Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 42

Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh region have set record highs for gas prices, while the national average on Monday was only a fraction of a cent away from the record that was set in March. According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Pennsylvania on Monday...

New Kensington officials are reviewing new design guidelines and overlay districts that would regulate the city’s ongoing development and revitalization. The design guidelines are intended to become the city’s primary tool for evaluating proposed development, reuses of buildings, facade renovations, landscaping designs and signage proposals. Three overlay districts — design...

New Kensington residents will have opportunities to learn about trees before five dozen are planted in the city this fall. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will hold two “tree tender” training sessions before the trees are planted in at least two sessions in late October and early November, said Brian Crooks,...

The father of Azuree Charles, the 9-year-old New Kensington boy who was found dead early Wednesday, was arrested Thursday in connection with assault and child endangerment charges from November. Jean J. Charles, 40, was arraigned Thursday on charges of simple assault and endangering the welfare of children regarding an incident...

Grants are boosting New Kensington-Arnold School District’s budget by $7.2 million, but a maximum allowable property tax increase — 5% — remains. The school board approved the district’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year, with plans to take a final vote on June 7. The budget is showing a...

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said authorities have a person of interest in the death of Azuree Charles, a 9-year-old resident of East Ken Manor in New Kensington. Ziccarelli did not share any details Thursday afternoon as East Ken Manor residents prepared to honor the memory of Azuree, who...

The creek passing in front of Valley High School is set to become a race course — for rubber ducks. The first-time “Rubber Ducky Derby” scheduled for May 15 is a fundraiser for the junior varsity and varsity girls volleyball teams, said April Stone, their coach and a paraprofessional at...

Police are investigating the death of a 9-year-old boy, Azuree Charles, in New Kensington. The Westmoreland County coroner was called to the scene Wednesday afternoon at East Ken Manor, a Westmoreland County Housing Authority complex along Haser Drive. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli was also at the scene. The...

New York and Pittsburgh are cities both known for their bridges. So it may be appropriate that after Veronica Stigeler-Cowher celebrates the release of her new album, “Bridges Vol. 3,” in Brooklyn on June 9, the 2022 Celebrity Care Fest on July 23 in Pine will be her next performance....

Two New Kensington roads are slated to be resurfaced this year, and city officials are looking for more that can be done with the money available. Council on Monday awarded a nearly $103,000 contract to A. Folino Construction to resurface Locust Street from Victoria Avenue to Freeport Road, and Earl...

Two Alle-Kiski Valley educators are among finalists in an awards program in which the public selects the winners. R. Patrick Marchand, principal of Kiski Area East Primary School, is up for principal of the year for The Education Partnership’s third annual Teacher Appreciation Awards. Julie Erb, a teacher at Martin...

A new five-year contract between the New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union is formally in place following the school board’s approval Tuesday. The board voted 8-0 in favor of the agreement, which increases teachers’ pay while also having them pay more toward health care. Board member Eric Doutt...

It has been almost two years since Affival moved into New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. The move from Plum has worked out well for the business, which supplies the steel industry with cored wire products used to change the properties of steel. “A move anywhere was going to be a...

Gasoline prices are rising again, but a jump in the cost of diesel fuel might be the bigger concern, an industry analyst says. The national average price of gasoline increased by about 7 cents per gallon in the past week, and by nearly 18 cents per gallon in the Pittsburgh...

From light to heavy, vegan to meaty, the upcoming new menu at Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington is full of options. While the winter chill lingered this year, Knead’s fall and winter menu will exit with the launch of the spring and summer menu on May 10. It brings...

When Aaron Kress first met his wife, Dorothy, he told her he was a window washer. “He didn’t want her to get any preconceived notions about him being a lawyer,” said their daughter, Becky Fenoglietto of Penn Hills. “They were married very quickly,” she said. “My dad brought her back...

A frost advisory for Wednesday morning has been canceled, but the National Weather Service says even colder weather is possible later tonight into Thursday morning. A freeze warning has been issued for 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. It will run from 11 p.m. until 9 a.m. Thursday, meteorologist Lee Hendricks...

State police say a Harrison woman offered to pay troopers $60 if they’d take her home instead of to jail after arresting her for driving under the influence Sunday, April 17. State police said Tabatha Mae Jack, 33, of Village Green Drive resisted arrest that morning, injuring herself and a...

A jump in oil prices has brought an end to a more than month-long decline in the national average price of gasoline, industry analysts said this week. But while the national average is up, the average in the Pittsburgh area came down slightly in the past week, according to price...

It was a normal Friday night for Laura Petty and her family at their new home on Hialeah Drive in Plum. It was shortly after 11 p.m. She was sleeping, and her husband, Jake Rabb, had fallen asleep in the living room. Of their three sons, Dean, 2, and Colin,...

A new restaurant may be coming to Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. It would be located on a parcel city officials are considering creating between Shamey’s Gulf Service and the main entrance to Giant Eagle, in front of the Quality Inn. City Council is scheduled to vote May 2...

A drive-thru distribution for food bank recipients in the New Kensington area will be held outside United Presbyterian Church in New Kensington on Monday. Grab-n-Go Fresh Express, previously known as Operation Fresh Express, is an invitation-only distribution that will run from 3:45 to 5 p.m., said Lea-Ann White, program coordinator...

Arnold Council has awarded a contract for the demolition of 10 buildings in the city. AP Wise Excavating’s bid of $75,840 was the lowest of seven the city received. The highest bid, of nearly $141,000 , was submitted by Davis Demolition and Excavation. Six other companies picked up information on...

Projects in two Alle-Kiski Valley communities are among 56 highway, bridge, transit, bike and pedestrian projects in 28 counties selected for $47.8 million in state funding, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced Thursday. • Arnold is getting $53,000 for improvements to Rankin Street from Woodmont Avenue to Freeport Road. The improvements...

Residents in parts of Pine and Richland will be among those able to make use of a new high-speed fiber optic internet service. Fidium Fiber is a new service from Consolidated Communications. It is being offered for the first time in Pennsylvania in the areas of Gibsonia, Cranberry, Mars, Saxonburg,...