Western PA Local News category, Page 663
Rustic Ridge family that lost home to explosion awaits completion of new house
As Rick and Beth Napoleon planned their new house in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, they knew it had to be different. “With every decision, we’re pretty much trying to do the complete opposite of the last house,” Rick Napoleon said. “Every decision is the opposite. We want something new, different...
Plum board approves budget with 6.2% tax hike
Plum School District property owners will see their real estate tax bills go up 6.2% next year. The school board voted 8-1 Tuesday night to adopt their estimated $74.3 million spending plan with the tax hike for the 2024-25 school year. Board member Lindsay Arenth dissented. The 6.2% increase includes...
Greensburg Diocese asks county detectives to probe failure of worker background checks
The Westmoreland County Detective Bureau is reviewing a request by the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg to investigate what the diocese describes as a potential conspiracy to conceal the criminal background of a now-former Irwin parish cemetery employee. Spokesman Cliff Gorski said Tuesday the diocese has asked county detectives to determine...
TribLive captures 4 Golden Quill awards, 20 finalist nods
TribLive captured four Golden Quill Awards and was a finalist for 20 others at the 60th annual awards dinner Tuesday night at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania announced the winners of the Golden Quills, a competition that honors professional and student excellence in print, broadcast,...
‘Eternal thanks’: Hampton marks Memorial Day with remembrance
For those who could use a reminder about the purpose of Memorial Day, the longtime coordinator of Hampton’s annual remembrance provided ample edification. “Eternal thanks to those that have served and passed on,” Hal English said in welcoming guests to the May 27 ceremony. “Eternal thanks to those that died...
Pitt’s David C. Frederick Honors College expands to Greensburg campus
The University of Pittsburgh’s David C. Frederick Honors College is expanding to include high-achieving students enrolled at its suburban Greensburg campus in Hempfield, officials announced Tuesday. Effective this fall, undergraduates with the necessary academic qualifications can enroll in the newly formed David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg. Students there,...
Date errors on Pa. mail-in ballots void votes, spur lawsuit
Pittsburgh resident Otis Keasley has not missed voting in an election in more than five decades. The 2024 primary was no different — except that Keasley, a Vietnam War veteran, decided to mail in his ballot for the first time. His sister-in-law was ill and needed him to help care...
Pittsburgh reveals details about controversial $6M master plan
A citywide master plan meant to guide Pittsburgh for the next 20 years has faced criticism for being nonbinding, too expensive — and vague. On Tuesday, a top city official rendered that last complaint moot by providing details about the $6 million project to the city’s Planning Commission. The master...
New Kensington shooting suspect arrested in Brackenridge
An Ohio man wanted on attempted homicide charges was taken into custody early Monday in Brackenridge. Tarentum police were dispatched shortly before midnight Sunday to the Devil Dog Saloon along Sixth Avenue on a tip that a man wanted as a suspect in a New Kensington shooting was inside the...
Pittsburgh City Council schedules more private meetings despite Sunshine Act concerns
Pittsburgh City Council has scheduled two closed-door meetings next week despite concerns from legal experts and good government advocates that such private sessions might flout the spirit of Pennsylvania’s open-meetings law. The two private meetings for next Wednesday mark the first such closed-doors sessions — or briefings, as council calls...
Norwin superintendent hired as assistant superintendent in Carlynton School District
As Norwin continues its search for a new superintendent, the district’s top administrator has landed a new job at Carlynton School District south of Pittsburgh. Norwin Superintendent Jeff Taylor was hired as Carlynton’s assistant superintendent, effective July 1. The Carlynton School Board unanimously approved Taylor’s hiring at its May 21...
Man’s ear partially detached when he is struck, run over by utility van
State police said a man was seriously injured Saturday after a Jeannette woman hit him with a utility van, according to court papers. Amanda M. Knerien, 34, called 911 and then drove the man to AHN Hempfield Hospital where she left him, authorities said. The man had head and face...
Independence Health System sees shrinking losses, but looks ahead to further improvement
Independence Health System cut operating losses by nearly half from Jan. 1 to March 31 compared to the same time last year, continuing a steady trend of financial improvement for the merged health system. According to the system’s most recent financial reports, Independence saw a little more than $12.6 million...
Here’s where you can celebrate Pride in Western Pennsylvania this June
LGBTQ Pride Month is almost here, and with it, numerous events and festivals are coming to Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. The yearly, monthlong celebration in June honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a tipping point in the Gay Liberation Movement, according to the Library of Congress....
Man arrested at North Huntingdon motel gets prison sentence
A man convicted of illegally having a gun and drugs when he was found at a North Huntingdon motel with a runaway teenage girl was sentenced Tuesday to four to 10 years in a state prison. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ordered Robert Easley, 42, no hometown available, spend an additional year...
Woman pleads guilty to killing pedestrian in New Florence
An Indiana County woman was sentenced Tuesday to three to 10 years in a state prison for hitting and killing a pedestrian in New Florence. Melissa Ann Anderson, 53, of East Wheatfield, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of accidents involving death, driving under the influence and reckless driving in the...
Multiple helicopters dispatched to wreck near Bolivar; at least 1 child flown from scene
At least one child was injured in a vehicle crash Sunday afternoon near Bolivar. A child initially in the care of Mutual Aid Ambulance Service at the scene of the Fairfield Township wreck was flown by helicopter to an area trauma center, according to a spokesman for the service. Details...
Fitting tribute-ary: Stream named after Turner’s Dairy Farms in Penn Hills
Turner’s Run isn’t a river of iced tea or chocolate milk, like the name might imply, but it does flow with crystal-clear water across the Turner Dairy Farms campus in Penn Hills. It only recently got its name, despite existing alongside Turner’s since the beverage company’s founding in 1930. Penn...
Michigan man who fled Vandergrift police receives probation
A Michigan man who fled from Vandergrift police upon being found asleep behind the wheel after wrecking into a parked vehicle will spend the next year on probation. Stanley Francis Molette, 37, entered a general plea Tuesday to six counts against him, including resisting arrest and driving under the influence....
Off-duty trooper accused of entering Connellsville home, assaulting resident
An off-duty state trooper from the Uniontown barracks is accused of forcing his way into a Connellsville home and assaulting a man, according to state police. James T. Stevenson Jr., 29, of Connellsville, was charged Tuesday with felony aggravated assault and trespassing. According to a criminal complaint, Stevenson arrived at...
Aspinwall honors the fallen on Memorial Day with its 107th commemerative event
Aspinwall honored members of the military who made the ultimate sacrifice with a parade and wreath-laying ceremony Monday during its 107th Memorial Day Celebration. A parade kicked off at noon on Commercial Avenue and proceeded throughout the borough and ended back on Commercial. Parade organizer Barbara Leonard began volunteering in...
Game commission partners with Maryland Zoo to boost Allegheny wood rat population
State game commission officials think Pennsylvania could use a few more rats. But not the kind that would cause a restaurant to fail its health inspection. The rodent in question is the Allegheny wood rat, and it mostly prefers a nice big pile of rocks to a commercial kitchen. “These...
Penn Hills teen shares lessons learned in years of developing clothing brand
Arshad Bryant was 12 years old when he created the first sketch for his clothing line. He was on punishment. He can’t remember what for, but he can remember the moment he created The Underworld Apparel. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to start a clothing brand,’ ” Bryant said....
In brief: Herald area events for the week of May 27, 2024
Graduation looms • Fox Chapel Area High School: About 300 students will graduate at 2 p.m. June 9 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 4141 Fifth St., in Oakland. Clara Kelley and Henry Koloc will be the student speakers. • Shady Side Academy: 133 students will graduate at 9 a.m....
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of May 27, 2024
Graduation looms • Penn Hills High School: The district’s 2024 commencement ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. May 31 at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium. More than 200 students are graduating this year. The ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. A link is available on the district’s website...
