Western PA Local News category, Page 1475
Robots are on the move at Carnegie Science Center
“Warning, warning Will Robinson!” is how B-9, the robot from “Lost in Space,” might put it. The Carnegie Science Center’s Robot Hall of Fame, of which B-9 is a member, has been permanently moved from the second floor to the ground level lobby of The Rangos Giant Cinema. In addition,...
Kiski Area students take top prizes in billboard contest to combat distracted driving
Two Kiski Area High School seniors took top spots in this year’s contest to design billboards with messages against distracted driving. Seniors Jack Coleman and Amber Coutch placed first and second, respectively. They were recognized Friday during a ceremony held at the high school. The contest was sponsored by State...
$1M scratch-off lottery ticket sold at Lower Burrell store
A Lower Burrell shopper is $1 million richer after purchasing a winning scratch-off lottery ticket at a local supermarket. Pennsylvania Lottery officials said Friday the $1,000,000 Cash King ticket was sold at the Community Supermarket in the Hillcrest Shopping Center off of Leechburg Road. $1 million is the top prize...
Out & About: The Westmoreland gives curator Barbara Jones diner-style send-off
In museum circles, Barbara Jones is known for her curatorial expertise in the areas of 19th- and 20th-century art. Less well-known is her interest in a niche area of popular culture — diner food. That interest was celebrated at a retirement luncheon in Jones’ honor on Friday, the end of...
Woman pleads guilty to 2019 kidnapping, murder of Penn Hills toddlerVideo
Nalani Johnson’s family wants the world to know that the not-quite-2-year-old was smart and rambunctious with a contagious laugh. “She was surrounded by a village that adored and doted on her. She was loved and cherished,” said her grandmother, Lisha Logan. “She was not a piece of garbage to be...
Man to stand trial for Hempfield arson that caused $1 million damage, killed 3 dogs
The day before a Hempfield family departed for a Christmas vacation to the Caribbean, a Greensburg man who did household chores for them showed up unexpectedly “with a plate of brownies” as a departing gift, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing Friday. State police allege 9 days after the...
Worker accused of assaulting Ligonier Township resident
A 24-year-old man is accused of assaulting a man who hired him to do work inside his home, according to court documents. Demtris D. Spottedbear, 24, whose last known address was in the Latrobe area, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, harassment and simple assault after the incident about...
Conor Lamb votes for federal marijuana decriminalization, after opposing it in 2020
U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, voted Friday to support a bill that would decriminalize marijuana on the federal level and allow for some marijuana-related convictions to be expunged. It’s a change of course for Lamb, who in 2020 was one of only four House Democrats to vote against the...
‘We appreciate you guys’: Custodial staffers honor Bethel Park students
Some of the more conscientious students at Bethel Park’s William Penn Elementary School received some words of gratitude. “Thank you for the hard work you do,” they were told recently by George Reganick. “You might not think much of it, but I do.” Mr. George, as the youngsters know him,...
Grammy-nominated Rhonda Vincent brings bluegrass to the Lamp TheatreVideo
Rhonda Vincent learned to play the drums at age 6, the mandolin at 8, and the fiddle all before reaching her teenage years. She’s been recording bluegrass music since she was 5, with her family on “The Sally Mountain Show.” She is the fifth generation of her Missouri family to...
Allegheny County judge scolds double homicide suspect for firing 6 attorneys in 7 years
An Allegheny County judge scolded a man who has gone through a half-dozen defense attorneys in the five years he’s been awaiting trial on double homicide charges, saying he could find himself in the position of having to represent himself in a death penalty case. “Words get around quickly,” Common...
4 men arrested after search of Arnold recording studio, residence
Four men were arrested after federal, state and Westmoreland County authorities say they found drugs worth more than $8,000 and a gun Thursday morning while searching a recording studio and residence in Arnold. Agents of the state Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, working with the Westmoreland County Drug Task...
CareerLink Alle-Kiski: Still an employees’ job market
The number of job postings for light manufacturing, health care and transportation positions remains high at the state Department of Labor’s CareerLink Alle-Kiski office. This week, the center had 425 job openings, which is down slightly from last November, according to Phil Grove, an account representative at PA CareerLink Alle-Kiski....
Lamb revives gun incident to attack Fetterman in Senate race
Conor Lamb is accusing rival John Fetterman in Pennsylvania’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary of skipping candidate forums to avoid talking about a 2013 incident when shotgun in hand, he confronted a Black man because he suspected the man was involved in gunfire nearby. The accusation marks a sharp escalation in...
Square Café returns to Regent Square with new name
It’s back to square one for the Square Café. The restaurant reopened a second store – Square One — in the spot where it all began. Square One is located inside My Goodness Market on Braddock Avenue in Regent Square. The café is an addition to the market. The larger...
Let’s throw: Creativity abounds at Katie’s Clay Studio in Hampton
Amid her steamy scenes with Patrick Swayze, the character played by Demi Moore in “Ghost” makes working on a potter’s wheel look easy. So does Katie Petrovich. The owner of Katie’s Clay Studio in Hampton starts spinning a wheel, and within minutes she has crafted a high-caliber creation. “I’ve been...
Braeburn Alloy files for bankruptcy, proposes sale to new owner
Braeburn Alloy Steel filed for bankruptcy with the intent of being acquired by an affiliate of its largest customer and keeping the 125-year-old Lower Burrell business in operation. CCX, which acquired Braeburn in 1944 and operates under its name, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on Sunday. Chapter 11...
Redrawn Pittsburgh City Council district map would maintain 2 majority-minority districts
Proposed changes to Pittsburgh City Council’s district map would consolidate Oakland into two districts, move the Strip District and Polish Hill into new districts and maintain two districts where people of color make up a majority of the population. The nine-member Reapportionment Advisory Committee, formed in late September, drew up...
New wedding/event center unveiled in former Buffalo Township landmark restaurant
Monarch Veil, a new multi-venue wedding and event space, is open on the grounds of the former J-Barn Country Inn in Buffalo Township. Dean and Janae McAfee purchased the popular rural restaurant last year and opened for business this month. The J-Barn, once known as Jardine’s, closed in 2018. After...
Sandcastle to open early with new look, first new slide in 10 years
Like its sister attractions Kennywood and Idlewild & SoakZone, Sandcastle will open earlier than usual this season. On Friday, the water park in West Homestead announced opening day is May 21 — a week prior to the traditional Memorial Day weekend start. Kennywood opens April 16 and Idlewild on May...
Murrysville man starts ‘Trout Glam’ Instagram with unique fishing photos
There are men and women who take the sport of fishing seriously, with that approach reflected in photographs of their catches. Mike Ruane, 47, of Murrysville is not one of those people. He might be serious about his fishing — but not about his photos. You can catch him yelling...
Hempfield man told police he ripped state flag from pole over tax refund check
A Hempfield man who state police said ripped the Pennsylvania state flag from a pole last week was angry he had yet to receive his tax refund check, according to court papers. Misdemeanor charges of theft, maliciously taking down a flag and defacing a flag and a summary criminal mischief...
Hill District woman accused of stabbing her children, ages 3 and 7, as they slept
Pittsburgh police said a Hill District woman told them how she walked into her sons’ room early Friday and stabbed both in the neck with a kitchen knife. The children’s father was able to wrestle away from her before summoning police for his critically injured sons, police said. Sydnie Jefferson,...
Unity’s Victory Brinker earns Guinness Record as youngest opera diva
Among pint-sized opera singer Victory Brinker’s early public appearances were the openings of the two Westmoreland Art Nationals exhibitions in spring 2019. “Her dad got in touch with us and asked if she could perform,” said Diane Shrader, executive director of the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, which sponsors the...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: April 1-3
It’s the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Car Bazaar Car Bazaar returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Downtown. The shopping market in the Forbes and Smithfield (400 Cherry Way) garage will feature 100 makers, artists, retailers, vintage dealers and garage-sale vendors selling wares from...
