Western PA Local News category, Page 1682
Roberto Clemente Jr., family members sue Allstate, alleging discrimination by insurer
The Roberto Clemente Jr. Family Agency filed a federal lawsuit this week against Allstate and several people affiliated with the insurer, alleging breach of contract and claims they were discriminated against and ultimately shut down. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Roberto Clemente Jr. and his wife Kailee Clemente,...
Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association wants stream restoration, not credits
An environmental group is asking the state to require a natural gas drilling company to do stream restoration in the Big Sewickley Creek Watershed instead of purchasing so-called “restoration credits” that would allow them to do the work in a different location. In a letter to the state Department of...
Pittsburgh man gets a year of house arrest for actions during Downtown George Floyd protests
A Pittsburgh man who used his skateboard to break the window of a city police vehicle during the 2020 George Floyd protests Downtown will serve one day in custody and one year on house arrest. Joseph Craft, 29, of Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, must report to U.S. marshals on Friday morning....
Arbitration records reveal Penn Hills’ termination of Officer Robert Gowans was in violation of probationary agreement
Court documents revealed that Penn Hills’ decision to terminate police Officer Robert Gowans in May 2021 violated protections of his probationary status with the department. “As a probationary police officer, he was statutorily entitled to civil service protections during his one year of probationary employment,” arbitrator Jane Desimone said. Gowans...
Ligonier Ice Fest plans new designs, old favorites for 31st year
Organizers of the Ligonier Ice Fest are keeping a weather eye out, so to speak, for the Jan. 22-23 forecast. So far, conditions look to be favorable for the 31st annual event, with highs hovering around 30 degrees, some clouds and maybe a snow shower, according to weather.com. “I say...
New Kensington car wash celebrates opening with free washes, fundraising for Knead Cafe
A new car wash in New Kensington is celebrating its opening with free car washes for 10 days and benefits for Knead Community Cafe. Clean Express Auto Wash began operating off Tarentum Bridge Road in front of Busy Beaver in late December, said Beth Martin, a spokeswoman for parent company...
Green space in Sewickley area to grow more than 90 acres
A network of connected green space in Sewickley Hills, Ohio Township and Franklin Park is expected to grow by nearly 95 acres. Allegheny Land Trust, a non-profit that protects Pittsburgh-area land from development, was awarded $728,200 through recently announced state grants to help purchase the land. Money was made available...
New Kensington-Arnold includes 5% tax increase in proposed 2022-23 preliminary spending plan
A maximum 5% property tax increase is included in New Kensington-Arnold School District’s $40.9 million proposed preliminary budget for next school year. School board President Tim Beckes hopes that increase can be reduced before a final budget for 2022-23 is passed in June. “We hope to not have to do...
Highlands property taxes unlikely to increase more than 4.9% — if at all
Highlands School Board next week will consider limiting any real estate tax hike for next school year to 4.9%. The board is expected to vote on staying under an inflation-based cap assigned each year to each school district in the state. The district’s limit is up from this school year’s...
The Bike Lab is Plum’s first-ever bicycle shop
Unity Plaza in Plum has undergone a resurgence over the past few years. One of the new businesses bringing customers to the plaza is The Bike Lab, which, according to Plum’s Chamber of Commerce, is the first-ever bike shop in the borough. The Bike Lab opened approximately seven months ago,...
6 Pittsburgh schools reopen, 18 still closed over staff shortages
Six Pittsburgh Public Schools buildings reopened Thursday, while four others were closed for the day and 13 more will remain shut down until Tuesday because of staffing shortages caused by covid-19, district officials announced. Schools reopening Thursday included Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8, Pittsburgh Classical, Pittsburgh Grandview, Pittsburgh Miller, Pittsburgh Montessori and...
Former nurse pleads guilty to indecent assault of residents at Lower Burrell care home
A former nurse at a Lower Burrell care nursing home and rehabilitation center was sentenced Wednesday to at least 6 months in jail for indecent assaults against two residents last year. Jacques C. Wagner, 58, of New Kensington pleaded guilty to six offenses in which police said he had sexual...
The Stroller, Jan. 13, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Start the new year off right! Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Nominations sought for Alumni Hall of Fame Allegheny Valley School District is accepting nominations for its...
Offerings from the Zelienople Library
Children’s author Brittany J. Thurman kicks off this year’s Zelienople Area Public Library annual arts and culture speaker series, Zelienople Library Presents … . Thurman is the author of the recently released picture book, “Fly,” the story of a little girl named Africa who dreams about entering a double Dutch...
Penn -Trafford briefs: Benefit raises $4,000 for cancer research, more
Penn Middle School students raise $4K for families in need A group of five Penn Middle School eighth graders raised more than $4,000 to provide 10 area families with new socks, underwear and pajamas for the recent holiday season. The efforts were part of a confirmation project at St. Barbara...
Arnold Council honors police officers from city and beyond for efforts during Arnold Manor fire
Thirteen police officers who evacuated residents of the Arnold Manor high-rise when the building caught fire Dec. 9 have been honored by Arnold city officials. Mayor Joseph Bia and council on Tuesday presented the officers with framed certificates of appreciation for their efforts. Bia said their efforts were crucial in...
Area residents peruse potential job opportunities at Latrobe job fair
“Help Wanted” signs were displayed en masse Thursday at the Westmoreland County Community College Latrobe Education Center. “This is great,” said Rebecca Davis of New Alexandria. “And it came at a perfect time for me.” In the past year, Davis said she lost her job as an administrative assistant, where...
Fox Chapel Area School District officials pledge to keep any tax increase in 2022-23 within state cap
Fox Chapel Area property owners should not expect to see any hike in real estate taxes beyond 3.4% for next school year. School district officials recently approved a resolution pledging to keep any tax hike within an inflation-based state limit. Act 1, passed in 2006 to provide property tax relief,...
Police: Student causes disturbance, lockdown at Indiana Area Senior High
An Indiana Area Senior High student’s rampage caused a brief lockdown of the school Wednesday and is expected to result in charges, according to state police in Indiana County. Police said patrol units responded shortly after 12:30 p.m. to a report of a 17-year-old girl engaging in “repeated tumultuous behavior”...
Sewickley area communities reorganize their leadership for this year
Sewickley area councils and commissions have reorganized and set their leadership positions for this year. Aleppo The township commissioners reappointed George Jones and Arthur Williams as president and vice president, respectively. Jones and commissioners Dan Darragh and Amy Richert were each sworn in to new four-year terms. Judy Haluka was...
Monroeville Convention Center to host revamped wine and mac-n-cheese festival in early February
A wine and mac-n-cheese festival returns to the Monroeville Convention Center after a pandemic-year hiatus. It also comes back with a new name as promoters Dottie and Bob Miller of Jefferson Hills had added a few things to entice thirsty and hungry patrons. Women-n-Wine Purse Palooza Pierogies Mac-n-Cheese is the...
Sharpsburg councilman-elect moves out of town prior to being sworn in to new seat
Sharpsburg has an vacancy on council for a man who never served. Brian Kozera, who was elected to his first term on council in November, has moved out of town. “I decided to run for council because my love for Sharpsburg, wanting to see a better infrastructure, economical growth and...
Pittsburgh man accused of bringing loaded gun to Allegheny County Courthouse
A Pittsburgh man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for attempting to enter the Allegheny County Courthouse with a loaded gun, police said. Prince Kamoory El Akando, 28, of the city’s North Side neighborhood, surrendered to Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies after officials said he attempted to enter the courthouse via the Ross...
Baldwin-Whitehall schools end week with remote learning due to rise in covid cases, staffing issues
The Baldwin-Whitehall School District will shift to a remote learning plan for Thursday and Friday as a result of rising covid cases, district officials announced Wednesday. There already was no school on Monday due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Superintendent Randal Lutz said the district expects to resume...
Police say argument in Plum led woman to shoot boyfriend, chase him with knife
A woman from Ohio has been charged with attempted homicide after police said she shot her boyfriend multiple times Wednesday night during an argument at his home in Plum and then chased him down the street with a kitchen knife when he tried to flee. Police say Crystal Marie Veasey,...
