Western PA Local News category, Page 1570
Bless A Dress to give away 3,000 prom gowns at event in Harmar
Those still in search of a prom dress are in luck: The organization Bless A Dress is holding its annual free prom gown event this week. An estimated 3,000 gently used, donated dresses will be up for grabs at the three-day event, starting Thursday, at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena...
Discrimination lawsuit and investigation dropped against Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
After former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Alexis Johnson said she was removed from covering Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, she filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming her former employer violated her civil rights. Now, she is dropping the case. Johnson, who is Black, requested to drop her lawsuit in March. On...
Pittsburgh public health advocates attend Affordable Care Act event at White House
Two public health advocates from Pittsburgh attended a White House ceremony Tuesday celebrating the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Amy Raslevich, a doctoral candidate at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health, and Adrianne Sapienza, a Pitt alumna and diabetes educator at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh,...
It’s just about blooming time for North Park’s cherry blossoms
Each spring, the drab colors of fall and winter are overtaken in North Park by vibrant hues of pink, as the blooms on hundreds of cherry trees planted in the park since 2009 begin flowering. But exactly when the dramatic transformation will happen is a mystery. “We’ve got our best...
Attorneys for accused Tree of Life gunman say they won’t be ready for trial before late 2023
Federal prosecutors say the man accused of killing 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill should go to trial in the fall. But defense attorneys for the accused gunman, Robert Bowers, told the newly assigned judge in the case Wednesday that they don’t anticipate being...
No charges to be filed in Jeannette man’s 2019 killing, district attorney says
No criminal charges will be filed in connection with the October 2019 shooting outside a Jeannette home that left one man dead, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced Wednesday. Mariell McGowan, 29, an aspiring rapper and former basketball and football star at Jeannette High School, was killed and two...
Fairfield man to serve at least 7 years in prison for Christmas assault
A Fairfield man was sentenced to serve at least seven years in prison for a Christmas 2020 assault on his wife and another incident four months later in which police he held her captive at knifepoint. Zachery Allen Collier, 27, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of aggravated assault, simple assault...
Sharpsburg council to meet in special session Saturday, April 9
Sharpsburg Council will conduct a special public meeting Saturday night to address several issues, one of which involves the hiring of an interim borough manager in a closed-door session instead of a public vote. Council last month introduced former Crescent Township administrator Jason Dailey as the temporary replacement of former...
Troopers arrest father, son at Hempfield home after being called to break up fight
A father and son were arrested early Wednesday at their Hempfield residence on assault charges after state troopers were called there to break up a fight. The father, John M. Schein, 64, also is charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and related criminal charges after...
Pittsburgh poised to adopt ban on plastic grocery bags
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a measure to ban plastic grocery bags, after amending the legislation to drop the costs of paper bags for low-income individuals. The legislation, introduced by Councilwoman Erika Strassburger in November, would ban single-use plastic bags in most instances. Shoppers would instead have to bring...
Pirates to serve up Pittsburgh food and drink this season at PNC Park
The Pirates and PNC Park teamed with restaurants and chefs to bring a taste of Pittsburgh into the stadium this baseball season. New menu items include Fat Head’s beer from the South Side, a burger from Station in Bloomfield, and a Reuben hot dog topped with house-made corned beef from...
Feds announce disruption of Russian malware attack in operation aided by Pittsburgh FBI, U.S. Attorney’s office
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a series of measures Wednesday to combat Russian criminal activity, including an operation to disrupt a malware program that officials said would have allowed the Russian government to control thousands of infected security devices around the world. The operation to disrupt the “Cyclops Blink”...
‘We need to be careful about our biases,’ Pitt Greensburg professor says in talk about white privilege
White privilege — and its impact on society — does not mean that things are easy for white people, but “you have fewer barriers,” a University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg professor said recently during a program at the downtown YMCA. “Nobody should feel bad about these privileges. If I recognize...
Yellow Bridge Brewing in Delmont plans new Greensburg taproom
Craft beer fans soon will have a new option for wetting their whistles in downtown Greensburg. Yellow Bridge Brewing Co. of Delmont is working on a taproom at 33 E. Pittsburgh St., next door to Sittay’s Mediterranean Kitchen. While the opening date is not set, it probably will be early...
Stage Right stages ‘Joseph,’ a biblical tale of intrigue, at The Palace
The thing that makes “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” so interesting for audiences also makes it challenging for the cast. “The music is everything from country-western to calypso to a pop-rock sound, and other things that go toward the classical musical theater sound,” said Christopher McAllister, executive director of...
Westmoreland DA says solving Cassandra Gross case from 2018 remains a priority
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said solving the 2018 disappearance of Cassandra Gross is a priority for prosecutors. “This is one of the cases that was at the forefront of my mind when I took office (in January),” Ziccarelli said. “We are very committed to this case.” She’s had...
Pa. Game Commission restricts rock climbing at 2 Fayette state game lands
While rock climbing has become increasingly popular at two state game lands in Fayette County, state game commission officials are restricting it to the animals that grew up there. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and state Fish & Boat Commission announced the closure of all rock-climbing activities at State Game Lands...
Ross Township auctioning former police motorcycles
Ross Township is auctioning off two former police motorcycles, with the proceeds benefiting the township. The township is auctioning a 2014 Harley Davidson FLHTP former police motorcycle and a 2016 BMW R1200RT-P former police motorcycle. The online auctions are open to the public and end on April 11. Pennsylvania residents...
Trial for New Florence man accused of assault of deputy sheriff delayed
The trial of a former New Florence man previously acquitted of killing a police officer and now accused of assaulting a Westmoreland County deputy sheriff has been delayed until at least June. Ray Shetler Jr., 37, appeared in court this week for a procedural hearing to determine if his trial...
Police: Former worker charged with bakery burglary didn’t know security cameras were installed
A former employee of a Pine bakery faces multiple felony counts after police say he burglarized the business three months after quitting, unaware that security cameras had been installed after his departure. Lloyd R. McCoy III, 53, of Latonka Drive in Cool Springs Township, Mercer County, was charged by the...
Victim in fatal Butler crash identified
A 47-year-old woman was the victim in a fatal crash near Slippery Rock in Butler County early Tuesday morning, state police at Butler said. Ruth A. Alben of Slippery Rock was killed when the vehicle she was driving eastbound on Branchton Road went through a flashing red traffic signal without...
New Kensington honors first responders for recent efforts to save lives
New Kensington Council bestowed commendations on several first responders and a marina employee who all, successfully and unsuccessfully, tried to save lives in recent tragic incidents in the city. Police officers Christian Leonarski and Jerry Hobeck and Assistant Fire Chief B.J. Kersey were honored for efforts to try to save...
Westmoreland happenings: Living tableau, Easter events, pie sale
Church news • Greensburg Church of the Brethren will host a night of fun and fellowship for individuals and groups with developmental disabilities from 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays at the church, 554 Stanton St. Dinner is included. Participants must be accompanied by a family member or caregiver. Donations will...
Woman taken to hospital after car goes into Monongahela River in Braddock
Braddock police reported that a woman’s car went into the Monongahela River from a boat launch ramp late Tuesday night. Police said they are investigating the incident that occurred around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday but declined to discuss details. The woman was rescued and taken to an area hospital, a police...
2 robbed East Pittsburgh convenience store, fled with cash
State police are looking for a man and woman who they say robbed a convenience store Wednesday in East Pittsburgh. Troopers said the pair waited outside the 7-Eleven on Lincoln Highway before entering the store at 12:40 a.m. The man demanded cash from the clerk and went behind the counter...
