Western PA Local News category, Page 738
Police charge Rivers Casino dealer, supervisor in alleged electronic roulette scheme
A veteran electronic roulette dealer at Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino and her supervisor have been arrested in what police said was a scheme to rig betting on the game of chance that cost the North Shore casino thousands of dollars. Pennsylvania State Police and the casino started investigating after receiving an...
Bail is excessive for man accused of tussling with New Kensington police, his attorney says
A Homewood man who was temporarily using a wheelchair following a confrontation with police in January can be released from jail if he posts a $100,000 bond, a judge ruled Monday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears said Anthony Swann, 47, can pay 10% of the bond, $10,000, and...
Mt. Pleasant Township man allowed to embrace his mother before being returned to jail on charges he tried to stab her to death
The criminal case against a Mt. Pleasant Township man charged with the attempted homicide of his mother will continue even though she no longer wants to see her son jailed for the alleged attack, a Westmoreland County prosecutor said. Judge Scott Mears allowed Kort Noel Eckman, 46, and his mother,...
Highmark posts $533M profit in 2023, reversing dismal performance in 2022
Call it a reversal of fortune. After losing money in 2022, Pittsburgh’s Highmark Health rebounded last year. The health insurance giant posted net income of $533 million even as it grappled with operating losses at its Pittsburgh-area hospitals. That compares with a $346 million loss in 2022, due largely to...
State trooper charged in connection with domestic violence allegation
Criminal charges were filed Monday against a suspended state trooper in connection with a domestic violence allegation. Troopers from the state police internal affairs division filed a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary count of harassment against Nicholas E. Hood, 31, of Derry Township. Hood had been based...
Riverview School District latest to be hit with online security incident
Riverview School District may be the latest government or school website to be hacked. The district reported a security incident Monday that impacted teachers’ access to the internet and their district-issued devices, but the nature of the problem was unclear. “Right now, we can’t confirm a security breach,” Superintendent Neil...
Judge sends Munhall man to life in prison for murder, then tacks on 43 more years
The judge minced no words as he sentenced the Munhall man before him to life in prison with no chance for parole for first-degree murder. “This case is an outrageous disregard for anyone but yourself,” Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Anthony M. Mariani told the defendant on Monday. “You represent...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of March 18, 2024
Priority registration for tree giveaway ends soon Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission is partnering with Tree Pittsburgh to give away 200 trees to residents and businesses. Pick-up is April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Penn Hills Community Park. Each registrant can get one to three trees at...
Hempfield man jailed, accused of ramming vehicle at school bus stop
A Hempfield man was denied bail Friday after state police said he intentionally rammed a vehicle waiting at a school bus stop. Casey D. Anthony, 32, is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and related offenses. Troopers said Anthony intentionally drove a pickup truck with an attached trailer into...
Settlement reached in dispute over Allegheny County ballot drop boxes
Four days after suing Allegheny County’s chief executive for overreaching her authority by announcing mail-in ballot drop-off locations without approval from the county elections board, the plaintiffs on Monday agreed to withdraw their complaint. County Councilman at-large Sam DeMarco, R-North Fayette, the lead plaintiff, said the decision was made because...
North Hills High School students rank among nation’s highest achievers
North Hills High School seniors Ella Demoise, Valerio Gomez-Frittelli, Joshua Kim and Nicholas Strother have been named National Merit Finalists for 2024 after being named semifinalists in September. Approximately 1.5 million high school students across the country enter the National Merit Scholarship program each year by taking the Preliminary SAT/National...
Seating limited for eclipse planetarium programs at Saint Vincent College
Skygazers who have marked their calendars for the April 8 solar eclipse can catch a sneak peek of the celestial event at Saint Vincent College. The college’s Taiani Planetarium will present shows on the eclipse at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on...
Burrell middle school students learn how to be safe online through Google’s ‘Be Internet Awesome’
Charles A. Huston Middle School student Lily Liotta knew the basics of staying safe on the internet. But a visit from Google representatives to her school in Lower Burrell expanded her knowledge. “It’s really important stuff that’s useful for teens and tweens to know,” Lily said after the roughly half-hour...
Norwin seeks public input in superintendent search
Norwin officials who will choose the next school superintendent will hear what residents want in a new district leader during a community focus group meeting on March 26. Tom Templeton, owner of Templeton Advantage LLC of Newport, an educational executive search firm, will lead the discussion at the public forum...
Pittsburgh police make arrest in Allentown triple shooting that killed 1 man
Pittsburgh police have made an arrest in a triple shooting earlier this month that left one man dead in the city’s Allentown neighborhood. Quincey Gurske, 20, of Mt. Washington was taken into custody Monday morning for the fatal shooting March 3 of Marquese Freeman, also 20 and from Pittsburgh, authorities...
East Deer amusement tax set to take effect April 13
A portion of admission fees for large, ticketed events in East Deer will soon go to the municipality. Commissioners on Thursday adopted a 5% tax on admission fees to large events hosted in the township. The tax becomes effective April 13. Event coordinators would be responsible for collecting the fees...
In brief: Richland, Pine happenings, week of March 18, 2024
‘Mamma Mia!’ at Pine-Richland Performances of “Mamma Mia!” continue on March 22 and 23 at Pine-Richland High School. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. both days, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Beattie students of month Two Pine-Richland High School juniors were named student of the month at A.W. Beattie...
In brief: North Allegheny area happenings, week of March 18, 2024
‘Cool Tools’ for garden club “Cool Tools and Tool Care for the Gardener” is the show-and-tell topic for the March 26 meeting of Longvue Acres Garden Club, with Steve Piskor, Penn State master gardener If your tools are the boss, not you, then this program is designed for you. The...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area events, week of March 18, 2024
Guard punched inmate in Allegheny County Jail cell, police say An Allegheny County Jail guard has lost his job and been charged after he punched an inmate multiple times, authorities said. Robert Veith, 49, of Plum, was conducting window cell checks Jan. 3 when the incident occurred, Allegheny County Police...
Morning Roundup: Crash in Liberty Tunnel; Allegheny County Police searching for suspect
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, March 18: 2-vehicle crash inside Pittsburgh’s Liberty Tunnel A two-vehicle crash was reported inside the inbound Liberty Tunnel on Monday morning. Allegheny County 911 received reports of the crash a little after 5:40 a.m. According to Triblive’s news...
East Deer increases water rates
East Deer residents soon will feel the brunt of three previous water rate increases from the township’s bulk water provider. Township commissioners increased water rates by $1.80 per 1,000 gallons. East Deer previously charged its residents $15.50 for the first 1,500 gallons used. “Our wholesale provider, Tarentum Borough, increased us...
Seton Hill presents lecture by San Diego cardinal during inaugural Founders’ Day
The Seton Hill community will honor its past and look toward its future during its inaugural Founders’ Day celebration Tuesday. Founders’ Day — which will feature a lecture by Cardinal Robert McElroy and a panel discussion about religion and violence — was created by the university’s office of Mission and...
The Stroller, March 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. Springdale library collecting old pill bottles Springdale Free Public Library is...
Hempfield family fighting son’s leukemia encourages people to join transplant registry
When Lucas James’ mom came to pick him up from school two years ago, Lucas knew something was terribly wrong. “I had on-and-off fevers, and we ended up having to do a blood test,” said Lucas, 14. “I was at school when my mom had gotten notified. “She was so...
Building permit sweep yields 11 violations in Gilpin; officials urge compliance
Gilpin zoning officer Sharon Long recently completed a weeklong sweep, checking for nonpermitted structures in the rural township. During the sweep, Long cited 11 residents for not obtaining the proper permits before building on their property. Most of Gilpin’s surrounding townships and municipalities have zoning laws on the books, but...
