Western PA Local News category, Page 915
Derry Township woman testifies about finding purported trip wire at top of basement stairs
It was a normal Saturday morning until Laura Dankesreiter discovered something odd at her Derry Township home. At first, she thought she had tripped on a ripped piece of carpet after opening the basement door, something she initially attributed to one of her cats. But on further inspection, Dankesreiter noticed...
Forbes Hospital in Monroeville adds behavior health suite to emergency departmentVideo
Allegheny Health Network officials have added a behavioral health suite to the emergency department at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, part of a response to an increase in ER visits by patients with behavioral health needs. “Being hospitalized or visiting an emergency department is incredibly stressful for anyone, let alone those...
Plum Distinguished Alumni honors 5 at 13th annual banquet
Five Plum High School graduates have joined the ranks of the district’s distinguished alumni. The Plum Distinguished Alumni Committee honored the inductees during its 13th annual banquet Sept. 28 at Oakmont Country Club. The committee recognizes district alumni who have distinguished themselves in various fields of excellence or who have...
String of suspicious fires, shooter on the loose disconcerting for New Kensington, Arnold residents
Melissa McCrory and some friends were sitting on the stoop of her Leishman Avenue home Monday when she heard a volley of gunfire ring out from somewhere up the street. Moments later, she said, she encountered one of the people involved in a shooting that took place in the 1500...
McCali Manor in Mt. Pleasant set for demolition after fire
McCali Manor in Mt. Pleasant is set to be demolished soon after a stove fire caused heavy damage to the building in April. Jane Altman, owner of the historic property located on the diamond in the center of town, said the decision was “a process.” “I had hoped we could...
Jeannette Community Band cabaret concert to honor late director
Terri Miller of Hempfield remembers watching her father, Carl Masciantonio, directing the Jeannette Community Band from his podium. She can remember watching him onstage playing tuba. And she remembers playing under his direction as a Jeannette student. Those memories will come flooding back Sunday, Oct. 15, when the Jeannette Community...
Hazelwood looks to develop co-op grocery store, urban farm
Some residents in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood are pushing for a new co-op grocery store in their community. Lutual Love, pastor of Hazelwood’s Praise Deliverance Church, is spearheading an effort to bring a community-owned and operated grocery store to the neighborhood. He said public and private developers constructing other projects in...
Greensburg dog walker hit by drunk SUV driver, police say
A woman who was walking her dog in Greensburg was hit by an intoxicated driver moments after she threatened to call police because she saw the person stumble out of a bar and get behind the wheel of an SUV, according to court papers. The driver — Shannon Leigh Ryan,...
Ray A. Shetler’s trial for assault of a police officer set to begin
Trial is expected to begin Wednesday morning in the case of a New Florence man who is accused of assaulting police officers. A jury was empaneled Tuesday and will hear evidence against Ray A. Shetler Jr., 39. He has been in jail awaiting trial since his arrest in December 2021...
Essential Utilities sells 3 microgrids in Allegheny County for $165M
Water and natural gas utility, Essential Utilities, Inc. is selling three non-utility microgrid and district energy properties — at Pittsburgh International Airport, a local hospital and Allegheny County government buildings — for $165 million. The buyer is Cordia, a Phoenix-based energy company that is looking to expand its footprint in...
‘Born into it’: Hampton mother, daughter excel at competitive roller skating
Every four years, the winter TV schedule is dominated for a few weeks by competition among the world’s finest skaters. At least, that applies to the ones who take to the ice. “We’ve been trying to get into the Olympics for as long as I can remember,” Hampton resident Kathy...
Those in solitary confinement unit at Fayette prison face ‘cruel and unusual punishment,’ lawsuit says
Five people who have spent years in solitary confinement at a Fayette County state prison are suing the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and prison administrators, alleging that people housed there are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, also includes claims for due process violations...
Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing elderly mother
A man accused of stabbing his elderly mother multiple times while she slept in their Mt. Pleasant Township home early Tuesday told authorities he thought she was a Nazi war criminal, according to court documents. Kort Noel Eckman, 45, was placed in the Westmoreland County Jail awaiting arraignment Tuesday on...
New Kensington man accused of check forgery ordered to stand trial
A New Kensington man has been ordered to stand trial for forgery after being accused of depositing a check that was erroneously delivered to his home. Paul James Zielinski, 50, of the 500 block of North Street was charged Aug. 18 with a count of felony forgery and was released...
Lawsuit claims nurse killed 3rd victim with insulin, blames Lower Burrell nursing home
A woman charged with killing two nursing home patients in Butler County by overdosing them with insulin faces new allegations that she caused a third such death at a Lower Burrell health care facility where she was a supervisor. The claims are part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday...
Three juveniles charged, security heightened after gun-passing incident at Hempfield high school
Hempfield Area High School students on Tuesday were met by a robust police presence and handheld metal detectors — a response to guns being found at school a day earlier, and three 15-year-old students have been charged in connection with the incident. Lines stretched across the gym and around the...
Record October heat possible in Pittsburgh before temps plummet
Pittsburghers will be dealing with potentially record-breaking heat for much of the week before a dramatic cold shift this weekend. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Moon said Allegheny County might experience patchy fog Tuesday morning, followed by a mostly sunny day with “unseasonably warm” temperatures. The temperature should...
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra sets opening night of 55th season
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will offer a fan-friendly program Oct. 14 to open its 55th season. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, featuring a program of romantic pieces. The concert will open with Khachaturian’s “Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia,” followed by Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and...
Community college presents work of artist in residence in October
Fiona Avocado, artist in residence at Westmoreland County Community College, visted the campus on Monday as part of the public reception for their work at the Science & Innovation Center Gallery. The artist in residence program exposes students to a practicing artist through workshops and discussions. An Art Market will...
Woman dies in Allegheny County’s first West Nile virus case of 2023
Officials have identified the first human case of West Nile virus in 2023 in Allegheny County. The woman, who was in her 80s and lived in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood, experienced fever and weakness, leading to hospitalization, the Allegheny County Health Department said Monday. She died in late September. The state...
Police say Beechview woman contributed to friend’s fentanyl-related death
A Pittsburgh woman has been criminally charged with contributing to the fentanyl-related death of her best friend. Scott police on Monday charged Mackenzie Bell, 24, of Beechview with criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility in the March 11 death of Allison Schreiner, 24, of Scott Township, according...
Morning roundup: Fire impacts 3 Murrysville businesses; arrest made in robbery of 2 Pitt students
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Oct. 3: Fire in Murrysville impacts 3 businesses A fire broke out in a business building early Tuesday in Murrysville. The fire was reported at about 2:30 a.m.on the 4000 block of William Penn Highway. The structure houses...
The Stroller, Oct. 3, 2023: 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. Tickets on sale for Casino Theatre magic show The Casino Theatre...
Greensburg hopes to raze shuttered parking garage by Westmoreland Hospital
Greensburg officials have a plan in place for demolishing the city’s shuttered J. Edward Hutchinson Parking Garage, but the state’s blessing is needed. The garage has been closed for about two years, since the city determined it wasn’t worth the projected cost of more than $2 million to extend the...
4 weekend fires in New Kensington, Arnold — 3 on same street — being treated as suspicious
Investigators are trying to determine whether four fires that erupted over the weekend — including one that sent a firefighter to the hospital with serious injuries — were deliberately set and connected to one another. Three of the four fires were on Leishman Avenue and one was on Fourth Avenue....
