Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 133
Gateway School District explores methods toward racial equity in schools
In an effort to close the achievement gap between its black and white students, Gateway School District officials are focusing on ideas like instructional and environmental inclusion and teaching about cultural figures and historical struggles. Those efforts, as well as a proposed mentoring program for fifth- through eighth-graders, were among...
Penn Hills School District’s preliminary budget adopted, tax increase likelyVideo
Penn Hills School District officials moved a step closer to plugging an estimated $6 million budget shortfall and possibly raising real estate taxes more than 7%. School directors voted 7-0 Wednesday night to adopt their 2020-21 preliminary budget, which includes a 2.0319-mill hike and no program cuts. Board members Evelyn...
Roof repairs, HVAC work among Plum School District projects
Plum School District officials plan to spend more than $1.75 million on various facility upgrades this summer. School board members unanimously approved Cleveland-based Garland DBS to fix Center Elementary’s roof for nearly $400,000. R.E. Michael Co. was tapped to make HVAC rooftop units for Center and Oblock Junior High School...
Verona fires police officer accused of corruption of a minor
A Verona police officer accused of having child porn and corrupting a teenage boy has been fired. Council unanimously voted to terminate terminated the employment of part-time patrolman Anthony Ogline Tuesday night. He was suspended without pay Jan. 17 after borough officials were informed of an investigation involving Ogline, 34,...
Sewickley man selected to WPSBC board of trustees
A Sewickley doctor was recently appointed to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children’s board of trustees. Dr. Daren Loran Hoover brings nearly 40 years of extensive experience in studying, practicing, treating and teaching ophthalmology to the board. He joins the nine-member panel as they work to advance the mission,...
Man in critical condition after Pittsburgh shooting
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in Pittsburgh’s North Side. City police said they responded to a ShotSpotter notification of gunfire near the intersection of Brighton Road and Woods Run Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Monday. The responding officer did not find a victim nor a suspect,...
Plum Borough School District classes to resume after threat to high school
Plum Borough School District classes are expected to resume Tuesday as borough police continue to investigate a threat against the high school. Schools were closed Monday after someone threatened to shoot up the high school. District officials announced that evening they would be returning to a normal schedule following a...
Oakmont Tiger Scouts learn about literacy and helping others through book donationsVideo
Oakmont Tiger Scout Pack 137 members have learned a lesson in philanthropy and literacy while donating to a local charity. Pack leader Melissa Havran and her Scouts collected about 30 books for Literacy Pittsburgh, a charity devoted to creating better lives through learning. They made the donation Friday at Mystery...
Humane officers: 19 cats, kittens rescued from White Oak home
One kitten was found dead and 19 others were removed by Humane Animal Rescue officials from a White Oak home Friday morning. Investigators said they received a tip about 30 cats possibly living there in disgraceful conditions. A warrant was obtained Thursday to seize the animals. Most of the cats...
Route 56 in Allegheny Township closed for a time after wreck
A 25-year-old Vandergrift man was driving a van Thursday night along Route 56 in Allegheny Township when he suffered a medical episode, lost control and crashed into a hillside, police said. Allegheny Township police Sgt. Dan Uncapher said the accident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. at 6473 Route 56, near...
Turtle Creek man pleads guilty to fentanyl, heroin and cocaine conspiracy
A Turtle Creek man charged in connection with a heroin and cocaine conspiracy allegedly with his two sisters admitted to the crime in federal court Thursday. Jerry Coker, 28, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. Authorities said his...
Driver killed when car crashes into Port Authority bus on McKnight Road
A Pittsburgh man died Wednesday after crashing into the back of a Port Authority bus along McKnight Road, authorities said. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim Wednesday night as Anthony Diulus, 50. Allegheny County dispatchers said the incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. near the East Arcadia Drive intersection...
Oakmont police collecting expired, unwanted medications
Oakmont police want to make it easier for people to properly dispose of their expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications. The department can do that via its new drug disposal box provided by KidCents and the Rite Aid Foundation. It was installed earlier this month. Drop-offs can be made...
Plans to address Oakmont Commons flooding problems under review
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing plans and models designed to fix flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons. There’s no timetable for a response, but officials hope hear from them soon. “They’ll probably give us a recommendation to it and let us know if we’re doing something improper...
Monroeville Convention Center to host 5th annual home show
Homeowners looking to make some changes to their abodes can get everything they need at the Monroeville Convention Center this weekend. Kelly Simon Event Management is presenting the fifth annual Monroeville Home Show. It’s scheduled for 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and...
Lane restrictions planned for Frankstown Road in Penn Hills
Traffic restrictions along Frankstown Road in Penn Hills will be in place starting Wednesday. Authorities said a single-lane restriction will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday in the eastbound lane and at the intersection of Eastwood Road as crews from Jet Jack conduct excavation, replacement and...
Red Cross assists Bellevue family after house fire
The American Red Cross assisted two adults and five children with shelter Monday night after a fire destroyed their Bellevue home. The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the three-alarm blaze at 467 Orchard Ave. Bellevue Fire Chief Randy Dailey said about 20 departments responded to the call around...
Plum elementary students learn teamwork, other skills fixing classmates’ computers
The next time a Chromebook malfunctions, it may be worth getting fixed by a Plum School District fifth or sixth grader. Holiday Park Elementary students are learning how to troubleshoot and make several hardware repairs to the devices this school year. “We check in Chromebooks (that are not correct) for...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to nearly 5 years in federal prison on cocaine charges
A Pittsburgh man convicted of cocaine possession was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison. Brian Horvath, 48, was ordered to spend 57 months in jail followed by three years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab, authorities announced Thursday. Horvath was one of several people indicted...
2 people injured in Lower Burrell crash
One person was flown and another taken by ambulance to local hospitals after being injured in a crash in Lower Burrell. Westmoreland County dispatchers said a car and a motorcycle collided along the 2700 block of Leechburg Road shortly before 5 p.m. Friday. No other injuries were reported, and the...
DUI, firearms cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Malik Trowery, 22, of Duquesne on charges of firearms not to be carried...
Drug, theft cases among Monroeville police investigations this month
Monroeville police filed the following charges Jan. 3-15 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Tashawn Menefee, 26, of Pittsburgh with possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized transfer of registration, driving with a suspended license, failure to obey traffic control signals and driving without general lighting requirements. Charges were filed...
DUI, theft cases among those handled by Judge Zucco in Plum
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Russell Martell, 37, of New Kensington on charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. Charges were filed Sept. 15. Waived preliminary hearings • David Barr,...
McKees Rocks woman pleads guilty to narcotics trafficking for the GBK street gang
A McKees Rocks woman accused of conspiring to distribute crack, cocaine and heroin pleaded guilty in federal court, authorities announced . Tamra Moore, 35, admitted violating federal narcotics laws before Senior U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. Authorities said Moore and her co-conspirators distributed the drugs November 2017 through June...
Verona council has new leadership
Verona officials started the new year by selecting new council leadership. Pat McCarthy was named president and Nancy Carpenter vice president at a recent reorganization meeting. McCarthy has been on council since 2010. Carpenter is in the third year of her first term. “I hope to do the right things,”...
