Western PA Local News category, Page 1707
Indiana Township neuroscientist turns her passion to art
Paintings by an Indiana Township neuroscientist-turned-artist are on exhibit at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel. YeePing Lucia Wong Yip, born in China and raised in Hong Kong, worked as a cancer researcher for nearly four decades before reigniting her childhood passion for art. As an artist, she uses the...
Parking meters in Vandergrift to get stylish enhancements
Some parking meters in Vandergrift are set to receive a fancy, metal makeover. The Vandergrift Improvement Project (VIP) is moving forward with plans for the Streetscape project, with 10 custom-made V-shaped metal baskets to be installed over parking meters along Grant and Columbia Avenues in the historic shopping district. “The...
Pedestrian dies following Forest Hills crash
Allegheny County Police are investigating a crash that resulted in a pedestrian’s death Tuesday night in Forest Hills. Emergency responders were called to the 2000 block of Ardmore Boulevard, just south of Kenmore Avenue, where they found a man who’d been hit by a vehicle. Police said the man was...
Teen pedestrian’s death last month in Duquesne ruled accidental
The death of a teen killed in a crash in Duquesne last month has been ruled accidental, according to an Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office report released Tuesday. Deveon Franklin, 18, of Duquesne, died at a hospital at 7:40 a.m. Nov. 17, after being hit by a pickup around 6...
Search continues for dog lost by Monroeville veterinary hospital
Darcie and Nicholas Chontas have just one Christmas wish this year: the safe return of their dog, Scoobee. What started out as a routine veterinary appointment for the married couple’s 60-pound shepherd/pitbull mix has turned into a holiday nightmare. Last Friday, some 20 minutes after her husband returned to his...
Churchill Council approves application for controversial Amazon warehouse
Churchill Council on Tuesday voted in favor of a controversial Amazon warehouse in their residential community. Council voted 5-2, with council members Adam McDowell and Norma Greco opposing the development. The vote comes after a 14-day public hearing that included more than 55 hours of testimony — and about a...
Pittsburgh police: No victims found following gunfire in Homewood
Pittsburgh police say they only located a vehicle struck by bullets after responding to a report of gunfire in Homewood early Tuesday evening. Officers responded to the 7000 block of Frankstown Avenue near Homewood Avenue shortly before 5:30 p.m. for a ShotSpotter alert, according to police. Police found evidence of...
Westmoreland Conservancy marks winter solstice with nature hike in Murrysville
Technically speaking, “Tuesday night” began at 4:57 p.m. That was the official time for sundown at the winter solstice — the official start to winter, and the shortest amount of daytime sunlight the region will see in 2021. About 15 participants in the Westmoreland Conservancy’s Winter Solstice Walk, held Tuesday...
Canada lynx at Pittsburgh zoo positive for covid-19
A Canada lynx in Pittsburgh has tested positive for covid-19, the first known case in a lynx in the United States, officials at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium said Tuesday. The lynx showed some symptoms, including occasional coughing, but “overall symptoms have been mild,” zoo spokesman Ian Hunter said...
Drive-up food distribution to remain at Pittsburgh Mills through March
A free drive-thru food distribution for Alle-Kiski Valley families will remain at Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer through March. The giveaway is hosted by Harrison-based Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC) and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. It’s a shift away from plans to return to the empty Rite Aid...
Hempfield passes budget without raising taxes for 32nd consecutive year
Hempfield property owners will continue to see steady tax rates after supervisors approved an almost $15.1 million budget that does not raise taxes for the 32nd consecutive year. Supervisors unanimously voted on the balanced budget Monday, keeping property taxes at 3 mills, a rate held since 1990. “We just spend...
Man who died after being tased by Pittsburgh police pleaded for medical help but got none, report says
Jim Rogers reportedly asked for help at least 13 times as he sat in the back of a Pittsburgh police vehicle after being stunned with a taser eight times on Oct. 13. For 17 minutes, Rogers banged his head off the seat and repeated, “‘I need a hospital, I can’t...
Pittsburgh City Council puts effort to create food justice fund on hold
An initiative to allocate about $1.8 million for a food justice fund has been put on hold, though the councilwoman who spearheaded the proposal said a revised version will likely be reintroduced early next year. Councilwoman Deb Gross last week introduced a measure that would allocate $1.8 million in federal...
Tarentum taxes remain steady; water and garbage rates increase
Tarentum residents will pay the same in taxes next year but costs for water use and garbage collection will increase. Council approved the borough’s $11 million budget with a vote of 5-0. Members Lou Ann Homa and Adam Blythe were absent. The property tax rate will remain at 5.48 mills,...
Troopers: Derry Area student to be charged after social media post referencing school violence threats
A 14-year-old Derry Area High School student will be charged with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct for a statement state police said she made Friday regarding a nationwide string of threats on social media made against school districts. The girl, who was not identified, allegedly made a statement on...
Pennsylvania casinos continue to shatter records, generate $432 million in revenues in November
Pennsylvania casinos again shattered monthly records, generating more than $432.5 million in November, state regulators said. That was nearly $6.5 million more than October, which set a revenue record at nearly $426 million, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. In addition, revenues last month were up 52%, or $148...
Pittsburgh pauses vaccine mandate as officials negotiate with unions
Pittsburgh officials announced Tuesday that they will not enforce a city-issued vaccine mandate set to take effect Wednesday for at least the remainder of the week as they negotiate with unions representing the city’s police and firefighters. Mayor Bill Peduto announced Nov. 1 that all city employees without medical or...
P-R grad named Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference
Pine-Richland High School graduate Zach Riggins of Wexford is one of 53 Baldwin Wallace University fall sports student-athletes to be named Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference. He is a member of the men’s cross country team, majoring in biology. In order to be selected as Academic All-OAC, a student-athlete must be...
Westmoreland happenings: live Nativity, church services and New Year’s hike
Church events • Latrobe United Methodist Church, 440 Main St., will host a free live Nativity display from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the church. There will be music and refreshments. Details: 724-537-8141. • Fairview Church of God will have a Christmas Eve worship service at 7...
C_Shoemaker Custom Clothier brings bespoke menswear to Ligonier
If clothes don’t make the man, they certainly make the first impression. And if the clothes look good, the wearer feels good, too. That’s the aesthetic Cindy Shoemaker is bringing to Ligonier with her recently opened business, C_Shoemaker Custom Clothier. The shop specializes in custom-made suits, tuxedos, sport coats, trousers,...
Fire damages commercial garage in North Huntingdon; cause under investigation
North Huntingdon firefighters and police are investigating the cause of a blaze that extensively damaged a commercial garage and destroyed a skid loader that was parked inside, firefighters said. The two-bay garage at 13421 Ardara Road was reported at 9:11 a.m. William Hardy, chief of the Larimer Volunteer Fire Department,...
No tax increase for Shaler residents
During its regular meeting held on Dec. 14, the Shaler board of commissioners passed the 2022 budget by a unanimous vote. Overall, the budget has increased revenues of 7.42% and increased expenditures of 13.9%. The total amount of general fund expenditures for 2022 is $14,598,841. The local property tax millage...
Powerball ticket worth $200K sold at Homestead GetGo
A Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $200,000 was sold in Homestead, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Tuesday. The ticket was sold at GetGo on East Waterfront Drive. It matched four of the five white balls drawn — 2, 13, 23, 34, 66 — and the red Powerball, 2, in Monday’s...
3 newcomers will join reelected incumbents on Vandergrift Council next month
Vandergrift Council will welcome three new faces when it first meets in 2022 on Jan. 3. Daisha Clayton was appointed Dec. 6 to fill a seat left vacant by the resignation of Karen McClarnon last month. Recently elected to four-year terms on council, Democrat Marilee Kessler and Republican Jody Sarno...
North Hills School Board president, VP will stay the same for 2022
The North Hills School Board held its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 7. Current school board president Allison Mathis was unanimously elected for another term and will hold the position until December 2022. “It is both an honor and a great responsibility to serve as president of the North Hills...
