Western PA Local News category, Page 639
Spring Art Fling in Blawnox draws crowd, artists to borough
A giant purple hand, student sketches, miniature creations and a snake made out of painted rocks were just a few of the artworks on display at this year’s Spring Art Fling. The third annual Best of Blawnox artistic celebration took place June 15. About 200 people visited the borough that...
Blessing of the Animals set for June 29 in Aspinwall
One of the Rev. Scott Hill’s favorite annual services will soon take place. The Aspinwall Presbyterian Church will conduct a blessing of animals at 10 a.m. June 29 on the Third Street side of the church grounds. The church is at 299 Center Ave. in Aspinwall. The informal service is...
Leetsdale Council president receives state recognition for community service
Leetsdale Mayor Sandra Ford knows a hard worker when she sees one. Someone who helps make the borough better through countless hours of community participation, continuing education and volunteerism. It is that spirit and drive that Ford sees in Maria Napolitano, council’s president and planning commission secretary . The elected...
Summer reading program continues at Hampton Library
Hampton Community Library’s summer reading program is in progress and ends Aug. 10. Register for in-person programs at the library and start reading to earn raffle tickets for prizes. Please note there are no children’s programs Fourth of July week. Events and programs at the library include: • Saturday story...
Former North Braddock cop indicted on drug trafficking charges
Editor’s note: This story was changed to remove references to the arrest happening in Plum. Incorrect information was provided by the state police. A former police officer was indicted on drug trafficking charges. Craig William Gibson, 47, of McKeesport, a former North Braddock police officer, is accused of trafficking drugs...
Chartiers Valley selects Joseph Dimperio as interim superintendent
A man with more than half a century of experience in public education has been tapped to lead the Chartiers Valley School District, at least in the interim. School directors in June hired Joseph Dimperio as interim superintendent, at a rate of $725 per day without benefits or pension withholding....
Jeannette flood control project set to begin after years of delays
A long-delayed project to ease flooding concerns in Jeannette is finally expected to begin in early 2025, officials said. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members this week formally accepted two low-interest 40-year loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pay for the $14.3 million flooding containment project. It...
Shadyside Starbucks baristas vote to unionize
Nine baristas at the Starbucks in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood unanimously voted to unionize, the workers union said Wednesday. The store on Walnut Street in Shadyside becomes the 17th store to unionize in the Pittsburgh region. Over the past three years, a union wave has hit the coffee giant with over...
Natural gas well impact fee allocations drop, but ‘every little bit helps’
Communities accustomed to receiving large checks from Marcellus Shale wells through the state’s natural gas impact fee will get less money this year because gas prices have fallen and fewer wells are being drilled, according to the state. The state Public Utility Commission will hand out $100 million less next...
Police: Blairsville man stole PennDOT truck fuel, crashed into police cruiser during chase
A Blairsville man is accused of leading Ligonier Valley police on a chase before crashing into one of their cruisers. Travis M. Repinski, 28, of Blairsville was charged with aggravated assault, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, fleeing police, resisting arrest, reckless endangering, weapons violations and related traffic violations....
Excessive heat warning extended in Pittsburgh region
Beating the heat just got harder for Western Pennsylvanians, as the heat dome hovering over the region is now expected to stick around through Saturday evening. The Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service announced Wednesday that the excessive heat warning is being extended at least one more day and...
Police: Man involved in Export shooting was growing marijuana in basement
A man who police say was involved in a fatal shooting Tuesday in Export is charged with drug offenses after officers found several marijuana plants in his basement. Matthew A. Miller, 32, was taken into police custody Tuesday after a shooting that resulted in the death of Daniel Chicka, 65....
Police say Harrison shooting could have been a drug deal gone bad
Allegheny County Police describe a shooting Monday in Harrison’s Sheldon Park plan as a botched drug deal. According to court documents, Albert Pittman, 15, of Harrison approached a 33-year-old man at the housing complex and “asked for bud,” meaning marijuana. As the pair walked around one of the apartment units,...
Johnstown woman gets life sentence in Indiana County kidnapping, murder
A Johnstown woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murder of a man in Indiana County. Taylyn Edwards, 20, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Hayden Robert Garreffa, 19, of Ebensburg. As part of the mandatory life...
Private rape kits at center of dueling lawsuits in Pennsylvania
A Pittsburgh company and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office filed dueling lawsuits this week over the marketing and sale of an at-home rape kit for survivors of sexual assault. Leda Health Corp., based in Lawrenceville, and its co-founder and CEO Madison Campbell, filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday alleging...
Driver may have fallen asleep in fatal Buffalo Township crash
Police continue to investigate after one person was killed after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday morning along Ekastown Road in Buffalo Township. Butler County 911 said the crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian was reported shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. The Butler County Coroner’s Office pronounced the victim dead...
Podcast: Penn State and the higher education divide
Is there an impending higher educational divide? Penn State announced the restructuring plan for its branch campuses this week. Two local branches, Fayette and New Kensington, will be consolidated under the Allegheny branch. This also comes with a 10% decrease in staff and faculty for all bridge campuses. Simultaneously, Penn...
Bethel Park School District budget calls for tax increase
Bethel Park School Board is scheduled to vote June 25 on a final general fund operating budget that calls for a 1.5222-mill real estate tax increase. The $110.4 million spending plan includes a recent adjustment to add $2 million award to the district for the purchase of 10 electric buses...
East Deer commissioners oppose idea for bike lanes along busy Freeport Road
East Deer commissioners put the brakes on a plan to install bike lanes along Freeport Road as part of the township’s leg of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Chairman Tony Taliani said he opposes the idea because of the effect on already-tight parking on the west side of the road....
Shaler Area School District to raise real estate taxes 6.6% with its 2024-25 budget
Shaler Area School District property owners should prepare to pay 6.6% more in real estate taxes. School board members were poised to adopt their near $98.76 million 2024-25 budget at the June 19 meeting. That schedule was after presstime for this issue. The proposed final budget was posted in the...
Westmoreland happenings: Mine disaster program, blessing of animals service, more
Church news • First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon, 501 Fayette St., Rostraver, will have a Blessing of the Animals service at 10 a.m. June 22 at the church. Donations will be accepted for Mon Valley Paws. Details: 724-929-7616. Fundraiser • West Newton Public Library, 124 N. Water St., is...
Philips Respironics moves could net more workers in Westmoreland County
Dutch health technology giant Philips Respironics’ planned phase-out of manufacturing operations in Westmoreland County may result in 300 job cuts at its Murrysville and Upper Burrell locations. The news was disappointing to local officials, but they are confident local economies can rebound. The company will be missed, Upper Burrell Supervisor...
Penn Hills School District administrator to become assistant superintendent at Shaler Area
A North Hills High School graduate who was voted most likely to teach in the district will start next school year as one of the top administrators in a neighboring community. Brian Brown, 42, will become Shaler Area School District’s new assistant superintendent in August. He grew up in the...
Take it inside: Here are some indoor options to escape the heat
As heat advisories dominate Western Pennsylvania, the thought of doing anything outside might be overwhelming. That doesn’t mean you have to hide away in your home this week. Here is a list of eight indoor activities to do without breaking a sweat. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens The conservatory is...
Thousands in Southwestern Pa. could be in dark through the weekend, utility companies say
More than 9,000 area utility customers remained without power Wednesday morning, as crews continued to repair damage from storms that swept through the region Monday evening. Duquesne Light estimated that all its affected customers could have power restored by 1 p.m. on Sunday, with many expected to be restored sooner....
