Western PA Local News category, Page 1976
New Kensington-Arnold’s new superintendent eager to get started
After a second interview, Chris Sefcheck said he wanted the job of superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District so much he didn’t care if it meant a longer commute. He’ll start making that drive on July 1, after the school board hired him on Tuesday. “I really already feel...
Man imprisoned for stealing from Upper St. Clair church gets concurrent federal sentence
Since he stole more than $1 million from the Upper St. Clair church where he worked as a business administrator, David Reiter says has lost more than 70 pounds, reconnected with family he’d not spoken to in more than a decade and strengthened his relationship with God. During his sentencing...
Pittsburgh supports Philadelphia in lawsuit against state Firearm Preemption Laws
Pittsburgh city officials this week threw support behind a lawsuit filed last year in Philadelphia challenging Pennsylvania’s Firearm Preemption Laws, alleging they keep the city from combating gun violence and “have forged a state-created danger.” The brief, filed Monday in support of the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state...
Aspinwall seeking more than $215,000 in grants for townwide upgrades
Aspinwall council is seeking three grants totaling more than $215,000 for townwide upgrades. They include money for trail improvements at Fireman’s Memorial Park, sewer separation along Western Avenue and work at the Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department garage. Work at the park in upper Aspinwall will include replacing the current asphalt...
Is there a crisis of ‘forced mass displacement’ of Black Pittsburghers? Residents, council divided on answer
Why did 7,000 Black Pittsburgh residents leave the city between 2014 and 2018? The answer depends on who’s talking. Community activist Randall Taylor, a former Pittsburgh Public Schools board member and city council candidate, calls it a “crisis of forced mass displacement” of Black residents. City councilmen Ricky Burgess and...
Pastor saves Peyton Manning the pooch from black bear attack in Mt. Pleasant Township
It was a frightening night for a Mt. Pleasant Township pastor who fended off a black bear that had the family dog clutched in its teeth. The Rev. Tim Stradling said Tuesday that Peyton Manning, a 9-year-old Maltese/silky terrier mix, is recovering at a Monroeville animal hospital. The dog has...
Man used scissors, glue stick to alter lottery tickets into winners, police say
A man was jailed Tuesday because state police say he used scissors and a glue stick to alter lottery tickets into winners and cash them in at a Hempfield convenience store, according to court papers. Craig Marshall Stout, 45, who has addresses in Mt. Pleasant Borough and Jeannette, is charged...
Ohio trucker charged in I-70 crash that killed West Penn Power lineman
An Ohio truck driver was driving 62 mph Oct. 21 when he slammed into stopped traffic along Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon, killing a popular West Penn Power worker from New Stanton and seriously injuring two people, state police reported in court documents. Charles C. Walker, 58, of Columbus, Ohio,...
Pa. officials encourage more covid testing as cases rise
As covid cases and hospitalizations rise in Pennsylvania, the Department of Health on Tuesday described a renewed push for expanding testing. Despite the increase in infections, officials said the demand for testing has decreased. Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said continued testing is imperative as the virus continues to spread....
Pa., Allegheny County covid hospitalizations up more than 20% week to week
Recent covid hospitalizations continue to be a story in the commonwealth. Pennsylvania and Allegheny County hospitalization levels have consistently gone up since late March, and hospitalization totals now rival counts seen in February. Hospitalizations For the 17th consecutive day, the number of people hospitalized for covid-19 in Pennsylvania has increased,...
Survey: Majority of Hempfield students reported feeling comfortable with remote learning
While students largely agree spending more time in school is extremely important, the majority of older Hempfield Area students reported feeling comfortable with remote learning this school year, district leaders said. According to a survey sent to sixth through 12th graders, 13% of the 800 students who responded reported feeling...
At Happy Day on North Side, ice cream flavors get hip-hop twist from Wiz Khalifa’s manager
Galen Moorer Jr.’s grandmother Gwendolyn Moorer is known for singing “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. When it came time for Moorer to name his ice cream store, he knew immediately what to call it. Happy Day Dessert Factory is located on Western Avenue on Pittsburgh’s North Side....
Loyalhanna Watershed Association seeks interns to help with state forest projects
April 30 is the deadline for college students to apply to the Loyalhanna Watershed Association for a spot in the local Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) internship program. YCC interns are needed more than ever this summer, to help the staff at Forbes State Forest keep up with improvements and maintenance...
Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handles cases in Penn Hills court for the week of March 29, 2021
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Jason Montedoro, 40, of Verona on charges of accident involving death or...
Sheetz in running for USA Today’s best regional fast food chain
The battle of the best convenience store food in Pennsylvania usually comes down to Sheetz vs. Wawa, with the results generally split based on geography. Now the food at Sheetz is in the running for national recognition. Altoona-based Sheetz is one of 19 finalists for USA Today’s best regional fast...
Support sought for purchase of Brilliant Line rail corridor for bike/ped trail from Aspinwall to Pittsburgh’s East End
Residents from Sharpsburg to Pittsburgh’s East End could be connected by a four-mile bike/pedestrian corridor that would provide access to fitness, recreation, shopping and dining in a project that’s expected to cost nearly $14 million. Allegheny Valley Railroad has agreed to sell the Brilliant Line to Aspinwall Riverfront Park. The...
Theft, drugs, assault among charges filed by Monroeville police March 23-30, 2021
The following charges were filed March 23-30, 2021, with Monroeville District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst. All charges were filed by Monroeville police: • Robert Carl Harris, 56, of Homestead with theft by deception. The charge was filed March 23 in connection with an incident along the 4200 block of William...
Former Allegheny County councilman begins prison term for stealing from elderly woman
Former Allegheny County Councilman Charles McCullough is in the custody of the sheriff’s office this morning — more than five years after he was sentenced to prison for stealing from an elderly widow. The 66-year-old from Upper St. Clair reported to the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman...
Pennsylvania civic commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day set for Thursday
The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition is inviting the public to take part in a Holocaust Remembrance Day observation on Thursday. Known as Yom Hashoah in Hebrew, the event was established in Israel in 1959. The name comes from the Hebrew word “shoah,” which means “whirlwind” or “catastrophe,” and is used as...
Pitt, tech-company partners explore use of copper as filter material for PPEVideo
A group of scientists and technology companies from the Pittsburgh area want to torture the covid-19 virus literally to death, and now they have a state grant to help them do so. That’s a bit of an oversimplification, but a big part of the state’s $68,000 Manufacturing PA grant awarded...
Pittsburgh homeless initiative’s annual bluegrass concert goes virtual
Four area bands will hit the virtual stage during the annual bluegrass festival to benefit St. Joseph House of Hospitality, a homeless outreach program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The long-running concert usually takes place in Synod Hall in Oakland. Because of the pandemic, this year’s program...
Baldwin High School set to perform ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ live
Baldwin High School is set to perform its spring musical – in person – later this month. The cast of around 34 students will perform “Once Upon a Mattress,” a musical comedy with lyrics by Marshall Barer and music by Mary Rodgers. Joe Joyce, the school’s newly-hired musical director and...
South Fayette officials to spend $1.5 million to pave 30 roads, some alleys
South Fayette officials plan to spend $1.5 million to pave at least 30 roads and several alleys. Commissioners recently authorized the township’s paving program to go out for bid. The goal is to award the project at the April 14 meeting, according to commission president Gwen Rodi. “We’ve always committed...
Pittsburgh firefighter hurt while assisting at blaze in Mt. Oliver
A Pittsburgh firefighter assisting at a blaze in Mt. Oliver borough was taken to the hospital for treatment after suffering an injury, according to authorities. The fire in the 100 block of Penn Avenue was reported shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Responding units found an abandoned homes engulfed in...
8 people displaced by row house fire in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood
Eight people were left homeless early Tuesday morning after a fire broke out in a three-unit row house in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood. The two-alarm fire in the 1300 block of Page Street was reported at 1:29 a.m. Flames were reported coming through the roof when the first units arrived on...
