Western PA Local News category, Page 552
Plum graduate’s internship takes her to the United Nations
A Plum School District graduate’s internship has taken her to the United Nations. Charlotte Jones, a member of the Class of 2021, is studying political science and international relations and diplomacy at Long Island University Honors College in Brooklyn. She plans to pursue a doctorate and is considering a career...
Library lizard a celebrity at Chartiers Valley Primary School
An unexpected four-legged reptile has won the hearts of students at Chartiers Valley Primary School. Librarian Becky Forkner’s family pet, a 1-year-old bearded dragon affectionately known as “Library Lizzie,” has improved students’ behavior, taught youngsters social skills and empathy and gets them excited about school, she said. “She contributes to...
Morning Roundup: Police confiscate large amount of heroin in Pittsburgh
Here are a few news items for Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Heroin found in Fineview Pittsburgh police said they discovered thousands of bricks of heroin Wednesday in the city’s Fineview neighborhood. Plainclothes detectives responded to the area of Glenrose Street after a resident found a suitcase suspected to be filled...
‘We’ve got to earn every vote,’ Kamala Harris says during stop in JohnstownVideo
Vice President Kamala Harris made a nearly two-hour campaign stop in Johnstown on Friday afternoon before heading east to Wilkes-Barre as she continued a push to win over Pennsylvania voters. “I feel very strongly that we’ve got to earn every vote, and that means spending time with folks in the...
Pittsburgh moves to pay $500K to end Fern Hollow lawsuit
The Gainey administration has asked Pittsburgh City Council and a judge to approve a $500,000 payment to the victims of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse to resolve litigation. The move, announced in a press release at 6:30 a.m. Friday by Pittsburgh Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak, came as a surprise to...
The Stroller, Sept. 13, 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. Sonward Youth program looking...
Review: ‘Hamilton’ still lives up to the hype
The 2024-25 season for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh started off with a bang at the Benedum Center. “Hamilton” — the season’s first show — continues to earn its place as a cultural juggernaut with a stellar cast and impeccable production. Starting in 1776 and ending with...
1st class of female students in 136 years set to make their mark on private Kiski School
Lilian Turpen doesn’t feel like she is part of a historic moment. But, as Turpen walked the 350-acre grounds of Kiski School in Saltsburg this month, she became one of the first girls to enroll as a student in the private boarding school’s 136-year history. Turpen, 14, of Clarksburg is...
Greensburg native hopes to bring homegrown tech to wildfire fights
Throughout the day on Thursday, crews were battling wildfires across California that have destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Greensburg native and former city firefighter Larry Sukay, 68, wants to give them some help. And the technology to make it happen started in his hometown. For the...
Coming this fall: Penn State plans to regionalize or share more operations across its branch campuses
Penn State University intends to regionalize or share additional operations across its branch campuses this fall, including services such as advising and student affairs. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and top aides outlined the move Thursday during an update on efforts to ease financial pressures — some caused by sharp...
Pittsburgh police chief explains transfers of motorcycle supervisors in Trump rally security flap
Pittsburgh’s police chief said Thursday that a lieutenant overstepped his authority when he approved at least a dozen members of the city force’s motorcycle unit to provide security at the Butler County rally at which former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto said he...
Trial begins for Tarentum man charged with sexually assaulting child
A trial for a Tarentum man charged with sexually assaulting a 6-year-old opened this week in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, where the alleged victim took the stand Thursday. Brian Jefferies, 27, is charged with aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact, endangering the welfare of children, indecent exposure,...
Local election officials confident mail-in ballots will be delivered on time despite national concerns
Nationwide concerns over the United States Postal Service’s ability to deliver election mail this fall don’t seem to worry local election officials. Abigail Gardner, spokeswoman for Allegheny County, said the county doesn’t have any concerns at the moment. “Allegheny County Elections has a very good relationship with USPS leadership at...
Westmoreland County waives residency requirement for government workers
Westmoreland County commissioners waived for one year a residency requirement Thursday for all government employees, and officials suggested the change could become permanent. A policy was enacted decades ago to ensure that employees at the courthouse and other county facilities were county residents. It was previously waived for certain essential...
Skimming device found in checkout lane at New Kensington Golden Dawn
A skimming device was found in a checkout lane at the Golden Dawn grocery store in New Kensington on Wednesday, the store’s owners confirmed Thursday. The store has five checkout lanes. The skimmer was found on register 2, co-owner Gene Tommasi said. They believe the device — which can capture...
Westmoreland County fires purchasing managers after payroll irregularities discovered
Westmoreland County commissioners fired the director and assistant director of the county’s purchasing department Thursday over alleged payroll irregularities. Authorities suspended Purchasing Director Kristopher Cardiff and his deputy, Kristen Coyne, on Aug. 15 after allegations surfaced that they approved — without authorization — additional pay for themselves and the department’s...
Norwin briefs: Library to hold genealogy program; Gig on Main set
Norwin library holds programs Norwin residents have the opportunity to learn about English as a Second Language services and programs in the community during a free presentation at 6 p.m. May 23 at the Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin, Cathy Maloney, the ESL coordinator for Calvary Church in...
Love Your Library at Northern Tier in Richland
September marks the eighth annual Love Your Library campaign, and all donations made to Northern Tier Regional Library during the month will receive a prorated match from the Buncher Foundation. Library events and activities include: • Mamma Mia Disco Party, 3 p.m. Sept. 28. Join the chorus and sing along,...
Rotary club, food bank to host food drive
The Murrysville-Export Rotary and Westmoreland Food Bank will host a food drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 in the parking lot outside Busy Beaver in Salem. All items must be non-perishable. The most requested items are canned tuna, chicken or salmon; canned fruits and vegetables; canned meals...
Monroeville officials agree to purchase convention center
Several details need to be finalized, but Monroeville officials have agreed to buy the Monroeville Convention Center from the development group that originally planned to turn it into a Hobby Lobby. Municipal council members adopted a resolution in August to execute a sales agreement and buy the 100,000 square-foot convention...
Ligonier Township posts emergency closure of bridge near Wilpen
A problem discovered during an inspection prompted an emergency closure Wednesday of the Ramsey Road bridge near the Ligonier Township community of Wilpen. Township manager Michael Strelic said township road crews had been keeping an eye on the decades-old steel grate span across Hannas Run and patched the bridge deck...
Franklin Regional adds weapons detection system to stadium entry points
Franklin Regional school officials will add a weapons detection system to entry points at Panther Stadium for events taking place during the 2024-25 school year. “The only new thing is the addition of the weapons detection system, since we didn’t put that into play at our middle school and high...
Deer Lakes primary school named among ‘America’s Healthiest’
It’s not uncommon to see students at Curtisville Primary School dancing and stretching during class. The youngest students in the Deer Lakes School District have movement breaks, when they are encouraged to shake off “the blahs” and reenergize themselves to learn. Elsewhere in the school on Saxonburg Boulevard, tower gardens...
West Penn Hospital nurses ratify contract with 24% raises
Hundreds of nurses at Pittsburgh’s West Penn Hospital ratified a union contract Wednesday providing significant wage increases and staffing improvements. Nearly 700 nurses at the hospital in the city’s Bloomfield neighborhood voted to accept a three-year contract that will boost wages by an average of 24% and will guarantee at...
Biden jokingly dons Trump hat while meeting with Shanksville families
While meeting with firefighters in Shanksville on Wednesday, President Joe Biden did something quite unthinkable in an election campaign — wear the opposition’s merch. The president was at the fire station near the Flight 93 Memorial, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, while marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,...
