Western PA Local News category, Page 1289
Northview Heights shooting victim dies
One of the two men who were shot on Friday night in Pittsburgh’s Northview Heights neighborhood has died. Jemar Pharr, 38, of Pittsburgh, died Saturday, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Pharr and another man were shot Friday night, city police said. Police said they found two men in...
Police: Parks Township man stabs his adult son in chest with steak knife during argument, gives brash statement
A Parks Township man stabbed his son in the chest with a steak knife during an argument Wednesday, according to state police. The victim was flown by emergency medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian hospital; his condition was unknown Friday. A UPMC spokeswoman said they could not give out patient information....
Judge denies bias, upholds sentence in 2010 Greensburg torture killing
The 60-years-to-life prison sentence imposed on one of six Greensburg roommates convicted in the 2010 torture and slaying of a mentally disabled woman will stand, a judge ruled Friday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Rita Hathaway said the lengthy prison term imposed against 29-year-old Angela Marinucci was not a result...
Part of Downtown Pittsburgh’s Grant Street to close over weekend for Christmas tree installation, decoration
Part of Downtown Pittsburgh’s Grant Street will be closed for portions of Saturday and Sunday as crews install and decorate the city’s official Christmas tree on the City-County Building’s portico. Grant Street will be closed from Third Avenue to Fifth Avenue from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday while Forestry...
Harrison man charged with DUI in Fawn rollover crash that injured 6 people in June
A Natrona Heights man was jailed Friday for allegedly driving under the influence when his pick-up truck rolled over in June in Fawn, severely injuring a boy, Allegheny County Police said. Kevin Harrison, 35, surrendered to authorities Friday and was placed in the Allegheny County Jail. He was awaiting arraignment...
Plans for 2 apartment buildings in Pittsburgh’s Strip District move forward
Two apartment complexes are planned for construction in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The city’s Planning Commission this week approved two separate developments that will bring additional housing to the area. “Neighborhoods like the Strip District have an incredible opportunity to add abundant housing and become more vibrant communities by adding more...
Pittsburgh officials hoping to move homeless people from encampments to new shelter
As a new shelter is scheduled to open in Downtown Pittsburgh in the coming weeks, officials said they are hoping to move homeless people from encampments to the new site. Dubbed Second Avenue Commons, the 45,000-square foot, five-story facility will have 43 single-room apartments and operate year-round. It will be...
Police: Couple caught having sex in truck tractor idling along Route 28 on-ramp; gun, drugs found inside
State police accused a man of selling drugs and illegally carrying a gun after a pair of troopers pulled up on a truck tractor parked on a Route 28 on-ramp in Harrison while the man was in the cab having sex with a woman. William Bruce Greiner, 49, of the...
Reschenthaler urges feds to declare Oakmont teacher jailed in Russia as ‘wrongfully detained’
An Oakmont teacher who has been held in a Moscow detention center for more than a year should be designated as “wrongfully detained,” U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, said in a resolution introduced Thursday in Congress. Marc Fogel, 61, was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport on Aug. 14, 2021, after...
Comprehensive Healthcare backed out of multimillion dollar settlement in civil case
The embattled company whose executives are facing criminal charges of health care fraud agreed to settle a U.S. Department of Labor civil claim against it for $15 million before reneging on the deal in September, the federal agency said in a court filing. Before walking away from the deal, Comprehensive...
Garry Peterson playing Palace Theatre with The Guess Who
Outside of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, there aren’t many rock ’n’ rollers who can boast that they’ve been in the same band for 60 years. Drummer Garry Peterson of The Guess Who is one of the few who can make that claim. Peterson was 17...
Forbes Hospital adds hospice, palliative care wing in Monroeville
As the health system that would become Forbes Hospital began growing in the 1970s, following the merger of Wilkinsburg’s Columbia Hospital and Pittsburgh Hospital in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood, it had a dedicated hospice facility. “Over the years, that shifted to a floor at West Penn Hospital, and eventually...
On 1st anniversary, Las Hachas patron set to vie in world axe throwing championships
A New Kensington ax-throwing venue is marking its first year in business at the same time one of its patrons is preparing for a world championship competition. Las Hachas held its grand opening at 1043 Fifth Ave. on Nov. 6, 2021. Its owners — brothers Brian and Zach Heidenreich and...
Suspect in Penn Hills homicide arrested in Georgia
Police in Georgia arrested a suspect wanted in connection with a September homicide in Penn Hills. U.S. Marshals and sheriff’s deputies apprehended Michael D. Wade, 36, in DeKalb County after an arrest warrant was issued on a charge of criminal homicide, Allegheny County Police said. Wade is accused of shooting...
Salem woman killed in Route 22 crash
A Salem woman was killed Friday morning in crash on Route 22 in Salem when her vehicle was hit by a flatbed tractor trailer carrying a concrete beam, the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office said. The victim, Sandy L. Jones, 79, of Old William Penn Highway, died of blunt force injuries...
With winter approaching, PennDOT seeks snowplow drivers
On a dry, sunny day this week at PennDOT’s maintenance yard off Route 981 in Unity, several snowplow truck drivers were navigating an obstacle course through the 11-acre property. They were honing their skills for the day or night in the not too-distant future when they will be required to...
Out & About: Greensburg Garden Center offers tips to ‘punch up’ holidays
With the holidays fast approaching, folks who attended Greensburg Garden Center’s Punch Up Your Holidays party are better prepared. Held Thursday evening at Rizzo’s Banquet Hall in Crabtree, the event offered a variety of ways to add a little pizzazz to the festivities. For gentlemen wanting to look their best,...
‘They complete the love,’ Jeannette mom says at adoption hearing to add 3 more to family
Trudy and Jennifer Parke of Jeannette had taken a break from fostering children after adopting four biological siblings in 2018. But, when they found out three more biological siblings — children whom they knew — were in need of a home, they stepped up. On Thursday, the couple adopted Nevaeh,...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 4-6
Pittsburgh and its people will be celebrated this weekend through music, running and the unveiling of a musical dedicated to a hero of the Depression era. Jazz week wrap-up Saxophonist and composer Tia Fuller, a member of Beyonce’s all-female tour band, will perform during concerts at 7:30 p.m. Friday and...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Nov. 4-6
Holiday marketplace The annual Holiday Market is planned for noon-4 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Ligonier Country Market, at West Main Street and Springer Road in Ligonier. The market features holiday-themed items and other merchandise handcrafted by dozens of area vendors. Food and beverages will be available. For...
Meals, ceremony, documentary part of Veterans Week events at Pitt-Greensburg
A Saturday breakfast meeting that will offer area veterans an opportunity to share their stories will kick off a week of activities honoring veterans, service members and their families at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. “Operation Transition: From Service to Wellness” is the theme for the week, with activities...
Suspect flees Mt. Oliver traffic stop, hits officer; drugs recovered from vehicle
A Pittsburgh police officer was injured early Friday in Mt. Oliver after authorities said a suspected impaired driver hit the policeman while fleeing a traffic stop. The driver was pulled over at 3 a.m. at McKinley Street and Grogan Avenue. Police said the driver provided a name and date of...
Pair of crashes shut down Pa. Turnpike in Beaver County for about 8 hours
A pair of crashes shut down the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Beaver County for about eight hours Thursday. One person was taken to a hospital, according to state police. The first crash was reported at 5:39 a.m. in New Sewickley near Tulip Drive. A truck entering the...
Jeannette’s parks set for $1.2 million in improvements
Parks in Jeannette are slated for upgrades after the city was awarded a $1.2 million through the state Department of Community and Economic Development. Chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy said there are plans to improve several city parks, but the projects that get the green light will depend on certain...
Freeport Mayor Zach Gent is open for business in virtual office
It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing at the borough offices in Freeport this year. Day-to-day operations were impacted when the borough secretary had a health issue in September. With no backup secretary to fill the void, the borough offices were temporarily closed. The events made it clear to Freeport Mayor...
