Western PA Local News category, Page 1584
North Allegheny parents file federal lawsuit to block district’s new mask-optional policy
The parents of four North Allegheny students with physical challenges have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the district of endangering their children by making it optional for staff and students to wear face masks in school. The class-action lawsuit does not identify the four students, but notes that there are...
Belle Vernon woman charged after police say she removed Rostraver fatal shooting weapon from home
The girlfriend of a Belle Vernon man accused in a fatal New Year’s Day road rage shooting turned herself in Monday after police said they spotted her removing a pistol from their home, according to court papers. Shaquala L. Poole, 29, is charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, tampering with...
Duquesne moves closer to accreditation for its medical school
Duquesne University’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine is not expected to open until 2024, but the school has achieved “candidate status” from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), according to a university statement. Among other things, the change in status means Duquesne will begin additional funding for the college....
Pittsburgh RV Show sees high attendance, continued interest in recreational vehiclesVideo
Ken and Katie Wakal recalled their early days of camping. “We put up a tent, which was fine 30 years ago. But now we have a recreational vehicle — which we love,” said Katie Wakal. “We don’t have to sleep on the ground anymore or worry about bears in the...
Walkway along Highland Park Bridge closing during repairs
Pedestrians will not be able to use the Highland Park Bridge for the next several days while crews make repairs to the sidewalk and barriers, PennDOT announced. Work on the walkway, which runs along one side of the bridge to provide pedestrian access from Butler Street in Pittsburgh to Freeport...
Woman struck by bus in Downtown Pittsburgh
A woman was struck by a Port Authority bus early Tuesday morning in Downtown Pittsburgh, according to the transportation agency. She was struck at about 6:15 a.m. along Liberty Avenue near the intersection of Sixth Street. Police cordoned off the scene, blocking a section of Liberty Avenue between Sixth and...
St. Therese, Serra Catholic going virtual for 2 days because of pandemic staffing shortages
Two schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh are switching to remote learning for two days because of staffing shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic. St. Therese Elementary School in Munhall canceled in-person instruction Tuesday and Wednesday, along with all athletic events and extracurricular activities. In-person instruction is scheduled to resume...
Red Cross: Blood donations needed to reverse worst shortage in a decade
The American Red Cross has issued an appeal for blood donations to help reverse what officials say is the worst shortage in more than a decade as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As an incentive, people who arrange blood donations through the Red Cross website (redcrossblood.org) during January will...
Allegheny County denies permit for Tarentum’s Gatto Cycle Diner to reopen
The Allegheny County Health Department has denied a permit to reopen the Cycle Diner next to the Gatto Cycle Shop in Tarentum. The classic 1949 stainless steel, O’Mahony diner is attached to the Gatto Harley-Davidson showroom at the corner of Wood Street and East Sixth Avenue. During the pandemic, two...
Pittsburgh nonprofit to expand free internet in New Kensington, Wilkinsburg via foundation grants
A Pittsburgh nonprofit has received more than $1.4 million from foundations as it plans to expand its free internet access to communities in need across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Meta Mesh Wireless Communities announced it received $1.13 million from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation for its wireless internet service, Every1online. Meta Mesh...
After devastating fire, Norvelt community helps 6-year-old celebrate Christmas
The excitement of Christmas came once again to Isaiah Olson, 6, after a devastating house fire last week in Norvelt. Fire department volunteer Mary Hontz said presents that had been donated by the community were taken to the boy Sunday afternoon by fire trucks and Santa Claus. The department solicited...
The Stroller, Jan. 11, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Start the new year off right! Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Volunteers needed at cat rescue Kiski Valley Cat and Kitten Rescue is seeking volunteers to help...
Building the Valley: Gilpin resident plans to open pizza shop in Leechburg
Gilpin resident Steven Senjan noticed a lack of pizza shops in the Leechburg area and wanted to change that. Senjan and his wife, Jamie, decided it was the perfect time to pursue their lifelong dream of opening a pizza shop after saving money for it. They found an ideal location...
Inaugural season for bowling team at Deer Lakes off to rolling start
Over the past seven years, the effort to start a bowling team at Deer Lakes School District was getting nowhere. Then Kaylee Lipp stepped in. For a class project last year in persuasive writing, the Deer Lakes student took on the cause of the bowling team. And it worked. Lipp’s...
What’s that? Ligonier’s 100-year-old, 3-tray fountain fit for ‘man or beast’
(Editor’s note: ‘What’s That?’ is a recurring feature in the Tribune-Review’s Westmoreland Plus edition. If there’s something you’d like to see explored here, send an email to gtrcity@tribweb.com.) Ligonier’s Diamond Park had a $3.5 million makeover that included a shiny, new copper roof on the bandstand only three years ago,...
Police: Greenfield father charged in newborn’s 2020 death
A 31-year-old man was arrested Monday in connection to the 2020 death of his 7-week-old son in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood, officials said. Cory Neidert of Pittsburgh is charged with criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person. On Feb. 1, 2020, police responded to a report...
Woman found dead in Monroeville hotel room identified
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the 49-year-old woman who was found dead Saturday in Monroeville hotel room. Rochella Anderson was found under a hotel bed at the Rodeway Inn on Mosside Boulevard, officials said. A cause and manner of death was not released. Officials responded to the hotel Saturday...
Man charged in Swissvale shooting that left 6 people hurt on Christmas Eve
Allegheny County Police arrested a man they say is responsible for a Christmas Eve shooting in Swissvale that left six people injured, including the man who was arrested. Jacques Washington, 53, of Swissvale was taken into custody Monday afternoon. He is charged with two counts of attempted homicide and five...
Pittsburgh Public Schools resume in-person classes at 5 schools, 21 schools to be remote Tuesday
Pittsburgh Public Schools is reopening five schools to in-person learning while closing 21 other locations, officials announced Monday. Students can report back to class Tuesday at Pittsburgh Carrick High School, Pittsburgh Liberty PreK-5, Pittsburgh Lincoln PreK-5, Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8, and Pittsburgh Whittier PreK-5. Staff and students at the 21...
Cheeses made in Unity honored with 2 Pennsylvania Farm Show ribbons
Pleasant Lane Farms’ quark variety was one of the big cheeses at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show, garnering a first-place ribbon in this weekend’s competition. The spreadable cheese produced in the Unity dairy farm’s creamery was judged best in the soft cheese category on Saturday. Pleasant Lane’s Gouda took second-place...
Fayette County attorney accused of misusing clients’ money expected to plead to wire fraud
A Fayette County lawyer who previously served as an assistant district attorney and solicitor is accused in federal court of misusing client funds. John William “JW” Eddy, 39, was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He is expected to plead guilty, according to the...
Bell man to remain in jail for alleged knife attack against teen
A Westmoreland County judge on Monday deferred a decision on a defense request from a Bell man accused in an alleged knife attack against a teenage boy in November. Richard Cain, 58, has been held without bail since his arrest on two charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and two...
Police: Pittsburgh man killed woman, hid remains in Knoxville shed
A man charged with homicide in the killing of a woman in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood had been arrested for alleged assaults against the woman four times prior, according to charges filed in the case. Montel Reed, 26, is accused of killing Crystal Leschner, 28, in late December and hiding her...
Greensburg man to serve life in prison for murder, burning of Vandergrift woman
Beverly Richason didn’t hold back her anger in court Monday as she spoke about the horror her daughter endured when killed by friends who then burned her remains beyond recognition and left them in a heap of ashes in the woods more than four years ago. “She had her faults,...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey supports effort to host national political convention, regardless of party
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said he supports efforts to bring either the Republican National Convention or Democratic National Convention to the city. Pittsburgh is on a shortlist of cities being considered to host the Republican National Convention in 2024, according to a Politico.com report. Other finalists include Milwaukee, Nashville and...
