Morning Roundup: Water main repairs close section of Route 28
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Dec. 9: Water main repairs close section of Route 28 A section of inbound Route 28 has been closed as crews repair a water main break. The issue was reported Monday afternoon on a hillside across from the...
The Stroller, Dec. 9, 2025: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Lower Burrell Christmas celebration...
Downtown New Kensington no longer a food desert with opening of Horizon Market
Downtown New Kensington will no longer be considered a food desert once a small-scale grocery store opens there Wednesday. Shoppers will have access to fresh produce, seafood, milk, meat and more when Horizon Market opens at 4 p.m. at 912 Seventh St. near the BP gas station, in the former...
Cutting-edge Tourette syndrome treatment helps woman reclaim daily life
In the Neurology Department at Allegheny General Hospital’s Hemlock Building, Abigail Bailey’s body folded forward in her chair. Her muscles tightened as if someone had forced the air from her lungs. Her nose burned, her chest hitched and she gripped the chair’s armrests to keep from collapsing. Abigail’s younger sister...
Buffalo Township proposes 22% tax increase in preliminary budget
Buffalo Township residents could see a bump in their property taxes if supervisors approve the township’s preliminary budget later this month. The budget proposes raising taxes about 22% from 13.5 mills to 16.5 mills. That means the owner of a property at the median assessed value of $22,290 would pay...
MicroSociety builds confidence, challenges students at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship
Mini-city Soarmania is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Not a place found on the map, Soarmania was meticulously created and carried on by students of Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship. For one period each day, PHCSE transforms into the MicroSociety Soarmania, where students apply academics to real-life experiences. Running from...
Without closures, Pittsburgh Public Schools projects $6M deficit with 4% tax hike
Pittsburgh Public Schools officials plan to move into the new year with a more than $6 million projected budget deficit despite a proposed 4% tax hike. In a budget hearing Monday night, multiple district residents implored school board members and administrators to find creative ways of raising revenue beyond the...
Allegheny County sheriff admitted to hospital last week, in stable condition
Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus is in stable condition after being hospitalized last week, according to spokesperson Mike Manko. Kraus was “under the weather” all of last week and decided to see a doctor on Thursday, Manko said. “That doctor suggested he go to the hospital where doctors made the...
Greensburg keeps property tax rate steady, despite drop in total assessed value
Despite a $2.6 million drop in assessed property value for next year, Greensburg council passed a 2026 budget that keeps the millage rate steady. That decrease in total assessed value will result in about $21,500 less in property tax revenue for the city. When initially preparing the 2026 spending plan,...
Mum’s the word: NFL, Visit Pittsburgh host private town hall on draft plans
As a Pittsburgh councilman, Anthony Coghill chairs City Council’s public safety committee and serves on the Sports & Exhibition Authority’s board. But even those credentials could not score him an invitation to a closed-door “town hall” Monday with NFL officials about the 2026 NFL Draft coming to Pittsburgh in April....
Soxman Funeral Homes in Penn Hills marks 3rd annual Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Children learned about grief and how to process it while enjoying snacks, listening to a storytime, crafting and hanging out with Lilo, a bereavement care dog, during Soxman Funeral Homes’ third annual Children’s Grief Awareness Day event Nov. 22. Created by The Highmark Caring Place in 2008, Children’s Grief Awareness...
Third trial for man charged with 2020 New Kensington killing begins
For the third time in the last 18 months, a Westmoreland County jury is hearing evidence against a New Kensington man charged with the fatal shooting of an Arnold drug dealer nearly five years ago. Letresse Tareke Williams, 35, is charged with second-degree murder, robbery and other related offenses in...
As cold temperatures approach, don’t forget the drip
Western Pennsylvania may be avoiding heavy snowfall this week, but frigid temperatures are still sticking around. Matt Brudy, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said colder air is on the way during the second half of this week and this weekend, which could lead to single-digit wind chills...
8 taken to hospital following Monroeville crash involving school bus
Five children and three adults were taken to local hospitals after a crash Monday morning between a Gateway school bus and another vehicle, school officials said. First responders were called to Monroeville Boulevard near the entrance to Target around 8:30 a.m. The bus collided with an SUV, which overturned. Gateway...
North Hills School Board approves limiting any potential property tax increase to state limit
The North Hills School Board has agreed to limit any potential property tax increase in the district’s 2026-27 budget. At its Dec. 2 meeting, the board approved a resolution stating it would not seek to increase the property tax rate by more than 4.2%, the district’s inflation limit imposed by...
In brief: Happenings across the Penn Hills area
Holiday House Tour to raise money for sports court resurfacing The Crescent Hills Civic Association is hosting a Holiday House Tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13. Participants will start the tour at the Steel Goat Marketplace, 200 Jefferson Road, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to pick...
PennDOT announces overnight closures of Route 8 in Etna
Southbound Route 8 in Etna will be closed overnight Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 9-12, PennDOT announced. The closures between Kittanning Street and the Route 28 interchange are scheduled for 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night. The ramps from southbound Route 8 to northbound and southbound Route 28 also will...
Cheswick passes budget with no tax hike, some utility increases
Cheswick Council opted not to raise property taxes in its recently passed budget, but some utility prices will increase. Residents will pay a combined $76 more per year with the utility hikes — $56 for fixed water rates and $20 for garbage collection. That’s a 30.4% increase in water rates...
Police say there could be more victims in case of former Highlands teacher charged with sex assault
Allegheny County Police said there might be more victims of sexual assault by a former Highlands School District teacher arrested Thursday. Sean Dicer, 53, was arrested at his Pacific Avenue home in Brackenridge. He was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, unlawful contact with a minor and...
Verona, Oakmont open student councilperson applications for Riverview students
Riverview students can have a seat at the table. Oakmont and Verona councils have opened applications for student representatives to join the conversation. The programs allow selected Riverview students to attend monthly council voting and workshop meetings, budget sessions and community events. Both boroughs encourage the student representatives to participate...
In brief: Happenings across the Shaler Journal area
Free Community Meal on Jan. 5 open to all Everyone is welcome to ring in the new year with a free Community Meal from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1719 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler. Enjoy “no-peek” chicken, rice, desserts, fun and fellowship. Bethlehem Lutheran Church...
Greensburg Lutheran church sells shopping plaza along Main Street
A Greensburg shopping plaza has been sold to a Unity church. Charter Oak Church on Frye Farm Road has purchased the Mid Town Plaza, at 450 S. Main St., from First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 246 S. Main St. for $1.15 million, through its COC Holdings LLC, according to documents...
Municipal manager talks ‘All Things Monroeville,’ including mall’s fate, town’s future
During Monroeville Rotary’s town hall meeting Dec. 4 at Monroeville Public Library, municipal Manager Alex discussed “All Things Monroeville.” Fittingly, Graziani was introduced by Rotary President Tim Little, who served as Monroeville’s manager from 2010 until his retirement in December 2023. Graziani said he met with Little around the time...
Police drop charges against man previously accused of firing shots during road rage incident
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that charges against Dillon Schaub were withdrawn. State police have withdrawn all the charges against a man previously accused of firing several shots from a handgun at another vehicle during a supposed road rage episode in North Buffalo on Friday. On...
Victim identified in fatal shooting outside New Kensington Elks Lodge
Police continue to investigate a homicide that took place early Saturday morning outside the New Kensington Elks Lodge, 932 Third Ave. Jeffrey Ballard, 46, was shot and killed outside the bar at around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, said Melanie Jones, a spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. Ballard is...
