Western PA Local News category, Page 547
Clairton man leads state police on 20-mile chase
A Clairton man is in jail after state police say he fled a traffic stop Tuesday in Mt. Pleasant Township. A state trooper was on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Hempfield shortly after noon Tuesday when a Jeep Grand Cherokee with nearly opaque tinted windows drove past. The trooper performed a...
Preparations underway for Better Block event in New Kensington
The roads outside the YMCA in New Kensington got a lot more colorful on Wednesday. Sarah Snider, a member of the Valley Points Family YMCA board, and Draven Pointer, a Better Block architectural designer from Dallas, were among volunteers and members of Dallas-based Better Block Foundation who began painting the...
Caliente Pizza & Draft House expanding to Ross
Nick Bogacz wrecked his car on his first shift Pizza Outlet in Hampton. Hence, no pies got delivered that evening. “When I came back that first night, the manager was so busy he couldn’t really even talk to me,” Bogacz said. “I kind of stood there as a meek 17-year-old,...
Surprising $404K bid approved for demolition of Colfax Elementary School in Springdale
Colfax Elementary School in Springdale will be coming down at a cost well below what district officials had anticipated. The Allegheny Valley School Board on Tuesday approved a $404,000 base bid from Pine-based Kane Specialty Group LLC to perform asbestos abatement and demolish the 99-year-old building, which sits off Colfax...
Probation ordered for suspects in Hempfield casino scam
Two out-of-town gamblers charged last month with cheating at Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield were sentenced Wednesday to serve two years on probation. Police said Bahri Sahpolat, 47, of California, and Serdar Ozmen, 44, of Maryland, marked playing cards at a Mississippi stud poker table as part of a scheme...
Duquesne mom pleads guilty to killing infant son
A woman who initially blamed her 3-year-old daughter for killing her baby took responsibility Wednesday for the murder. Alisha Parker, 26, of Duquesne, pleaded guilty before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Beth A. Lazzara to third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault, simple assault and criminal mischief. She...
North Hills School District receives grant toward West View project
North Hills and Northgate school districts have been awarded state grants to upgrade infrastructure and address hazards. “Eliminating environmental hazards in our schools is vital to the well-being and success of our students,” state Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Brighton Heights, in announcing the grants. “I’m proud to have helped secure this...
From the Newsroom: Why do police withhold officers’ names in deadly encounters?
In the summer of 2023, Jonathan Faidley, a U.S. Army veteran from Somerset County, found himself in an unimaginable situation. After learning from the news that his father, Robbie Saunders, 59, had been fatally shot by police in Ligonier Valley, Faidley sought answers. Saunders, who was disabled and had a...
‘Big Red’ struts its stuff at 77th annual Alle-Kiski Valley Marching Band Festival
Eleven high school marching bands performed Sept. 17 during the 77th annual Alle-Kiski Valley Marching Band Festival. The band fest — the longest running in Western Pennsylvania — took place at Valley High School in New Kensington. The Penn Hills “Big Red” Marching Band was among the nearly 900 musicians...
‘Motivated young lady’: Engineering project helps Bethel Park resident earn Gold Award
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania has awarded Bethel Park resident and Lyla Walsh the Gold Award, which is the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. By earning the honor, Walsh positions herself as a community leader by advocating for others and using leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart...
Bill to ban testing Pittsburgh workers with medical marijuana cards now excludes labor unions
A proposal to bar Pittsburgh employers from conducting cannabis testing on workers or prospective employees who hold medical marijuana cards will exclude labor unions. The amendment was pushed through without the support of the bill’s sponsor, City Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield. Warwick in July proposed a measure that would ban...
McClellan Elementary students, staff celebrate kindergartener’s cancer victoryVideo
A 5-year-old boy with a penchant for Spiderman is swinging back to school after a 16-month fight with cancer, and he’s got the support of an entire school district and community behind him. To help celebrate the news of Mason Desiderio’s recent cancer-free diagnosis from his medical team at Children’s...
‘New Northland’: Renovations start Sept. 30 at library in McCandless
Northland Public Library is embarking on a construction and renovation project. Features of the “New Northland” include a two-story building extension, new lower-level entrance, increased accessibility, an open lower lobby and service areas, a renovated layout and extended social spaces. And the spiral staircase will be removed. Construction begins Sept....
Sober game room in Sharpsburg to create safe haven for people in addiction recovery
A sober game room opening in Sharpsburg is expected to be a game changer for people in addiction recovery. “It’s designed for fellowship because people with addiction issues need support and camaraderie,” said Larry Wagner, a Fox Chapel resident and board member of the Addiction Recovery Ministry who is spearheading...
Bigfoot will have big presence at Derry Railroad Days
Bigfoot will play a big role at this year’s Derry Railroad Days Festival. Activities — including presentations by those who have researched the cryptid and a bus tour of local areas where sightings have been reported — will add a new dimension to this weekend’s annual festival in downtown Derry...
Gobbleritos are back on the menu at Mad Mex
Thanksgiving dinner — or lunch — always comes a few months early at Mad Mex. The popular gobblerito is back and decadent as ever at the Big Burrito Restaurant Group-owned franchise, which has nine locations in Western Pennsylvania. Filled with house-roasted turkey, black bean mashed potatoes, stuffing and corn, then...
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to campaign in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh will get a boost from a Rust Belt ally this week as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is set to visit the Steel City to stump for Vice President Kamala Harris. Whitmer, a Democrat, is popular in her home state and has been rumored as a presidential or vice presidential...
Chartiers Valley history digitized and made available by Scott Township native
A new website created by a Chartiers Valley alumnus is a one-stop shop for all things relating to district history. Austin Pilz, 29, of Pittsburgh, took on the project of scanning and digitizing district yearbooks last winter. The idea arose when he wanted to view records from his grandfather’s time...
Westmoreland happenings: Pet blessing, farm records, diagnostic screening, more
Church News • Union Presbyterian Church will have a Blessing of the Pets service at noon Sept. 21 at the church, 656 Route 380, Washington Township. Bring an item for donation to Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington. Class • The Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Network will offer a...
Morning Roundup: Oakland sports bar raided; guns, drugs found in Squirrel Hill apartment
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Sept. 18: Oakland bar raided Liquor control agents seized hundreds of gallons of alcohol Tuesday morning from the Panther Pit, an Oakland sports bar that has kept authorities busy in its short time open. The Pennsylvania State Police...
The Stroller, Sept. 18, 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. Drivers needed at Freeport...
Coroner: Body recovered in Cook Township was woman missing from Ligonier Borough
The remains of a woman last seen Sept. 8 were recovered from along a rural road Tuesday in Cook Township. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson on Wednesday identified the body as that of Amy R. Shipley, 45, of Ligonier. He said her body was discovered about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday on...
Area bands strut their stuff at 77th annual Alle-Kiski Valley Marching Band Festival
Eleven high school marching bands performed Tuesday night at the 77th annual Alle-Kiski Valley Marching Band Festival. The band fest — the longest running in Western Pennsylvania — took place at Valley High School in New Kensington. Nearly 900 musicians from Valley High, Freeport Area, Highlands, Leechburg, Springdale, Apollo-Ridge, Deer...
Massive super load makes it way through the region to Braddock steel plant
A large piece of industrial equipment halted and delayed traffic Tuesday head through major traffic arteries in the region, including Route 22 in Westmoreland County and routes 48 and 130 in Allegheny County. The super load was 160 feet long and nearly 28 feet wide, according to PennDOT. It took...
North Huntingdon cancer survivor’s nonprofit offers support, resources to other patients
The Celebration Circle online support group for cancer patients became smaller Aug. 1. That’s when participant Kathy Casey, 66, of New Kensington lost her four-year battle with the disease. Her husband, Bill, credits the support group co-founded by North Huntingdon resident and cancer survivor Lori Ball with giving his wife...
