Western PA Local News category, Page 274
Derry reduces summer schedule, hikes lifeguard pay, receives donations to help keep pool open
Derry Community Pool is moving forward with its summer season, but with a reduced schedule. After a shortage of lifeguards caused borough officials to close the public swimming pool several days in late June, Derry Council on Tuesday agreed to trim back the facility’s schedule to six days each week...
Troy Hill grandmother’s death ruled homicide
Authorities have ruled a Troy Hill woman’s death last week was a homicide. Patricia Kachinko, 73, died June 24 in an area hospital, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday. Her cause of death was respiratory complication from blunt force trauma of the chest. Pittsburgh police are investigating, the...
What to know about the City of Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July celebration
Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July celebration will look a little different this year. Because of ongoing construction by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at Point State Park, there won’t be any programming there, said Brandon D’Alimonte, the city’s Parks and Recreation program manager. Friday’s festivities will take place at...
Franklin Park’s annual Festival in the Park dubbed ‘success’ despite stormy start
While storms rolled in at the start of Franklin Park’s Festival in the Park on June 28, it certainly didn’t dampen many moods as people still arrived to the annual summer celebration in Blueberry Hill Park. Rides shut down briefly during the inclement weather. But drier skies quickly prevailed as...
Oakmont leaders consider Bird Town membership
Bird Town may be taking flight in Oakmont. During Oakmont Council’s planning meeting July 1, Nick Stahlman, community conservation coordinator for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, spoke to council members about what becoming a Bird Town means. Chris Kubiak, education director for the Audubon Society, has been working with...
Riverview School Board passes budget with 2.23% tax increase
Riverview School District property taxpayers will see a 2.23% tax increase next school year. After months of debate between school board members, a $28.45 million budget was approved in a 5-3 vote. School Directors Anthony Paris, Stefani Garibay and Bridget Seery voted against the budget. Board member Roger Pogoda was...
Christy Boyd, candidate in Ligonier Valley School Board race, appointed by court to temporary seat on panel
Christy Boyd is joining the Ligonier Valley School Board as an appointee four months in advance of appearing on the Nov. 4 ballot for election to the panel. Westmoreland County’s eight judges on Tuesday agreed to name Boyd to a temporary post on the board. She will serve through the...
Mechanical pickle ride to debut at Picklesburgh
Think you’ve conquered the mechanical bull? Try taking a ride on a bucking, brined cucumber. A new attraction is coming to the 10th anniversary of Picklesburgh this month where people can put their riding skills to the test in pickle riding. Similar to a mechanical bull, the ride is a...
Alysia Longwell appointed to vacant Derry Area School Board seat
Alysia Longwell, a Derry Area parent and college instructor, has joined the district school board — at least temporarily. The school board on Monday unanimously appointed Longwell, the sole applicant, to fill a board seat vacated by the June 3 resignation of veteran School Director Kevin Liberoni. Longwell, who lives...
Great Allegheny Passage ranked among best sunset spots in U.S.
The Great Allegheny Passage has been named one of the best sunset spots in the United States. Running from Cumberland, Md. to Pittsburgh in the Appalachian Mountains and through the Laurel Highlands, the Great Allegheny Passage consists of 150 miles of biking and hiking trails. The Great Allegheny Passage was...
New Kensington man sentenced to jail in drug, threat cases
A New Kensington man was sentenced to state prison Monday in connection with six cases, including one in which he was accused of assaulting a woman with a gun in 2024. Jadrian R. Wade, 31, was ordered to spend 2 1/2 to eight years behind bars, according to a court...
Upper Burrell raid leads to prison sentences for 2
Two people were sentenced to state prison terms Tuesday in connection with drugs, a gun and other evidence found during a 2022 police search of a home in Upper Burrell, according to court orders. Brittany Nicole Robinson, 35, previously of Upper Burrell, was sentenced to five to 10 years. Djuan...
Excessive-force lawsuit claims Allegheny County Jail guards repeatedly shocked man with Taser
A man awaiting trial at the Allegheny County Jail filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday against the county and several officers at the lockup alleging he was stunned repeatedly with a Taser, including in his groin, causing long-term injuries. Kush Wilkerson, 29, makes claims for excessive use of force and...
Monroeville’s Miracle Mile shopping center up for sale
The Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Monroeville is for sale. No price is listed by CBRE, the real estate agency handling the sale, but the plaza along Route 22 near the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange is described in the listing as a dominant regional shopping destination. The sale was announced on...
Morning Roundup: Seeking tips, police release video in fatal McKeesport shooting
Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Wednesday, July 2: Police release video in fatal McKeesport shooting seeking tips Allegheny County Police released surveillance video and new details about a June 2024 fatal shooting in McKeesport in hopes of getting tips about the identities of...
The Stroller, July 2, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Lincoln Beach to commemorate...
Harrison police get less-lethal weapons to deal with increasing crises
Harrison police are responding to more mental health crises than ever before. Since 2012, the number of calls dealing with noncompliant people has increased more than 500%, Chief Brian Turack said. Officers responded to 16 such calls in 2012 and 98 in 2023. “It’s not all mental health; it’s anywhere...
‘The joy of serving’: Students give back to Jeannette through Summer Blast program
Grace John of Jeannette concentrated intently as she scraped multiple layers of blue paint off a pavilion wall in Jeannette’s Altman Park. A group of about 10 students gathered alongside her Tuesday to volunteer for Give Back Week with the Mosaic Community Development Center’s Summer Blast program. The group was...
Franklin Park lauds hands-on track record of new borough manager, who takes helm July 7
Zachary Filous is excited to take on the role of borough manager for Franklin Park, beginning July 7, after successfully managing Freeport Borough in Armstrong County since 2023. Though the communities are very different in size, Filous feels confident in making the switch. Freeport has a population of 1,736, while...
How to avoid fireworks injuries this July Fourth weekend
The Fourth of July weekend brings a surge of cookouts, fireworks and celebrations — and with it, a busy stretch for fire safety and health officials preparing for the holiday’s potential hazards. Brad James, fire chief at Eureka Fire Rescue in Tarentum, said the holiday weekend tends to produce numerous...
2 injured in Green Tree auto body shop fire
Two people were taken to a hospital Tuesday from a fire at a Green Tree auto body shop, fire officials told Trib news partner WTAE. Those injured were an employee at the shop and a person who lives in an apartment above the garage. WTAE reported the fire happened in...
Cops charge woman with firing gun at closing time on South Side
Pittsburgh police have filed charges in two incidents of unruly behavior on the South Side — one involving gunfire and the other physical violence — that punctuated a chaotic few days in the city’s busiest, most heavily patrolled entertainment district. In the first, police said a Forest Hills woman fired...
O’Hara man’s lawsuit claims recalled Ryobi hedge trimmer shredded his hand
An O’Hara man is suing the company that makes Ryobi Tools after he said his hedge trimmer turned on when it wasn’t supposed to last month, severely injuring his hand. Michael Roncevich, 64, filed the lawsuit, along with his wife, Michelle Roncevich, in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday...
North Hills Arts Center plans celebration of O’Hara artist’s life, work
An artist from O’Hara will be remembered and celebrated this month at the North Hills Arts Center in Ross. The celebration of Patricia Mae Young’s life and art will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the center, 3432 Babcock Blvd. Young, who was known as...
Fireworks stores see big business ahead of July Fourth weekend
Fourth of July is like Christmas to William Olbeter. “Ever since I was a little kid, I fell in love with fireworks, and I’ve always wanted to do my own shows,” said Olbeter, of New Kensington. The 54-year-old puts on a fireworks show annually for his family and neighbors. Each...
