grade classes of Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy helped decorate the courtyard of UPMC St. Margaret hospital with their handmade ornaments on Dec. 6. “Many of our patients aren’t sure if they will be home for the holidays,” said St. Margaret Foundation President...
‘Disney’s Frozen Jr.’ brings heart-warming winter tale to Scottdale stage
Since the movie “Frozen” was released in 2013, it’s become a favorite tale for people of all ages — and one that’s been on the “must-do” list for the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale. Circumstances have finally converged, and the winter wonderland of “Disney’s Frozen Jr.” will take over...
Pittsburgh unemployment near record lows, but region is slow to regain workers
Pittsburgh’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest the region has seen in the past 50 years, but that isn’t necessarily a sign that the city’s economy is humming, according to a University of Pittsburgh economist. The unemployment rate for October was 4.1%, the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and...
No injuries in Hempfield garage fire
No one was injured early Tuesday morning as crews from Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department extinguished a garage fire endangering a nearby home on Trouttown Road in Hempfield. Firefighers were called to the 100 block of Trouttown Road shortly before 12:30 a.m. for a report of a one-story garage on fire....
Pittsburgh unemployment near record lows, but region is slow to regain workers
Pittsburgh’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest the region has seen in the past 50 years, but that isn’t necessarily a sign that Pittsburgh’s economy is humming, according to a University of Pittsburgh economist. The unemployment rate for October was 4.1%, the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis...
Bradford Woods to vote on budget Dec. 12
Bradford Woods is scheduled to adopt its proposed 2023 budget at the Dec. 12 council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Proposed expenses for next year’s budget are listed at more than $1.2 million with no tax increase. The proposed budget is available to view online at www.bradfordwoodspa.org. The meetings...
Pittsburgh’s part of 412 Boulevard of the Allies renovation gets extra $3 million
Pittsburgh’s portion of the renovations needed to create office space in the 412 Boulevard of the Allies Building will get an added $3 million over its initial budget. City Council on Tuesday approved a measure to allocate an additional $3.2 million for the project, which will relocate several city offices...
Penn Township man facing charges after Nov. 14 crash police say was alcohol-related
A Penn Township man was arrested Monday after police said he was driving drunk during a crash in North Huntingdon that left another motorist with several broken bones. Dwight D. Edwards, 49, is free on $50,000 unsecured bond on charges of aggravated assault while driving under the influence and related...
Oakmont-Verona Rotary continues tradition
Members of the Oakmont-Verona Rotary Club joined together recently to continue a treasured tradition of donating new dictionaries to third-graders at Tenth Street and Redeemer Lutheran elementary schools in Oakmont and Verner Elementary in Verona. A special thank you to Richard Barnes, Karyn Brooks, Bill Kern, Arlene Loeffler, Chris Martin,...
Sewickley’s annual Light Up Night celebration draws a big crowd to the borough
Thousands packed Broad and Beaver streets in Sewickley to kick off the holiday season. The borough’s annual Light Up Night celebration brought in families from multiple communities on Dec. 2. “It’s a nice way to meet the community and see the families having holiday fun,” said Sharon Klugh of Hampton,...
Student-run credit union opens at Kiski Area High School
An on-campus credit union is open at Kiski Area High School in Allegheny Township. The Kiski Area Cash Stash, run by students, opened Monday. In partnership with Pheple Federal Credit Union, the credit union is a fully functioning branch office, staffed by three high school students. It’s the first on-campus,...
Pittsburgh council approves $220K annual snow removal technology contract
Pittsburgh’s snow plows will again be fitted with fleet telematics and snow route optimization technology, including GPS and the technology behind the city’s virtual snow plow tracker, through a Minnesota-based company. This comes despite concerns from some council members about the reliability of the snow plow tracker, an online tool...
Lensa’s magic-avatar portraits are all over social media
With people sharing AI-generated portraits on social media, attention is being drawn to the Lensa AI photo app. The app, from Prisma AI, has been around since 2018, but the new “magic avatar” feature debuted last month. The feature creates highly-stylized portraits that users share on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok....
Driver extricated from vehicle after crash with tractor-trailer on Route 22 in Murrysville
A person had to be extricated from their car after a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning along Route 22 in Murrysville. The crash between a tractor-trailer and car was reported around 10:10 a.m. in the area of Harrison City Road. Firefighters worked to extricate the motorist. SR 22 east and west...
2nd Pittsburgh show added to Morgan Wallen tour
Country musician Morgan Wallen has added a second Pittsburgh concert date during his 2023 world tour. Wallen announced on his social media that he will play at PNC Park on June 14. That is in addition to a June 15 show at the same venue as part of his One...
Sewickley benefit concert for Ukraine to feature Ukrainian refugee family
When Katerina Boiko fled to the United States with her 13-year-old daughter Alexa to escape the war in Ukraine, her focus was on survival. But after settling in with her sponsor family in Sewickley in mid-July, Boiko felt that she wanted more. “I don’t want to be here just to...
Pine-Richland students sign letters of intent
On National Signing Day, Nov. 9, 15 Pine-Richland High School student athletes signed their letters of intent. Ava Boyd will play soccer at Michigan State University. Stephanie Cornelius will play soccer at St. John’s University. Kaili Doctor will play volleyball at North Carolina A&T State University. Mary Dziubek will play...
1 injured in house fire in Duquesne
One person was hurt in a fire in Duquesne on Tuesday morning, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. The fire was reported around 5:45 a.m. along Kennedy Avenue. A neighbor told reporters at the scene that a man lives at the home and that witnesses heard him yelling for help....
