Western PA Local News category, Page 509
206-year-old bridge a sight to see for visitors to depleted Yough River Lake
Karen Wolfe did something this week that few others have done over the past 80 years. She walked the main street of Somerfield and its 206-year-old Great Crossings Bridge, landmarks that are normally about 50 feet underwater at Youghiogheny River Lake in southwestern Somerset County. “We had to come up...
‘It was just too special’ son says of Model T McKee family donated to Lincoln Highway Experience
The 1927 Model T Touring chugged to life, just like David McKee remembered. After the car slowly was backed out of his late father’s Ligonier Borough garage Friday afternoon, it was time for some fun on a sunny fall day. “This is my last ride, so I’m going to …...
State police investigating Friday night crash along Bull Creek Road
A portion of Bull Creek Road at the Fawn/Tarentum border near the Route 28 ramp was closed due to a crash Friday evening. Township police Sgt. Kerry Myers said three vehicles collided by the overpass around 7:30 p.m. Two vehicles were towed. One was driven from the scene. No injuries...
Preeti’s Pitt homicide case ends with mistrial
The trial for a Pittsburgh man accused of killing a North Hills honors student at a Strip District restaurant ended in a mistrial on Thursday after a police officer referenced the defendant’s previous criminal record. A new trial date for Howard Hawkins is scheduled for Jan. 13 before Allegheny County...
Poplawski, on death row for killing 3 Pittsburgh cops, raises new questions about jury’s conduct
Richard Poplawski, convicted of killing three Pittsburgh police officers 15 years ago, claimed in a recent court filing that the jurors who sentenced him to death may have been unduly influenced during a field trip they took during an off day in the trial. Poplawski, 38, is asking an Allegheny...
Eastbound Route 30 reopens following North Huntingdon crash
The eastbound side of Route 30 reopened shortly before 8:30 p.m. in North Huntingdon following a motorcycle crash Friday evening. Westmoreland 911 officials said the crash, between a motorcycle and another vehicle, was reported just before 5:15 p.m. on Route 30 near Colonial Manor Road. Information on injuries from the...
Monroeville man charged in Rostraver tavern shooting pleads guilty
A Monroeville man was sentenced up to 15 years in state prison for his role in a shooting two years ago that left two men wounded in the parking lot of a now-shuttered Rostraver restaurant and bar. Darius Ronnel Hunter, 29, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of aggravated assault...
Affordable housing proposal on hold at former Apollo High School
The Apollo Zoning Hearing Board has postponed a decision on whether to permit a 45-unit, $18 million affordable housing development on the site of the former Apollo High School. Developer Pivotal Housing Partners is seeking variances to, among other aspects of the project, the minimum lot area per-unit, maximum building...
Lee, Hayes have different priorities for Pennsylvania’s 12th District
Each of the candidates vying to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th District in Washington, D.C., have different priorities. Incumbent Democrat Summer Lee wants to focus on infrastructure along with environmental and economic justice. Republican challenger James Hayes honed in on supporting the energy industry, supporting law enforcement to create safer communities and...
Chartiers Valley appoints Woodland Hills’ Dan Castagna as superintendent
Chartiers Valley School District has appointed a new superintendent with a base salary of $250,000. The school board Thursday evening voted 6-3 to appoint Dan Castagna, who is currently superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, as its leader for the next five years. His contract will run from Jan....
South Carolina man pleads guilty to attack on state troopers with giant seashell
A South Carolina man pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting to state troopers in the backyard of a Mt. Pleasant Township home with a giant seashell. Police said two officers sustained mild injuries when they were attacked while responding to a call from neighbors Aug. 31, 2022, about a naked man...
Leechburg police looking for suspects after series of thefts from unlocked cars
Leechburg police are asking residents with video surveillance to check their footage after reports of suspects entering unlocked vehicles around 1 a.m. Friday along Wallace and Floral avenues and Second Street. “I had one lady pretty upset,” said Leechburg police Chief Jason Schaeffer. “Her purse was stolen, and she had...
Wiz Khalifa’s property for sale in Washington County
Wiz Khalifa’s property in Washington County is officially on the market. Dustin Hook, realtor with RE/MAX, who sold the property to the rapper 12 years ago, is now selling it once again. The property at 30 Virginia Lane in Cecil Township went on the market Thursday for $1.295 million. A...
Buttigieg offers encouragement to Democratic canvassers in Cheswick
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made an appearance Friday afternoon at a canvass kickoff for Kamala Harris and local Democrats — Rep. Mandy Steele and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio — in Cheswick. Volunteer canvassers gathered at Steele’s campaign headquarters, which is located in a building that used to house...
Springdale to replace old, deteriorating water lines on 3 borough streets
Springdale officials hope to begin work next year to replace water lines along three streets in the borough. The borough this week was awarded just under $1 million for a replacement project on Orchard, Logan and Moyhend streets, Councilman Dan Copeland said. Springdale also plans on replacing another street’s water...
Harrison sewer work addresses critical need in Natrona
Harrison officials are moving forward with a storm sewer project that has been deemed a critical concern. The project will target 60-inch pipes along Garfield and Chestnut streets. “Over the years, debris accumulation has reduced the capacity, likely compromising its integrity,” Township Manager Amy Rockwell said. Work is expected to...
Police raid 2 vape shops, convenience store in Lower Burrell
It was Round 2 of raids against vape shops in Westmoreland County on Friday morning — this time, in Lower Burrell. Police seized items from three city businesses: Burrell Tobacco and Vape at 3087 Leechburg Road; Discount Vape in the Hillcrest Shopping Center; and a convenience store at 2700 Leechburg...
Penn Township weighs zoning changes intended to boost economic development
Penn Township is considering a series of zoning changes to areas surrounding three of its roadways to encourage economic development. Proposed changes include Harrison City-Export Road, Mellon Road near Bushy Run Corporate Park and near the intersection of Route 130, Pleasant Valley Road and Sandy Hill Road — which is...
Pittsburgh police Chief Scirotto to step down amid refereeing controversy
Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto is resigning Nov. 1, capping more than a week of controversy over his decision to return to part-time refereeing at NCAA basketball games. Scirotto sent an email just after 10 a.m. Friday to the 751-member Pittsburgh Bureau of Police notifying the force of his decision....
Greensburg DAR chapter shines light on female patriot, rededicates St. Clair monument
Phoebe Bayard, described as an “American princess” in her youth, was born in 1743 in Boston to parents from two prominent and wealthy families. When she died 75 years later, she was living in a log home on Westmoreland County’s Chestnut Ridge, after sacrificing her fortune and enduring long separations...
Proposal floated to double property tax bills to cover rising fire department costs in Hempfield
Hempfield may double its property tax millage rate to support the expenses of its 10 fire departments. It would be the first tax increase in more than three decades. Township supervisors discussed a $17 million preliminary budget this week that included a 3-mill property tax. The tax levy has remained...
Take the TribLive weekly news quiz: Oct. 25
The following is a regular feature from TribLive: A weekly news quiz:...
‘We can do big things’: Shapiro unveils $600M makeover for Downtown Pittsburgh
Buoyed by nearly $600 million of investments, a new plan for Downtown Pittsburgh unveiled Friday by Gov. Josh Shapiro includes nearly 1,000 new housing units, improvements to public spaces in the Golden Triangle and increased public safety efforts. “To have a strong and vibrant commonwealth of Pennsylvania, you have to...
Elon Musk’s PAC does not announce $1M daily giveaway after DOJ warning
After receiving a warning letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, Elon Musk’s super PAC didn’t announce a $1 million daily winner Wednesday for signing its petition. The letter to America PAC warned that its giveaway in battleground states to swing voters could be illegal, CNN reported, by violating federal...
Morning Roundup: Political signs targeted by vandals; North Strabane police seek robbery suspect
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Oct. 25: Political signs targeted by vandals A home in Lawrence County was vandalized, with suspects spray painting the word “Trump” in the driveway, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. Signs on the lawn and porch at the...
