Western PA Local News category, Page 1753
Pittsburgh advances proposal to purchase North Side site for new public works facility
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced a measure to move a Department of Public Works facility out of Riverview Park to a new site on the North Side, despite concerns that the proposed site is involved in ongoing litigation regarding a billboard. The proposal calls for moving the Department of...
Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris’ contract terminated via 8-1 vote
Woodland Hills School District officials voted Wednesday night to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective Dec. 17. The vote was 8-1, with board member Andre Patterson casting the lone dissenting vote. Patterson participated via Zoom. Harris was present in the meeting room, sitting next to board president Jamie...
Crowd gathers to remember New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw, killed on duty 4 years ago
More than 100 people gathered Wednesday evening outside New Kensington City Hall to honor the life of fallen New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw. New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo led a memorial service near the Brian Shaw Memorial outside City Hall on the fourth anniversary of Shaw’s death. Shaw was...
West Deer residents split on whether proposed well pads will benefit township
West Deer residents have differing opinions on whether the township should approve proposed natural gas well pads at two locations in the township. Residents and taxpayers spoke Tuesday during the ninth and final public hearing regarding the proposal presented by Olympus Energy LLC. The hearing took place at West Deer...
Convicted sex offender to serve 9 years in prison for failing to register with police
A former Greensburg man living in North Carolina was ordered Wednesday to serve up to nine years in prison failing to register as a convicted sex offender. Ozzy James Bowland, 37, pleaded guilty to one felony charge that requires convicted sex offenders to register current addresses and provide their photographs...
Pair accused of stealing copper wire from shuttered ATI plant in Gilpin
A man and woman each were charged with four felony counts in connection with the theft of about 150 pounds of copper wire on Tuesday from the idled Allegheny Technologies Inc. plant in Gilpin, according to police. Township police arrested John Diehl, 37, of Clinton Township and Casey Finley, 35,...
Ties in 39 races to be broken Friday in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County election officials said 39 races on the Nov. 2 ballot ended in ties that will be broken Friday through a casting of lots, including one open seat for Jeannette city controller where 30 candidates each received one write-in vote. The county’s elections board on Wednesday issued a precertification...
Castle Doctrine debated as defense in Arnold shooting trial
A Westmoreland County prosecutor argued Wednesday that Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine is not an applicable defense in the murder trial of a Churchill man charged in connection with a fatal shooting last year in Arnold. Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello said jurors should not receive legal instructions about the statute that...
Holiday happenings around Westmoreland: Christmas parades, turkey trots and more
Here is a listing of upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday related events around Westmoreland County. If you have a community event you would like to be considered, please email details to gtrcity@triblive.com. Dec. 2 Greensburg 52nd Annual Luminary Night will be held from 5-9 p.m. in downtown Greensburg. Dec. 3...
Police: Law student from Pittsburgh killed by train in Vermont
ROYALTON, Vt. — A driver who died after being hit by an Amtrak train had crossed the tracks, backed into a driveway to turn around, and was attempting to cross back when he was hit, investigators in Vermont said Wednesday. The crash happened at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the...
Shawn McGorry named Shaler Area School District Distinguished Alumnus
Shawn McGorry, a member of Shaler Area High School’s class of 1976, has been named the Shaler Area School District 2021 Distinguished Alumnus. McGorry was recognized during Shaler Area High School’s National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Nov. 4 for his accomplishments following high school graduation and his contributions to...
Troopers: Man accused of sexually assaulting, biting woman at South Huntingdon party
A 19-year-old Hunker man has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman at an outdoor party in South Huntingdon in September, according to state police. Dakota Rain Archibeque is charged with indecent assault and simple assault in connection with the alleged incident that occurred during a party in a wooded...
Report: Pennsylvania casinos shatter record, generate $425 million in revenues
Pennsylvania casinos generated more than $425.9 million in October, eclipsing a revenue high set in July, state regulators said. Casinos generated $2.25 million more last month than in July, when revenues topped $423.6 million, according to a report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. In addition, revenues last month increased...
As national overdose deaths top 100K in a year, Pa. official urges naloxone use
State officials are encouraging people to stock up on opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone as overdose deaths climb locally and nationally. The coronavirus pandemic upended a lot of progress officials statewide had made on reducing the number of drug overdoses, said Jen Smith, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug...
Carnegie Science Center unveils Gus & Yiayia’s cart in railroad display
With unseasonable temperatures climbing to 70 degrees, Wednesday was a perfect day for the unveiling of an ice ball cart. The Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore showcased its latest addition — Gus & Yiayia’s Ice Ball Cart — to be added to the Miniature Railroad & Village. The...
Pittsburgh pauses office dedicated to immigrants, refugees as mayor departs
Plans to create a new Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs in Pittsburgh were paused Wednesday, after a city council member objected to the idea when the current mayoral administration is in a lame duck period. The proposal, backed by outgoing Mayor Bill Peduto, calls for an office dedicated to...
Police: Watson Institute nurse stabbed by woman wielding knife during hostage situation
A New Castle woman is accused of stabbing a nurse, taking a boy hostage and biting police officers during an incident at a school in Leet Wednesday. Leet police said Rochelle Lynn Pinkle, 40, was subdued with a Taser because she would not surrender to officers, a criminal complaint against...
Pittsburgh council moves ahead with plans on park tax spending
City Council on Wednesday advanced a proposal that would allow Pittsburgh to spend money collected through a controversial park tax. The 0.5 mill tax meant to increase funding for Pittsburgh’s parks earned approval from city voters in 2019. Collection of the tax began this year, though specific plans regarding how...
Shaler area communities had a number of uncontested races
In Shaler, there were two contested races for commissioner – in wards 2 and 4. In Ward 2, Republican David Mizgorski beat Democrat Frank Jans 747 to 705. In Ward 4, Democrat Conrad Wagner received 609 votes, while Republican Matthew Thiel received 572. The Ward 6 race was uncontested, with...
2 Shaler Area students selected to PMEA District 1 Band Ensemble
Two Shaler Area High School students were accepted into the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Band ensemble. Junior Grace Cosentino and senior Erika Kenst, who both play the clarinet, will represent Shaler Area in the PMEA District 1 Band Festival at Duquesne University on Jan. 28-29, 2022. As part...
Thomas Jefferson High School hosts children’s covid-19 vaccination clinic
With sleepy eyes and his blue puffer coat, 5-year-old Greyson Coleman held his father, Brandon’s hand as they strode into the gym of Thomas Jefferson High School early the morning of Nov. 13. After months of uncertainty and anticipation, the big day had finally arrived: Greyson was about to receive...
Penn Hills Council still at odds over police chief
Penn Hills Council did not vote on police Chief Howard Burton’s separation agreement, nor did it vote on whether or not Lt. Robert Myers would become his replacement at the Nov. 15 council meeting. The inaction comes after an injunction – filed by Councilwoman-elect JoAnne Fascio, Councilman Frank Pecora and...
Port Authority instructor files discrimination lawsuit over Black Lives Matter mask
An instructor at Port Authority’s Ross garage filed a federal lawsuit this week against the agency, claiming racial discrimination after she was suspended for a week for wearing a Black Lives Matter mask. Monika Wheeler-Hanna, of Penn Hills, is also alleging harassment and retaliation. Her lawsuit is the second to...
Troopers say accused shoplifter flashed handgun during theft at Indiana Mall
State police are asking the public’s help identifying a man who is accused of flashing a handgun as he fled a J.C. Penney store at Indiana Mall in White Township with a shopping cart of stolen merchandise. Troopers said they were dispatched at 3:01 p.m. Tuesday to the mall on...
Burrell School District ends up with surplus; not as hard hit as expected by pandemic economics
Burrell School District’s finance manager was bracing for declining tax revenues and higher expenses in the 2020-21 school year from the economic distress of the pandemic. But, it turns out, Burrell did better than anticipated, according to the district’s financial statements for 2020-21. Burrell ended the school year with about...
