Allegheny category, Page 198
Bethel Park, Scott receive state funds to improve traffic safety
Officials in Scott Township and Bethel Park received some good news from Harrisburg on July 14. Both municipalities are receiving grant money to support traffic signal upgrades through PennDOT’s Green Light-Go funding program. Bethel Park is getting $185,292 for improvements to the traffic signal at Library Road (Route 88) and...
Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO testifies about concession company ‘putting us at risk’
Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis told a judge Monday that leaving the concessions company in place at Pittsburgh International Airport is a security concern. “We cannot risk having them out there doing business as usual,” she said. Cassotis was the last witness called as part of a multi-day...
Pitcairn man seriously hurt in Somerset County crash
A Pitcairn man was seriously hurt when state police said the motorized scooter he was driving in Somerset County overturned. Andy D. McHenry, 35, was driving the scooter at 6:20 p.m. Thursday on Montague Road in Addison Township when it hit an embankment while McHenry was trying to navigate around...
Authorities identify victim of fatal crash in Pine
A Wexford man died following a crash early Saturday in Pine. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Douglas David Rockacy, 47. Allegheny County 911 said emergency responders were dispatched to the 300 block of Wexford-Bayne Road at about 12:45 a.m. There was no immediate word on...
Allegheny County Police seek arsonist suspected of setting 14 fires in Munhall, West Homestead and Homestead
An as-yet unidentified man is considered to a suspect in connection with a string of 14 arsons in Munhall, West Homestead and Homestead since April 23, Allegheny County Police said late Friday night. Police have identified a man as the suspect from a July 2 fire in Homestead. Most of...
Man who died at Allegheny County Jail identified
An incarcerated man was found unresponsive in his cell at the Allegheny County Jail this week, and he was pronounced dead shortly after. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner has identified him as 39-year-old Victor Joseph Zilinek. A cause or manner of death was not released. Zelinik is the fourth incarcerated...
Picklesburgh has begun
Lynn Grimes was a blur, her blonde hair held back by a black hair band as she hurriedly got things ready in the Aunt Carol’s Pickles & Dip booth on the Rachel Carson Bridge. The high noon opening of the seventh edition of Picklesburgh was 10 minutes away and Grimes...
Police search for shooting suspect who escaped from McKees Rocks police
A Penn Hills man wanted in connection with a double shooting in May escaped from officers trying to take him into custody Friday morning, authorities said. Taelaun Claybourne, 21, is charged with two counts of attempted homicide in the May 29 shooting at the Hays Manor Housing Community in McKees...
Allegheny County Council to attempt to override Fitzgerald vetoes
Allegheny County Council has scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday in an attempt to override two recent vetoes made by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald concerning a proposed fracking ban and a bill to add oversight to top staffer hiring. This week, Fitzgerald vetoed a bill that sought to ban...
Mt. Lebanon school board member accused in Florida sex case resigns seat
A Mt. Lebanon school board member arrested in Florida earlier this month in connection with sex crimes against a teen has resigned, according to the school district. Andrew Freeman, 34, was charged over the July 4 holiday while on vacation in Florida with friends and family. According to the Polk...
Near drought conditions cause watering woes and halt some plantings
Backyard gardeners and nursery workers are watering like crazy, an area nursery halted tree installations and crop experts are on alert — all because of this summer’s unusually hot, dry weather. “We’re praying for rain,” said Justin Brackenrich, a Penn State Extension agronomist based in Butler County. He reports some...
Pitt students will pay more in tuition, housing, dining in coming year
University of Pittsburgh students can expect their tuition, housing and dining bills to go up next semester. On Thursday, the Pitt Board of Trustees budget and executive committees unanimously approved the university’s $2.7 billion operating budget and $667 million capital budget for the 2022-23 academic year. Highlights include:a 3.5% tuition...
Crafton man indicted by federal grand jury on child porn charges after earlier conviction
A Crafton man has been indicted on child porn charges by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, authorities announced Thursday. Timothy Bryner, 65, was charged with possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. . According to the indictment, Bryner knowingly possessed such material from June 2021 to...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to about 9 years for federal drug and gun crimes
A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to nearly nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug and gun crimes, authorities announced Thursday. Vaughn Malone, 35, of the city’s Spring Hill neighborhood, admitted to possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and methamphetamine and possession of...
NFL Legends set to convene at Downtown fundraiser for Karli Short Foundation
On the eve of a star-studded fundraiser to benefit the Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation, Brandon Short was going through a range of emotions. “It’s extremely difficult to consistently speak about the worst thing that’s ever happened to me,” he told a reporter Thursday. The McKeesport native and former NFL...
Old Stone Tavern holds unique place in Pittsburgh, U.S. history
It has been situated at the corner of Greentree Road and Woodville Avenue in the West End since at least 1782, making it the oldest commercial building in Pittsburgh. Now celebrating what is believed to be its 240th birthday, the Old Stone Tavern has seen its share of history, hosting...
Kennywood’s Steel Curtain and Thunderbolt reopen after repairs
The Steel Curtain is up and running again alongside the Thunderbolt after a temporary closure at the beginning of the summer, park officials said Thursday. “We have appreciated our guests’ patience while we worked closely with the ride’s manufacturer on additional maintenance for this one of a kind ride,” Kennywood...
Beltzhoover man shot ex-girlfriend through window of her Clairton home, police say
A Beltzhoover man spent Wednesday harassing his ex-girlfriend via text and through phone calls before he opened fire through the window of her Clairton home, according to charges filed Thursday. Timothy Wallace, 37, is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and weapons charges. The shooting happened shortly after...
Sewickley native saves 5 in Alaska river rescue
Sewickley native Will Harbison, a guide on the Taiya River in Alaska, saved five people after an emergency call to his colleague’s radio on June 5. While preparing for the day at the river’s port, Harbison received word of a minor accident regarding a guest on Chilkat Guides Ltd., another...
Historic Herbst House in Sewickley may be coming down
The Herbst House, a former Catholic school, convent and private residence along Broad Street in Sewickley, may soon be demolished after standing for more than 137 years. Divine Redeemer Parish officials want to raze the property in the historic district due to safety concerns. The parish includes St. James Church...
Fitzgerald vetoes bill seeking more oversight of top Allegheny County hires
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald on Wednesday vetoed a bill that proposed giving more authority to county council on executive staff hiring decisions. The bill would have required that county department directors and division directors be approved by county council before being hired. Currently, only county manager and the county...
Fitzgerald defends decision to veto Allegheny County parks fracking ban bill
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald called a news conference Wednesday to further explain his decision to veto a bill to prohibit new natural-gas leases in county parks. Fitzgerald and said that the language in the bill is unfairly critical of all fracking companies. He said not all fracking companies are...
Rankin man identified as June 29 shooting victim
The identity of the Rankin man who died after being shot multiple times in Rankin on June 29, was released Tuesday by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The victim, William Earl Dykes, 33, died at UPMC Mercy hospital in Pittsburgh about an hour after he was shot at 7:40...
Brothers plead guilty to 2019 fatal shooting in Penn Hills home invasion
Two brothers accused of killing a Penn Hills man during a home invasion in late 2019 pleaded guilty this week to criminal homicide and other charges. Laron Cornell Howard, 22, and Laquon Khylil Perkins, 21, both of Swissvale, each were charged with criminal homicide, robbery, burglary and conspiracy in connection...
Pizza shop celebrating new McCandless location, half of grand opening proceeds to benefit breast cancer research
A McCandless pizza shop is celebrating the grand opening of its new location by donating half of its grand opening day proceeds to a local nonprofit supporting breast cancer research. Large Plain Pizza and Pints — formerly known as Large Plain Pizza — is celebrating the opening of its new...
