Authorities ID South Park house fatal fire victim
Authorities have identified the fatal fire victim from Monday morning in the South Hills as a 42-year-old man from South Park. Donald Uncapher was pronounced dead at 1:36 a.m. at the scene of the fire in the 1100 block of Mike Reed Drive in South Park. Police, firefighters and EMS...
The Stroller, July 21, 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. Historic farm tour planned...
Heinz Chapel undergoes 2-year renovation of iconic spire
A face-lift of the Heinz Memorial Chapel’s iconic spire in Oakland is complete. The two-year project, originally estimated to cost $11.5 million, involved meticulously removing, repairing and replacing hundreds of copper panels, all while negotiating stories of scaffolding that surrounded the structure. “To see it finished and without the scaffolding...
New Kensington-Arnold rolls out new grading scale for youngest students
Report cards for New Kensington-Arnold kindergarten students will look a bit different this year. Previously, students would get a letter grade for a subject area. Now, the report card will list specific academic skills in each subject and how well the student has mastered each skill. “I want kids to...
Murrysville residents report unpermitted solicitation
A pest-control company is pestering Murrysville residents. “We’ve had some issues lately with companies soliciting who do not have a permit,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said at council’s latest meeting. “In particular there’s a pest-control company, Moxie, that we’ve had issues with lately, and it’s also been difficult to...
MAWC to update aging pressure flow controls
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members last week approved a $9.6 million project to install new equipment to better control water pressure. The project is part of upgrades that will enable staff to remotely adjust and monitor water flow, said MAWC manager Michael Kukura. Officials said the new equipment...
Brown University study flags 4 Southwestern Pa. nursing homes ‘at risk’ under Medicaid cuts
Four Southwestern Pennsylvania nursing homes could be in trouble after approval of the federal spending plan described by President Donald Trump as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” according to a Brown University study. But the variation in funding formulas could limit the impact on facilities identified in the study, according...
Free legal clinic in Greensburg to help families with custody and school law issues
prepare for the upcoming school year, Westmoreland County’s legal aid A free clinic in Greensburg focused on custody and school-related legal issues is being planned for Aug. 1 and participants can get private consultations with local attorneys volunteering their time. Panelists will be on hand to discuss general information about...
Health care experts: Medicaid cuts threaten Pennsylvania’s nursing home industry
Zach Shamberg fears federal Medicaid adjustments approved in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” will worsen a nursing home climate already strained by insufficient care reimbursements and staffing challenges. Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, joined a chorus of health care experts speaking out against...
At the library: Here are some upcoming programs at Northland Public Library
Local author to talk about latest book Pittsburgh author Frederic Durbin will stop by Northland Public Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 to discuss his new book, “The Country Under Heaven.” The book tells the story of a Union soldier’s journey across the American West that blends elements...
Upcoming offerings at Northern Tier Library
Take advantage of an ever-
expanding collection Hundreds of books, games, movies and more are added to Northern Tier Library’s shelves each month. Visit northerntierlibrary.org/what-is-new to view a list of what’s new in fiction, nonfiction, children’s and young adult, as well as movies, music and games. Additionally, if you’d like to...
At the library: News from Hampton Community Library
Hampton Community Library, 3200 Lochner Road, is open Mondays through Saturdays. Its summer hours through Aug. 13 are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For details about...
10-month-old Pittsburgh boy dies after being abused by parent’s boyfriend, police say
A 10-month-old boy died after a man said he became “aggressive” with the child because he was frustrated that the child would not stop crying, according to Pittsburgh police. Pittsburgh police on Sunday charged Dominic Pinnick, 18, of Homewood with attempted homicide and other charges. The baby was taken to...
Allegheny Valley Association of Churches stages choir performance in Tarentum
Sunny skies, a comforting breeze and a break from the rain graced a performance by the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Community Choir in Tarentum on Sunday afternoon. Members of the choir gathered at the Carl Magnetta Jr. Amphitheater in Riverview Memorial Park for the first-time, free concert. “We just...
Man riding scooter seriously hurt after colliding with SUV in South Oakland, police say
A man was seriously hurt after Pittsburgh police say he crashed his motorized scooter into the side of an SUV in the city’s South Oakland neighborhood early Sunday morning. The collision happened just before 5:45 a.m. at Bates Street and Second Avenue. According to an early investigation, the scooter rider...
Motorcyclist dies after head-on crash with pickup in Washington County
A motorcyclist died after a crash with a pickup Saturday afternoon in Washington County, state police said. State police said Zachary C. Strohmeyer, 37, of Avella was traveling east on Vance Road in Cross Creek Township on a Harley-Davidson when he became distracted and hit an oncoming pickup head-on. Strohmeyer...
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, Muslim council decry recent vandalism to Baldwin Borough church
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations this weekend were each decrying recent vandalism to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Baldwin Borough. “The anti-Catholic and antisemitic messages left behind have wounded not only the people of this parish but every member...
Women vie for skillet toss champion at Scottdale Ice Cream Festival
For Kelsey Casoni, throwing a skillet is similar to pitching a softball. On Sunday, she took home her fourth first-place ribbon during the Ladies Skillet Toss at the Ice Cream Summer Fun Festival in Scottdale — and she just started competing two years ago. Casoni, 35, of Hecla, has been...
2 men accused of breaking into Marshall bar, stealing $24K from gaming machines
Two men are accused of breaking into a Marshall bar and taking more than $24,000 from gaming machines. With charges filed Thursday, Northern Regional Police said they identified Patrick Adam O’Malley, 28, of Shaler and his acquaintance, Ryan Joseph Stermon, 44, of Pine as persons of interest in their investigation...
Male retirees embrace fitness to stay healthy and active
Tom Jackson of New Kensington was going through his morning routine this month, lifting weights on several different machines in the basement at the Valley Points Family YMCA of New Kensington. “Working on the weights keeps you active. At my age, there are not a lot of us who (are...
The Stroller, July 20, 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. Opportunities available to help...
Resurfacing slated for sections of routes 30, 130 in Westmoreland County
Road surface improvements will affect motorists traveling on five state routes in Westmoreland County during the coming months. The $11.3 million project will begin Monday — resulting in single-lane alternating traffic, where needed, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Depending on weather conditions, work on the project is expected...
When it comes to assessed property values, what is a mill, anyway?
Taxpayers know their property taxes are expressed in terms of mills or “millage.” The higher the millage number, the bigger the tax bill. But many don’t understand where that comes from. For taxing purposes, a mill is 1/1,000th of a dollar. So a tax rate of 100 mills means the...
School district tax increases beg the question: Is the system broken?
If you’re one of the Western Pennsylvania residents smarting over a looming school tax increase this year, you’re not alone. All but four school districts in Westmoreland County will enact higher taxes this fall, and 6 in 10 districts in Allegheny County will do the same — including all but...
Westmoreland happenings: Frog walk, blood drive, class reunion, more
Fundraisers • Westmoreland County Federation of SNPG Lodges will host a benefit polka dance from 2 to 6 p.m. July 27 at the Yukon Slovenian Hall, 137 Yukon Ave. Music will be by the Polka Classics. There will be food, beverages, a silent auction and door prizes. Proceeds will benefit...
