Western PA Local News category, Page 1368
A tale of 2 floods: Unity’s Dorothy neighborhood mirrors Connellsville’s Dutch Bottom experience
Josh Biller wasn’t thinking about floods when he bought his first house in May 2021. He was focused on getting moved in and setting up a home office, while enjoying a huge patio and having a place of his own. “I’ve only been here a year,” he said. “I was...
Indie duo closes Greensburg concert season expected to match previous high attendance
Couples of all ages and families, too, turned out Friday evening to enjoy the guitar stylings and harmonized vocals of indie folk-pop duo The Sea, The Sea — the final act in this season’s SummerSounds weekly concert series at Greensburg’s St. Clair Park. Regular attendee Lynne Roth of Hempfield came...
Bari Club celebrates 100 years of Italian heritage and fellowship in Vandergrift
Vandergrift’s oldest Italian social club celebrated a major milestone last Saturday, Aug. 27. The Bari Club, the sole surviving Italian social club in the borough, celebrated its 100th anniversary with wall-to-wall well-wishers celebrating all things Italian. “All the other Italian clubs are gone in Vandergrift,” said Frank “Beans” Moliterno, 92,...
Freeport still can’t find a mayor after 3 months; residents encouraged to apply
Longtime Freeport Mayor James Swartz Jr. resigned in early June, and borough council still hasn’t been able to find someone to fill his shoes. No one qualified enough has stepped up, said Council President Clint Warnick, who is serving as acting mayor. “We’re still working through, trying applicants,” he said....
1 flown to hospital after crash in Mt. Pleasant Township
One person was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after a wreck Friday evening in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. First responders had to free the motorist from the vehicle after it crashed into a tree along Clay Pike Road near Stairs Road, the dispatcher said....
Police probe death of 14-year-old girl fatally shot inside car in Duquesne
Police are investigating a shooting Friday evening that left a teenage girl dead in Duquesne. Lajaponis Roberts, 14, died at the scene, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Allegheny County Homicide detectives said they learned Roberts was a passenger in a burgundy-colored Chevy Cruze when the shooting occurred. The...
Derry Township street to close; traffic restrictions extended on I-70
A Derry Township street is set to close beginning Tuesday as PennDOT extends detours and traffic restrictions for other work areas in Westmoreland County — including a stretch of Interstate 70. A section of Hickory Avenue, also know as North Valley Street, is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Tuesday...
East Hills woman charged with homicide in fatal shooting of friend’s brother
A woman who told investigators that she “wasn’t going to be hit by a man” is charged with homicide in connection with a shooting Thursday at an East Hills housing complex, according to a criminal complaint filed against her. Toddia Smiley, 25, of East Hills, said she was drinking in...
Southwestern Pa. awarded $63M to boost robotics and AI industries in region
Southwestern Pennsylvania has secured a $62.7 million federal grant that local officials hope will boost the region’s robotics and artificial intelligence industries and allow small businesses to take advantage of that growth. The White House announced Thursday the newly formed Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative will receive its funding through...
Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Festival kicks off at Westmoreland Fairgrounds
The 29th Annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Labor Day Festival kicked off Friday. It runs through Labor Day at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township. Exhibitors come from 14 states and display and sell a wide variety of arts and crafts, including jewelry, clothing, home decor items, soft sculpture,...
Indiana County man pleads guilty in sex assault of minor
A Smicksburg man has pleaded guilty to charges related to the sexual assault of a minor. Michael Stiles, 54, is charged with statutory sexual assault as well as involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with and indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault of a child under 16 years old. The victim reported...
Suspect charged with shooting man in the leg on Downtown side of Rachel Carson Bridge
Pittsburgh police have taken into custody a man accused of shooting another man in the leg midday Friday in the city. Dremajjae Reddix, 26, is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Court documents did not list a...
Allegheny County expands eligibility for monkeypox vaccine
The monkeypox vaccine is now available to a wider swath of people in Allegheny County as health officials work to get the prophylaxis to those most at risk of coming into contact with the virus. In addition to those already eligible for the vaccine, which can prevent illness if received...
Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School students learn importance of mental health from Listen, Lucy founder
Jordan Corcoran felt relief for the first time in her life after hearing the news. When she was 19, she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. After years of struggling with mental illness, she was able to make her first step forward in finding help. “Asking for...
Pittsburgh’s Rib Fest getting off to smoking hot start after Backyard Brawl brings in record fans
Pittsburgh’s annual Kickoff and Rib Festival has been running on the North Shore for more than 30 years and some longtime vendors say this year’s opening day on Thursday brought the biggest crowds they had ever seen. It helped that tens of thousands of football fans flooded the North Shore...
Section of Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills to close through end of September for slide repair
Work to fix a slide will close part of Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills for much of September, PennDOT announced Friday. Saltsburg Road between Sycamore Drive and Route 380 is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting, and remain closed through late September. Through traffic will be prohibited...
Brackenridge proposal to ban street sports equipment appears dead
A proposed Brackenridge ordinance that would ban street sports equipment such as basketball hoops and hockey goals appears to be dead. Council was expected Thursday to discuss the idea, which was spurred by residents’ complaints over traffic obstructions and property damage. “They did not pass the ordinance last night,” borough...
Police: Man charged with felony after nearly 2 ounces of crack seized during raid in New Kensington
A New Kensington man was accused of being a drug dealer by police after nearly 2 ounces of crack cocaine was seized from his home during a raid. Alonzo Fuller, 42, of the 100 block of Catalpa Street faces a felony count of possession of drugs with the intent to...
Police arrest 2 after seizing $22K in meth at New Kensington home
Authorities said they seized methamphetamine worth more than $22,000 and arrested two people when they carried out a search warrant Wednesday on a Seventh Street Extension home in New Kensington. Jason A. Wood, 51, and Tara Sue Gamble, 39, face felony and misdemeanor drug charges. They were arraigned Thursday, and...
Mom of Wilmerding teen killed at haunted attraction files lawsuit against business
Nearly a year after her son was killed at the Haunted Hills Hayride in North Versailles, Shantel Pizaro continues to look for answers. With no arrests, Pizaro on Friday filed a lawsuit in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court against the business, hoping that it will help reveal who killed her...
Westbound Route 910 single-lane closure to begin in Harmar
More closures are coming to Route 28 as PennDOT announced a single-lane closure next week on westbound Route 910 in Harmar. The closure will start at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, and last until 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9. Motorists still will have access to the northbound Route 28 ramp...
North Huntingdon nursing home workers go on strike
Nursing home workers at The Grove in North Huntingdon walked off the job Friday and onto the picket line, demanding better pay, benefits and conditions for the residents. “We want better wages and more affordable health care (insurance) premiums,” said Shannon McBride, president of the local Services Employees International Union...
Pittsburgh City Council looks for ways to boost availability of affordable housing
Pittsburgh City Council is looking to expand the availability of accessory dwelling units such as attic, basement and garage apartments and secondary structures built on existing properties — all in an effort to combat what it sees as an affordable housing crisis. Legislation introduced last week by Councilwoman Deb Gross...
Sewickley-based Allegheny Land Trust earns national recognition
The Land Trust Alliance’s Land Trust Accreditation Commission granted conservation nonprofit Allegheny Land Trust with its second renewal as a nationally accredited land trust. Allegheny Land Trust, which has the Barking Slopes Conservation Area in Plum among its properties, is one of fewer than 10% of land trusts across the...
Police: Pair faces multiple felonies after stolen gun, drugs found in stolen SUV
Harrison police charged a man and a woman with multiple felonies after they said crack cocaine, drug paraphernalia and a stolen handgun were found in their car, which also was reported as stolen. Brandon Duane Schoff, 37, who told police he is homeless, was charged with two felony counts of...
