Western PA Local News category, Page 2075
Indiana County man, 76, dies after suffering burns in a house fire
A 76-year-old Indiana County man who suffered serious burns in an April 4 residential fire died two days later, according to officials. Michael Recek of Green Township died from extensive burns and inhalation injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. His death on April 6 at West Penn...
Pittsburgh police probe afternoon shooting in Allentown
Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting in the city’s Allentown neighborhood that sent one person to the hospital Wednesday afternoon. Officers responded at about 12:40 p.m. to a Shotspotter alert in the 800 block of East Worthington Avenue. They learned that a male who had been shot fled to a...
Allegheny County is in the ‘fourth wave’ of covid cases, officials sayVideo
Allegheny County is “well into our fourth wave of cases here,” Dr. Debra Bogen, health director, said Wednesday. Daily covid-19 case counts have set records for 2021 in the past several days, she said, with 418 new cases reported Wednesday. The test positivity rate is also nearly 9%, and hospitalizations...
Food Podcast: Pittsburgh food bank recognizing volunteers who support operation
There are so many critical components that help the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank run its operations smoothly and, in turn, get food to those who need it. One of the most important is its volunteers. Throughout April, the food bank is recognizing those who give their time to help...
Woodland Hills High School suspends in-person learning after rise in covid cases
Woodland Hills High School on Wednesday announced it is suspending in-person learning until April 19 because of a rise in covid-19 cases. Other schools in the district will continue to operate on a hybrid model. “Since we opened, we’ve had 14 cases so we felt for students and staff to...
Harrison seeking bids for 2021 road program
Harrison is seeking bids from contractors interested in milling and resurfacing 15 roads in the township. The township estimates that its 2021 road program will cost about $430,000. Sealed bids are due by 4 p.m. April 22. The most expensive work is expected to be on Federal Street, at about...
Pet Friends of Irwin to benefit from book sales about rescue dog
Sales of a children’s book about dog adoption will benefit an Irwin nonprofit animal rescue organization. Pet Friends Inc. partnered with Marianne Spampinato of Johnstown, who wrote “Betsy the Rescue Dog.” The sale is timed to coincide with the sixth anniversary of her adoption of Krissy, a border collie-terrier mix,...
Judge rejects defense bid to dismiss first-degree murder charge against Ruffs Dale woman
A judge rejected a defense request to dismiss a first-degree murder charge against an East Huntingdon woman accused in the fatal shooting of her former boyfriend last year. In a six-page opinion made public on Wednesday, Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ruled against the defense argument that Meghan West had...
Wolf in McKeesport: Every resident wanting vaccine should receive dose by May
Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday said he believes every Pennsylvanian who wants to receive the covid-19 vaccine will be able to get at least one dose by the middle of May. “We’re figuring that sometime toward the second week in May we should reach the point where we have reached...
Vandergrift residents frustrated over portions of online council meetings being muted
Vandergrift’s online council meeting went silent for several minutes Monday night after discussion involving some council members grew heated, drawing criticism from some residents. The audio function on the Zoom broadcast was muted for several minutes after the council discussion became heated around 8:30 p.m. A few residents attending the...
AHN, UPMC to vaccinate 25,000 people at drive-thru clinics
About 25,000 people will receive a covid-19 vaccine at multiple drive-thru clinics throughout Western Pennsylvania in the coming week. Allegheny Health Network and UPMC, the region’s two largest health systems, announced partnerships Wednesday with the Allegheny County Health Department to provide Johnson & Johnson shots to the public. AHN and...
Loyalhanna Township couple charged with operating meth lab
State police arrested a Loyalhanna Township couple early Wednesday after shutting down what they called a methamphetamine lab at the couple’s home in rural Westmoreland County. Brian Miller, 51, and Jennifer Lynn Williams, 53, are charged with operating a methamphetamine lab, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to...
Pittsburgh church founder sentenced for labor trafficking, fraud charges
A Pittsburgh woman who founded her own church, recruited and abused women in it, then perpetrated a years-long fraud operating a fake travel agency will spend 12 years in prison. Tracie Dickey, also known as Tracie Williams, 57, was sentenced on Monday on wire fraud and labor trafficking charges in...
Safran’s Supermarket weathering covid storm
Lew Safran, owner of Safran’s Supermarket in Sewickley, met with U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, as the politician made stops in Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district on March 26. Lamb touted the American Rescue Plan during the visits, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill aimed at financially boosting individuals, businesses and...
Export Borough, historical society move ahead with spring and summer projects
Export has a lot of projects in the works for the spring and summer, thanks to the borough and the local historical society. • The historical society has set a goal of completing the relocation of the borough’s war memorial by Memorial Day. “We’ve had a fantastic donor response to...
Ford Motor Co. unveils sneak peek at resurrected Bronco model during O’Hara eventVideo
Removable doors that stash in the back, a slide-out tailgate table and optional 35-inch tires are some of the raddest features of the 2021 Ford Bronco, a model resurrected by the car manufacturer after a 25-year hiatus. The Ford Motor Company gave car enthusiasts a brief glimpse of its beloved...
A year later, the search for missing Hempfield man continues
It’s been a year full of unanswered questions for the Schoener family of Hempfield. Marcus Schoener was last seen April 8, 2020, along Wencliff Lane walking away from his family’s home. His parents and younger brother don’t know where he is or if he is OK. “We just want answers....
2 Jeannette neighbors charged with neglect of animals
Two Jeannette neighbors were charged Tuesday with neglect of animals after five pit bulls were found without water last year and infected with parasites, according to court papers. Investigators said the animals belonged to Dale A. Shaw, 65, and Elaine Decker, no age available, was their caretaker. Both live on...
Air quality alert issued for Mon Valley
People who live or work in the Mon Valley may notice air pollution is worse than normal on Wednesday. It’s being caused by high pressure building in the area that will create inversion conditions Wednesday evening, National Weather Service meteorologist Pat Herald said. Temperature inversions are when warm air traps...
Girl Scouts to help plant 13 trees to beautify area near Community Supermarket in Penn Hills
A group of Girl Scouts from the Plum area that regularly picks up litter along Milltown Road in Penn Hills will help plant 13 trees on a segment of road near Community Supermarket this month. Laura Caruso of Plum said she applied for a grant from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s TreeVitalize...
Unity planning board recommends against easing restrictions on backyard chickens
Proponents of raising backyard chickens in Unity got no help this week from the township planning commission, which recommended against easing restrictions on the practice. Solicitor Gary Falatovich said the recommendation will be presented to township supervisors at their regular meeting on Thursday. The commission voted 5-1 to recommend retaining...
Westmoreland County surpasses 30,000 covid cases
Westmoreland County became the 12th county in Pennsylvania to pass 30,000 coronavirus cases. The 119 additional cases — 37 confirmed and 82 probable — reported Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health put Westmoreland County’s total at 30,005. Westmoreland reached 20,000 cases on Jan. 4; 10,000 cases on Dec. 3;...
Black bear spotted in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington, Overbrook neighborhoodsVideo
A black bear was spotted several times early Wednesday in Pittsburgh, authorities said. Officers in Zone 3, which covers a swath of Pittsburgh’s southern neighborhoods, responded to several sightings of a bear early Wednesday morning, said spokeswoman Cara Cruz. Cruz said officers spotted a bear on Groveland Street in Overbrook...
North Shore businesses thrilled to welcome fans back for Pirates home opener
The first Pirates home game usually brings a sense of excitement and renewal for players and fans. But not many are more excited about fans being allowed back into PNC Park than Kyle Martin, a server at the North Shore Tavern on Federal Street across from the ballpark. Restaurants and...
Westmoreland news includes family fun walk, Salisbury steak dinner
Classes/programs • The 12th annual The Learning Lamp Children’s Book Festival of Johnstown will use a web-based format featuring custom-recorded, video-based storytelling, age-appropriate writing and drawing workshops for children of all ages. The festival will continue through April 30. To access the festival, visit The Learning Lamp’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CBFJohnstown,...
