Western PA Local News category, Page 535
Gainey proposes $657M budget for 2025 with spending cuts, no tax hikes
The City of Pittsburgh’s preliminary 2025 budget released Monday by Mayor Ed Gainey would hold the line on taxes, cut spending and scale back plans to pump up the police force. The proposed operating budget of just under $657 million slices about $29 million, or 4.2%, from this year’s projected...
‘Difficult August’ leaves Westmoreland juvenile detention center looking to fill job vacancies
A series of clashes among residents at Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center in August resulted in injuries to one staff member and multiple job vacancies, director Rich Gordon said. The detention center, one of two residential programs for juveniles at the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield, continues to operate,...
Dragon Boat Festival in North Park supports breast cancer survivorsVideo
While watercraft are common on the lake at North Park, ones with the heads of mythical creatures up front appear just once a year. The occasion is the annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, during which participants engage in friendly racing competitions while celebrating and supporting the region’s breast cancer survivors....
Witches to cast spell on Latrobe Night Market, Shop Hop event
Downtown Latrobe will be under a friendly spell Wednesday evening when the town’s monthly Shop Hop and Night Market welcomes visitors for a Witches Night Out. Rain or shine, the event is set for 4 to 8 p.m., featuring more than 50 local artisans and food vendors along more than...
Woman suffers ‘significant’ facial injuries in attack at New Kensington park, police say
A woman suffered significant injuries to her face after another woman hit her with a liquor bottle in a New Kensington park, according to city police. New Kensington police charged Rita Marie Woody, 33, of New Kensington with a single first-degree felony count of aggravated assault for the attack they...
Sewickley Township woman sues AHN over methadone ‘poisoning’ error
When the surgeon arrived in the waiting room at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville on Jan. 13, Audrey Lindsey’s family immediately felt relief. The doctor explained that her routine back surgery had gone great. He sent Lindsey’s long-time partner and daughter upstairs to wait for her to come out from anesthesia....
Washington Township district judge to handle Arnold police chief’s hearing
Arnold’s suspended police chief will have to wait another month for a hearing on charges against him stemming from a state sting operation. New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is recusing himself from the case against Josh Stanga, 41, of Arnold, who authorities say failed a test of...
County moves polling place out of Chartiers Valley Intermediate School after district’s plea
Chartiers Valley Intermediate School won’t be used as a polling place, after all. The school board had requested that the Allegheny County Elections Division relocate the polling place out of the Intermediate School in a letter dated Sept. 12. About 1,050 voters in two precincts in Scott Township used the...
‘Fall’ into October with these library offerings
At Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, autumn and spooky season is in full swing with a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. Registration is required where noted, and seating is limited in some instances. For details, check out the library’s website at pennhillslibrary.org. CHILDREN • Nature’s Tricks...
Expensive cigar thefts becoming more common
The theft of $1,500 worth of high-end cigars from a store in Verona may seem odd, but it’s becoming more common, police say. In fact, it was at least the second time Verona News and Cigars fell victim to such a theft since December. At least two other cigar dealers...
Westmoreland prison guard charged after incident at Verizon store
A Westmoreland County Prison guard was charged last week in connection with a reported disruption at a Verizon store in North Huntingdon that prompted staff to hire armed security. Scott Kennedy, 43, of North Huntingdon, is accused of yelling at employees there and threatening them, according to court papers. He...
Historical society to present program on Westinghouse lab in Trafford
The Trafford Historical Society will delve into the groundbreaking experiments conducted at the former Westinghouse High Voltage Laboratory during a program at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Manchester Room 414 Brinton Ave. Rear, Trafford. Andrew Capets, president of the historical society, will present the in-depth program about the experiments conducted...
Cheswick residents cite fishing, amenities as renovation ideas at Rachel Carson Park
Jacob and Devin Abramson of Springdale think there’s potential to make Rachel Carson Park in Cheswick special. “This area is beautiful,” Devin said. “I never realized how close it is to the river.” “It has good bones,” Jacob said. “If they do some fishing stuff, that would be great, too.”...
Witnesses have recanted, yet New Kensington man still behind bars after 4 decades
The four men who put Steve Szarewicz away for murder all changed their stories at one time or another, yet Szarewicz still sits behind bars. That’s where he has been for almost 43 years. A jury convicted him of killing Billy Merriwether, 25, who was shot twice in the back...
In brief: Hampton area happenings, week of Sept. 30, 2024
Register for Halloween parade Hampton’s annual Halloween parade will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at Hampton Community Park. Featured will be a costume contest for children 10 years of age and under, along with candy, cookies and treats for all. To plan for adequate supplies...
In brief: Pine-Richland area happenings, week of Sept. 30, 2024
Trunk-or-Treat event Get ready for spooky fun at Trunk-or-Treat, set for 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at Richland Community Park, 1157 Van Velsor Drive. Featured will be hayrides, crafts, pumpkins, candy and more. The cost for kids is $5 each. Want to be a vendor, decorate your car or...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Sept. 30, 2024
Fire hydrant flushing underway in Plum The Plum Borough Municipal Authority will be flushing fire hydrants through Dec. 13, the authority announced. No work will be done on weekends. Flushing is required to check the operation of hydrants and to clean distribution lines, the authority said. Water may become discolored...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of Sept. 30, 2024
Soil testing approved for Old William Penn Highway remediation Test Boring Services was awarded nearly $18,000 by Penn Hills Council on Sept. 16 to, as resident Greg Swatchick put it, “drill, baby drill” on Old William Penn Highway for soil samples ahead of a planned landslide remediation. Swatchick, along with...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh K9 officer involved in crash near Smithfield Street Bridge
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Sept. 30: Pittsburgh K9 officer involved in crash near Smithfield Street Bridge City officials said a Pittsburgh police vehicle was involved in a crash Sunday afternoon near the Smithfield Street Bridge. The city K9 officer was responding to...
The Stroller, Sept. 30, 2024: 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. Coffee With a Cop...
In brief: Herald area events for the week of Sept. 30, 2024
Cornhole players sought for fundraiser to benefit local youths The Pittsburgh North Optimist Foundation is organizing a cornhole tournament fundraiser from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at Aspinwall Riverfront Park, 285 River Ave. There will be up to 32 teams competing for prizes and helping to raise money for...
St. Xavier in Unity to host fall walk, road ramble, input on nature preserve plans
Fall’s arrival comes with an invitation from local organizations to explore the scenery and look to the future at St. Xavier Nature Preserve in Unity. On Oct. 2, the Westmoreland Land Trust, which owns the 248-acre preserve, will host the latest in a series of public meetings to solicit comments...
Mail-in ballots mean many will have voted long before election day
After a flurry of visits to Western Pennsylvania, presidential candidates are running out of time to sway many voters. Pennsylvania election offices already are taking applications and preparing to send out mail-in ballots. Abigail Gardner, Allegheny County spokeswoman, said the county already has processed 160,000 mail-in applications. She said the...
Penn Hills Passport aims to be 1-stop guide to local events, business and more
Penn Hills Councilman Alan Waldron, with support from the local community development corporation, has taken another crack at building a one-stop app for residents to find news, events and businesses in the community. Dubbed Penn Hills Passport, the free app aggregates information from the web and packages it into various...
Bob Casey rallies with Amy Klobuchar and carpenters union in Collier
Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey rallied with over 100 union carpenters and apprentices Monday morning, touting their work in Western Pennsylvania and around the country. “We are the greatest country in the world, and one of the biggest reasons is the workers and the skill you bring,” Casey said during...
