Western PA Local News category, Page 1666
LIGHT Initiative at Dorseyville Middle School aims to teach empathy, kindness
When Dorseyville Middle School teacher Scott Vensel traveled to Poland to study the Holocaust in 2002, an Auschwitz survivor made a lasting impression with a single comment. “He said to our group, ‘The seed of hate is the same, no matter where it is sown.” Since then, Vensel has made...
Fists fly at ‘Winter Mayhem’ boxing card in Harmar
In the perpetual cross-state rivalry between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the City of Brotherly Love came out on top over the weekend, as Philly boxer Avery Sparrow bested the Steel City’s Matt “Sweet Child” Conway to win the International Boxing Association Super Featherweight and Pennsylvania state title. Sparrow (11-3, 4 KOs)...
Butler family promotes the joys of hosting foreign exchange students, seeks more hosts
It didn’t take long for Kathryn Smail and her family to decide to be a host family for a high school foreign exchange student — four days, in fact. And before long, they were taking in one student after another. Now the Smails, who live in Butler, are spreading the...
Civil rights activist and Pittsburgh resident Alma Speed Fox has died
Longtime civil and human rights activist Alma Speed Fox of Pittsburgh has died. A spokesperson for her church, the Historic Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal in Homewood, said Fox died Monday at age 98. Her daughter, Muriel Fox Alim, confirmed the news Tuesday evening. Alim said Fox died peacefully...
Dog or coyote? Animal rescued in Fairfield Township perplexes volunteers
An animal that has perplexed rescuers is being cared for at a Mt. Pleasant Township wildlife rehabilitation center while waiting on DNA results to determine exactly what it is. The four-legged, 37-pound creature is being treated for mange after a Fairfield woman spotted it last week, said Wildlife Works volunteer...
Former student in Jeannette sues school district over sexual abuse
A former student is suing the Jeannette City School District alleging that administrators there were aware that he was being sexually abused by a teacher. The teacher, Maria Chappell, was charged by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office in 2016 with having sex with a student. She pleaded guilty on...
Jury split in verdicts for Norwin teacher, husband in middle school musical case
A Westmoreland County jury acquitted a Norwin Middle School teacher of failure to comply with child protective service laws but found her husband guilty of a similar charge. The jury deliberated more than five hours Tuesday before it rendered its mixed verdict to clear English teacher Tobitha Sasso, 42, of...
PLCB offers shot at 1,208 bottles of rare Old Rip Van Winkle whiskey
Some of the most coveted bottles of bourbon are up for grabs this week as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board kicks off a lottery that some might consider a whiskey lover’s dream. In all, 1,208 bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery’s bourbons are available to Pennsylvanians through the limited-release...
Police: New Kensington man charged with dealing drugs after crack cocaine found during traffic stop
Police are accusing a New Kensington man of being a drug dealer after officers said they found more than half an ounce of crack cocaine while he was being searched following a traffic stop. John Lavell Hawkins, 34, of Ridge Avenue was charged by New Kensington police with a felony...
Bishop Zubik joins Pope in calling for prayers for peace for Ukraine
With more and more signs indicating that Russia is on the verge of invading Ukraine, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik has joined Pope Francis in setting aside Wednesday as a day to pray for peace. “I ask that prayers for peace be included in all Masses on Jan....
Witness: Man fired pistol at twins from barstool at Woodpecker’s in Upper Burrell
A bartender testified Tuesday that Daniel Moles sipped bourbon at Woodpeckers Pub and Grub in Upper Burrell for several hours on the evening of Nov. 13 and chatted with customers before aiming a pistol at twin brothers seated across the bar and firing two shots, killing one of them. District...
Mo Willems’ storybook ‘Pigeon’ returns to Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
After a long road trip, “The Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh!: A Mo Willems Exhibit” has returned to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Based on the “Pigeon” children’s book series by award-winning author/illustrator Mo Willems, the exhibit runs until May 8 in the facility at 10 Children’s Way in the North...
Israeli man gets 8 years for role in ‘Darknet’ sales totaling hundreds of millions of dollars
An Israeli man will serve eight years in federal prison for his role in facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars in sales of drugs, firearms and stolen financial information on the dark web. Tal Prihar pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy last year before Senior U.S. District Judge...
Police: Unity brothers’ brawl during morning alcohol run ends in injury, arrest
Two Unity brothers’ early morning run for alcohol led to a brawl during the trip, landing one in a hospital with severe facial injuries and the other in the Westmoreland County Prison charged with aggravated assault and DUI. Steven R. Clem, 29, was arrested just after 3 a.m. Tuesday by...
Ringer’s get first-step in dog daycare approval, more permitting necessary
Harrison business owner Kim Ringer got first-step approval from the township commissioners on Monday in her pursuit to operate a dog day care and boarding service from her Freeport Road retail space. The commissioners voted 5-0 to rezone the property from B-1 to S-1, allowing pet day care services. Ringer...
French Creek wins Pa. River of the Year; 2nd place Monongahela will still party on
French Creek, in the northwestern Pennsylvania, has been named 2022 Pennsylvania River of the Year by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). One of the most environmentally diverse small waterways in the country, French Creek took almost half the votes in a contest with three other bodies of...
Latrobe woman accused of taking $28K from Hempfield employer
County detectives arrested a Latrobe woman on Tuesday in connection with a $28,000 theft from the Hempfield trucking and glass recycling firm where she worked last year, according to court papers. Robin M. Poole, 60, paid her personal bills and made checks out to herself by forging the names of...
Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival returning to Lawrenceville’s Row House CinemaVideo
After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival is returning live to Lawrenceville. Screenings are planned for March 18-31 at Row House Cinema at 4115 Butler St. Passes go on sale Friday. “Our opening night film will be ‘The Island of Cats,’ which has never been shown in...
Classes in session at Fox Chapel Area Adult Education, some in-person
School is in session for Fox Chapel Area Adult Education. Classes from history to home gardening are offered this winter, despite the program being stymied by the pandemic and its limitations on in-person learning. “We have never stopped serving the community despite all the challenges these last two years,” Executive...
Accused Pittsburgh synagogue shooter says jury system is flawed, wants charges dismissed
Attorneys for the man accused of killing 11 people at a Squirrel Hill synagogue three years ago believe the jury system in federal court in Pittsburgh is flawed because it underrepresents the minority population. In a 540-page document unsealed Monday, Robert Bowers, who is white, argues that he is entitled...
Brashear High School principal on leave as district reviews fight
The principal of a Pittsburgh high school is on administrative leave while the district reviews a fight last week that left one student hospitalized, according to a statement from the district. Spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said the principal at Brashear High School, Kimberly Safran, is on a “non-disciplinary paid administrative leave”...
Pittsburgh City Council considers measure to explore annexing, merging with other municipalities
Although Pittsburgh City Council appears poised to shoot down a request to annex neighboring Wilkinsburg, it is considering a proposal to take a more thorough look at whether annexations or mergers would be beneficial to the city. Legislation introduced Tuesday by Council President Theresa Kail-Smith would allow City Council to...
Hempfield nixes mask requirement, changes school’s covid-19 tracker
Students in Hempfield Area School District identified as close contacts who do not test positive for covid-19 or show symptoms will be permitted to attend in-person classes rather than quarantine, the school board said. The vote Monday was one of several made in a meeting during which board members nixed...
Jake Pawlak to lead Pittsburgh’s Office of Management and Budget
Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the appointment of Jake Pawlak as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mayor Ed Gainey has said he also will appoint Pawlak as deputy mayor. Pawlak, who served as the new mayor’s transition director, is the first Gainey appointee to...
Donnie Iris returning to Greensburg for 79th birthday shows
In February 2018, Donnie Iris played three 75th birthday shows at The Palace Theatre. Two years later, he was back for two more birthday shows. On the cusp of turning 79, he’s returning to Greensburg for concerts Feb. 5 and 19. Pittsburgh’s “King of Cool,” who was born Feb. 28,...
