Western PA Local News category, Page 1431
New mental health hotline strives to make care more accessible nationwide
A new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has launched nationwide, with the intent to strengthen and transform crisis care in America, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials. The 988 system will build on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is an existing network of over 200...
Truck fire temporarily shuts down Route 28 southbound
A truck caught fire on Route 28 on Saturday morning at the Harmar-O’Hara border, shutting down the southbound lanes for a time. The mishap occurred a little after 10 a.m. Police turned southbound traffic around at an emergency vehicle crossover, as northbound traffic slowed to a crawl. Emergency vehicles were...
Authorities identify victim of fatal crash in Pine
A Wexford man died following a crash early Saturday in Pine. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Douglas David Rockacy, 47. Allegheny County 911 said emergency responders were dispatched to the 300 block of Wexford-Bayne Road at about 12:45 a.m. There was no immediate word on...
The Stroller, July 16, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Sportsmen’s association plans youth Sportsfest Vandergrift Sportsmen’s Association will host a free...
Scottdale woman pleads guilty to role in fatal overdose
A Scottdale woman who admitted to her involvement in a 2019 fatal drug overdose in Greensburg said in court Friday that she has turned her life around since a police detective showed up at her door. “I’m very sorry this whole thing happened and I hope other people can learn...
Projects in Irwin, Manor, Derry Township aim to reduce stormwater runoff
The former asphalt-covered parking lot at the Manor municipal complex on Main Street, which houses borough offices and the public library, is becoming an environmentally friendly site. The new lot is designed to let stormwater soak into the ground rather than have it flow unchecked into storm sewers that empty...
Man convicted in I-70 crash that injured Good Samaritans on Belle Vernon-Speers Bridge
A Washington County man was convicted Friday of aggravated assault by vehicle and related charges in connection with a crash on the Belle Vernon-Speers Bridge that seriously injured two good Samaritans. Brian D. Keegan, 20, of California will face sentencing in about 30 days after Judge Christopher Feliciani found him...
Jeannette’s curfew ordinance update put on hold as officials fine-tune it
Jeannette officials are reworking a proposed update of a curfew ordinance to take into consideration a reduction of fine amounts, among other issues, according to solicitor Tim Witt. The proposal was rejected this week with Councilwomen Robin Mozley and Michelle Langdon and Councilman Chad Krawtz casting the dissenting votes. “It’s...
Greensburg man will spend life behind bars for child rape
A Greensburg man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a judge last week levied 22 consecutive sentences in connection with the rape of a 5-year-old child and recording videos of a woman engaged in sex acts with the boy. Charles Jason Hunter, 36, was sentenced to...
Allegheny County Police seek arsonist suspected of setting 14 fires in Munhall, West Homestead and Homestead
An as-yet unidentified man is considered to a suspect in connection with a string of 14 arsons in Munhall, West Homestead and Homestead since April 23, Allegheny County Police said late Friday night. Police have identified a man as the suspect from a July 2 fire in Homestead. Most of...
Leechburg Area School District to experience closures for construction
The Leechburg Area School District will have a couple closures this summer because of construction projects. Superintendent Tiffany Nix sent out a letter Friday morning informing families the school district’s playground will be closed starting Monday until the David Leech Elementary School’s roof is completed. The playground will be closed...
Latrobe police seek suspect in assault investigation
Latrobe police are asking the public’s help with an ongoing investigation into the assault of a woman near St. Clair Street Park Thursday. Police said the assault occurred 11:30 a.m. Chief John Sleasman said the woman required medical treatment at a Pittsburgh hospital. Her injuries are non-life threatening, police said....
Pittsburgh street named after W.Va., Brashear football standout Major HarrisVideo
The irony of having a Pittsburgh street named after a West Virginia Mountaineer football star was not lost on those who showed up for a special ceremony Friday in the Hill District. But everyone seemed to be in agreement that the honor bestowed on former Brashear High School quarterback Major...
Tennessee man, 19, fatally shot outside Washington housing complex
A Tennessee teenager was shot and killed in the early hours of Friday morning outside a Washington County public housing complex, according to county Coroner Timothy Warco. Emergency officials responded to the Jollick Manor housing complex off of South Franklin Street just after 12:15 a.m. Friday morning, for a report...
Bonuses OK’d to help fill vacant Westmoreland Children’s Bureau caseworker posts
Worker recruitment has become a challenge for employers in many fields, and the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau is no exception. The county Salary Board has responded to that challenge by approving signing, recruitment and retention bonuses for union workers at the bureau, including caseworkers. There are 13 vacant caseworker positions...
Operation Dignity: More than 250 attend service in Hempfield for unclaimed cremains of 15 veterans
When U.S. Army veteran Randy Baker heard about Friday’s memorial service honoring the unclaimed cremains of 15 veterans stored at the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office — some for as long as 29 years — he felt compelled to be there. “I wanted to pay my respects. I don’t know what...
Volunteers sought to clean Allegheny River banks from Verona to Aspinwall
Volunteers who don’t mind getting their hands dirty will have a unique opportunity to clean typically inaccessible banks of the Allegheny River between Aspinwall and Verona during an event on July 23. Hosted by Allegheny CleanWays, Friends of the Riverfront and 3 Rivers Outdoor Company (3ROC), the shoreline clean-up is...
Armstrong County woman accused of stealing Trafford family’s dog
An Armstrong County woman is accused of stealing a Trafford family’s dog. Molly Bureau, of Cadogan, is charged with two counts of theft in a criminal complaint filed by Trafford police. Eva Hodgdon told police that Bureau never returned her 1-year-old black German shepherd — named Nani Nyx — after...
Greensburg Sunoco sells $1 million scratch-off
A Greensburg Sunoco store will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling a $1 million scratch-off Pennsylvania Lottery ticket. The $1 million Cash Corner$ scratch-off was sold at the station on 311 W. Otterman St., according to the lottery. Store owner Sunny Patel said the winner has not come forward. He...
Penn State Extension will host master-gardener open house in Hempfield
On the “Pittsburgh Gardeners, Homesteaders and Farmers” Facebook page, people are regularly soliciting advice for issues ranging from blossom end rot on their tomatoes, to moles and voles digging holes in their strawberry patches. Natalie Sciulli, 24, of Plum, is thinking about planting garlic next fall. “I grow tomatoes, peppers,...
West Leechburg officials warn public of mail theft in the borough
West Leechburg officials issued a warning online Friday to residents about recent tampering with outbound mail and stolen checks. In a post made Friday around noon to the West Leechburg Borough Facebook page, officials asked residents to monitor their bank accounts for what they said is suspicious activity regarding multiple...
Man who died at Allegheny County Jail identified
An incarcerated man was found unresponsive in his cell at the Allegheny County Jail this week, and he was pronounced dead shortly after. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner has identified him as 39-year-old Victor Joseph Zilinek. A cause or manner of death was not released. Zelinik is the fourth incarcerated...
Picklesburgh has begun
Lynn Grimes was a blur, her blonde hair held back by a black hair band as she hurriedly got things ready in the Aunt Carol’s Pickles & Dip booth on the Rachel Carson Bridge. The high noon opening of the seventh edition of Picklesburgh was 10 minutes away and Grimes...
Vandergrift Police Department welcomes its first full-time female officer
The Vandergrift Police Department has made history. Ada Vega, 22, is the first full-time female police officer in the borough. Her hiring was approved by Vandergrift Council in April and, prior to her full-time status, Vega was hired at age 18 as a part-time officer in 2018, making her the...
Arnold woman charged with assaulting 2 girls, adult
An Arnold woman is accused of assaulting two young girls and the mother of one of them while meeting to discuss a previous assault. Leeda Marie Settle, 33, of the 1700 block of Leishman Avenue was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault on a person under the age...
